7 business class seats that are actually worth the price tag

With dine-on-demand meals, including afternoon tea on fine china, and homemade pasta, bread, and omelettes made the day of the flight, Qatar passengers are in for a culinary delight. Qatar even serves caviar in business class (a dining perk typically reserved for first class on many carriers) on select routes to the United States, Australia, Brazil, and Singapore, among others. Then there are Diptyque amenity kits plus pajamas and slippers for added comfort. Qatar’s Qsuites feel more like first-class, but at a business-class price.

Where to find it: Qsuites are on the airline’s Airbus A350-1000s, as well as some of its Boeing 777-300ERs, 777-200LRs and Airbus A350-900s. Its Airbus A380s and Boeing 787 planes do not have Qsuites, however. Most Qatar Airways flights to the UK, namely London and Manchester, have Qsuites, but be sure to double check as aircraft routings can change. On planes without Qsuites, the setup does not have as much privacy as having a door separating the seat from the aisle. A good indicator that the plane does not have Qsuites is if the cabin is in a 2-2-2 configuration; QSuite planes only have one seat by the window (a 1-2-1 configuration).

ANA “The Room” business class

While only available on certain aircrafts, this is one of the most spacious business class products flying between Japan and the UK. Sliding doors assure protection from commotion in the aisle, and the seat feels more like a first-class seat with wide shoulder room facing an enormous entertainment screen. Three-dimensional cushioning from Nishikawa is designed to evenly spread body weight for a more comfortable rest.

Seats alternate between facing forward and backward on the plane, but all have ample interior storage space. Laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration, there is a sliding panel in the centre section so that couples can sit together. Its Japanese in-flight dining comes from top Michelin-starred chefs and is a favourite of repeat passengers. Luckily, travellers can pre-order one before boarding the plane.

Where to find it: For now, it is operating on flights from London to Tokyo that use the Boeing B777-300ER aircraft. ANA brands this product as “The Room,” and it’s worth looking for that verbiage if you want to secure this new product. It operates most regularly on flights to and from London Heathrow, while other UK hubs will codeshare with partner airlines.

Singapore Airlines business class

If you want to try another of the widest business class seats in the sky, Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380s should be top of mind. After tucking into Michelin star-worthy meals, ask a flight attendant to make up the bed with pillows and a duvet. Couples in some of the centre-section seat pairs can convert it into a double bed.

Similarly spacious are the seats on the B777-300ERs and A350-900s, which operates nonstop routes from the UK to Singapore. Still, all the airline’s other swoon-worthy amenities like its Book the Cook dining service (lobster Thermidor, anyone?) are available.