These days, flying in first class gets you much (much) more than a free in-flight meal and a plush seat at the front of the plane. As more travelers choose to upgrade from ever-shrinking economy class seats, airlines are investing millions of dollars in new premium cabins with cutting-edge technology that are more spacious than ever before. From private onboard apartments to suites that feature a reclining seat and a separate bed, these are five of the coolest first-class seats you can book for an unforgettable vacation.

Emirates First Class

Dubai-based Emirates changed the game when it comes to in-flight luxury. It purchases more Champagne than any other airline in the world, including rare vintages that retail for up to $500 a bottle. And in 2008, Emirates was the first airline to introduce onboard shower suites on its fleet of double-decker Airbus A380 aircraft. But for now, the carrier’s latest-generation First Class product can be found on only a handful of its Boeing 777-300ERs — and you’ll definitely want to go out of your way to book one of them.

These fully enclosed suites offer up to 40 square feet of personal space, including floor-to-ceiling sliding doors and personal lighting and temperature controls that truly make it feel like your own private cabin. The technology is also remarkable: You’ll not only have a high-definition entertainment screen with thousands of movies and TV shows to choose from, but if you happen to be sitting in the center of the aircraft, your suite will also have virtual windows that project the real-time view from outside the aircraft.

Air France La Première

You’ll have more than enough room to make yourself comfortable in Air France’s exclusive La Première cabin, which features a single row of just four seats and is available on select Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Each suite contains a 35-inch-wide seat that can be converted into a fully flat, 6.5-foot-long bed with a memory foam mattress, along with elegant cabin finishes and thoughtful features like a floor-to-ceiling curtain to maximize privacy. 

The seat lacks some of the bells and whistles you’ll find on newer products — the carrier plans to introduce even larger seats in late 2024 — but Air France truly shines when it comes to service. La Première passengers can relax in exclusive lounges with gourmet dining and free spa services before being whisked away by a private chauffeur to board the aircraft. Once onboard, you can expect more over-the-top amenities, including a multicourse dining experience from Michelin three-starred chef Glenn Viel.

Singapore Airlines A380 First Class Suites

In 2023, Singapore Airlines was named the world’s best airline in the World Airline Awards, an honor it has held five times. The airline brings its top-notch service to its latest onboard premium product, found on the upper deck of its Airbus A380 jumbo-jet fleet. These First Class suites boast a plush leather swiveling recliner chair alongside a separate bed, so you don’t worry about having to convert your seat into a bed. The airline even offers double suites that feature extra-large beds for those traveling with a friend or loved one. 

And when flying Singapore Airlines, you can forget about the standard “beef, chicken, or fish” menu choices. The carrier’s “Book the Cook” amenity allows passengers to choose from dozens of fine-dining options up to 24 hours before departure, including dishes such as lobster thermidor, Singaporean laksa, and wagyu beef tenderloin. 

Japan Airlines First Class

In early 2024, Japan Airlines debuted its latest First Class product on its new flagship aircraft, the Airbus A350-1000, which you can find on routes such as Tokyo to New York. The spacious new suites feature sliding privacy doors and a sofa-like seat that’s wide enough for two people to sit comfortably and can be converted into a fully flat double bed. 

But before you start snoozing, you’ll want to take advantage of the oversized 43-inch high-definition entertainment screen and the suite’s impressive tech — including built-in headrest speakers, a digital monitor that allows you to communicate directly with flight attendants, and a tail-mounted camera that shows a bird’s-eye view of your flight. As on the other airlines on this list, the service in Japan Airlines First Class is top-notch. Expect exquisitely presented meals with both Japanese and Western menu choices, along with an extensive wine list. 

Etihad Airways First Class Apartments

When you’ve booked a ticket for an “apartment” — on an airplane, no less — you know you’re in for something special. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has outfitted the upper deck of its fleet of 10 Airbus A380s with First Class Apartments, each with sliding doors and a plush leather recliner facing a separate couch that can be converted into a 6-foot-10-inch-long bed. Onboard, you can expect Giorgio Armani amenity kits, free-flowing caviar, the airline’s signature cognac service, a customizable dine-on-demand menu, and turndown service. There’s even an onboard shower you can reserve to freshen up before you arrive. 

