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Guides
The best luxury suites in the sky and how to fly them
Zach Griff is a senior reporter at TPG. He writes travel and product reviews, deep dives into loyalty programs, news about the airline industry and more.
November 9, 2024 • 17 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
The article highlights the world's most luxurious first- and business-class suites, detailing their unique features such as fully enclosed cabins, private bedrooms and in some cases, showers.
It covers where these exclusive products are currently flying, with route details for Etihad, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Air France, ANA and Qatar Airways.
Typical cash and award pricing is provided for each suite, along with notes on availability and booking challenges.
The guide compares the exclusivity, amenities and booking methods for each product, helping travelers identify the best options for a premium flight experience.
What to consider
Award availability for these cabins is often extremely limited, with some products only bookable by top-tier loyalty members or requiring significant miles.
Aircraft swaps and route changes can affect suite availability, so confirming equipment before booking is essential.
Some programs require round-trip bookings or have specific transfer timelines when using points from other loyalty currencies.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed tips for identifying aircraft with the newest suites and nuanced advice on maximizing value when booking with cash or miles.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information.
While these products have now become mainstream — in the U.S., American, Delta and JetBlue all offer or have announced fully enclosed business-class suites — it wasn't long ago that sliding doors and fully enclosed suites were reserved for the world's top first-class products.
Despite the proliferation of fancy fully enclosed suites, there's still some pretty significant differentiation across these business and first-class products.
Below, we'll round up some of the best luxury suites in the sky, which are all sure to offer a truly once-in-a-lifetime flight experience. Better yet, I've included where you can fly these products (based on published Cirium timetables for November 2024), as well as the typical cash and award rates.
Etihad The Residence
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
The creme de la creme of onboard experiences in commercial aviation is Etihad's The Residence product, which is exclusively outfitted on the carrier's Airbus A380 aircraft.
These jets were grounded during the pandemic, and while the initial assumption was that they'd be retired for good, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier brought them back to the skies for one last hurrah.
That's great news for deep-pocketed travelers because The Residence offers a three-room suite comprised of a living room (main seating area), bedroom (with a real bed) and a private shower-equipped lavatory.
Etihad used to offer a separate butler service with an elevated ground experience for Residence passengers, but much of the soft product (the experience not attached to the aircraft) has been scaled back since the A380 returned to service.
That's not the end of the world, though, because even with a pared-back service experience, The Residence remains the best and most exclusive cabin in commercial aviation.
Where it flies
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Etihad is currently flying its Residence-equipped Airbus A380 to four destinations: London, Mumbai, New York and Paris, from its hub in Abu Dhabi.
Booking with cash
As part of the reintroduction of The Residence, Etihad revamped its commercial strategy for selling the product. It used to charge upwards of $11,000 for a one-way ticket. Nowadays, travelers need to purchase a first-class ticket and then pay a separate seat assignment fee for The Residence.
The seat assignment fee varies by destination. Based on searches, the upgrade fee appears to start at around $2,000 for flights to Europe and India and jumps to nearly $4,000 one-way to and from New York.
Note that these fees are on top of the standard first-class fares.
If it's any consolation, because The Residence fits two passengers, the upgrade fees cover two passengers (but both passengers must have been booked in first class).
The good news is that it's indeed possible to book The Residence using miles. Unfortunately, however, it's not a great deal. Etihad charges its proprietary Etihad Guest members at least roughly 300,000 miles, worth $3,600 according to TPG valuations, for a seat assignment fee for The Residence.
If you're looking to upgrade, I'd recommend saving your points for a better redemption. That said, Etihad Guest is a 1:1 transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards (instant transfer), Capital One miles (24 hours) and Citi ThankYou Points (instant transfer) — just know that there are far better uses for your hard-earned points.
Emirates 777 Game Changer first-class suite
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Dubai-based Emirates exclusively operates a wide-body fleet, and while many of the carrier’s aircraft offer some variation of its flagship first-class suite, there's one jet in particular that features a truly extraordinary product — the Game Changer on the Boeing 777-300ER.
Emirates operates just nine of these Boeing 777 variants, making it quite elusive if you're trying to seek out the product. (The good news is that some new aircraft, including the perpetually delayed Boeing 777X, are expected to feature the new suite when the jets are finally inaugurated.)
As for what you can expect onboard, the Game Changer first-class offers a fully enclosed suite with doors that go from floor to ceiling. Think of it more like a roomette on a train than a first-class suite on an airplane. Coupled with Emirates' legendary service, amenities and culinary offerings, this is one of the best ways to fly.
The only downside is that these 777s don't feature showers in first class, an amenity that's reserved for the Airbus A380.
Where it flies
With just nine jets equipped with this cabin, you'll want to double (and triple) check your route to make sure it features this product. To do that, take a look at the first-class seat map and make sure you see just six suites spread out across two rows in a 1-1-1 arrangement.
Right now, Emirates schedules the Game Changer Boeing 777-300ER on the following routes from Dubai:
Brussels
Chicago (select frequencies only)
Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Geneva
Kuwait
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Tokyo Haneda
Zurich
Just note that aircraft substitutions are always possible, so getting the new plane on these routes is never guaranteed.
