First class is a travel class offered on some trains, passenger ships, aircraft, buses and other modes of transport.first class. (n.d.). The American_Heritage_Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved October 19, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: Compared to business class and economy class, first class typically offers a better service and more comfortable accommodation, although standards may vary by vehicle or operator. Generally first class carries a significantly higher cost.
Aviation
The first-class section of a fixed-wing jet airliner is typically toward the front of the aircraft. Many airlines have removed first class altogether from their international flights, offering business class as their highest level of international service. First class passengers are usually allowed into lounges at airports while they wait for their flights.
Railways While first-class travel accommodation is common in intercity public transport rail services, they have become increasingly prevalent for commuters' short-distance daily travel, especially in rapid transit contexts, rather than longer-distance regional rail. Train stations in bigger cities may also offer lounges comparable to those found at airports for first class passengers or those who have a particular status in their frequent traveler programs.https://www.bahn.de/service/zug/db_lounge - example for those offered by Deutsche Bahnhttps://www.renfe.com/es/es/viajar/el-viaje/en-tierra/salas-club example for lounges (referred to as "Salas Club") offered by Renfe
Australia Australia has internal rail operations in each of its states, excluding Tasmania, normally run by the State Government but in some cases is run by private operators. In each state, first class travel differs.
NSW TrainLink (New South Wales) First-class travel on TrainLink comes in two forms. On Xplorer and XPT trains, first-class seating is offered which include an increased legroom and seating recline over economy-class seating. On some XPT trains, first-class sleeping compartments can also be found. On day services these accommodate three people per compartment, and by night they carry two people with bunk-style accommodation.
Queensland Rail (Queensland) Queensland Rail offer first-class travel on many of their Traveltrain services, along with business class on their Tilt Train Services. Queensland Rail Traveltrain first class carriages provided private cabins in either roomette (single room) or twinette (double room) cabins.
Journey Beyond (New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia) This railway privately operates the tourist-oriented The Overland, Indian Pacific, and The Ghan services. The first class travel on these trains are branded as Platinum Service (on the Indian Pacific and The Ghan) with roomette, twinette and deluxe cabins; or Red Premium Service (on The Overland) with 2×1 seating, extra legroom, and more recline than the Red Service seating.
V/Line (Victoria) First-class accommodation on V/Line is a 2×2 seating arrangement, with extra legroom and recline, was previously available on certain locomotive-hauled services. The same carriages exist, but first class was abolished and turned into a regular economy carriage since the introduction of the statewide fare cap.
Canada The Canadian () train, operated by Via Rail, offers a Prestige class, comparable to first class. It includes room service, in-room entertainment, and a private washroom with shower. The Québec City–Windsor corridor, also operated by Via Rail, offers a business class.
China
China Railway and its high-speed subsidiary offer First Class on its trains, slotting in between the standard "Second Class" and the premium "Business Class" tier. First Class consists of 2 seats on each side of the aisle, with adjustable, larger-than-normal seats, footrests, and access to sockets, toilets, and water dispensers.
Aside from inter-city train services, Shenzhen Metro Line 11, which serves the regional airport, has become the first metro line in China to offer Business Class cars (making up two of the eight cars on each train). It has been reported that this service, costing three times the amount of a standard class ticket, has remained sparsely used despite overcrowding in the rest of the train.
Germany
The various private and state-owned railways in Germany featured first-class, second-class and third-class amenities from the start. Beginning in Prussia in 1852, extremely austere fourth-class coaches were introduced. After nationalization (1920) and consolidation (Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft, 1924), the fourth class was abandoned in 1928 in order to generate more revenue by forcing passengers to pay the higher prices for third-class tickets.
As those of most of the rest of Europe, the railways of East as well as West Germany moved to a two-class system in 1956. To this end, the first class was abandoned and the former second and third classes redesignated as the new first and second classes. Except for some regional and commuter train services (including some, but not all S-Bahn systems), which are second-class only, this distinction exists to this day.
The difference in amenities between the first and second class varies between train operators, services and lines. It generally translates to more legroom, tables and/or three-abreast instead of four-abreast seating for first-class passengers. On Deutsche Bahn's national and international services, first-class passengers don't receive a complimentary meal but on all ICE and InterCity services, passengers in first class are served the full selection of meals and refreshments at their seats, while second-class passengers can only obtain them in the dining car.
