Business class travel is fundamentally different from flying economy, and no frequent traveler would try to argue otherwise. There are hundreds of different business class cabins operated by airlines all across the globe, many of which compete aggressively for the same high-yielding segment of premium-oriented travelers. Managing directors at investment banks, equity research analysts, consultants, corporate lawyers, company executives, and other professionals travel with intense frequency, visiting destinations all across the globe as part of regularly scheduled business travel. A large and increasingly important segment of the travel market also includes high-spending leisure travelers, who are also interested in the comfort such an upgrade can provide.
At the end of the day, business class cabins are judged not by any individual feature but by how they put together a cohesive passenger experience. To be considered an elite business class cabin, seats must offer lie-flat comfort to ensure that passengers can sleep while flying overnight, as well as direct-aisle access to ensure that travelers can enjoy privacy during their journey. However, there are a number of even more marginal features that can differentiate business-class cabins. We analyze six business class cabins, which we have identified as the most comfortable in the skies today. We use a diverse array of criteria to determine which cabins we believe are the most comfortable for passengers to travel in.
Qatar Airways Qsuite
Multiple times, we have discussed the most comfortable business class seats in the sky, and rarely does the Qatar Airways Qsuite, which remains the benchmark in the industry for offering exceptional comfort because it blends hard-product comfort with soft-product services. Each suite in a Qatar Airways Qsuite cabin offers a sliding door and deep sidewalls, as well as clever storage. This offers each passenger the opportunity to build a cocoon without immediately feeling cramped.
Central seat pairs can convert to double beds, with quads forming a family space that can also be used for work onboard. Cushioning offers supportive comfort, with the armrest height aligning comfortably even for side sleepers and a footwell that is sized to allow you to easily shift positions in your sleep. Every detail in this cabin has been rigorously scrutinized to optimize for passenger comfort.
The airline has an exceptionally responsive in-flight entertainment (IFE) system, which features Bluetooth pairing, with ample power space available alongside a lit surface for laptops. Some seats (especially those on older Boeing 777s) have a narrower base than new suites on other models, but, across the board, comfort is relatively the same, and the service package still offers some elements of first-class cabins. Door-equipped privacy and flexible layouts, alongside consistent soft products, make the Qsuite the most rounded comfort choice, especially for couples who are lucky enough to travel together in central seats.
ANA’s “The Room”
If your definition of comfort winds down to the actual space that one is offered, ANA’s “The Room” is one of the best products on the market. For starters, the seat itself offers exceptional comfort, with a seat width sitting as high as 38 inches at its widest, allowing one to lounge in whatever manner they desire. They are also welcome to side-sleep naturally or sprawl out without bumping into the walls. This differentiates the product from most other business class seats on the market, which do not offer the same amount of passenger comfort, with narrower seats that restrict at least some passenger movement.
The door delivers exceptional privacy, while the large amount of comfort available limits claustrophobia, mostly due to the seat’s breadth and the tall surroundings. A broad, stable tray table allows one to comfortably work on their laptop, while an ottoman and square-shaped foot area avoid the pinched footwell problem that often occurs in most business-class cabins, which use a herringbone configuration that pushes seat footwells into narrow corners. The airline also offers a mattress pad and pillow that are highly touted by side sleepers, with the cabin’s lighting offering gentle comfort for travelers.
Storage remains logical for passengers, and a 4K-class screen is large and well-placed for both lounging and reclining with the seat fully flat. There are still some criticisms of the seat that have emerged from some travelers, such as those who find the cushion itself to be slightly firm. Bulkhead rows offer exceptional footspace, beyond that which the overly-generous real estate of ANA’s “The Room” also brings along.
Japan Airlines Airbus A350-1000 Business Class
Japan Airlines has an exceptional new suite in its product lineup, which offers passengers exceptional privacy and onboard comfort. Pairing this with the airline’s award-winning service helps make a compelling case for placing this seat on our list. Doors on the aircraft rise to around 52 inches, the tallest in business-class cabins, allowing for visual privacy to be maintained without passengers feeling claustrophobic. The bed itself runs more than six feet, six inches in length, making it comfortable for travelers of all sizes, a factor often ignored by some business-class cabin designs.
The foot area also offers exceptional space, a small detail that makes it much easier for a large portion of passengers to actually get some sleep. While the width of beds is around 22 inches, passengers also have access to some more shoulder room, which designers carved in so that side sleepers are not boxed in. The cabin has been designed with passenger comfort as its principal priority, making it difficult for customers not to see this as an elite product.
The aircraft itself offers next-generation technology, including 24-inch screens, Bluetooth compatibility with the in-flight entertainment system, and wireless charging ports. The cabin’s reduced overhead bins create more available space, and the airline’s bedding is high-quality without providing too much warmth. The armrest geometry also helps support passengers looking to work and eat while on board. The cushion itself also skews firm, with the overall seat offering exceptional livability, including design features with privacy and comfort in mind.
Air France New Business Class Cabins
The latest seats offered by Air France bring a new product to the market. These elegant seats offer direct aisle access as well as sliding doors for privacy, with thoughtful features that will help ensure you get as much rest as possible. Individual details were a key piece of the design philosophy utilized by Air France as it went through the process of putting this suite together. Examples include an aisle-side armrest that lowers to shoulder width in bed mode and a broad ottoman that offers exceptional comfort. Furthermore, the footwell itself is not a tight triangle.
Air France adds a sharp 17-inch 4K screen that features Bluetooth compatibility and generous surfaces for glasses, cell phones, or beverages, which limits the need for passengers to move around or toss and turn in their sleep. The aircraft is equipped with spacious bulkhead seats as well. The airline’s soft product, which includes comfortable bedding and Champagne offerings, in addition to its trademark menus, helps complement the hard product. Passengers who value a calm, tasteful cabin will appreciate all of these unique features.
We will highlight that Air France’s new business class suite is not the largest on our list, and it is often outshone by Air France’s La Première First Class cabin. Nonetheless, we believe from our analysis that it has comfortably earned its place on this list.
Etihad Airways Business Class Studio
Etihad’s Airbus A350 business class cabin offers a boutique feel, with every seat equipped with features like a privacy door, wireless charging, and Bluetooth. This seat has long been one of our favorites at Simple Flying. In bed mode, these seats offer around 80 inches in length and a rectangular footwell that avoids squeezing passengers’ ankles.
The seat also features a sculpted headrest that reduces unintentional movement during sleep, and the lighting in the cabin is designed to carefully match passenger circadian rhythms. Armani and Casa-designed bedding, alongside thoughtfully paced service, further improve passenger relaxation.
The door is tall enough to offer passengers privacy without becoming claustrophobic. The aircraft features smart storage systems and a console that easily holds a laptop and a drink, according to The Points Guy.
Cathay Pacific Aria Suite
Cathay Pacific’s new Aria Suite is a really impressive offering. We were fortunate enough to attend the European launch event for the product, and we were very impressed. The seat is a dynamic pod that features wireless charging and a crisp 24-inch screen.
The seat was clearly designed with passenger comfort in mind, with enough shoulder room to accommodate side-sleepers and a sensibly-shaped footwell, improving passenger comfort. The door height in this cabin offers impressive privacy while preserving a spacious feel, a feeling aided significantly by Cathay’s lighting choices.