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Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, China Southern, China Eastern, Emirates, United, All Nippon Airlines, and many more ban the use of Bluetooth on their airlines. I guess if you never travel outside the US you're OK. But, considering that China, India, and SE Asia alone account for about half of all humanity - that's a mighty big market you're going to basically say "you can't use your phone for music" to.

I have flown in first, business and economy class. I'm not rich, but I can collect points like anyone else who travels frequently on business. I think it's safe to say the benefits of first class have nothing to do with the seats and everything to do with isolating you from others. A business class seat is plenty comfortable enough. Improving the first class seats achieves nothing. First class travelers don't go around thinking "Gee I wish the seats were a bit nicer".

Look at some Middle East airlines that have been installing what is essentially a seat in a box. Not better comfort, better isolation. That's what people will pay for.

If you travel first class international, typically there will be a separate first class lounge at the airport so you don't have to mix with the great unwashed in business class.

There's really never been any problem. I need to do business flights many times a year and I usually fly with Emirates (United Arab Airlines). The first class private suites are truly awesome and come with your own minibar, adjustable ambient lighting, big tv and lots of movies and a la carte menu. Drinks are free too and theres showers and spa. I have no idea why anyone would fly with American Airlines when you can have service like that.

Not everyone can get away with expensing an $19,000+ flight. Hell, the one time I flew first (it was the only opening available) at "only" ~5x the standard coach rate... yes, it was nice, but certainly not nice enough to justify the increase in price. 2-2.5x, maybe, but for the rest of the world without insane expense accounts, we'll just buy a new car instead.

Yes, it's actually that much for a JFK-Dubai roundtrip (for the random days I picked in late June).

There's really never been any problem. I need to do business flights many times a year and I usually fly with Emirates (United Arab Airlines). The first class private suites are truly awesome and come with your own minibar, adjustable ambient lighting, big tv and lots of movies and a la carte menu. Drinks are free too and theres showers and spa. I have no idea why anyone would fly with American Airlines when you can have service like that.

I do also like flying with german airlines. If you fly business class theres always a specific person that serves whatever you may need - beer, your dinner and so on. And the service is great too - they usually assist me a guy, probably thinking I need some fun bro time while away from my girlfriend. Always had a great service too, like "my" guy asking me if I slept good (and they are sad if I didn't) and asking if I want more beer.

Emirates has just upgraded their first class service, with private suites and showers on board. They fly to about 100 cities, connecting the world to Dubai. They have all the business cities on the way up, like Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Guangzhou, Moscow, and Nagoya. This is part of Dubai's plan to become the center of the financial world.

This isn't a Government-funded expansion plan. Emirates is profitable.

Emirates has just upgraded their first class service, with private suites and showers on board. They fly to about 100 cities, connecting the world to Dubai. They have all the business cities on the way up, like Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Guangzhou, Moscow, and Nagoya. This is part of Dubai's plan to become the center of the financial world.

This isn't a Government-funded expansion plan. Emirates is profitable.

So, after reading this, I pick up the latest copy of the Economist. There's a full page ad for NetJets and the Boeing Business Jet (really a 737 variant), with a picture of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. sitting in one of the things.

Then there's a two page ad for Emirates Suite Service. Emirates is offering "private suites" on an Airbus 340. New York to Dubai for only $10,558.87, one way. Meals included.

Air travel is better than ever!

I gather Qantas are under a lot of pressure from Emirates for popular Europe-Australia routes. Emirates have a young fleet with very good facilities - the best on-demand system I've seen anyway. Some people have complained that Emirates takes subsidies from the sheikhs of Dubai, although the Wikipedia page for Emirates says that this is not the case.

Peter