Booking with cash
Booking a ticket in Emirates Game Changer first class requires some pretty deep pockets.
If you're looking for the cheapest option, you can fly to Kuwait for about $1,800 each way. (Just remember that these flights are only about two hours long.)
Below is a breakdown of round-trip pricing for longer flights. Prices are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars for a sample itinerary in November 2024.
Origin
Destination
Cost
Brussels
Dubai
$8,150
Chicago
Dubai
$27,200
Dammam
Dubai
$4,200
Geneva
Dubai
$12,800
Kuwait
Dubai
$3,200
Riyadh
Dubai
$4,400
Tokyo Haneda
Dubai
$12,500
Zurich
Dubai
$12,000
Though finding a "deal" for Emirates first class is virtually nonexistent, you can find lower fares by starting your trip in cheaper markets, such as Colombo, Sri Lanka, or Cairo, Egypt. Take a look at this guide for details.
Redeeming miles
Booking the Game Changer with miles will take lots of patience and some luck. The airline rarely releases more than one award seat in advance, and even then, you'll be best off booking directly through the Skywards program. Sometimes, last-minute awards can become available a few days before departure.
The good news is that Emirates Skywards program is a transfer partner with all major credit card points currencies, so topping off your account shouldn't be too hard.
Singapore Airbus A380 Suite
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Singapore Airlines is one of the world's best carriers, and as you might expect, the airline's flagship product is quite impressive.
Dubbed Suites, Singapore offers small rooms in the sky to its first-class passengers on the Airbus A380. The Suites offer separate beds and reclining chairs, as well as oversized TVs, sliding doors and plenty of storage compartments.
Where it flies
You can find Singapore's Suites product on any Airbus A380. Right now, the airline is flying the A380 from its Singapore hub to:
Frankfurt
London
Mumbai
New Delhi
Sydney
Booking with cash
Singapore's Airbus A380 doesn't currently fly to the U.S., so you'll need to position to Europe or Asia to find the Suites product.
You'll find a breakdown of round-trip pricing below. Note that prices are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars for a sample itinerary in November 2024.
Origin
Destination
Cost
Frankfurt
Singapore
$13,000
London
Singapore
$17,300
Mumbai
Singapore
$3,900
New Delhi
Singapore
$4,700
Sydney
Singapore
$6,000
Redeeming miles
Award tickets for Singapore Suites are exclusively available through the airline’s KrisFlyer loyalty program — with just six suites on each aircraft, Saver awards can be especially hard to find, though they are available from time to time.
You’ll typically find far better availability for Singapore’s higher-priced “Advantage” awards.
While Etihad's top premium product (The Residence) receives much attention, the airline also offers another fantastic fully enclosed first-class suite that's sure to impress.
The airline's Airbus A380 features nine first-class apartments. Each is equipped with a large chair, a door and a sofa that folds into a bed. Not to mention the fact that you can sleep next to a companion, hang out in a lounge and experience a shower in the sky.
Where it flies
Etihad operates The Apartment on the same routes as The Residence, since both products are only found on the superjumbo Airbus A380. (As mentioned above, travelers looking to fly in The Residence need to first purchase a ticket in The Apartment.)
The airline is currently flying its Airbus A380 to four destinations: London, Mumbai, New York and Paris, from its hub in Abu Dhabi.
Booking with cash
You'll find a breakdown of round-trip pricing below. Note that prices are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars for a sample itinerary in November 2024.
Origin
Destination
Cost
London
Abu Dhabi
$5,400
Mumbai
Abu Dhabi
$1,200
New York
Abu Dhabi
$11,700
Paris
Abu Dhabi
$5,400
Redeeming miles
The Apartment is one of the most accessible products on this list since you can routinely book awards through various loyalty programs.
As with The Residence, you can book The Apartment via the airline’s own Etihad Guest program, but you’ll find better redemption values elsewhere. Asiana Club offers some of the lowest rates, but one of the most common options for booking Etihad’s Apartment is via American’s AAdvantage program.
Another great option for redeeming miles for The Apartments is via Air Canada's Aeroplan program. Thanks to a slew of transfer partners (and frequent transfer bonuses), it's quite easy to rack up miles with Aeroplan.
Though the product isn't technically a fully enclosed suite, it still deserves a spot on this list for its opulence, chic French style and innovative privacy solution (floor-to-ceiling drapes that look like a hospital curtain).
Plus, the ground experience and onboard service are some of the best in the entire world. Better yet, Air France is slated to debut a new La Premiere cabin in the coming months, but even the existing product shines.
Where it flies
La Premiere is only found on a subset of Air France's Boeing 777-300ER jets, which fly from Paris to:
Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Dubai
Los Angeles
Miami
New York
San Francisco
Sao Paulo
Singapore
Tokyo
Washington, D.C.
Booking with cash
La Premiere is a big splurge. The airline rarely discounts the cabin, and the first-class fares are steep. And that's by design, according to airline officials, who routinely say that the four-seat cabin sells to deep-pocketed leisure travelers and business executives. Plus, the product gives the rest of the brand a nice halo effect.
