The 5 Best Business Class Seats I’ve Ever Flown (And 5 I’d Skip)

Points and miles have completely changed the way I travel. Visiting some of the most intriguing destinations in the world is great, but flying to them in business class makes the experience much better.

With so many airlines out there, some will naturally be better than others. However, there is a notable gap between the best and worst airlines. Here’s a recap of the 5 best — and 5 worst — business class seats I’ve flown over the past decade.

My 5 Favorite Long-Haul Business Class Seats

In my view, Middle Eastern and Asian carriers offer the best business class experiences. Of course, this isn’t true about every airline — this is my experience flying business class with more than 20 airlines worldwide.

1. Singapore Airlines Business Class

My best business class experience so far was the one I waited the longest for: Singapore Airlines. Widely considered to be one of the best airlines in commercial aviation, Singapore Airlines is world-renowned for its incredible onboard cuisine and stellar in-flight service.

I flew Singapore Airlines for the first time earlier this year and was blown away by the experience. I had a bulkhead seat with additional space and loved the Singapore Airlines Book the Cook program, where you can preorder amazing chef-curated meals before your flight. The seats were incredibly spacious, the onboard cuisine was delicious, and the service was the best I’ve had across any airline.

The flight was just under 8 hours long but felt much shorter. Lucky for me, I will fly Singapore Airlines in early 2025 as I return to Southeast Asia. Although I hope to fly Singapore Suites first class on the A380 sometime next year, I am looking forward to flying Singapore Airlines in business class again.

Singapore Airlines is a member of Star Alliance, which means there are a couple of solid booking options. I booked this award ticket between New York (JFK) and Frankfurt (FRA) for 60,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus taxes and fees.

Hot Tip:

Singapore Airlines is consistently ranked among the best airlines in the world, and for good reason. It’s no surprise that so many travelers want to experience flying with them. The good news is that booking a flight with Singapore Airlines using points and miles is relatively easy.

2. Qatar Airways’ Qsuites Business Class

Although I consider the Singapore Airlines business class experience to be the best, many others argue that the best is Qatar Airways’ Qsuites product. The Qsuites business class product features ample space and privacy (complete with a sliding privacy door) and some of the best inflight dining available, consisting of Middle Eastern and Western cuisine.

Although it has been more than 5 years since I last flew Qsuites, it was my favorite business class experience until earlier this year until Singapore Airlines replaced it. I have plans to fly Qatar Qsuites to South Africa in summer 2025 and have just started to look for award space.

In 2018, I booked this ticket for 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles between Qatar’s hub airport of Doha (DOH) and Chicago (ORD). Fortunately, you can still book this exact redemption for the same mileage — if you can find the award space.

3. All Nippon Airways (ANA) “The Room” Business Class

Japan is my favorite country in the world, and for good reason. The country has an incredible history, natural beauty, delicious cuisine, and important landmarks. Japan also has 2 of the best airlines in the world: All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL).

In 2022, I flew in ANA’s “The Room” Business Class aboard the 777-300ER aircraft. The business class seat offers ample space, a 24-inch 4K monitor, plenty of privacy, and excellent inflight amenities and catering.

I booked ANA business class via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, which offers some of the best partner award rates of any program, despite numerous program devaluations. The Virgin program increased ANA business class rates earlier this year, so it will now cost you 52,500 to 60,000 points one-way to book flights in ANA business class and a few hundred dollars in taxes and fees.

4. Japan Airlines Sky Suites Business Class

Since I enjoyed ANA’s business class so much, I decided to try Japan Airlines, the other major Japanese carrier. While I prefer the ANA business class experience over Japan Airlines, the products are on par with each other.

I have flown Japan Airlines business class several times now, as it is easy to find award space. Since Japan Airlines is part of the Oneworld Alliance, many booking options exist.

However, thanks to its excellent partner award rates, I have always booked Japan Airlines business class flights with the American Airlines AAdvantage loyalty program. You can book Japan Airlines business class seats for 70,000 American AAdvantage miles for a one-way ticket between the U.S. and Japan.

5. Etihad Airways Business Class

I consider Etihad Apartments on the A380 to be the best international first class I have flown, and Etihad Airways’ business class is also excellent and among the best in the world.

You can expect the exceptional service, comfort, and luxury when flying business class. On long-haul flights, you can expect a lie-flat seat and direct aisle access. However, the defining part of Etihad is its incredible on-demand dining experience.

