With the holidays right around the corner, now is the best time to begin planning your air travel. According to a number of recent news reports, the cheapest airline fares can be found 57 days before your planned departure, while the best day of the week to buy those tickets is Sunday. Even though the majority of people will be searching for the cheapest and least stressful holiday airline deals, those with interests in the luxury market will be looking to travel to the most exotic destinations in ultimate style and class. Rather than visiting family and friends in the United States, there’s always the option of indulging in international travel to some of the most interesting destinations in the world. Treating yourself to a five-figure plane ticket might just be the present you’ve always wanted. Below is a list of the top five most expensive plane tickets in the world–in order of price–from some of the most renowned international airlines. Scroll down to see if these destinations and luxurious flight accommodations are worth the price.
5. Hong Kong to New York City (Cathay Pacific) – $26,572
Organized into a unique 1-1-1 orientation in three rows, passengers aboard Cathay Pacific’s Boeing 777-300ER are treated to award-winning service on a 14-hour connection from Hong Kong, China to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. With a roomy cabin layout, passengers are able to stretch out and enjoy their own space along with personal wide berth beds, flat screen televisions, Hong Kong cuisine, international wines, and caviar breakfasts.
4. New York City to Beijing (Korean Air) – $27,000
With 100 percent reclining abilities controlled by one-touch pads and a partitioning that encloses passengers in a personal wood-paneled luxury enclave, Korean Air’s trademark First Class Kosmo Sleeper Seats are some of the most sought after airline seats in the entire world. The Mercury Award-winning in-flight food service also features a number of mouthwatering oriental dishes and an array of international wines to keep you content on your journey from JFK to China’s bustling capital.
3. San Francisco to Abu Dhabi (Etihad Airways) – $28,090
Etihad Airways, the flag carrier airline of the United Arab Emirates, is one of the world’s premier first-class luxury airlines. On a flight from San Francisco, California to the UAE’s capital, passengers can fly in their own partitioned air suites complete with 23-inch television screens, a private mini bar, Middle Eastern inspired á la carte menus, upholstered leather furnishings, and a number of other luxury first-class features that will help you arrive luxuriously in one of the richest cities in the world.
2. Los Angeles to Dubai (Emirates) – $30,000
This 16-hour direct connection flight from Los Angeles, California to Dubai, United Arab Emirates–the UAE’s most expensive and populous city–upon the largest airline in the Middle East would be close to unbearable without the luxurious benefits offered to passengers. The majority of Emirates’ A380s, A340-500s, and 777s now come complete with full partitioned private suites, individual mini bars, flat-laying mattress beds, stylish vanity tables, and even on-flight spa facilities.
1. New York City to Hong Kong (Lufthansa) – $43,535
The most expensive plane ticket in the entire world is this $43,535 roundtrip ticket from New York City’s JFK to Hong Kong, China on Germany’s flagship airline, Lufthansa. Travel in the ultimate lap of luxury with Lufthansa’s numerous offerings, including on-ground personal assistants, standalone seat and bed setups, in-flight air humidifiers, toiletry kits, a Markus Del Monego-selected wine list, an a Michelin-starred culinary offerings that help give the airline a five-star Skytrax rating.
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