The Benefits of Business Class - Part 1

Welcome to Part 1 of our new blog series - The Benefits of Business Class - where we explore the advantages of spending a little extra money to elevate your entire travel experience to a whole new level.

Having a large, comfortable, beautifully crafted seat is arguably the best perk of flying in Business Class and certainly one of the most well known. The majority of airlines now offer a seat which can convert into a lie-flat bed for their long-haul operations. It’s as simple as it sounds; if you wish, you can sleep for a considerable number of hours during your flight allowing you to arrive feeling refreshed and hit the ground running, to make the most of your time away from home. 

In 1999, British Airways was the first to introduce the lie-flat seat and since then, airlines have developed from simple beds up to private suites with doors and even double beds for couples. The standard & design of these will vary depending on the airline; you can always ask us advice! 

The Middle Eastern 3 - Etihad, Emirates, Qatar - and renowned for some of the best Business Class products available. Qatar, for example, introduced the Qsuite in 2017, which has received industry recognition most years since then. Each seat has a door to provide more privacy whilst you’re sat or sleeping. The middle seats (in this 1-2-1 configuration) can be combined into pairs or quads through their partitioned design. This would allow a family of 4 to interact whilst dining, or for a group travelling for work to attend to meetings.

Although British Airways started the race, they have only recently updated their product. This means a large number of British Airways flights in Business Class (Club World) have an older style of seat, which is set up in a “Ying-Yang” style, where half of the passengers face backwards. However, in 2019 British Airways announced a brand new “Club Suite”; a huge improvement offering more privacy twinned with a modern, elegant design. Once fully implemented across their network it will be one of the best seats in the sky, with increased storage, a privacy door and an 18.5” screen. 

Having the option to adjust your seat during your flight is key. You’ll have the ability to change from being sat upright for eating, reclined with your feet up for watching a film, to laying down and catching a few z’s. All of this squeezed into a single seat is one of the biggest advancements in aviation with regards to customer comfort. 

Singapore Airlines is perhaps the airline who does the seating part of Business Class the most justice. Their A350s & 777s feature some of the widest seats in the sky, making for an extremely luxurious and spacious place to spend your time. The newer design will host a cocoon-like shell wrapping around the seat, providing better privacy than ever before. If you’re travelling as a couple, the middle seats can convert into a spectacular double bed by lowering the dividers. 

Another perk you may not think of is the storage around your seat for your belongings; small bags, shoes, headphones, chargers, phones, tablets etc. In the modern age of travel, we often take all of the above with us as we may need them either during the flight or at the airport before departure. Almost all Business Class’ offer have multiple storage options, from drawers & compartments, space under the footrest, armrests with hidden areas and more. Combine that with generous overhead locker space, and you’ll be able to take everything including the kitchen sink!

We believe the seat is one of the key benefits of treating yourself to travelling in style and if you need a reason to justify it, it’s that you’d be able to sleep on your 12-hour flight to Hong Kong and arrived feeling fresh!

Get in touch to find out about our exclusive offers in Business Class for destinations worldwide!

(Contributed by Alex Dickinson)