From breakfast served in a private double bed to gravity-defying seats, the experience in the crème de la crème of first-class cabins is a world away from economy. Here we take a sneaky peek at what you can expect, if you're lucky enough to be turning left...

Without doubt, Etihad’s The Residence is the way to travel in the skies. It's a suite with three rooms designed for two to share with a lounge, bedroom and private bathroom. Available on the A380, it remains the only accommodation of its kind. The ultimate in luxury, there’s much more to it than just space and privacy, too. In the lounge you can expect fresh flowers, a double-seat sofa and two dining tables at which to enjoy your meal – which will be prepared to your specifications by the inflight chef.

At no point will you be expected to fend for yourself. Guests in The Residence get their own Savoy-trained butler to fulfil their every need. They’ll also give you a quick pre-takeoff orientation, so you won’t miss any of the treats and services on offer. As New York to Abu Dhabi, one way, will cost you up to £21,546 ($27,230) you'll want to get the full experience.

A separate private bedroom on a commercial flight? The Residence has it. And it’s a comfortable 6-ft 10-inch double with a custom-made mattress. Dreamy bedding made of Egyptian cotton is provided by Italian brand Pratesi, and you’ll also get elegant loungewear by French fashion designer Christian Lacroix. There’s a 27-inch TV in the room, too. It almost goes without saying that you can get breakfast in bed.

The completely private bathroom has a full-height shower, a vanity unit with magnifying make-up mirror and hairdryer so you can be completely polished when you arrive at your destination. You’ll find everything you could need from shaving kits to toothbrushes – and even a loofah. Bath linens and bathrobes come once again from Pratesi.

Guests in The Residence get a bespoke range of fragrances and toiletries. In the bathroom you’ll find a range of amenity bags and toiletries from Italian perfumers Acqua Di Parma, with Colonia Pura provided for men and Magnolia Nobile for ladies.

If you can’t stretch to The Residence, Etihad’s other first-class offerings are not to be sniffed at. Its A380 aircraft also feature the First Apartments, of which there are eight.

Upholstered in the finest leather, the private space has a wide armchair and a separate bed that lies fully flat. Apartments can be arranged so they interconnect, so you can travel in the company of friends and loved ones too. You do have to share the first-class bathroom with other guests, but you’ll enjoy the same level of luxury as The Residence.

You don't have to scrimp on luxury if you're travelling on the 787 Dreamliner either. Here you get a seat that converts to a bed in the First Suite, but it’s still a 6-foot 8-inch fully flat bed. And there’s a wardrobe and a decent amount of personal space. If you do need to stretch your legs, you can head to The Lobby, a stylish spot to relax, have a business meeting in, or just watch TV. 

Singapore Airlines’ new suites come with a separate bed and chair, total privacy courtesy of a sliding door and some serious luxury. Upholstered in leather by Italian interior designers Poltrona Frau, the seat is reclinable to 45° and freely swivels. Two suites can be joined to create a double too. Beds can also be stowed away to make more room if you’re not using them.

There’s an en suite wardrobe and storage space that’s big enough to take your cabin luggage and store your precious personal items. Leather-lined, it looks lovely too. And forget squashing into a typical airplane bathroom: there are two to pick from in the suites cabin, one of which even has a sit-down vanity counter. Inside you’ll find an exquisite range of toiletries such as a perfume, body lotion and facial mist from Lalique.

When hunger calls, you will, of course, have a personal dining table and bespoke service. Your sumptuous meal will be served on Wedgwood bone china on the finest linen. You can order off the inflight menu, but why not indulge in a main course crafted by Singapore Air’s International Culinary Panel of chefs from around the world? Expect to splash out just shy of £5,700 ($7,073) to get from London to Singapore.

These cabins aren’t fully enclosed but are arranged in 1-1-1 setup, which means all six seats have direct aisle access. The suite itself is all padded leather and comfortable fabrics, plus there’s a huge main seat and a separate armchair opposite, which becomes part of the fully flat bed when it’s time for a snooze.

There’s plenty of finesse too. You’ll get complimentary pyjamas in a modern Chinese-style, which are made with 100% organic cotton and designed by PYE, a Hong Kong brand known for their quality. In the two shared and spacious restrooms there are amenity kits with toiletries from Aesop. Think Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm, Camellia Nut Facial Hydrating Cream and Rosehip Seed Lip Cream.

There’s a stowage area for your dining table, which your flight attendant will set up for you when you decide to eat, which is, of course, at any time you like. The a la carte menu is awash with yummy dishes with Asian and international influences. There’s even a caviar course, which comes complete with a little mother-of-pearl spoon. New York to Hong Kong will set you back about $20,000 (£15,820)

It’s no surprise that Air France’s first-class suite oozes sophistication. All soft leather, suede, textiles, tweed, wood and metallic finishes are designed to calm and indulge the senses. Heading from Paris to New York one way could cost you up to £7,300 ($9,057), so you'll want to relax to the max.