Though you probably won’t find much to complain about if you’re flying in one of the “Apartments,” Etihad Airways offers an even more luxurious option called “The Residence,” and there’s truly nothing quite like it in the skies. Accommodating up to two people, the 125-square-foot Residence consists of three rooms, including a bedroom with a double bed, a separate living area, and a private shower. It’s about as close as you can get to flying a private jet on a commercial airplane.

Some items in a hotel room — say, a tiny bottle of shampoo or a few individual coffee pods — are considered complimentary and are baked into the cost of the room stay. But there are other products you should never take home with you. If one of these ends up in your suitcase, you may be on the hook for an extra credit card charge to cover the cost of a replacement — or there may be other, more serious repercussions. Here are five things that you should never take from your hotel room.

How Hotels Know if You Take Something

Once you check out of a hotel room, the housekeeping team will assess whether any major items are missing as part of their duties. Hotels typically keep an inventory of items in each room, so it’s easy to tell if something has been misplaced. While hotels will do their best to locate the missing item, if they can’t find it, they may have no choice but to conclude that you took the item with you. If this is true, then you can expect an extra charge on your bill to cover the cost of a replacement. Additional consequences may include being blacklisted by that hotel or any associated properties. In rare cases, hotel thefts result in criminal prosecution if the cost of items is substantially high.

The Bathrobe

There are perhaps few things more tempting to take from your hotel than a bathrobe, especially at a nice resort where it’s made of high-quality material. But don’t let those impulses get the better of you — depending on the hotel and the quality of the robe, you can expect to be charged anywhere from $20 to $150 if you fail to leave the robe where you found it. Unfortunately, robe thefts are a far-too-common occurrence, so some hotels are particularly diligent about tracking down their lost robes and holding guests accountable.

The good news is that, depending on where you’re staying, the hotel may actually be able to sell you a brand-new robe that you can take home. In particular, many luxury resorts keep additional robes on hand to sell if any guests are interested, so check with the front desk before you leave. (In some cases, you can even buy them online.) It’s far better to pay $100 for a new hotel robe (guilt-free) than it is to steal a used one and end up paying the same price anyway once the hotel realizes it’s missing.

Linens and Bedding

When staying at a hotel, a general rule of thumb is to avoid taking anything that can be washed and reused for future guests. That includes bedding, towels, pillows, duvets, blankets, and other similar items. According to the Washington Post, some hotels have even started embedding tiny tracking devices inside certain fabrics in order to keep tabs on items that are frequently stolen. These small security tags are easy to miss if you don’t know they’re there.

Electronics

Don’t be tempted to pack the remote control, alarm clock, hair dryer, or any other electronic devices in your suitcase. Not only would you be stealing, but you’re also inconveniencing the next guest. Believe it or not, some hotel guests have even been accused of taking lamps and other room fixtures home with them. Needless to say, this is a terrible idea, and you may end up with more than just an extra credit card charge for taking expensive electronics such as those.

Kitchenware

As a courtesy, some high-end hotels stock rooms with actual glassware instead of disposable cups. But don’t confuse those glasses as gifts to take home. The same goes for any plates, utensils, or other kitchenware that you may find at extended-stay hotels. If it can be washed and reused, leave all kitchenware behind. You may think that you can pocket a single fork and get away with it, but err on the side of caution to avoid the potential embarrassment of being caught stealing cutlery.

Clothes Hangers

Snatching a few wooden hangers out of the closet is also a no-no. If you find any plastic or wire hangers in your room, check with the front desk and ask if you can take those with you, rather than assume it’s OK to do so.

Items You Can Take

If you really want to bring home a souvenir from your hotel stay, stick to taking complimentary toiletries such as small bottles of shampoo and soap. (The full-size bottles that are bolted in some hotel showers should stay where they are.) It’s also generally permitted to take slippers home with you if they’re offered by the hotel, though it’s still best to ask a hotel employee just to be safe. Always contact the front desk with any questions you may have to avoid the risk of fines, bans, or even prosecution.

Why do long-haul flights leave us looking forward to a nap immediately upon disembarking? This uncomfortable feeling comes from the downsides of traveling, from missed sleep while switching time zones to enduring cramped seating and dry cabin air. While the drawbacks of flying are worth the reward, it’s important to take care of yourself after a flight. With the help of health experts, we’ve gathered five of the most important postflight self-care rituals. 

