Room parts, armchairs.
Business class air travel has come a long way in a short time. It was originally conceived as an intermediate product between economy and primary. You don’t have to be so adventurous to remember that business class has reclining-style seats that offer a few other key amenities. Maybe a hot towel?
In March 2000, British Airways reached new heights with the launch of the first convertible lounge chair. Business class travelers can now enjoy a bed in heaven. And in the 21st century, the product has spread its wings even more. Most of the major airlines have designated this service as a premium offering and have completely discounted first class tickets. Advances in technology and design have created something of a space race between these ancient media. All strive to outdo the competition in terms of comfort and beauty in that part of the plane. An obvious lie is the lowest. You can be more confident in finding your own pod with direct transit access, which is a win-win situation.
I follow this development with great personal gratitude. As a full-time travel writer, I flew 119 flights on commissions around the world last year alone. I was lucky enough to be upgraded to business class on a few dozen trips during that time. And I can definitely tell you that they are not all the same. Even for airlines that invest heavily in cabin upgrades, fleet-wide implementation can be slow.
If you’re going to spend the big bucks on these tickets (stories are always priced in the thousands), you’ll want to make sure you get a solid return on that investment. Book your flight in one of the cabins below and have peace of mind knowing you’ll be traveling in one of the best business class suites in the sky.
Qatar Airways A350 Qsuite
This airline is widely recognized as one of the most luxurious airlines in the Middle East. The A-350’s widebody business-class configuration goes a long way to justifying that reputation. Each of the 46 luxury seats is surrounded by 52-inch-high walls, including sliding doors, so you can have complete privacy in your capsule. You’ll find plenty of storage space in your personal space, with all your neatly organized belongings accessible when tucked away. The dining services are well organized and paired with high quality wines and champagnes including the reserve vintages of Charles Heidsieck. You can enjoy this in the soft and comfortable pajamas and slippers provided at the beginning.
Anna 777-300ER “Bedroom”
It shows just how outdated the first class of All Nippon Airways’ new business class product is. It consists of apartments designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. It uses wood finishes to create a minimalist design Kanzo . The seats are well padded and very wide: 38 inches in diameter. The food offerings are more generous than most US airlines. The umami-rich protein, vinegar and warm miso are served in decorative china and placed on a large plate in the center of the pod, right in front of a 24-inch 4K screen. The plane still has a comfortable first-class cabin up front, but it’s hard to imagine it has anything substantial to justify the premium over business.
Singapore Airlines A350-900ULR business class
With a flight time of nearly 19 hours, SQ21 from Newark to Singapore is the world’s longest commercial flight. Fortunately for business class passengers, it’s also one of the most comfortable. This is because the pods have a backrest that can be set to a specific “sleep mode” with the padding you’d expect from a mattress. Most of the bed is 28 inches wide, although the center section folds into a small legroom, meaning you’ll have to position yourself diagonally to get the perfect sleeping position. In the middle of a long sleep, you can wake up at a time that suits you. The airline offers one of the most extensive menus in the world, including hop-fresh salads and Singaporean specialties such as Laksa . Or use the book’s cook service for more food choices by pre-ordering online 24 hours before departure.
Delta One Suite A-350
Delta is proud to be the first airline to introduce all-suite business classes (early 2017). Since then, production has been slowly rolled out to a growing fleet of A-350s. Surprisingly, six years later, it still looks great. There are full-length doors on each seat, a well-designed coffee table as a work area and adjustable lighting. The supply of gastronomy and wine is reliable and varies according to the season and route. But even pescatarians, vegetarians and vegans are catered for with standard options available on every flight. As far as US commercial flight experience goes, this is the best.
Jet Blue A321LR Studio New
The only product competing with Delta One Suites in the United States is JetBlue’s Mint Studio, which launched in late 2021. These closed-door capsules are extremely spacious, especially considering that they are built into the Airbus 321, which is not even a wide-body aircraft. With a diameter of 45 inches, the bed is large enough to turn around while sleeping. You can invite a passenger from another module for a chat during the flight in the seat next to you. There’s plenty of attention to detail, like a handy wireless charger and an adjustable TV screen so you can see it clearly even when you’re fully seated. Food and drinks are taken from New York bars and restaurants. The only downside is that there aren’t many places to go with it. So far, it’s limited to London and a few locations in Central and South America.
Emirates A380 business class
Emirates is practically synonymous with luxury aviation. And with good reason: the airline is committed to providing the best of the best. Before you sit down and get comfortable, you have to do it Marvel at the beauty of everything Leather seats, golden wood covering every corner of your cabin. In the horizontal position, the advantages are many. The side consoles by the window are used as minibars, with soft drinks and water within easy reach. A tablet is located on the bedside table, which is an additional screen for personalizing the entire experience or for in-flight entertainment. Just remember to reserve a rare seat near the window so you can enjoy more privacy. And don’t forget to use the airline’s chauffeur service: all first and business class passengers receive free transfer in a black car within an 80 km radius of the airport.
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