The $1,000 Difference Trend: Why Oneworld First Class Is a Superior Alternative

December 2020
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Seductive fares are calling to cross the pond…

Generally speaking, if I’m considering a route that’s less than eight hours or so of flying, I’d choose Business Class that is nonstop over making a connection to ride in First Class.

That said, if there’s no nonstop offered on that route, you know I’m going to prefer First Class.

That’s where today’s trend comes in. It works well at a lot of little airports where you’d have to make a connection anyway. So keep reading if you’re flying to a city like Ibiza, Nice, or Valencia, and have to make a connection.

First Class Fares to Europe Normally Run
$7,000 to $17,000

First Class from New York to Paris on Air France runs $7,305 right now. Meanwhile, SWISS and Lufthansa First Class fares to Europe typically run from $7,000 to $12,000. You get the picture. First Class isn’t cheap.

Or is it…? (Cue the dramatic movie music.)

American and British Airways Are Trending Between
$2,900 and $3,500 in First Class R/T ON MANY ROUTES

Let me first say that American Airlines and British Airways First Class isn’t nearly as good as what you’ll find on Air France, Lufthansa, or SWISS.

That said, if you’re a Oneworld traveler, so what?! They aren’t an option anyway. What makes this fare trend such a great deal is that First Class fares on American and BA are now only $1,000 more than Business Class, and you end up with a much better seat.

Setting the Table for First

That $1,000 difference as you’ll see in the table below, is pretty standard down to the dollar. Given the quality difference and the flight length, it’s right in the sweet spot for choosing First Class over Business. The value seems undeniable, as these examples show.

Britsh Airways First Class Varies by Aircraft, 787-9 Dreamliner Pictured Here

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What’s the Difference Between
American Airlines and British Airways
Business and First Class Service?

British Airways offers more clear-cut differences between First and Business than American, and more luxury extras in general (spa treatments before takeoff, anyone?). See more details in the table below.

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American Airlines First Class

What Are the Risks if You Want to Change Your Mind?

American and British Airways are currently offering “travel fee waivers” even for their award flights. That means it won’t cost you anything to cancel or change your ticket for international travel for the remainder of 2020. However, we’ll have to wait and see how far it extends into 2021.

Three More Things to Know Before You Book

Not ready to book just yet? Hold your fare, then decide later.

Want to save even more? Book with Amex IAP

More ways to save with BA: Use BA’s AARP $200 Discount & BA Chase 10% discount. These drive the Newark to Milan extra cost over Business for First down to as little as $523, for example.

[["Route","AA\/BA","AA\/BA","Air France","Lufthansa","Swiss"],["#rowspan#","Business Class","First Class","First Class","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Boston to Valencia","$2,273 ","$3,312 ","N\/A","$13,597 ","$9,632 "],["Boston to Rome","$2,113 ","$3,113 ","N\/A","N\/A","$8,689 "],["Boston to Venice","$2,161 ","$3,160 ","$7,217 ","N\/A","$7,200 "],["Boston to Milan","$2,113 ","$3,113 ","$7,216 ","$7,224 ","$7,200 "],["Boston to Bologna","$2,062 ","$3,062 ","$7,241 ","N\/A","$12,198 "],["Chicago to Valencia","$2,112 ","$3,112 ","N\/A","$8,755 ","$8,755 "],["Chicago to Madrid","$2,281 ","$3,291 ","N\/A","$8,775 ","$8,755 "],["Chicago to Rome","$2,027 ","$3,053 ","N\/A","$8,821 ","$8,801 "],["Chicago to Bologna","$2,052 ","$3,053 ","$7,849 ","$8,871 ","N\/A"],["Chicago to Milan","$2,087 ","$3,113 ","N\/A","$7,827 ","$7,807 "],["Chicago to Genoa","$2,179 ","$3,113 ","N\/A","$7,895 ","N\/A"],["Chicago to Venice","$2,261 ","$3,261 ","N\/A","$7,827 ","$7,807 "],["Chicago to Turin","$2,162 ","$3,162 ","$7,849 ","$7,877 ","N\/A"],["Miami to Barcelona","$2,003 ","$3,056 ","N\/A","$12,748 ","$10,461 "],["Miami to Madrid","$2,106 ","$3,155 ","N\/A","$13,926 ","$10,461 "],["Miami to Rome","$1,923 ","$2,956 ","N\/A","$7,798 ","$7,778 "],["New York to Nice","$2,326 ","$3,423 ","$9,280 ","$9,287 ","$9,267 "],["New York to Porto","$2,225 ","$3,323 ","$7,588 ","$7,595 ","$7,580 "],["New York to Malaga","$2,115 ","$3,216 ","$8,511 ","$9,802 ","$9,782 "],["New York to Malta","$2,326 ","$3,058 ","N\/A","$8,703 ","$8,683 "],["New York to Lisbon","$2,214 ","$3,289 ","$7,588 ","$7,595 ","$7,575 "],["New York to Barcelona","$1,901 ","$2,953 ","$9,795 ","$9,802 ","$9,782 "],["New York to Madrid","$2,054 ","$3,053 ","$9,795 ","$9,802 ","$9,782 "],["New York to Rome","$1,954 ","$2,953 ","$8,636 ","$8,643 ","$8,623 "],["New York to Milan","$1,954 ","$2,954 ","$8,611 ","$8,633 ","$8,613 "],["San Francisco to Madrid","$2,314 ","$3,263 ","$10,436 ","$10,443 ","$10,423 "],["Washington, DC to Madrid","$2,207 ","$3,263 ","$9,042 ","$9,049 ","N\/A"]]
[["","American","#colspan#","British Airways","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aa.com\/i18n\/travel-info\/experience\/seats\/flagship-business-international.jsp\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">AA Business Class<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aa.com\/i18n\/travel-info\/experience\/travel-experience.jsp\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">AA First Class<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.britishairways.com\/en-us\/information\/travel-classes\/economy\/world-traveller\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">BA Business Class<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.britishairways.com\/en-us\/information\/travel-classes\/first\/first\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">BA First Class<\/a>"],["Aircraft","787, 777","777-300","747, 787, 777, A380, A350","A380, 777, 787, 747"],["Seat Width","20.5","21.5","20","22"],["Seat Recline","lie-flat","lie-flat","lie-flat","lie-flat"],["Enhanced privacy","","X","","X"],["Complimentary seat assignments","X","X","","X"],["Private check-in","","X","","X"],["Fast track through security and priority boarding at the airport","X","X","X","X"],["Up to 2 Bags complimentary","X","","X",""],["Up to 3 bags complimentary","","X","","X"],["Access to First Class lounges","","X","","X"],["Dedicated concierge","","","","X"],["Enhanced dining experience","","X","","X"],["Free Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi is being progressively rolled out across BA's fleet.)","","X","","X"],["Sleepware","","X","","X"]]