The World’s 10 Best First Class Seats for Couples

Some first class airline suites are designed with couples in mind, offering features like double beds, privacy doors, and spacious seating that make traveling together more comfortable.

This guide highlights the 10 best first class products for couples, outlining the key features of each experience. It also covers typical cash fares, current award pricing, and redemption options from transfer partners to help you compare your choices.

Quick Overview: Best First Class Seats for Couples

Only a small number of first class products today offer a true double bed, including the Etihad Residence, Singapore Airlines’ A380 Suites, and Lufthansa’s new Allegris product. Otherwise, enclosed suites with sliding doors provide the highest level of privacy for couples.

Cash fares for first class products (with a double bed) can vary widely, but you can expect to pay between $10,000 and $30,000 for a one-way ticket.

Points rates will vary by loyalty program and itinerary. For example, it can cost 106,500 Singapore KrisFlyer miles for Singapore Airlines Suites, and roughly 1 million to more than 3 million Etihad Guest miles for the Residence. Not every first class product can be booked with points, as some cabins are cash-only or have restricted award availability.

Hot Tip:

The products ranked in this guide are noticeably ordered differently from the best first class products in the world. This isn’t too surprising, considering a certain first class product might be optimized for solo travelers, whereas another first class product may be focused on couples’ travel or leisure markets.

Best First Class Seats for Couples: At a Glance

1. Etihad Residence on the A380

The Etihad Residence is the most luxurious experience in commercial aviation (Source: SkyTrax). It’s only offered on the Airbus A380 on a handful of routes.

The Etihad Residence grants exclusive, private access to a living room, bedroom, and shower room. The living room features an oversized loveseat and a long ottoman.

In addition to the living room, the separate bedroom has a full-sized bed adorned with luxurious furnishings.

The private shower suite includes your own vanity, a full-size shower, and other bathroom amenities.

If you have the cash (about $30,000) to book this product, it could be the most memorable experience of your life — a private butler, chauffeur service, and basically any other request met. The Etihad Residence is truly the best first class product for couples.

Booking Etihad Residence with miles is a bit more unconventional. You’ll first need to book an Etihad Apartment First Class seat with cash or miles, and then redeem miles to upgrade to The Residence, if available.

Upgrading an Etihad Apartment ticket to the Etihad Residence product is only available when you book directly with Etihad Guest — not through a partner. For routes between Europe or Asia and Abu Dhabi (AUH), saver rates for the Etihad Apartment start at 120,000 to 140,000 miles. Taxes and fees cost around $200 to $500, depending on the route.

After paying the above rates, you’ll then pay additional miles to upgrade. For example, the starting rate for a route between London (LHR) and Abu Dhabi (AUH) is 285,000 miles.

2. Singapore Airlines’ First Class Suites on the A380

Singapore Airlines is known for providing an extravagant experience in first class on the A380. With 50 square feet of space, Singapore Airlines Suites is one of the most spacious first class products in the world.

There is an enclosed suite that contains an oversized armchair and a separate bed. Some of these beds can be put together, effectively converting the seat into a double bed.

In addition to the seat and beds, you’ll enjoy a 32-inch inflight monitor, unlimited Champagne, and delicious food via the à la carte Book the Cook service. There are only 6 of these suites in any given aircraft, arranged in a 1-1 configuration (Source: Singapore Airlines).

These first class suites are currently only available on select A380 routes, none of which fly to the U.S. These routes are bookable with Singapore KrisFlyer miles:

• Singapore (SIN) – Hong Kong (HKG) 
• Singapore (SIN) – London Heathrow (LHR)
• Singapore (SIN) – Shanghai (PVG)
• Singapore (SIN) – Sydney (SYD)
• Singapore (SIN) – Zurich (ZRH)

Saver First Class awards are extremely difficult to come by, but the rates are reasonable. Depending on the route, Singapore Airlines Suites start around 45,000 to 175,000 miles one-way, plus around $100 in taxes and fees.

Hot Tip:

What’s it like to fly Singapore Suites? Read all about it in our A380 First Class Suites review from Zurich to Singapore.

3. Etihad First Class Apartments

In addition to the Etihad Residence, there is an additional first class product that is slightly easier to book: Etihad First Class Apartments.

These apartments, while still plenty luxurious, are a tier below the Etihad Residence. The first class product has the functionality to convert almost into a separate double bed. There is a partition that doesn’t truly make it a double bed. The wall extends to the mid-section, so there’s no room for overlap in the bottom portion of the bed.

There are 9 Apartment seats available on all of Etihad’s A380s. In addition to the bed, which measures 6 feet 10 inches long, it has a separate armchair for dining and lounging.

Apartment passengers can access the inflight shower, bar, vanity, inflight chefs, and Giorgio Armani amenities.

In 2025, Etihad removed its A380s on all routes between the U.S. and Abu Dhabi (AUH). You’ll need to depart from Abu Dhabi (AUH) or any major European or Asian hub to find this aircraft.

The best way to book an Etihad Apartment is by redeeming AAdvantage miles for saver awards. For example, from London (LHR) or Paris (CDG) to Abu Dhabi (AUH), it costs just 62,500 AAdvantage miles and around $100 in taxes and fees.

You’ll pay more in miles by booking directly with Etihad Guest, but you may find more award availability. Starting rates begin at 120,000 miles and roughly $300 in taxes and fees.

Hot Tip:

Using the right credit card is key if you want to fly first class. Check out these credit cards that are great for couples to get you started.

