First class travel has always been considered a luxury. If trends continue, it may also become a rarity as more airlines slash their premium offerings due to a decline in passenger numbers.

Qantas reports that it will eliminate first class seating on all but its longest flights to Los Angeles and the UK. Only 12 of its 20 A380 aircraft -- either delivered or on order -- will feature first class seating on those routes. According to the airline, there will also be fewer business class seats on all its planes but more economy and premium-economy seats. Most of the airline's A380s will have no first class, but will instead feature 400 economy seats downstairs, and a mix of business, economy and premium-economy upstairs for a total of 550 seats. For its newest 747s, Qantas will feature a 359-seat configuration comprising 58 business, 36 premium economy and 265 economy seats. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said that, despite the addition of 50-100 more seats, they would not be packed in more tightly. First class to Johannesburg is set to be eliminated and it may also be scrapped to Hong Kong. Qantas has already eliminated first class on flights to San Francisco and Buenos Aires.

As the revenue numbers and passenger numbers trend downward, airlines are cutting back on some of their premium services and boosting those in economy class. On short haul flights where first class is all but gone, expect fewer business class seats. Air France's short-haul subsidiary CityJet is scrapping its business class seats for premium economy seats. The Dublin-based airline says that most business flyers on short haul flights are no longer booking seats in its business class.

Analysts believe that the downgrading of premium seats will continue, but in Asia and the Middle East, where there is greater stability and even growth, it may come slowly or not at all. Eventually, first class will be a rare bird on most but the longest of routes. Trans-Atlantic routes now feature more business than first class and smaller aircraft are being used. Trans-Pacific carriers are feeling the economic pinch at it may be a matter of time before international first class becomes a thing of the past for most of us. Maybe it's time to cash in those miles!