Although there are multiple ways to book Etihad business class awards, I have found it best to book them with American Airlines AAdvantage miles. You’ll need 70,000 miles for a one-way business class award on Etihad between the U.S. and the Middle East.

The 5 Worst Long-Haul Business Class Seats I’ve Ever Flown

While many airlines offer an excellent business class experience, some fall short in various areas, leading to a less-than-stellar experience. Here’s a look at some business classes that are not up to snuff for 1 reason or another.

1. Lufthansa Business Class

In 2016, I flew business class for the first time. Since I knew little about different aircraft and business class cabins back then, I chose Lufthansa as it was the most direct option at the time. Although I was amazed that I could use a welcome bonus offer to fly in business class, I was let down by the product.

I believe all business class seats should have direct aisle access, as having a window seat and needing to bother someone next to you to get to the bathroom isn’t ideal. Unfortunately, that’s what Lufthansa business class passengers have had to deal with for a long time.

Besides the cabin layout, I didn’t find the onboard cuisine or service to be anything special. Looking back, both were among the worst I have experienced in a premium cabin. In fact, I have had better meals in economy on airlines such as Etihad and Turkish Airlines.

I do plan to fly Lufthansa business class again in 2025. However, this time around, I will ensure I am flying on Lufthansa’s new Allegris product. Lufthansa’s new business class cabins feature ultra-private suites with a personal minibar and are arranged in a staggered 1-2-1 and 1-1-1 configuration, ensuring all business class passengers have direct aisle access and maximum privacy.

2. Austrian Airlines Business Class

Like Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines (also part of the Lufthansa Group) was a major disappointment. For all of the same reasons, mainly cabin layout and below-average onboard cuisine, the experience left much to desire. The service also fell short compared to many of my favorite Asian carriers.

However, Austrian Airlines’ business class product varies depending on which aircraft you’re flying. Unfortunately, I could only book the less-desirable Boeing 777-200.

Fortunately, my connecting flight was with Singapore Airlines, which was infinitely better, though the contrast only made the Austrian Airlines experience that much worse.

3. EgyptAir Business Class

One of my first business class experiences was with EgyptAir, and it was underwhelming. The airline’s long-haul aircraft have a 2-2-2 seat configuration, which doesn’t offer much privacy. To make matters worse, my seatmate wanted to chat throughout the flight, which was the last thing I wanted.

I was looking forward to the onboard cuisine since I love Middle Eastern food, but it didn’t meet my expectations. The food was of poor quality, and I was feeling unwell by the end of the flight.

In addition to the lackluster food, there were issues with the onboard Wi-Fi and my inflight entertainment screen. I have not flown EgyptAir in 6 years and have no plans to fly with them anytime in the near future, especially when so many better Middle Eastern airlines are available.

4. Thai Airways Royal Silk Business Class

Although I had high hopes and expectations for Thai Airways Royal Silk business class, I was thoroughly unimpressed. The product was incredibly outdated —- for example, no onboard Wi-Fi was available. There’s no excuse for not having Wi-Fi on a long-haul flight.

The seat was poorly designed, with minimal storage areas and privacy. However, the worst aspect of the Thai Airways business class experience was the aisle-facing window seat, which was so far out in the aisle that I was bumped several times throughout the flight, including when I was trying to rest.

Unfortunately, the service was also relatively poor, especially when compared to other Asian carriers, who provide some of the best service available.

5. LOT Polish Airlines Business Class

Lastly, I didn’t love the experience on LOT Polish Airlines, another European airline. The cabin was in a 2-2-2 configuration — and even worse, the seats felt a bit narrow.

There was also a complete lack of privacy as there was no divider between my seat and the one next to me. I’ve had more privacy in premium economy on some airlines.

There was no onboard Wi-Fi, so I spent some time on the inflight entertainment. Unfortunately, the selection was poor. Additionally, the food was awful, and I left thinking I was better off not eating at all during the flight.

Bottom Line:

Not all business class products are created equal, as some offer a significantly better experience than others. In most cases, the overall experience is shaped by a combination of factors such as food, privacy, in-flight entertainment, and service.

Final Thoughts

While there are many ways to redeem points and miles — from statement credits to travel portal bookings — the best way to redeem points is to transfer them to airline and hotel transfer partners. Transferring these points allows travelers to experience once-in-a-lifetime business, and first class flights and luxury hotels.

Of course, some redemptions are better than others, and even more notably, some airlines are better than others. The last thing you want to do is redeem your hard-earned points and miles on subpar business class experiences.