▲First-class menus mean first-class cuisine. Expect to be served dishes like baked Boston lobster with Gruyère, Emmental and Cheddar cheeses, asparagus tips, and saffron rice.

▲Traveling at this level is reflected in the wine and beverage offer. Some of the most exclusive wines in the world are showcased on wine lists.

▲Your first-class flight experience actually begins on the ground, in the dedicated check-in lounge at the airport.

▲Boeing 777-300 first-class suite service allows passengers to voice or video call for "room service" to their suite, without pressing their call bell.

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Similarly, traveling business-class affords the luxury of enjoying preflight passenger service in an exclusive environment.

▲Hennessy Paradis Extra Rare Cognac is poured on the Airbus A380 first-class inflight bar, no doubt for a very discerning passenger.

▲Top-end beverage choice includes exclusive teas from around the world.

▲Wealthy passengers traveling with newborns are taken care of in style and comfort. Here, a United Airlines flight attendant operates a baby bassinet on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

▲Lufthansa flight attendants prepare beds in first-class cabins onboard an Airbus A380 aircraft.

▲A flight attendant makes final preparations in the first-class suite cabin of a Singapore Airlines aircraft.

▲The world's first flat bed in business class was introduced by British Airways way back in 2000. Now this luxury facility is a standard feature of many airlines. Pictured is Emirates' first-class private suite complete with doors, a service window for refreshments, and 'zero-gravity' beds, which feature an adjustable bed frame that allows for the legs and head to be raised at just the right angle to reduce back pressure and increase circulation.

▲The business-class seat arrangement in the huge, double-decker Airbus A380, pictured here in Lufthansa's corporate colors.

▲Couples flying with Singapore Airlines on its Airbus A380 can travel like royalty in the aircraft's first-class twin cabin section. But it will cost you!

▲A flight attendant pauses in the business-class cabin of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

▲Attention to detail is taken very seriously in first and business class. Here is a business-class seat control panel.

▲A champagne greeting awaits the lucky few who can afford to travel in the first class twin cabin section of the Singapore Airlines Airbus A380. It looks like the interior of a plush hotel.

▲First- and business-class air travel is all about offering the passenger a quiet, spacious environment. The aesthetic quality of the aircraft's public areas is a vital component of the aircraft's interior design.

▲The gourmet cuisine served in first class wouldn't look out of place in a Michelin-starred restaurant. Indeed, many of the world's top chefs have designed high-end menus for the airline industry.

▲First-class cabins are practically self-contained, like this one on a Boeing 777-300 operated by Singapore Airlines.

▲The swanky business-class bar lounge on a Qatar Airways Airbus A380 aircraft.

▲The second-tier level, but nevertheless still out of range of most people's budgets, business travel is big business! Etihad Airways Airbus A380 business-class luxury seats provide everything the busy executive might need.

▲The privileged passenger experience on the Etihad Airbus A380 upper deck lounge is akin to the guest service provided in five-star hotels.

▲Qatar Airways Airbus A380 business-class luxury seats. Note how mood lighting plays an important role in achieving the overall design signature.

▲This is Singapore Airlines' New Generation business-class seat on its Boeing 777-300 fleet.

▲There's plenty of room to move about in the suite-class cabin on Singapore Airlines' aircraft.

▲Now this is how to freshen up! The Emirates Airbus A380 first-class shower facility is a plush oasis of cleanliness.

▲This could be the interior of a glitzy New York nightclub. Instead it's the Emirates Airbus A380 business-class bar.

▲Finishing touches include enamel and marble sink tops.

▲Fancy some refreshments? Just tap the walnut veneer and up pops your own personal bar.

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Traveling first or business class by air is a luxury not afforded to everyone. While many may dream of going through their international flights with the kind of service only found in the swankiest of five-star hotels, it isn't exactly an accessible way to travel. However, there are those select few who can splash out thousands for a first-class seat with all the trimmings. But for those of us who have never experienced it, what exactly do you get for your money?

Take off through this gallery and see how the other half fly.

▲This must surely be the most luxurious way to travel, but only those with deep pockets can afford such indulgence. Air travel like this is only for high-flyers and can cost upwards of US$9,000—one way, depending on the route!