4. Lufthansa Allegris First Class

Lufthansa’s new Allegris First Class is the airline’s biggest redesign in decades, with fully enclosed walls from floor to ceiling. It’s available on the Airbus A350-900, select Boeing 787-9 aircraft, and future Boeing 747-8 retrofits (Source: Lufthansa).

There’s a single First Class Suite Plus in the center of the cabin designed for couples. There are 2 extra-wide seats separated by a center console that can be lowered, transforming the seats into a true double bed.

Lufthansa offers a 50% discount on the second passenger occupying the Suite Plus on select routes. However, it appears that first class can only be booked directly with its Miles & More program. Expect to pay starting rates at 91,000 to 180,000 miles between the U.S. and Europe, with taxes and fees totaling more than $1,000 per one-way ticket.

5. Emirates First Class Suites on the A380

Emirates A380 First Class Suites have luxurious touches, including gold finishes, polished wood, an onboard shower, and motorized window shades.

Emirates First Class Suites passengers receive a Bvlgari amenity kit, stationery as a souvenir, and unlimited caviar and Dom Pérignon Champagne. The seats aren’t very wide, at only 23 inches. For more perspective, the Singapore Airlines business class seat on the 777-300ER is 26 inches wide.

Another concern with Emirates First Class Suites is that the privacy divider between the 2 middle seats can detract from a couple’s experience.

Emirates Skywards has limited partner award availability, so the best way to redeem miles for first class is directly with its loyalty program. The airline’s fifth-freedom route from New York (JFK) to Milan (MXP) is operated on an Airbus A380, with one-way first-class tickets bookable for 102,000 miles and roughly $500 in taxes and fees. For all of its long-haul routes to Dubai (DXB), rates start at 186,000 miles and around $800 in taxes and fees.

Passengers flying Emirates first class with points are not entitled to the chauffeur service. Award prices and fuel surcharges are high. Furthermore, booking Emirates first class with Skywards points is restricted to elite members only, though you can get around this by booking a business class award and upgrading to first class with additional points. Plus, you can book this award with Qantas Frequent Flyer points.

6. Air France La Première on the 777-300ER

Those who can book the coveted La Première first class experience on the Boeing 777-300ER are in for a sublime flight. There are only 4 suites in first class, across 1 row in a 1-2-1 configuration.

The biggest highlights are ground service and inflight fine dining and service. The open-air seats make it easy to talk to your seatmate in the middle seats. The intimate cabin feels like a private jet. Also, the ottoman turns into a companion seat so you can dine with your partner.

However, it is nearly impossible to book with points and miles unless you have Flying Blue elite status. Even then, you have to pay 220,000 to 350,000 miles one-way for a first class award redemption.

7. ANA 777-300ER “The Suite” First Class

ANA is slowly retrofitting its premium-heavy, 212-seat 777-300ER aircraft with its newer first class product known as “The Suite.”

Each oversized seat is 38 inches wide, 76 inches in pitch, and 76 inches in bed length. There are 2 rows of seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. The best seats for couples are the middle seats, with middle partitions and designs that make it easy for couples to communicate.

Also, sliding doors enclose the suite, which makes it a much more private experience.

Pay close attention to the aircraft to ensure you’re booking the Boeing 777-300ER. ANA operates several routes between the U.S. and Tokyo with first class, including New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD), and San Francisco (SFO).

The best way to book these first class awards is through partner Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, ranging from 72,500 points to 85,000 points and around $400 in taxes and fees.

8. Cathay Pacific First Class

Cathay Pacific’s first class is among the best in the world.

The first class cabin is arranged in a 1-1-1 configuration. With only 2 rows of seats, the cabin can accommodate up to 6 passengers. Couples can select nearby seats and use the suite’s ottoman as a companion seat.

These seats are among the largest first class seats in the world, with a seat width of 36 inches and an 81-inch pitch.

Flights from the U.S. West Coast to Hong Kong (HKG) cost 120,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles one-way, while departures from East Coast hubs like New York (JFK) require 160,000 miles. Taxes and fees are under $200 for a one-way ticket.

9. SWISS First Class

SWISS first class seats are generally regarded as aesthetically appealing and technologically advanced, with excellent bedding, food, and service.

In first class, the arrangement is 1-2-1, and couples should select the middle seats.

You can fully customize your seating to ensure a comfortable flight.

SWISS doesn’t allow partner redemptions for first class. In fact, it limits first-class redemptions to top-tier elite members in the Miles & More program. Tickets for these members start at approximately 215,000 miles one-way and $1,000 in taxes and fees.

10. Qatar Airways First Class

Qatar Airways’ first class is slowly being phased out. Offered exclusively on the Airbus A380, it is available to and from cities such as Bangkok (BKK), Guangzhou (CAN), London (LHR), and Paris (CDG).

The A380 first class layout consists of 8 seats across 2 rows in a 1-2-1 configuration. The open-air suites in the middle are great for couples.

Qatar first class tickets can be affordable with points and miles in partner programs, such as American Airlines AAdvantage. For example, shorter flights cost only 40,000 to 50,000 AAdvantage miles, with longer routes starting at 75,000 miles with less than $100 in taxes and fees.

Final Thoughts

The key differentiator among first class products for couples is whether they offer a true double bed, a feature available on only a small number of airlines. Other options range from open-air suites to fully enclosed private residences. As cash fares and award pricing vary widely by airline, route, and travel date, confirm current availability and pricing before booking.