While coach and premium economy passengers will see some upgrades — including more legroom — the real showstopper will be Lufthansa’s first-class suites. Some of them will have twin seats that can be made up as a double bed, a large table — whether for work or for meals — and a massive entertainment screen. (Other suites, with single seats along the windows, will be ideal for solo travellers.) They’ll debut on the airline’s Airbus A350 jets next year.

Meanwhile, Air France is preparing to unveil a refreshed La Première, its first-class product. The new version will have suites that will be the longest in the world (read: even more personal space), with a seat, a sofa, and a fully flat bed. Air France is also upgrading its long-haul business-class seats, each of which will have direct aisle access and a privacy door, plus a six-foot-five-inch bed.

La Compagnie, another French airline, has also upped its game. The carrier recently voted the top international airline in T+L’s World’s Best Awards, is known for its business-class-only planes with 76 lie-flat seats. It now exclusively operates Airbus A321neo jets, which are quieter and more fuel-efficient than older models, on flights between Newark Liberty and Milan, Paris, and Nice, France.

Other carriers are making small but mighty changes. Etihad Airways, for example, has been adding Bluetooth connectivity to its newest jets, which allows passengers to link their wireless headphones with seat-back screens. “In the next five to seven years this functionality will be commonplace,” predicts Eduardo Matos, Etihad’s director of customer care.

While international airlines are leading the way, US carriers aren’t resting on their laurels. Next year, American Airlines will launch a “Flagship Suite,” with a fully flat bed and a privacy door. Delta Air Lines plans to open new lounges reserved only for its Delta One passengers, in a bid to give business-class fliers an even more elevated experience.