First Class to Australia from the UK: Cost, Airlines and Is It Worth It?

First class to Australia is a smaller market than most people expect. Only four airlines still sell it from the UK, only on specific aircraft, and on some routes "first class" means first on one sector and business on the other. This guide covers what is actually on sale in 2026, what it costs on our private fares, and when it is worth the step up from a flat bed in business.

First Class Fares to Australia from the UK

Lowest return first class fare per person on our private fares, with the business class fare to the same city for comparison:

Guide prices checked 5 October 2026 and read from our fare data; they are not live fares and move with season and availability.

Which Airlines Fly First Class to Australia from the UK?

Emirates — the widest choice

Emirates sells First on its A380 and Boeing 777 flights between Dubai and Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and the London–Dubai sector is an A380 with the shower spa and onboard bar. It is the only airline offering First to four Australian cities, and the only one with a shower in the air. The A380 suite has a sliding door, a minibar and a seat that converts to a bed; the newer 777 "Game Changer" suite adds floor-to-ceiling doors and virtual windows on the centre seats. Adelaide is the exception: Emirates does not fly First there.

Qantas — A380 only, London to Sydney via Singapore

Qantas First exists on one aircraft type, the A380, which operates QF1/QF2 between London Heathrow and Sydney via Singapore. The cabin holds just 15 seats and is quiet and intimate, but it is an older design: no sliding door, no separate bed beside the seat, and privacy closer to Singapore Airlines First than to a Qsuite. You fly it for the service and the crew-made bed, not for the hardware. From late 2026 Qantas adds more A380 flying between Singapore and Sydney, and the Project Sunrise A350-1000ULR brings a new six-suite First cabin from 2027.

Singapore Airlines — Suites on the A380

Singapore Airlines flies the A380 from London to Changi with Suites: a separate armchair and full-length bed in a closed cabin of around 50 square feet, with adjoining suites combining into a double for couples. From Singapore to Sydney and Melbourne you may get the A380 Suites again or the 777-300ER First seat, depending on the flight, so the second sector matters when you book.

Qatar Airways — A380 First, Sydney

Qatar's First exists only on its A380s, which it deploys on Sydney and at times Perth. It is a traditional open-suite First rather than the Qsuite's closed room, with the Al Mourjan lounges and a short, efficient Doha transit on your side. Qsuite in business is often the better product for the money on this route, which is a conversation we have with most first class enquirers.

Who no longer flies First to Australia

Etihad's First Apartment is sold only as far as Abu Dhabi, with business onward. British Airways offers First to Singapore but does not fly to Australia at all. American Airlines and Korean Air have withdrawn First from the Australian market. If an online fare shows "First" on one of these, read the itinerary carefully: it will be First on the first sector and business on the long one.

Is First Class to Australia Worth It?

Honest answer: for most travellers, no — and we sell both cabins. Across our routes first class costs on average 2.2 times the business fare, and on this route every business cabin worth booking is already fully flat. The premium buys a closed suite, a shower on Emirates, better food and wine, a quieter cabin and the First lounges and chauffeur at both ends. It does not buy a better night's sleep than a Qsuite.

First is worth it in three situations. If the trip is a once-in-a-lifetime event and the journey is part of it. If you are flying Emirates and want the A380 shower and suite as the experience. Or if you are a couple who wants the Singapore Airlines double Suite. Outside those, put the difference into a stopover night and a better hotel and fly business class to Australia.

How to Get First Class to Australia for Less

• Buy First on the long sector only. First from Dubai, Doha or Singapore to Australia with business from London is often the best value: you get the suite for the overnight sector where it matters.
• Avoid the December peak. First cabins are small, so Christmas sells out months ahead and prices accordingly. May, June and September are the value months.
• Confirm the aircraft, twice. First disappears when an A380 is swapped for a 787 or A350. We check both sectors before you commit.
• Ask about private fares. Our contracted First fares are not filed publicly; the public price for the same seat is routinely higher.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is first class to Australia from the UK?

First class to Australia starts from £5,302 return on our private fares (Adelaide), with Sydney from £5,654, Perth from £5,798, Melbourne from £5,948 and Brisbane from £6,448. That is roughly 2.2 times the business class fare on average. Guide prices checked 5 October 2026, not live fares.

Which airlines fly first class from the UK to Australia?

Four: Emirates (A380 and 777 via Dubai to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth), Qantas (A380 only, London–Singapore–Sydney), Singapore Airlines (A380 Suites and 777 First to Sydney and Melbourne) and Qatar Airways (A380 only, Sydney and at times Perth). Etihad and British Airways do not carry First through to Australia.

Does Qantas have first class to London?

Yes, but only on the A380, which flies QF1 and QF2 between London Heathrow and Sydney via Singapore. The cabin has 15 seats with no sliding door, so it is less private than Emirates or Singapore Suites but well regarded for service. A new six-suite First cabin arrives on the Project Sunrise A350-1000 from 2027.

Is first class to Australia worth the money?

For most travellers, business class is the better spend: every business cabin worth booking on this route is fully flat, and First costs around 2.2 times more on average. First is worth it for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, for the Emirates A380 shower and suite, or for couples wanting Singapore Airlines' double Suite.

Can I fly first class to Adelaide?

Not all the way. No airline sells First between its hub and Adelaide, so a first class fare to Adelaide means First on the London sector and business onward. Our Adelaide first class fare from £5,302 reflects that. For through-First, fly to Sydney, Melbourne, Perth or Brisbane and add a domestic connection.

Which is the best first class to Australia?

Emirates for the hardware and the shower, Singapore Airlines Suites for space and the double bed, Qantas for service on a single-airline ticket, and Qatar for lounge quality. If privacy on the overnight sector is the priority, compare Emirates' A380 suite against Qatar's Qsuite in business before paying for First.

How do I get first class to Australia cheaper?

Buy First on the long sector only and business from London, avoid the December peak, confirm the aircraft on both sectors so a swap does not remove the cabin, and ask for private fares, which are not published online. May, June and September are usually the cheapest months to travel.

Does Emirates fly first class to every Australian city?

Emirates sells First on its Dubai flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, on both the A380 and Boeing 777. It does not offer First to Adelaide. The London–Dubai sector is an A380 with the shower spa and onboard bar, so the whole journey can be First if your Australian city is one of those four.

Related Reading

• Business Class Flights to Australia
• Best Business Class Airlines to Australia
• Business Class vs First Class
• Qantas Business Class Guide
• UK Business Class Fare Index