Rejuvenate Your Skin

We all want to look and feel our best during vacation, but airplanes can leave our skin dull and dry. This isn’t just a perception — it’s backed by science. As board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick explained to L’Oréal, the low humidity in planes is very drying, “which is why skin tends to look worse after travel.” Dr. Garshick recommends using a face mist immediately after your flight. Not only does the cool mist feel refreshing, but ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin can also counteract water loss. 

Dr. Garshick further recommends wearing a postflight face mask. If you don’t want to walk around the airport in one, apply it as soon as you get to your hotel. Sheet masks are most convenient for travel because they’re small and not messy to pack. Pro tip: Always give new skin care products a trial run before a vacation to avoid unwanted reactions. 

Finally, if you’ve just debarked from a sleepless red-eye flight, your under-eye area might seem a little puffier than usual. Dr. Garshick recommends using an under-eye serum that contains caffeine, which can soothe and smooth the area. Other methods to calm facial inflammation include using a cool compress, metal face roller, or gua sha tool.

Skip the Fast Food

“Sleep deprivation actually messes with feelings of hunger,” says cardiovascular surgeon Dr. David Greuner, who warns travelers to be mindful of the foods they eat after deplaning. Jet lag can make you feel hungrier than usual, but that doesn’t mean you should head for the nearest fast-food joint after collecting your luggage.

Choosing the right foods after landing can significantly impact postflight energy levels. Fruits and vegetables, which are packed with antioxidants and high water content, can help you rehydrate and feel refreshed. Light, protein-rich foods such as mixed nuts or yogurt can provide a quick energy boost. On the other hand, sugary, processed foods including sodas, fast food, candies, and sweets may fill you up initially but can leave you feeling sluggish, exacerbating the jet lag.

Banish the Booze

With the increased risk of dehydration and inconvenient bathroom breaks, overdoing it on boozy beverages during a flight can hinder our travel experience. However, some experts also recommend avoiding alcohol after your flight — at least during the first night. “Alcohol will also interrupt your sleep and could make jet lag worse,” registered dietitian Stacie Haaga explains. “Avoid anything you know causes you gastric distress or makes you feel bad,” she adds. Instead, enjoy a mocktail when you land and save alcoholic drinks for the next day — after your body has had time to rest and recoup some of its lost water content.

Go on a Nature Walk

After being cooped up in a mega-sized metal tube for five, eight, or even 18 hours — if you’re flying on the world’s longest commercial flight route from New York City to Singapore — you’ll likely need some stretching and fresh air. While this isn’t always possible, try to find a nice park, beach, or green space after check-in. Not only can the fresh air wake you up and help fight off jet lag, but walking outside also has many proven health benefits. Being outdoors can help calm you down by lowering your heart rate and blood pressure if you’re an anxious flyer. Walking also releases endorphins that can significantly improve your mood. 

Even if you enjoy flying, you probably feel stiff from the crowded seating on most flights. The primary muscles used in walking include the quadriceps, hamstrings, calf muscles, and hip adductors (along with the support of the gluteal and abdominal muscles). These are also the muscle groups that can get most cramped in the seating position on an airplane, so working them out right after the flight is a great way to feel better faster. If walking outside isn’t possible, head for your hotel gym.

Catch Some Z’s

Getting enough sleep is crucial to keeping your body running at optimal levels, and this is especially important during vacation, when we want to feel our best. Sleep might be tricky if you’re dealing with time zone changes, but strive to get the doctor-recommended seven hours per night. If you have trouble falling asleep during vacation, try to mimic your at-home nightly routine. Take a bath or a hot shower, meditate, read a book, or listen to relaxing music. Whatever prepares you for bed at home can help you unwind and fall asleep faster while away. 

If sticking to your routine still doesn’t do the trick, the doctors at Johns Hopkins University recommend a low dose of nonprescription melatonin. Your body naturally produces melatonin around two hours before bedtime to prepare your body to rest, but sometimes (especially if your circadian rhythm is thrown off), your body needs a little boost to get things rolling. Taking melatonin before bedtime can help you fall asleep faster and leave you feeling more refreshed to start enjoying your vacation.

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Checking a bag on your next flight? Despite their unpopularity, baggage fees likely aren’t going anywhere soon. These dreaded fees have become a major revenue driver for U.S. airlines, to the tune of nearly $5.5 billion in 2025, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. And in recent weeks, we’ve seen increases in bag fees across the board, with airlines saying the hikes are necessary to counter soaring fuel costs. Find out how much you can now expect to pay for checked bags — or better yet, how to avoid checked bag fees altogether.

