Flying First Class inside SkyTeam isn’t easy, but when you manage to lock in a seat, the experience can rival (and sometimes outshine) the Middle-East big three. Below we rank the six full First Class products still flying in 2025, highlight what has changed since our 2023 guide, and include sample award routes you can search instantly in AwardFares. Let’s start!

Content

TL;DR — 2025 Leaderboard

Rank Airline Product Name Aircraft Suites Notable 2025 Routes* Points You Can Use
1 Air France La Première 777-300ER 4 CDG–LAX, CDG–JFK, CDG–PVG Flying Blue (Platinum+ only)
2 Garuda Indonesia First Suite 777-300ER 8 CGK–HND (daily from 31 Jul 25) Flying Blue, GarudaMiles
3 China Eastern First Class 777-300ER 6 PVG–LAX / PVG–SFO / PVG–JFK Flying Blue, Korean SKYPASS
4 Korean Air Kosmo Suite 2.0 747-8 / 777-300ER 6–8 ICN–JFK, ICN–LHR, ICN–SYD Korean SKYPASS
5 Saudia First Suite 777-300ER 12 JED–LHR, JED–KUL, RUH–CDG Alfursan, Flying Blue
6 XiamenAir First Class 787-8 4 XMN–SZX–SEA, XMN–AMS Flying Blue

*Route lists reflect equipment changes filed through April 2025. Garuda switches CGK–AMS to CGK–HND on 31 July 2025.

Recent Changes

  • Garuda shifts its sole First-Class route to Tokyo.
  • Korean Air commits to a brand-new suite in 2028, signaling long-term First-Class investment.
  • Air France teases a next-gen La Première cabin for late 2025.

Best First Class Cabins in SkyTeam

With just six true First-Class products left in the alliance, seats are scarce—but not impossible to secure if you know where they fly and which currencies unlock them.

1. Air France – La Première

La Première remains the alliance’s crown jewel: four fully-enclosed suites, a Michelin-level dine-on-demand menu, and Porsche-transfer service in Paris. Award booking remains the biggest hurdle—only Flying Blue Platinum or Ultimate elites can redeem, with just one award seat loaded per flight.

2025 news: Air France confirmed a new, even larger La Première suite will debut on next-generation A350-900s in Q4 2025; renderings show a separate lounger and bed.

How to book

  • Have (or borrow) Flying Blue Platinum status.
  • Expect 200 k–250 k miles one-way between North America and Europe, plus €250-€400 in taxes.
Air France Introduces New La Première First Class Cabin (2025). Air France Introduces New La Première First Class Cabin (2025). Air France Introduces New La Première First Class Cabin (2025). Air France Introduces New La Première First Class Cabin (2025).

2. Garuda Indonesia – First Suite

Garuda still operates only two 777-300ERs with First Suite, but the daily flight now pivots to Jakarta ⇆ Tokyo Haneda from 31 July 2025. Suites feature sliding doors, caviar service, and chef-on-call menus. Amsterdam service drops to two-class, eliminating Europe’s only SkyTeam First-Class link. Taxes from CGK are much lower than AMS, making Tokyo routings a sweet spot.

Garuda Indonesia’s First Class cabin, branded as “First Suite,” is quite luxurious. The airline’s Boeing 777-300ERs feature 8 First Suites arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, each with a sliding door for ultimate privacy. The suites are spacious and well-appointed, with a fully-flat bed, a 23-inch IFE system, and a minibar. The real star of the show is the food. Garuda Indonesia offers Michelin-inspired menus on select routes, featuring dishes created by renowned Indonesian chefs. The airline also has a wide selection of Indonesian and international wines and champagnes.

Garuda Indonesia First Class.

Image from: Garuda Indonesia

3. China Eastern – First Class

China Eastern’s First Class cabin on the Boeing 777-300ER is another great option, especially for those looking for a more affordable luxury experience. The cabin features a few seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, each with a fully-flat bed, a 17-inch IFE system, and plenty of storage space. The airline also offers a great selection of Chinese and Western cuisine, as well as attentive service from a multilingual crew.

Six enclosed suites occupy the nose of the 777-300ER. PVG–LAX remains the easiest long-haul hop to find space, with SFO, JFK and ORD also scheduled.

Pro tip: Use Flying Blue to avoid the round-trip requirement SKYPASS enforces, though surcharges run ~$250 OW ex-USA.

China Eastern First Class.

Image from: One Mile At A Time

4. Korean Air – Kosmo Suite (and what’s next)

The current Kosmo 2.0 suites are aging, especially on the A380. But good news: Korean Air confirmed an all-new private First-Class suite launching in 2028 on incoming A350s, 787-10s and retro-fitted 777-300ERs. The actual cabin features 12 KosmoSuites arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, each with a fully-flat bed, a 23-inch IFE system, and a minibar.

The current offering includes international cuisine, as well as attentive service from a multilingual crew. However, there are some restrictions to be aware of. Korean Air’s First Class is only available on a limited number of routes, and award availability can be difficult to come by.

