So many of us long to turn left instead of right once we board the plane, but what luxurious pleasures lie in First Class? From showers and double beds to Michelin-starred cuisine and wonderful goody bags, we’ve taken a look at the most lavish first class offerings in the world.

It doesn’t get more lavish if you’re flying than Etihad’s The Residence. It's the world’s first private, multi-room cabin on a commercial passenger jet. Not only is there a living room, a double bedroom and a separate en-suite shower room, but there’s also your very own Savoy-trained butler for the ultimate in sky-high luxury.

The living room, where you’ll relax in total privacy, has a large 32-inch TV, while if you need to stay connected, you have everything at your disposal, from wi-fi to live TV. Italian-designed, fine leather lounge furniture and a reclining, two-seater sofa ensures guests are comfortable, while there’s also a touchscreen control unit controlling everything from mood lighting to in-seat massage functions. You’ll even get fresh flowers.

It seems a shame to go to sleep and waste valuable time in your own apartment in the clouds, but once it’s time for bed, forget reclining chairs: you’ll get forty winks on an 82-inch-long double bed with a custom-made mattress. Dreamy bedding made of Egyptian cotton is provided by Pratesi, and you’ll also get elegant lounge wear by Christian Lacroix. There’s a 27-inch TV in the room, too, of course.

As well as a hot shower, you’ll enjoy Acqua di Parma toiletries, a beautifully packaged luxury amenity kit and bath linens and bathrobes from Pratesi.

When it comes to the food, dining in the Residence is like eating in a Michelin-starred restaurant. Menus entirely bespoke for each guest, so you can request anything from Thanksgiving turkey to caviar. And forget the plastic knives and forks of economy: cutlery is gold-plated from Studio William, glasses are crystal by Vera Wang for Wedgwood and 24-karat-gold-plated porcelain plates from Bernadaud. All of this for the pretty penny of £55,000 return from London to Melbourne.

If you can’t quite afford the journey in The Residence don’t despair: you won’t be disappointed by the airline’s First Class offering, which isn’t just a seat, but an apartment. Before you even step on board, you can enjoy everything from cigars to spa treatments in the lounge.

Once on board, you’ll enjoy the privacy of your own apartment, with a wide armchair and a separate bed that’s nearly seven feet long. You’ll also have a personal wardrobe and minibar. You can even connect the apartments for when you’re travelling with a partner.

You’ll enjoy your Christian Lacroix amenity kit long after you step off the plane, with skincare products from Omorovicza including soothing lip balms, face moisturisers and hand cream. A vanity unit with a lit make-up mirror in your apartment makes pampering easy.

There’s even an on-board bathroom, complete with a hot shower and plenty of lovely products, for you to use before landing.

Luxury airline Emirates recently announced the launch of their new First Class private suites. They offer plenty of privacy, with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors, but they're seriously spacious offering you 40-square-feet of personal space.

Luxuriously designed with a neutral colour palette, the suites’ mod cons list has plenty of high-end names, including Mercedes Benz and Panasonic. There’s mood lighting, high-tech control panels and even virtual windows, which project the view from outside the plane using real time camera technology to make sure all passengers get a window seat – even those in the middle aisle.

Nodding off in these suites is no problem, as the leather seat reclines into a fully flat position. The beds can even be placed in a “zero-gravity” position inspired by NASA technology to give passengers a sense of “relaxation and weightlessness”. There’s also a 32-inch TV on which to watch thousands of channels or to stream content from your own devices, as well as Bowers & Wilkins noise-cancelling headphones.

Other nifty things you’ll find in your suite including a video call function to communicate with the cabin crew, a minibar and a lovely overnight kit including a luxury Byredo skincare collection, Hydra Active moisturising pyjamas and Bulgari amenities.

The food offering is a treat too, with a great selection of gourmet dishes on demand, as well as an excellent section of wines, champagnes and spirits. You can choose everything from à la carte dishes to midnight snacks, and dine in style with Royal Doulton bone china plates and Robert Welch cutlery. Your own Emirates suite will likely cost around £6,500 one way for the one-way trip between Geneva and Dubai.

Even if you don’t end up in a suite, the "standard" First Class offering from Emirates is still exceptional. You’ll have sliding doors for privacy, ambient lighting, a minibar and your very own private cinema to enjoy.

You don’t need to wait until you get to your hotel to freshen up, as the airline has its very own on-board shower, complete with Bulgari toiletries and Timeless Spa products. There are also great Bulgari amenity kits to take home, which include a fragrance and skincare essentials. The kits come in four designs for men and four for women, so if you fly frequently, you can build up quite a collection.

The seats convert into fully flat beds, complete with mattresses, and you’ll also receive moisturising sleepwear, which use Hydra Active Microcapsule Technology to keep skin feeling soft even in the sky. The pyjamas also come with matching slippers, an eye mask and a felt pouch so you can take them home. There are also sheepskin-like blankets to snuggle up in.

