A guide to the best business-class flights

A guide to the best business-class flights

Looking for a luxurious flying experience without the exorbitant rates of first-class tickets? This guide looks at airlines with some of the best business-class flights in the world to help you make the right choice.

Not all business-class flights are the same. Image credit: RossHelen/iStock

From pre-flight champagne, to exclusively catered meals, to fully-flat beds, guests on business-class flights enjoy a raft of luxurious comforts before arriving refreshed at their destination.

Taking entertainment and dining to an entirely new level, business-class guests enjoy premium treatment from attentive staff from the time they step into the aircraft. Personalized attention and exceptional service are the cornerstones of some of the top business-class airlines in the world.

Qatar Airways – Ticks all the boxes

Qatar Airways is one of the youngest and fastest-growing airlines connecting to all six continents and is also a great business-class airline. Business-class guests enjoy fully-flat 180-degree beds with footrests, along with massage options, power supply, spacious dining areas, luxurious amenities, and Wi-Fi.

Qatar Airways also provides fantastic in-flight entertainment offering large monitors with a vast selection of movies, and television shows.

One of the biggest highlights of traveling with Qatar Airways is the food. There is a large selection of a la carte options available on all business-class flights, with an emphasis on quality, care, and refinement.

With well-designed seats, plenty of room, delicious food, and great service all-round, it comes as no surprise that Qatar Airways consistently ranks as one of the top business-class airlines in the world. In fact, the airline was rated as the top in the Skytrax 2019 Best Business Class Airline awards.

Servicing more than 160 destinations from its hub in Doha, your choice to fly business-class on Qatar Airways couldn’t be better.

Singapore Airlines – world’s most awarded airline

Singapore Airlines has one of the best business-class offerings out there, which makes it a highly sought-after choice on international short and long-haul flights.

Recently, the airline introduced business-class seats with two seating positions for optimal comfort at all times. Business-class guests can benefit from the Lazy Z cradling position, which centers and balances your weight while sitting, or stretch out to the Sundeck lounging position, which extends the base of your seat for a better stretch.

A fully-flat bed comes equipped with a cushioned headboard, pillows, linen, and a duvet, which means you’re sure to get some much-needed sleep before reaching your next destination. You can even request for additional bedding for more comfort while you rest.

Every business-class seat comes with a side console designed above the armrest for your electronic devices, accessible whether you’re in the seating or sleeping position. You’ll also be able to charge your mobiles, tablets, and laptops on board with access to different USB and power ports.

Business-class guests can reserve their main course meal up to 24 hours before flying, with dishes created by renowned chefs from the airline’s International Culinary Panel. There is also an onboard dine-in option with full table service, which pairs wines for the food selection and altitude. Singapore satay is a popular local dish and is usually served as an appetizer in business-class on select flights. Other dishes often served onboard include grilled steak, lamb loin, and lobster Thermidor.

The carefully curated entertainment content brings an impressive repertoire of over 1,000 selections – from movies and television to music, games, and programs on an 18-inch screen.

You’ll also have Internet connectivity on selected flights to stay on top of business or keep in touch with friends and family while you’re in the air.

Generous room and plenty of privacy combined with exceptional service, from booking to check-in to on-fight, a business-class flight with Singapore Airlines is unlike any other.

Emirates – More than 30 years of great service

If you’re thinking of great business- class flights, you can’t go past Emirates. This Gulf-airline is consistently rated one of the best in the world, and for good reason. From the world’s only Moet & Chandon airport bar to Wi-Fi onboard, to live sport, the Emirates experience starts from the time you leave for the airport.

With seats that recline 180 degrees into fully-flat beds, complete with soft mattresses and comfy blankets, you’ll get tremendous rest on board before reaching your next destination. There’s ample space between each business-class seat so you needn’t worry about privacy.

The menu consists of an extensive repertoire of locally-inspired gourmet dishes from the arrival destination to give you a taste of what to expect before you get there. Guests get a choice of three starters and three main courses. In-between meals, hot and cold snacks are available at the bar or you can order them to enjoy in your seat. The airline focuses on sourcing food from local producers for every meal. Some wines onboard are exclusively found only Emirates flights.

The award-winning entertainment on board an Emirates flight is truly noteworthy. Its top-notch iCE entertainment service has more than 4,000 selections to choose from. Business-class seats in the Airbus 380 and Boeing 777 are fitted with 23-inch monitors, taking the onboard viewing experience to another level. You can opt for movies, TV shows, and documentaries. The plush noise-canceling headphones make the whole experience even more exceptional.

Every business-class seat also has a mini-bar with a range of drinks on offer, personal air conditioning vents, and seat controls, all available at the touch of a button. Helpful flight attendants are always available to serve you and make your onboard travel experience as superior as possible.