It’s over two years since we last ran through our favourite long haul business class products (you can see what we thought back then in our best business class offerings July 2022 post). So it’s high time we took a look at how things have changed to see if the same players still come out on top.
In this guide, we will delve into some of the best business class seats available today on long haul aircraft, offering a detailed analysis of seat configurations, comfort levels, in-flight amenities and unique features provided by leading airlines. We’ll also take a look at different facilities available to business class passengers on the ground.
We’ve compared the business class experiences of a selection of top carriers in order to help you make an informed choice for your next journey. This is by no means an exhaustive list and merely reflects our current top choices in the aviation world. Bear in mind different aircraft operating different routes will have different cabins and seats but we’ve tried to look at the best of the best when coming to our decisions on the top products.
The evolution in business class offerings has been nothing short of staggering over recent years and in this piece we’ll highlight just some of the top business travel experiences you can enjoy right now.
Top Carriers for Business Class Offerings
Emirates Business Class
The UAE carrier Emirates has long been renowned for its luxury and comfort on long haul flights. Their business class seats are designed to offer maximum personal space and all of their aircraft offer fully lie-flat beds, direct aisle access and ample storage space. Their entire fleet is made up of widebody jets so every flight offers a true business class experience in their Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, even if you’re only flying short haul.
The Emirates Business Class cabin on the giant A380 also includes a social onboard lounge area where passengers can mingle and enjoy premium beverages from the bar. It’s a fantastic experience that is matched by few rivals (in fact Sir Richard Branson recently revealed that ditching the bar areas from Virgin Atlantic’s 747s five years ago was a mistake). Dining is another highlight, with gourmet meals served on fine china with designer cutlery. Unlike most airlines which tend to offer cuisine from the countries in which they’re based, Emirates actually tailor their menus depending on the route meaning the level of choice is hard to match.
Additionally, passengers can enjoy exclusive amenity kits from Italian fashion house Bulgari, noise-cancelling headphones from high-end audio brand Bowers & Wilkins and luxury soft loungewear made from botanic fibres. What’s more their state of the art widescreen in flight entertainment system boasts over 4,500 channels of movies, TV shows, music and games which you can enjoy whilst taking a drink from you own private minibar!
Find out more about Emirates business class.
Singapore Airlines Business Class
The city state’s flag carrier sets a very high standard in the aviation industry with its exceptional service and innovative seat designs. As you’d expect the business class seats transform into fully flat beds and provide direct aisle access, ensuring privacy and comfort on long haul flights. The cabins are absolutely first rate on their fleet of A350s and 777s but it’s on the A380 where things crank up a gear. There’s so much space that the business class seats in the centre can be configured as a double bed! Passengers can also enjoy luxurious bedding, heaps of storage space and a state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system that can even save your playlists and preferences for future flights.
The dining experience in Singapore Airlines Business Class is world-class, featuring an extensive menu curated by a panel of five internationally renowned chefs. Passengers have the option to pre-order meals through the “Book the Cook” service, ensuring a gourmet dining experience awaits that matches your preferences.
As for the now customary business class amenity kit (something that historically Singapore Airlines were reluctant to offer), luxury British perfumer Penhaligon’s are behind the attractive emerald green zip up folio bag dished out on request and the products within are suitably superb.
Find out more about Singapore Airlines’ business class offering on their A350s and 777s here.
Qatar Airways Business Class
The business class offering from Qatar Airways is frequently lauded as one of the best business class experiences available today and we highlighted the excellence of their signature Qsuite product in our previous post. However, with the Doha based airline recently announcing a new, upgraded 2.0 version of its premium business suite we just had to include them once more!
The Qsuite is a revolutionary design that offers a private, screened suite that really does feel more like your own private cabin as opposed to just another seat. So what’s new in the improved Qsuite, soon to rollout across Qatar’s new fleet of 777s? Well the real headline is that passengers will enjoy even more space, with greater shoulder and leg room and larger beds for added comfort.
