Business Class Experiences Compared

Airlines are moving toward aisle access for all business class seats as they upgrade business cabins on older planes. Being able to recline your business class seat on older craft provides comfort – until a traveler in the same row wants to leave.

Business class fliers expect a high quality experience with excellent attentive service, delicious food, spacious seats and the full-range of amenities (power outlets, entertainment system, and more). However, as the experience of a traveler flying long-haul in business class on three airlines shows, these expectations are not necessarily true.

The traveler had a delightful experience in business class on Thai Airways, an unremarkable experience flying with ANA and a downright unpleasant experience in Lufthansa’s business class.

We’ve found extremely pleasant attendants when flying in business class on Qantas and Virgin Australia. Both airlines’ meal choices were top quality and substitutions – or even a bit extra from the desert and cheese trays – were no problem.

The main difference in comfort and feeling human when departing the aircraft after a 14-hour flight is in the bed. The older style semi-flat business class seats, found for example on some Qantas flights, are not conducive to a good sleep. True, fully lie-flat seats transform into a comfortable sleeping bed and allow ample space to stretch out and relax.

More airlines are upgrading their business class seating to include fully flat seats and the much more convenient seating layout with aisle access for all business class travelers. If a good sleep on a long-haul flight is your priority, refer to this guide to business class seating before choosing your flight.

Unfortunately, the cost of a business class ticket is not adjusted for flights with older style seating, difficult aisle access, outdated entertainment systems – or poor service.

It seems that despite tough competition between airlines and the high cost of business-class seats, the flying experience in business class does not always justify the price.