Want to travel first class? Here are 8 reasons why flying in it is so costly

First class has come a long way since the days when extra leg room was considered luxurious.

From offering meals by Michelin-starred chefs to in-flight showers, today's first-class experience offers much more than it used to. One could call it a first-class hotel in the sky.

All that glamour comes at a steep cost – as much as a 70 per cent increase in fares compared to economy, possibly even more if you are flying internationally.

An American Airlines economy flight from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City to Heathrow Airport in London in July is US$915. If you are flying first class on the same airline, that increases to US$5,407.

Unless you are savvy with your airline miles and points, this price tag renders first class an unattainable dream for many passengers.

As someone who hates being crammed like a sardine in a can for eight-plus hours but is far from able to afford the ultimate upgrade – and has yet to master the art of nabbing a plane’s prime real estate for next to nothing – I can’t help but question why first class has to be so out of reach.

Here are eight reasons why first class is so expensive.

1) First class offers coveted perks and pampering

One of the biggest appeals of first class is also why it’s so expensive: the perks.

Airlines have notoriously bad food. It’s a different story in first class, where menus of fine dining quality and dishes created by Michelin-starred chefs are often available – think Mahimahi with lemon herb sauce, grilled asparagus, and jasmine rice. Some airlines are even said to serve Ben & Jerry’s ice cream sundaes.