Another clever feature of the Qsuites are their configuration options meaning you can have two or even four adjoining suites connect together to create a communal social space for travellers flying together. The giant in-flight-entertainment screens can even be adjusted to position them out of the way when enjoying a shared experience, such as when dining with your flying companions. Then with the touch of a button switch to privacy mode as you make the most of that sizeable lie flat bed, which Qatar staff will quickly make up for you.
The in-flight dining experience on Qatar has always been exceptional, with a full à la carte menu available on demand. Passengers can indulge in gourmet meals, paired with a selection of fine wines. As for your amenity kit, luxury French fragrance brand Diptyque are behind the high end offering for Qsuite passengers.
You can find out more about the Qsuite on the Qatar Airways website.
Air France Business Class
The rise of the gulf carriers has left many of Europe and the US’s “legacy airlines” lacking when it comes to premium offerings in recent years. However, there are signs that some of these flagging airlines are beginning to take things more seriously in the battle to win valuable business class passengers. Air France are one such airline to have seriously upped their game and their new business class cabins offer a blend of elegance and innovation that brings them more in line with some of the world’s best.
Naturally all seats convert into fully flat beds, with adjustable privacy screens. Each seat provides direct aisle access and ample personal space, complete with storage compartments and a large entertainment screen. The space for each passenger is generous, particularly if you’re lucky enough to get one of the bulkhead seats on their new A350s or 777ERs.
As you’d expect from the flag carrier of France, dining is a truly gourmet experience, featuring menus crafted by Michelin-starred chefs. Passengers can enjoy a variety of French and international dishes, paired with fine wines and Champagne. The attentive cabin crew will also lay a table cloth for your tray table, a little touch that helps make the dining experience memorable.
The Air France amenity kit is provided courtesy of Clarins and you’ll also find high quality noise-canceling headphones along with a detachable touchscreen iPad-like device to control every element of your comfort onboard. This is definitely one of the best business class options for transatlantic flights.
Full details on the new business class cabins Air France are offering can be found here.
Ground and Lounge Facilities
Facilities before your flight are an integral part of the modern business class experience, providing passengers with comfort and convenience even before boarding. When flying from a hub airport of your chosen airline you can expect a premium branded business lounge, though when flying from other airports the facilities will be shared with other airlines and can vary.
Singapore Airlines’ SilverKris Lounge at Changi Airport offers private workstations, shower facilities and gourmet food options, allowing passengers to work or relax in luxury. As a Star Alliance partner passengers flying from other airports can usually use the lounges tied to other Star Alliance airlines such as Air Canada, Lufthansa and United.
Qatar Airways’ signature lounge is the Al Mourjan Garden Lounge at Hamad International Airport which as you’d expect provides an opulent environment with fine dining, business centre and various relaxation areas. It is absolutely enormous and as the name suggests, completely covered in lush greenery. They also have a number of premium lounges at major hubs across the world including Paris Charles De Gaulle, London Heathrow and Singapore Changi. Otherwise, elsewhere you can expect to gain access to lounges from Oneworld alliance airlines such as BA, Qantas and Cathay Pacific.
For Emirates business class passengers, facilities on the ground begin before you’ve even reached the airport, thanks to their complimentary chauffeur service. They have a number of well designed lounges at Dubai International Airport, which feature fine dining, spa treatments and private sleeping pods, whilst elsewhere in the world they have an extensive network of Emirates branded premium lounges. Though not a formal member of any of the major airline alliances, Emirates have extensive partnerships across the globe ensuring their passengers will always have access to the best lounges available.
Air France’s finest lounges are found at Paris Charles De Gaulle where there are five separate spaces dotted across the huge airport’s various terminals. In line with their recently upgraded business class cabins, most of their lounges have benefited from recent renovations and the Hall L lounge with impressive art deco themed cocktail bar and luxury spa is the pick of the bunch. The airline also offers branded lounges at other airport across Europe and north America, including New York JFK, Montreal and Geneva. As a SkyTeam alliance member airline, any airports that don’t have dedicated Air France facilities will usually direct business class travellers to lounges from the likes of Delta, KLM and Virgin Atlantic.