This cabin can be arranged to suit your needs and comes with a seat that transforms into a 6-foot 6- inch bed with a memory-foam mattress, a pillow and a large fluffy duvet. Then there’s the individual cloakroom, storage space, and bedside lamp. And, of course, loads of movies, games, TV shows, documentaries, music and relaxation videos to watch on the 24-inch screen.

Sample some Parisian chic with the gorgeous Carita facial and body care products, which include a crème des lagons moisturising cream, an anti-fatigue eye patch, hand cream and a lip balm. Plus there everything else you could ever need: an eye mask, earplugs, earphones, a cotton bathrobe, slippers, and socks.

The French gourmet menu is predictably sublime with service that is nothing short of exceptional. On flights departing from Paris, you get recipes from Michel Roth, Régis Marcon and Emmanuel Renaut, which are renewed every three months. Expect crisp white tablecloths, Massaud tableware, Bernardaud porcelain plates and glasses, and cutlery from Christofle. The wine selection showcases the very best of French vineyards, chosen by top sommeliers.

The airline has long excelled at business-class travel but it’s been busy overhauling its first-class offering lately, which now channels British heritage vibes. The seat turns down into a 6-foot 6-inch fully flat bed with a luxurious quilted mattress, crisp white cotton duvet and pillow. There’s now 400 thread count bedding, accompanied by a foam mattress topper, and exclusive loungewear from Temperley London.

They’ve gone big on pampering too. New Temperley London amenity bags are easy on the eye and super-generous too. They’re packed products from Elemis – another British brand – worth upwards of £100, which change seasonally.

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 And you get your own sizable personal wardrobe. Because first-class should not mean creased, especially when New York to London one-way will put a $5,600 ($7,100) shaped hole in your pocket. Got cash to splash? Discover the world's most expensive cruise ship suites too. 

Food is best of British and seasonal and arrives to order. An updated touch of luxury comes in the form of new bone china crockery, designed by William Edwards, and cutlery from Studio William, Dartington glassware, with Champagne and wines served in stemware, and spirits and soft drinks served in cut-glass tumblers. There’s a special afternoon tea option, too, because what else, when you're travelling with the UK's national carrier?

United Arab Emirates (UAE) carrier Emirates knows how to treat its customers. Its first-class cabins offer a staggering level of service. Floor-to-ceiling doors mean complete privacy, while a raft of other features, including lighting and temperature controls with 10 settings, ensures travellers don’t wish for anything while they're in the air.  And, of course, there’s a selection of the very finest snacks and beverages in the minibar. It’s basically a hotel room in the sky.

Luxurious soft-leather reclining seats, inspired by none other than NASA, can be set to the “zero-gravity” position to give a sense of weightlessness – and total comfort. There’s also a writing desk if work unfortunately calls. For passengers in the middle aisle, who don’t have a window seat, there are “virtual windows” that live stream views from external cameras. A personal wardrobe, private storage space for carry-on bags, and binoculars are just some of the other indulgences. 

The super-comfortable seat, of course, converts into a full bed. You won’t be disturbed as you drift off to the land of nod. But, if you do need something, you just need to place a video call to cabin crew, who are at your beck-and-call.

Dining is personalised. Just order room service to the suite any time the mood takes you. The à la carte menus are inspired by the country you’re heading to and are regularly refreshed. For example, this season passengers travelling to the UK and Ireland can sample strawberry eclairs, a strawberry cream delice and a deconstructed mille-feuille with poached strawberries, white chocolate cream, pastry crisps and basil tuille (baked wafer). Oh, and it’ll come on Royal Doulton fine bone china with exclusive Robert Welch cutlery.

In your suite, you’ll find an exclusive luxury skincare set from Swedish beauty brand Byredo, which has sleep oil, eye cream and pillow mist. You'll also get an amenity kit from Bulgari. And even the super-rich aren’t above needing a movie marathon to get through a long-haul flight. Good job the cabin has the largest inflight screens with 4,000 channels of entertainment and premium headphones from Bowers & Wilkins.

The first-class cabin on an Emirates’ Airbus A380 is also more than a bit special. For a start, you enter the exclusive area by heading up this swanky stairway, just like you would at a swish hotel.

Once the doors are closed on your private cabin, you retreat into an elegant and private space that’s designed to make passengers feel like a million dollars. With gold and wood veneer finishes, the vibe is super-luxe. You’ll get the same private-cinema experience and fully reclining seat – which the crew will make-up with a proper mattress, sheets, and sheepskin-like blankets. Plus there's the well-stocked minibar too.

And when you need to see another human, head to the bar to sample fine wines such as Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2004 from Bordeaux, France. The spacious lounge has a 55-inch screen with surround sound, in case you want to catch up on the latest live TV in the company of your fellow passengers as you clink Champagne glasses. 

The A380 also comes with a spa-shower room on board. You do have to share it with other first-class guests but that’s a small price to pay to freshen up and using the Bulgari toiletries and products from Dubai's Timeless Spa. Make the most of it, return tickets from London to Dubai are around £4,700 ($5,812).

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