Most Airlines Eliminating First Class Is Yet Another Sign of the Enshittification of Our Products and the Degradation of Our Culture

[Part-Time Chad]

I'm booked in Qatar QSuites (Business Class) for my New York–Doha flight this October, but I've been struggling to complete my itinerary to Jakarta because I'd really like to fly the final segment in First Class. Unfortunately, there don't appear to be any nonstop First Class flights between Doha and Jakarta.

I had been looking forward to flying Garuda Indonesia's magnificent First Class Suites, which were once available on that route. But Garuda eliminated First Class there.

Then I remembered that Garuda also offered First Class between Amsterdam and Jakarta. An extra layover wasn't ideal, but I was willing to make the detour just to experience a truly world-class First Class product one more time.

No luck.

Garuda has eliminated First Class on that route, too. The only options now are Business Class or Premium Economy. Thanks, but I'm not going out of my way to Amsterdam for that.

It got me thinking: as society continues to lower its standards, genuine luxury increasingly seems out of place. Commercial First Class—once a fixture on many international airlines and readily bookable just a decade ago— is steadily disappearing.

The broader trend isn't toward building better products. It's toward compressing everything into the middle. Premium experiences are no longer viewed as something to aspire to; they're increasingly treated as unnecessary indulgences. In today's cultural climate, they're even viewed by some as vulgar.

This is yet another insidious sign of our declining standard of living. The erosion isn't limited to higher grocery bills or lower-quality products—it also shows up in the choices we're no longer given. Year by year, more options disappear, and consumers are expected to accept having less while paying more.

If this trajectory continues, don't be surprised if airlines eventually decide that premium cabins themselves are relics of the past. At that point, everyone will be offered the same experience in the name of "equity."

And we'll all be equally miserable.

 

[au rêve]

many just moved that section to the front of business class either way real first class people would use private flights

 

[SecularIslamist]

Dnr but I'm not paying £300 return tickets to go to Madrid when Ryanair is offering £30.

Budget airliners mog.

I don't understand the concept of wanting a "luxury" flying experience. It's literally travelling. As long as WiFi , screen and stretch your legs who cares about the rest.

 

[Part-Time Chad]

many just moved that section to the front of business class either way real first class people would use private flights

Yes, but private jets are typically only accessible to billionaires, not mere multimillionaires, like myself. We're like the new middle class now.

 

[au rêve]

We're like the new middle class now.

well yes

 

[Part-Time Chad]

Dnr but I'm not paying £300 return tickets to go to Madrid when Ryanair is offering £30.

Budget airliners mog.

I don't understand the concept of wanting a "luxury" flying experience. It's literally travelling. As long as WiFi , screen and stretch your legs who cares about the rest.

I care. In fact, I consider the flight itself part of my vacation. My vacation starts the moment I arrive at the airport, not when I finally check into my hotel at my destination. A great flight makes you arrive in a much better state of mind that a shitty one.

 

[SecularIslamist]

Yes, but private jets are typically only accessible to billionaires, not mere multimillionaires, like myself. We're like the new middle class now.

Larp. But herein lies the problem.

Cheaper airlines are more profitable. It's all about squeezing as many people possible in flights as possible rather than draining the wallets of a specific class of flyers.

Airliners just want to make profit and they've realised catering to peasants like me enough masses is much better than pampered millionaires and high earners.

 

[Part-Time Chad]

Dnr but I'm not paying £300 return tickets to go to Madrid when Ryanair is offering £30.

Budget airliners mog.

I don't understand the concept of wanting a "luxury" flying experience. It's literally travelling. As long as WiFi , screen and stretch your legs who cares about the rest.

Imagine the difference between flying 13 hours in something, like this:



... versus this:

 

[Part-Time Chad]

Larp. But herein lies the problem.

Cheaper airlines are more profitable. It's all about squeezing as many people possible in flights as possible rather than draining the wallets of a specific class of flyers.

Airliners just want to make profit and they've realised catering to peasants like me enough masses is much better than pampered millionaires and high earners.

I'm currently worth about 2.4 million usd. That's a lot of money for a teen, but not for someone my age.
Also, it's chickenfeed compared to real rich people.

 

[SecularIslamist]

Imagine the difference between flying 13 hours in something, like this:



... and this:

I'm not talking about what's better ofc second pic is better.

But squeezing 6 people where that guys is more economical for airliners.

And let's be real I'm not paying $5000 for 13 hours if those other seats cost $1000. I wouldn't expect a multimillionaire to understand though.

I'm currently worth about 2.4 million usd. That's a lot of money for a teen, but not for someone my age.
Also, it's chickenfeed compared to real rich people.

Grass is always greener nigga. I wouldn't complain a single day if I had that. My net worth is about 15% of that and I'm fucking 31. I still consider myself quite good compared to peers and my underclass peasant background. Not even working class. Lumpenproletariet.

 

[sonic55555]

airlines only function is to ship illegal immigrants into first world countries. theres no need to have luxury seats for that