While there’s plenty of privacy, if you're feeling sociable there’s a spacious lounge where you can meet fellow passengers, enjoy drinks and nibbles, and watch live TV on the 55-inch screen with surround sound. A First Class trip from London to Dubai in late January 2017 was priced at £3,500, so we'll just keep dreaming of that free upgrade.

If you long for privacy and comfort in the air, book one of Singapore Airlines’ new suites. The cosy spaces feature sliding doors, leather seats upholstered by Italian furniture brand Poltrona Frau, 32-inch HD TVs and personal wardrobes.

Each suite comes with a single or double, and a cosy leather chair beside it for those wishing to relax without having to convert the bed into a sitting position. The bed can be stowed completely when not in use so guests can make the most of the space in their suites.

The wardrobe space, too, would delight the neatest of neat freaks: there’s a full-sized personal wardrobe, a handbag stowage compartment and an amenity box lined with leather.

Forget squashing into a typical aeroplane bathroom: there are two to pick from in the suites cabin, one of which even has a sit-down vanity counter.

Travel in style with Air France’s La Première suites, decked out attractively in leather and suede, with wood, metallic and tweed finishes. Adjustable curtains guarantee privacy, while there’s a separate ottoman seat if you wish to sit or eat with another passenger.

There’s a personal wardrobe, numerous storage areas and a 24-inch HD TV with a plenty of channels.

You’ll dine in the finest setting, with crisp white tablecloths, JM Massaud tableware, Bernardaud porcelain plates and glasses and cutlery from Christofle. The wine selection is excellent, while menus are renewed monthly and created by renowned chefs. On flights from Paris, you’ll also be able to dine on caviar.

The cushioned seat stretches out to become a flat bed of over six feet long, with cosy pillows, soft sheets, fluffy duvets, merino wool blankets and memory foam mattresses. There’s even a bedside lamp to make you feel at home.

You’ll also get a suitably chic travel kit filled with Carita beauty products for the face and body, including anti-fatigue eye patches, as well as a comfort kit including a cotton bathrobe, slippers and socks.

With Qantas, the fun begins before you even board, as fly First Class and you'll receive complimentary chauffeur-driven transfers and spa treatments in the airport lounge. In the cabin, passengers can get forty winks while sleeping on luxurious bedding provided by Australian brand Sheridan. Not only can you choose from a pillow menu with three choices, but there’s also a memory foam mattress, soft sheets, fluffy duvets, a cotton woven throw and a cushion.

Passengers will also receive luxurious Martin Grant-designed pyjamas and slippers made of 100% cotton, as well as matching male and female amenity kits. The kits contain a range of hydrating ASPAR by Aurora Spa products, travel socks, eye masks, dental kits, ear plugs and deodorant.

It’s certainly a relaxing experience flying First Class with Cathay Pacific. In your suite, your seat will transform into a wide flat bed, complete with a thick mattress, pillows, cushions and a 500 thread count cotton duvet.

The service is high-tech too: you’ll be able to let the crew know not to disturb you with the push of a button, and there’s also a wake up call service so the cabin crew can wake you up when you choose. You’ll have your own 18.5-inch TV screen and a separate video handset so you can browse the entertainment options, order from duty free and see the map without interrupting your on-screen entertainment.

The menu is a delight, with a delicious range of classic Chinese dishes, à la carte dining on demand and Michelin-starred chefs creating your meals. Naturally, there’s a wide selection of champagne, wine and fine cheese to enjoy.

You’ll get some decadent extras, too: an Aesop amenity kit full of luxurious toiletries, from hand creams to face creams, and a cosy pyjama set, eye mask and slippers made of 100% organic cotton.

Virgin Atlantic’s upper class cabin has the longest bed of any airline’s business class product, and you can even recline on your seat for take-off and landing. Instead of reclining from a seat into a bed, passengers sit on a soft leather armchair, which then flips over into a separate flat bed with a mattress to sleep on at the touch of a button. There’s also a private bar, plenty of storage, a lovely amenity kit, mood lighting and white cotton bedding, duvets and pyjamas provided.

For the ultimate in social flying, book a Qsuite with Qatar Airways. The business class offering lets passengers join seats up, whether to create their own private room with a double bed, or to create a private cabin for up to four people.

Taking business class to the next level, the Delta One suites are true luxury. As well as full-height doors, flat beds, ambient lighting and plenty of storage, the suites come with Alessi servicewear, noise-cancelling headphones, memory foam cushions, 18-inch TVs and amenity kits featuring Kiehl’s products.

Flying in first class with Garuda Indonesia is a real treat. In the beautifully-designed suites, which have chic wooden detailing and plenty of space, you'll enjoy a sliding door for privacy, mood lighting, a personal wardrobe, delicious Indonesian and international dishes, and cosy lounge wear and slippers.

Falling asleep won't be a challenge, with wide ergonomic seats converting into fully flat beds, complete with mattresses, duvets, pillows and reading lights. There are plenty of other perks too, including a butler service in the airport, luxurious amenity kits and even stationery provided for correspondence in the clouds.