Fuel Prices Are Making Bag Fees Worse

With major disruptions to the global oil supply, the war in Iran has caused fuel prices to spike around the world. Airlines have been particularly hard-hit, as jet fuel prices have doubled since the war began at the end of February 2026. While airlines have already hiked fares and cut flights, they’ve also looked to bag fees as a way to cover their rising costs.

In late March, New York City-based JetBlue was the first to raise checked baggage fees, by $4 and $9 for a traveler’s first and second checked bag, respectively. Back in 2024, the carrier was also the first to introduce peak and off-peak pricing for checked bags. Passengers flying in off-peak periods can expect to pay $10 less per bag than those flying during high-demand times such as summer, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. (You can find the full list of peak dates on JetBlue’s website.)

A week after JetBlue increased fees, United Airlines followed suit and increased bag fees by $10 for the first and second pieces of checked luggage — and a whopping $50 per bag beyond that. The increase applies to tickets purchased on or after April 3, 2026.

Alaska, American, Delta, and Southwest have also raised their bag fees. (As on United, these increased fees apply only to new bookings.) Interestingly, American Airlines announced that, for tickets booked on or after May 18, 2026, passengers who book a basic-economy fare (as opposed to Main Cabin) will have to pay $5 extra for baggage on top of the newly increased fee — a first for U.S. airlines.

Not counting Southwest, which only began charging customers for checked bags last year, this is the first time since 2024 that the major U.S. airlines have raised their baggage fees. Back then, Delta also blamed the increase on rising costs. Southwest, for its part, was long known for its generous “bags fly free” policy, which allowed most passengers two checked bags free of charge, but the airline abandoned that long-standing practice in March 2025, saying it was leaving money on the table. It was the last major airline not to charge for checked bags, which the airline ultimately didn’t view as enough of a competitive advantage as it looked to reduce costs and boost profitability.

What Checked Bags Cost on U.S. Airlines in 2026

As of April 2026, travelers on most U.S. domestic flights can expect to pay $45 to $50 for their first checked bag and $55 to $60 for their second piece of luggage. That’s up to 28% higher than at the start of the year.

Pro tip: Try not to wait until you check bags at the airport to pay the fee. If you plan ahead and prepay online before check-in, several airlines offer a discount on baggage fees.

Below is a list of checked bag fees for domestic flights on the largest U.S. airlines. Fees can vary considerably for long-haul international flights, so be sure to check your airline’s website when traveling outside the U.S.

• Alaska Airlines: $45 for first bag; $55 for second bag
• American Airlines: $50 for first bag ($45 if prepaid online); $60 for second bag ($55 if prepaid online); basic-economy fares pay $5 more (starting May 18)
• Delta Air Lines: $45 for first bag; $55 for second bag
• JetBlue: $49 for first bag (off-peak); $59 for first bag (peak); $69 for second bag (off-peak); $79 for second bag (peak); save $10 by prepaying online 24 hours in advance
• Southwest Airlines: $45 for first bag; $55 for second bag
• United Airlines: $50 for first bag ($45 if prepaid online); $60 for second bag ($55 if prepaid online)

Note that bags — both carry-on and checked — are priced variably (and often cost even more) on ultra-low-cost budget carriers such as Spirit and Frontier. Check your airline’s website during booking, and look for any discounts you get for paying bag fees in advance. 

How To Avoid Checked Bag Fees

The first answer may seem obvious: Try to fit more in your carry-on bag. That task becomes easier with these clever tricks — such as rolling your clothing instead of folding it — that promise to save valuable space and help you avoid checked bag fees altogether. (Plus, you won’t have to worry about the airline losing your luggage while on vacation.) If you do manage to fit enough in your carry-on but don’t want to deal with the hassle of finding overhead space, most airlines will let you check your bag at the gate free of charge.

Another option is to look for fare options that include a checked bag, like premium economy or even first class — the math on the cost of the upgrade might work out better if you were planning to check bags anyway, and these tickets come with other perks like extra legroom and priority boarding.

Lastly, most major airlines offer co-branded credit cards that waive baggage fees for the cardholder and up to nine passengers traveling together on the same reservation. Though these credit cards typically charge an annual fee, the savings on bag fees for even just one or two trips could be substantial. For instance, when Southwest announced checked bag fees, the airline noted that those with a Rapid Rewards credit card, along with up to eight additional passengers traveling on the same reservation, would still be allowed to check one bag for free.