You'll find a breakdown of sample round-trip pricing below. Note that prices are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars for a sample itinerary in November 2024.
Origin
Destination
Cost
Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Paris
$11,200
Dubai
Paris
$7,900
Los Angeles
Paris
$14,000
Miami
Paris
$23,800
New York
Paris
$11,800
San Francisco
Paris
$13,400
Sao Paulo
Paris
$12,500
Singapore
Paris
$12,700
Tokyo
Paris
$15,000
Washington, D.C.
Paris
$11,800
Redeeming miles
To maintain the cabin's exclusivity, Air France restricts La Premiere mileage redemptions to Flying Blue Platinum (or higher) elite members. Even if you are a top-tier Flying Blue elite, you'll need at least 220,000 miles for a one-way flight across the Atlantic.
For most people, the best way to get into La Premiere is to book a business-class ticket and hope for a paid upgrade offer to first class. That's how I was able to fly the cabin — I once paid $1,780 for the upgrade from Paris to Washington, D.C.
Sure, the price is steep, but it was a bucket-list experience that I'm still raving about.
ANA The Room
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
These days, the luxury aircraft suites aren't limited to the exclusive first-class cabins. Across the world, we're seeing more airlines debut fully enclosed business-class suites that might even resemble what some might expect from a first-class cabin.
This cabin is outfitted with spacious private suites, complete with sliding doors. Combined with top-notch catering and friendly Japanese hospitality, you're bound to have a memorable flight in The Room.
Where it flies
The Room is available on 10 out of ANA's 13 Boeing 777-300ER jets. Right now, the airline is consistently flying these planes on two routes from Tokyo Haneda:
London
New York
Several other routes feature ANA's new Boeing 777 cabins (such as Chicago and San Francisco), but those flights are also served by older jets and cabins. You'll want to take a look at the seat map during booking to confirm you'll enjoy the new cabins — this jet is ANA's only 777 variant with 64 business-class seats.
Booking with cash
You'll find a breakdown of round-trip pricing below. Note that prices are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars for a sample itinerary in November 2024.
Origin
Destination
Cost
London
Tokyo Haneda
$14,100
New York
Tokyo Haneda
$23,100
Redeeming miles
ANA is a member of the Star Alliance, meaning that there are plenty of ways to book an award seat in The Room.
In terms of U.S.-based programs, you’re limited to United MileagePlus, which charges variable rates for Star Alliance awards.
Other redemption options include ANA’s own loyalty program, Mileage Club, which is a transfer partner of Amex Membership Rewards. Note that ANA requires that awards be booked round-trip, which doesn’t make that an ideal option here. You can also book The Room via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, which is a transfer partner of all four major credit card points programs.
Aeroplan allows customers to book most one-way awards online, and the program also offers cheap stopovers.
Qatar Airways Qsuite
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Though newer products have been introduced in recent years, Qatar’s Qsuite remains one of the world’s very best premium-cabin products. Introduced in 2017, the airline's famous business-class product offers a level of service, privacy and personal space that exceeds first class on a number of international carriers.
Qsuite is now available across many of Qatar's existing long-haul jets, including many Boeing 777s and Airbus A350s.
Where it flies
Of all the cabins in this guide, Qsuite is the most ubiquitous. It's available pretty consistently on every route that Qatar flies to the U.S. from Doha, as well as many of the airline's other medium- and long-haul routes from its Qatar hub.
We've listed all of Qatar's U.S. destinations below for convenience.
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas/Fort Worth
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York
San Francisco
Seattle
Washington Dulles
Just note that Qatar often makes last-minute aircraft substitutions, so be sure to keep checking the details of your flight leading up to departure.
Booking with cash
Although Qsuite is available on many Qatar Airways flights worldwide, I’ll focus exclusively on fares between the U.S. and Qatar’s Doha hub.
You'll find a breakdown of round-trip pricing below. Note that prices are rounded to the nearest hundred dollars for a sample itinerary in November 2024.
It's worth noting that Qatar's fares can be significantly lower if you connect beyond Doha to other destinations.
Origin
Destination
Cost
Atlanta
Doha
$11,200
Boston
Doha
$15,300
Chicago
Doha
$14,300
Dallas/Fort Worth
Doha
$9,600
Houston
Doha
$16,800
Los Angeles
Doha
$11,400
Miami
Doha
$8,400
New York
Doha
$12,500
San Francisco
Doha
$10,600
Seattle
Doha
$8,200
Washington Dulles
Doha
$12,200
Redeeming miles
As a member of the Oneworld alliance, Qatar Airways flights can be booked via all Oneworld members, including American Airlines in the U.S.
American’s program, AAdvantage, prices awards based on region, so all flights between the United States and Doha require the same 70,000 miles for business class — you may be on the hook for additional miles if you’re traveling beyond Doha or the U.S. See our guide to earning AAdvantage miles for more details on how to boost your account.
Some of the other more popular booking options include British Airways Executive Club and Qatar's own Privilege Club program, as well as Cathay Pacific Asia Miles.
Be sure to check out our detailed Qsuite guide for a better idea of how else you might want to book your award flight.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