With some, primary local, services operated both by DB and other companies, there is no difference in seating between classes, with exception to the presence of armrests and tables (with ostensibly cleaner interiors in some instances) in first class. The rationale for providing first-class spaces on these services is mainly that due to the higher price, there are usually seats left in first class when all second-class seats are taken. As such, the justification of purchasing First Class on regional services, often for the average traveller, is more so dictated as offering a "better-odds" gamble of finding vacant seating availability on certain trains (esp. rush hour S-Bahn/regional services) rather than the availability of tangible frills in contrast to second class. While not always enforced, the rules also stipulate that even for standing room in first class, a first class ticket must be held.
Hong Kong
A First Class compartment is available on each train serving the East Rail line (formerly KCR East Rail) in Hong Kong. Instead of longitudinal, stainless steel benches offered to standard-class passengers, the first-class compartments have comfier, individual padded seating with armrests. They are arranged in pairs and oriented transversely to the compartments. Passengers are required to pay an extra "first class premium" (equaling to the standard adult fare of the same East Rail line journey) on top of the standard fare, and first-class compartments are regularly patrolled by ticket inspectors.
The line originated as an intercity rail service, then known as the Kowloon-Canton Railway British Section, that formerly extended into Guangdong in Mainland China. Even after the line was electrified and modernized in the early 1980s and its trains were converted to provide high-capacity, metro-style service the following decade, the fourth compartment from the north end of each trainset retained its original seating layout as a First Class compartment. In 2007, the line became part of the MTR network, and it remains the only railway line in the region to offer a separate first-class service (though the Airport Express line provides a similar travel experience in all its carriages).
India A number of suburban railways in India offer first-class travel, including: Hyderabad Multi-Modal Transport System Mumbai suburban railway Chennai suburban railway
For intercity travel Indian Railways have 4 types of first class coaches. Anubhuti Class, which is premium first class sitting coach. AC First Class, which is premium first class sleeper coach. Vistadome AC, which is basic first class sitting coach. Executive Chair Car, which is basic first class sitting coach. AC Second Tier, which is basic first class sleeper coach.
Indonesia
The Indonesian Railway Company operates first-class services that are officially called Luxury class services. Luxury class cars currently in operation have two different designs: the first-generation Luxury cars have a 1-1 seating formation with a dominantly woody ambience; the second-generation Luxury cars have a 2-1 seating formation with a more modern ambience and a complimentary mini bar. Both generations have audio-video on demand (AVOD) displays and a relatively better comfort than Executive-class trains.
Japan
The term "First Class" was abolished on Japanese National Railways in May 1969, and was replaced by "Green cars". Green cars are identifiable by the green four-leaf clover logo—accompanied with the words "GREEN CAR" typeset in Clarendon—at the doorways, and all seats in these cars are reserved. Usually they are in 1-2 configuration, with 2-2 configuration for Shinkansen trains, although more exclusive accommodations have also been introduced. While "green cars" have traditionally been found on limited express services, in recent years, there has been a gradual trend to restore Green cars to longer-distance commuter lines in the Tokyo area, complete with "Green Attendants" who provide an at-seat refreshment service as well as checking tickets.
In 2011 JR East began offering a premium level of service, "Gran Class" on the Tohoku Shinkansen line but has since extended the Gran Class accommodations to additional lines, with plans to continue adding the Gran Class amenity to new and existing Shinkansen service. The Gran Class cabin bears similarity to the appearance of upper class accommodations found in air travel. With increased leg room, lower passenger seating density, at-seat meals chosen from a menu, unlimited beverage service, as well as additional premium offerings like warm towels, complimentary newspapers, and attendants that can be summoned via pressing a button, the level of service offered supersedes what is offered in Green Cars.
On overnight trains, premium accommodations are known as A cabins, which may be couchettes, private rooms or suites. However, the offering of overnight first class accommodations on inter-city service has largely been phased out, facing the competition from the speed and convenience offered by the continued expansion of the Shinkansen network. As of 2023, only two overnight trains that offer first class-style sleeper accommodations, the Sunrise Seto and Sunrise Izumo, still operate in regular revenue service.
Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu) refers to its first-class coaches as its "myu-ticket" (ミューチケット) service. These coaches are somewhat more comfortable than economy class and include assigned seating.
The Netherlands Similarly to Germany, Dutch trains have had two classes since 1956. On Intercity trains, first class has a 2+1 seating, as opposed to 2+2 in second class, can recline and feature a feet rest in coach seating and have power sockets. For commuter trains both first and second class are in 2+2 layout, the difference between second and first class is in the padding of the seats, an additional armrest, decorative lighting and being more quiet due to being located at the ends of the train. Most regional trains in the rural areas only contain second class. Since 2015 all new bought trains contain power sockets in both first and second class in agreement with the government.
Philippines