The same goes for those who hold elite status (what Southwest calls “A-List”), which is similar to other airlines that offer anywhere from one to three bags free, depending on your status tier. Even if you don’t have elite status yourself, if you’re flying with someone who does, their benefits extend to those on the same reservation.

Having access to Wi-Fi in the air is increasingly a high priority for travelers. Getting online is now so much a part of our everyday lives that many of us are loath to put that on pause, even for a few hours in the sky. Many passengers are willing to pay for in-flight Wi-Fi, yet the speeds are often excruciatingly slow. So, what’s the problem — why is airplane Wi-Fi so bad? And do certain airlines provide better Wi-Fi than others? Read below to find out.

Growing Demand for In-Flight Wi-Fi

Due to the widespread use of smartphones, airlines have seen the demand for Wi-Fi grow substantially over the past decade or so. Instead of a relatively small number of business travelers checking emails, carriers now have to contend with a much higher number of passengers expecting online access for a much wider range of activities. 

According to in-flight Wi-Fi provider ViaSat’s 2023 Passenger Experience Survey, connectivity during a flight is now less of a “would like” and more a “must have,” with 83% of respondents saying they’d rebook with an airline for better Wi-Fi. They also found that free in-flight WiFi is now second only to the cost of the ticket in influencing booking decisions, beating factors such as legroom and in-flight catering.

Challenges Connecting in the Air

Getting everyone connected is a costly business, partly because of the challenges created by being 35,000 feet up in the air and traveling at speeds over 500 mph. There are two main methods of supplying in-flight Wi-Fi to passengers. The first is the air-to-ground system, and the second relies on the use of satellites.

With air-to-ground systems, antennas underneath the plane receive a signal from ground-based towers and relay it to the onboard server. Gogo, a popular in-flight Wi-Fi provider, uses this type of system and offers complete coverage of the contiguous U.S. An advantage of an air-to-ground system is low latency — that is, how long the signal takes to travel. However, these signals typically have very limited bandwidth — typically around five megabits per second, compared with about 30 megabits per second for mobile broadband. As dozens of passengers try to share the already limited bandwidth, that can have a significant impact on the quality and speed of the connection.

The other method of getting connected is the satellite system. It’s more expensive than an air-to-ground system, but satellites are capable of carrying far more data, resulting in faster speeds for users. Although coverage is greater, the number of satellites can still place limits on bandwidth. Traditionally, latency has been more of an issue as the plane’s antenna must reach a target more than 22,000 miles above the Earth. As the plane is moving at a high speed, the antenna’s position has to be adjusted constantly to maintain contact with the satellite station. However, the rollout of Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency offering is set to improve speeds even further. 

How Does Wi-Fi on U.S. Airlines Compare?

While passengers have dealt with slow speeds in the skies for quite some time, things are looking up, and U.S.-based airlines are investing millions of dollars to improve their offerings. ViaSat has been enabling JetBlue’s FlyFi for more than a decade, and best of all, it’s free for all customers. However, the customer experience isn’t consistent across all routes. Service is best over the contiguous U.S., while the system’s “extended coverage” over the Caribbean, Central America, and the Atlantic is available only on certain plane types. 

Delta, meanwhile, has reportedly invested $1 billion launching Delta Sync, an initiative to bring fast, free Wi-Fi to all passengers thanks to the airline’s partnership with T-Mobile. The rollout is well underway, and Delta hopes to achieve 90% connectivity (based on total available seat miles) by the end of 2024. Southwest Airlines has also recently upgraded its entire fleet with the latest-generation hardware, promising speeds up to 10 times faster than before, for a flat fee of $8 per flight. Alaska Airlines offers satellite Wi-Fi fast enough to stream entertainment on most flights for $8. 

United Airlines offers some flights with upgraded speeds (starting at $8), but still has a mix of providers depending on aircraft, and that includes slower air-to-ground systems. Similarly, American also has upgraded high-speed satellite Wi-Fi on most routes (starting at $10), but some planes still feature the older system as of mid-2024.

In February 2024, Hawaiian Airlines announced that it had become the first major carrier to adopt Starlink’s high-speed broadband system. The system will be deployed across the Airbus A321neo aircraft in the fleet and is being offered as a complimentary service to all passengers. Overall, as airlines try to keep pace with demand and expectations, the future of in-flight WiFi looks a lot more promising.