Korean Air First Class.

Image from: Korean Air

5. Saudia – First Suite

Saudia’s “Al Fursan” suite offers a fully-enclosed door, chef-prepared Arabic cuisine and sizeable 23-inch IFE screens. Alcohol-free flights but excellent Arabic coffee. There are 12 in a 1-2-1 configuration. The real highlight, however, is the focus on Arabic hospitality. Expect a warm welcome, attentive service from multilingual crew members dressed in traditional attire, and a menu featuring gourmet Arabic and international dishes alongside a curated selection of Arabic coffee, dates, and other delicacies.

Saudia First Class.

Image from: Saudia

6. XiamenAir – First Class

Xiamen Air’s First Class cabin is a bit of a secret, as the airline only operates a limited number of routes. A true unicorn: just four lie-flat suites tucked into the nose of the 787-8. Award space pops up sporadically on XMN–AMS and XMN–SEA tag-on service to SZX. Each seat has with a fully-flat bed, a 15.4-inch IFE system, and plenty of storage space. The airline offers a mix of Chinese and Western cuisine, as well as attentive service from a multilingual crew.

Xiamen Air First Class.

Image from: Airline Reporter

7. Delta One Suites (Honorable Mention)

While technically classified as Business Class, Delta One on select Boeing 777-200LR and Airbus A350-900 aircraft offers a First Class-like experience. The Delta One Suite features a sliding door for privacy, a fully-flat bed stretching over 7 feet, a large 17.9-inch IFE touchscreen, and ample storage space.

Delta also has an excellent and beverage selection, featuring dishes created by renowned chefs and a curated wine list. Additionally, Delta One passengers enjoy priority boarding, lounge access, and personalized service from a dedicated flight attendant.

Delta Air Lines Delta One Buiness Class.

Image from: Delta

So, while not technically First Class, Delta One is a strong contender for those seeking a luxurious and comfortable transatlantic or transpacific travel experience, particularly on routes not served by airlines with dedicated First Class cabins.

Check out our recent experiences/reviews here:

How to Find SkyTeam First Class Award Availability

Securing SkyTeam First Class is equal parts detective work and fast reflexes. Follow the six steps below with AwardFares and you’ll dramatically increase your hit-rate—even for hard-to-book cabins like Air France La Première.

1. Know Which Programs Can Actually Book First Class

Airline Bookable With Key Restrictions
Air France Flying Blue Platinum/Ultimate only; 1 seat/flight.
Garuda Flying Blue / GarudaMiles Limited to two 777-300ER frames.
China Eastern Flying Blue / SKYPASS Better pricing via Flying Blue OW.
Korean Air SKYPASS Saver F seldom loaded online; call.
Saudia Alfursan / Flying Blue No alcohol onboard; good space JED-LHR.
XiamenAir Flying Blue 4-seat cabin; space appears <14 days.

2. Set Up the Search in AwardFares

  1. Sign in.
  2. Under Frequent Flyer Program, pick the currency you want (e.g., Flying Blue).
  3. Toggle Cabin → First Class only.
  4. Enter origin/destination or multiple city codes.
  5. 👉 Use Timeline View to trigger multiple-date refreshes by tapping the magnifier icon for each day.

Tip: Combine up to six airport codes per direction to sweep entire regions (ex: PVG,JFK,LAX).

Select a date in AwardFares.

3. Filter & Sort

  • Price slider to cap miles.
  • Airline filter to target a single carrier (e.g., MU for China Eastern).
  • Stops = Nonstop for direct flights.

4. Set Alerts

Create an Alert for your exact route/date range and let AwardFares ping you when a First-Class seat opens.

5. Program-Specific Tricks

  • La Première: Search business class first, then call Flying Blue if you hold Platinum and see cash seats—agents can sometimes override.
  • Korean Air: SKYPASS still loads F awards ~330 days out but often removes them 14 days prior. Check daily.
  • Saudia: Look 10–330 days; JED/RUH–Europe show 2+ F seats mid-week.

Putting It All Together: Live Examples

Airline Example Route Search Awards
Garuda CGK – HND 🔎
China Eastern PVG – JFK 🔎
Saudia JED – LHR 🔎

Common Pitfalls

  • Phantom space: Always click through to the tax-and-fees screen; if pricing errors, the seat is gone!
  • Mixed cabin = not First: Some engines list F for one segment and J for long-haul—AwardFares lets you exclude these.
  • Surcharges shock: China Eastern ex-USA can run ~$400 OW; Saudia ex-JED is < $90.

The Easiest Way To Find Award Flight Availability

Did you know that AwardFares lets you explore award flights on SkyTeam airlines in just seconds? Try it for free and see how easy it is! For access to even more powerful features like unlimited daily searches, alerts, seat maps, and flight schedules, explore our Gold and Diamond membership tiers.

Our guides have all the information you need to be a pro travel hacker and explore the world on points. Here are some related posts you might enjoy: