Tell me about Business Class flights

[hillarypcof]

I am planning to surprise DP with business class flights on our upcoming holiday to Singapore (hoping to go next year - covid depending)
Preferably Qatar Airways as their service is incredible.
BA a lot cheaper and mixed reviews.

Are Business Class flights ever worth it? It would be around £6k just for the flights - would be a once in a lifetime experience, but equally could by us 3 more holidays in and of itself!

If worth it I will make some serious considerations, at the moment it is all just a potential - thanks in advance ☺

i've travel business class (ex airline staff) would never pay 000s for it

If you really want it to be special, I would look at business class for the way home?

BA business class isn't that great, not worth the extra IMO.

As you have some time before you go, have you looked into companion vouchers? BA and Amex do a credit card where you can earn a free ticket (minus taxes) through purchases.

BA business class is rank whilst Qatar Airways is good. My longest flight with them was the 17 hour non stop one from where I live to Miami.

I’d business class ever worth the money? Truthfully, on a good airline it’s always worth the money.

IMO it’s only worth it if you don’t have to sacrifice anything else like a better hotel or another holiday. Depending on the price difference I’d go Qatar rather than BA, but BA business class is not “rank”, it’s fine - your own little compartment with a seat that can lie flat.

I started a thread with the exact same question (and got lots of great replies), it's a bit further down. I ended up booking Virgin Upper Class on the way out for later on this year to make the most of the alcohol, food, exciting way to start my trip etc and comfort economy back as I'll probably be asleep (night flight). I wasn't fussed for the bed on the way back. Wasn't £ks though.

I justified it by saying to myself it's a one off thing I want to experience at least once. Problem is going back to economy!

Well, it does feel special from the get-go, no or minimal queue at check-in, fast pass through security and then to the airline lounges, which can be quite good to really great.
But you can buy lounge access for about £30 a head, as well as a fast track security pass.
If your DH is like mine and can knock back a few drinks you can definitely can your money's worth of free food and drink in the lounges if you buy access. And they are peaceful compared with the bear gardens that are public seating areas airside.

(However i have heard less than great things about badly behaved children and detached parenting in both first and business class of some Middle Eastern airlines. )
The flights themselves - i think BA Club world for longhaul is very qood for overnight flights, you have so much more room. And you can actually sleep on the flatbeds. SAA is not bad either.
BA Club Europe is not expensive, but you get a lot less than in Club World. I quite like it - we had 2 return tickets to Bologna booked for last May 😫😫 with lounge access, separate cabin, food/drink and chunky luggage allowances for around £380. The refund came through quickly too.
A cheaper alternative for longhaul might be Virgin Atlantic Premium economy - you don't get lounge access (but as i said above you can buy that separately) but the seats are quite a bit bigger, recline more and have footrests. The service is a bit better too, in a separate cabin. First on, first off and all that.
All this is pre-covid, of course. Who knows what they might trim from their service going forward?

it will ruin standard class travel for you forever - just a heads up!

I've been on amazing business class flights (Aer Lingus, Qatar) and awful ones (icelandair, lufthansa). I would check out before you book what aircraft, the seat configuration, which seats are best and what the offering is. With some, it's just a slightly bigger seat. With others it's a lie flat seat, whatever you want to drink, meals at a time of your choosing (from a menu). The lounge is a great perk as is priority boarding. If you get it right it would be an amazing treat.

rather than BA, but BA business class is not “rank”, it’s fine - your own little compartment with a seat that can lie flat

It is rank and their flatbeds are way way behind others that are in the sky and personal compartments are now the norm on most airlines.

we went first class BA to Oz in 2009 - the day we booked, it was cheaper than the business class seats. Companies would pay for biz class, but not first.

Might not apply now, but don't rule out looking at least.

It will ruin economy for you forever as PP said. I quite like BA, the crew are lovely and ply you with champagne. I get claustrophobic and an economy flight home will stress me out as people put their seats back and even if they don’t I stress the entire way back about it so it’s worth it to me to keep that holiday relaxation for longer. I don’t travel often (even pre Covid) so worth it for me.

Definitely worth it in my opinion. Flew from the US to India with Qatar business class...wow! Picked up and driven to the airport, escorted through check in and security by Qatar personnel. Access to the club lounge, we personally got to the airport a little early to make full use of this, we got to board first, offered champagne the second you sit down! Seats convert to full double bed with door do you really have a private suite. Service and food was second to none on the plane. We got the tickets on sale, still paid a little over $2k each. Thus was a trip of a lifetime so seemed fitting to travel like this. Definitely travel business again but probably only on flights 9hrs or more.

Have you looked at flying with Singapore Airlines, I always found their service exceptional!

In my experience, business class is worthwhile for overnight long-haul flights. The main benefit being that you can get something resembling a night’s sleep on the flatbeds.

I cant help with BA or Qatar, but I can tell you about Finnair Business Class on long haul.

I was exceptionally lucky and got upgraded, there and back, for just £250 extra.

It was like another world.

• it was a morning flight, but was given champagne as soon as I boarded. There was only 5 people in business class, I nearly drank a full bottle to myself.

• the space for 3 seats in standard, that same space was my seat, for myself.

• seat went into a bed and I had a duvet and pillow.

• I had an Elizabeth Arden beauty pack given to me. Full of eye creams, moisturisers, hair brush, slippers etc.

• I had a menu to choose from for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was silver service and I even got wine pairing.

• they tried to get us into the new time zone, so tried to get us to sleep. I snoozed, but woke up. I found a bottle of water next to me. The flight attendant saw me and before I rang the bell, came rushing over. I was a bit peckish, and he brought a range of super posh biscuits on a plate for me. I didnt eat them all because I thought I had to share them with the other passengers

The things that happen "beyond the curtain" is amazing.

I've ruined myself, and I'll struggle to go back to standard class now

I would go with Singapore Airlines. Uou can join yheir Kris Club sy the same time for benefits and discounted fares. I wonder if airlines will offer better economy and premium economy when they restart with more legroom and better service.

While it’s nice, it is primarily just a seat. If it’s a nice seat or 3 more holidays I know which I’d choose.

I wonder if airlines will offer better economy and premium economy when they restart with more legroom and better service.

Most airlines are near bankrupt and laying people off or making staff take gardening leave as well as cut salaries drastically. There won’t be any money for them to refit aircraft to allow for more space in economy or to raise their level of service. In fact I suspect it will be the opposite - much higher air fares for a vastly reduced level of service.

BA business they call it Club World has for a long time been a bit sub-par, as a lot of the planes have a funny layout -- depending on the seat you got, you sometimes had to clamber out over someone else if you wanted to go to the loo.

I think BA is in the middle of redoing its Club World cabins so the layout is much better, although they haven't done all the planes yet so you'd need to check whether the flight you'd be getting is the new layout or the old.

Food etc is great, however.

Virgin Atlantic Upper is my favourite, personally, but I don't think they fly to Singapore. Upper is a middle ground between business and first, that caters to both markets. The seats are arranged in a kind of herringbone layout, so everyone gets their own unit and there's a good amount of privacy.

Singapore Airlines is also terrific if you need an alternative to Qatar.

I too have been ruined by flying business/first/Upper. In fact if a flight's longer than four hours I won't fly economy now. I keep myself going with points/Avios from a combination of Amex, BA and Virgin credit cards.

Ba business isn't as good as Qatar, however I'd more than happily go for it if it's the cheapest. I'd go for the cheapest direct flight with a flat bed.

I would go Singapore Airlines

@Christinayangtwistedsister

I was just thinking about you the other day 💐

Hello

I wonder if airlines will offer better economy and premium economy when they restart with more legroom and better service.

In economy, definitely not. The market for the economy cabin is driven by price above all else, and that isn’t going to change. Before the pandemic airlines were offering ‘hand-baggage only’ economy fares in transatlantic markets.

I’d go for the 3 more holidays option! To be completely fair, I’ve not flown anything but coach since I was a kid when I used to get upgraded as an unaccompanied minor quite regularly. But if it’s either more holidays or a posher, more comfortable flight, one lasts one or two weeks and the other less than 20 hours, much of which you’ll be asleep. It’s also less environmentally friendly (although as a one off I don’t think that’s a major consideration).

I've flown Qatar Qsuite & their standard business class and BA's Club World.

Check in:
You get dedicated check ins for flying business class with both airlines and fast track security. Neither is superior to the other.

Lounge:
The BA lounge at T5 is good. Excellent selection of hot buffet food, a plethora of alcohol and plenty of seating. I love the room with the TV and chairs... feels sort of hidden and because it's dark and you can't really walk through there to get somewhere else in the lounge, I felt like it was easier to nod off! (I haven't used the business class lounge in a long time so unsure of whether the chairs still exist). Depending on which day you fly and what time - the showers can be a nightmare to book. You often have to wait 30 minutes before one is available so be sure to book one as soon as you enter the lounge if you want to use it. You also get access to the Arrivals Lounge if your flight lands before 11am. Lovely way to freshen up as they have showers in there and you have the opportunity to get a hot breakfast if you've missed breakfast and are hungry - this is all included in the price of your ticket.

The Qatar lounge in comparison is amazing. The ambiance is phenomenal! You can get a deli style bar (however they serve you) or dine at a table - your choice. The lounge is located right next to the gate so you don't have to venture far. However Qatar have recently changed their lowest business class fare which alas no longer includes access to the lounge so bear that in mind when choosing. You could always pay extra for a 3rd party lounge.

The plane: BA use an A380 on the LHR-SIN route which is the largest passenger aircraft. Qatar use a mixture of 777, A380s and A350s from London to Doha and A350s to Singapore - which are all twin engine planes. If you're a nervous flyer - I'd recommend choosing flights with the A380 as turbulence won't be felt as bad (the Bay of Bengal is notorious for turbulence

The seat: Qsuite is by far the best business class I've flown on. It is excellent in every way. You can your own private "suite" and direct aisle access at every seat. You get The White Company toiletries, PJs (you get to keep them) and bedding (which forced me to buy new linen from them when I got home . I don't like the way your feet are restricted in the footwell as I am a side sleeper and found it annoying to sleep while my partner sleeps on his back and had no problems. My partner and I slept in the middle seats which is the best for couples as we turned our seats into a bed! The crew put on our mattress topper and made it up while we went to the loo to change into our PJs. I would definitely recommend these seats as you're flying as a couple.

BA on the other hand, you do not have aisle access at every seat and the seat is very dated. You have to climb over someone depending on where you sit. What I love about the seat is though, it is very comfy. I'd say it's better to sleep on than Qsuite and you aren't restricted in which way to sleep. You don't get PJs in business however you do get a mattress topper which you have to put on yourself which isn't really a problem. The White Company provides the bedding as well.

Food and entertainment:

Qatar: the food is excellent. You get a four course meal. The crew go seat-to-seat taking orders while boarding once you're settled into seat and have a look at the menu. You also get to dine on demand which is very rare for business and I loved it. The food varies on the route but what I had was excellent.

BA: BA does not offer dine on demand but similar, you get a four course meal which is excellent. You get given a menu before take off and the crew take your order while doing the trolley service.

Crew: both are friendly.

I know this is quite long but I miss flying and I feel like this was a good way to bring back memories! BA are currently refitted all of their planes with their new business class so my input might be out of date by the time you fly with them (if you choose to do so). Bear in mind - you have to make a layover in Doha in the middle of the night which can be annoying if you want to sleep straight through the flight to Singapore.
I would definitely try to fly business, it's a long flight and it's so worth it. I no longer want to fly economy ever again so I find ways to avoid it give it a try! Singapore is a great destination. I would choose Qatar overall.

TLDR; both are good however I'd rather fly Qatar despite the middle-of-the-night layover. It's an excellent airport to transit in and you get lounge access there to shower.