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Flying first class - 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!

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Flying business class - 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.

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

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Good night! - 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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Privacy guaranteed - 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.

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Interior design - 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.

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

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A trip to the bathroom - Finishing touches include enamel and marble sink tops.

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Gourmet cuisine - 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.

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First-class fare - 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.

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Wining and dining - 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.

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

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

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

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Room service - 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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Flying with infants - 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.

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Get-together - 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!

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

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

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

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

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Drinks are on us - Fancy some refreshments? Just tap the walnut veneer and up pops your own personal bar.

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

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

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Business-class lounge -

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

See also: Would you survive the world's longest cruise trip?

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