This year I took an international business class flight for the first time in my life.
My flight was into Paris and out of Rome with Qatar Airlines at the very pointy end of the plane. The cost was eye wateringly astronomical – but was it worth it?
In the past I have baulked at the thought of paying up to five times more for a lie down seat at the front of the plane that literally gets you to the same place in the same amount of time as an upright seat at the back of the plane. My logic – save the cash for the actual trip.
However, in 2023 I published my book – The Life List – a goal-setting book the underlying premise of which is the exact opposite of having a bucket list. A bucket list is a list of experiences – often limited to dreams of travel and adventure – that you want to experience before you die. A life list on the other hand is a list of goals across health, wealth, lifestyle, travel, adventure, legacy and relationships that you want to design and then implement while you are still young enough to enjoy them. After my ex-husband died in 2021 at only 54, I am not going to put off living until later, because later might be too late.
Spending up
Hence, this year I hit the splurge button and booked a business class flight to Europe – it was time to experience the high life!
At this point, it is probably best to share that my definition of ‘the high life’ is not one in which I spend an entire flight indulging in French champagne, Bordeaux reds and top of the shelf spirits offered in business class. Noooooo. My definition of ‘the high life’ is much more tame – literally the sole reason I signed up for the business class experience was to lie down flat on something that resembled a bed and to sleep for as long as possible.
And I did.
I slept and I slept, and I slept some more. I am a shade under six feet tall with tight hip flexors, a dodgy lower back and my neck is a pain in itself. Sitting upright for 24 hours crammed into the tight little space offered in economy class squashed up nice and close to my travelling companions is torture for me, my back, my hips and my neck. My dream was to fly to Europe in full horizontal mode for as long as possible.
Shortly after the flight took off, and while I donned my new Qatar PJs and brushed my teeth with my complimentary toothbrush and lathered on my new night cream in a bathroom so large I could have slept in there, the lovely flight attendant set up my bed with two pillows and a plush velvet throw. I donned my complimentary noise cancelling headphones, placed my belongings in the personal locker next to my bed, closed and locked my cabin door and flicked my ‘do not disturb’ light on. I was asleep in no time – lying completely flat, my legs fully extended, my hips perfectly aligned, my neck snugly supported and with Harry Potter lulling me into oblivion.
Class act
I woke after eight hours of sleep … EIGHT WHOLE HOURS … at which point the lovely flight attendant greeted me by name, offered me a menu, took my order for breakfast and set my table with a white tablecloth, individual salt and pepper shakers, silverware and a faux candle. I was served an assortment of pastries, an assortment of breads, bircher muesli and a fresh berry smoothie. I could have opted for multiple cooked breakfast options.
Not long after, the plane landed for a four-hour stopover where I enjoyed the luxurious Business Class lounge and indulged in a hot shower, more lotions and a change of clothes before boarding for the next leg of the flight and doing it all over again. More PJs, more lotions, and more sleep.
Some 24 hours or so later I arrived in Paris completely refreshed, the owner of two new sets of PJs and a lot of body lotion. Being a business class customer, I was fast-tracked through customs and my bags literally arrived at the baggage carousel before I did. The whole experience was magnificent.
Did I need the lotions? No. Did I need the a la carte dining experience? No. Did I need the endless supply of top-shelf alcohol? No. Did I need the faux candle? No. Did I need new PJs? No. Did I enjoy the sleep? Hell, yes. Was it worth paying five times the amount of an economy airfare on the same flight? Hell, yes. Will I do it again? Hell, yes. Was I secretly thrilled to turn left rather than right as I boarded the plane? Call me shallow – but again, hell, yes …
Unfortunately I have ruined myself for life. How on earth am I ever going to be able to fly economy class again?
Have you ever flown business class? Why not share your experience in the comments section below?
Also read: Daycation anyone?
You “closed and locked my cabin door and flicked my ‘do not disturb’ light on.” ???
I have flown business class quite a bit and I have never had a cabin door to close. I’ve even just looked up reviews of Qatar’s long haul business class and there’s no cabin doors.
Their Q suites have doors.
Rather than improve First or Business Class, Airlines need to think about the bread and butter Ecomomy/Cattle Truck Customer. The best thing they could do is to remove sevral rows and increase the leg space. For Long Haul Flight this is essential for the Customers’ comfort, well being and safety. In an emergency getting out of the Compactus Seating will be problematic. The Elites can keep their luxury, but how about making us mere mortals comfortable as well?
While I’m sure it would be wonderful (I’d love to be able to sleep and be comfortable on a long haul flight) business class is a luxury I can’t justify on any level, bad back, bad neck, sleep issues notwithstanding. I’d have no money left for accommodation, food, etc for a holiday! (No way I’m staying in backpacker accom and eating scraps.) Would have to turn around and come straight back home lol. I think I’m lucky to travel economy or perhaps premium economy at best, take a day or two to rest when I reach my destination and enjoy my actual holiday rather than spend everything on the bus trip over 😉 bearing in mind many people can’t afford any sort of holiday these days.
I NEVER fly anything but Business Class overseas.
I’m short with bad back, hips, knees & neck from a car accident when I was 21.
In 2013 my now ex & I flew SYD – LHR with Virgin Atlantic in Upper Class (Business/First). The big consideration was these tickets cost us $12,602.66 both return, whilst BA & QANTAS both had their Premium Economy seats ‘on sale’ for $14,500! Why would I pay that much when I can pay so much less and a class above.
The service was A++. Had the Air NZ lounge in Sydney, a lovely time waiting, and priority boarding. Wheelchair from check-in to the door of the plane.
Had a small language problem at Hong Kong when we were going to the lounge (not airside) and had to go thru security – I’d had my knees replaced 2 years prior, and the security x-ray was ‘going off like a mad hatter’, and they couldn’t ask me in English and I couldn’t reply to them in Mandarin until a hostess from the lounge came down and enquired as to what was happening. I still had my long ‘winter’ pants on (30+ degrees and massive humidity, so uncomfortable, and couldn’t wait to get to the lounge and change into shorts) and couldn’t roll them up to show the lovely scars. She explained what the problem was in her language and all was fixed.
Whilst in the lounge, we were offered places in the ‘Refresher Lounge’ on arrival at Heathrow, and we gladly accepted the places and were thoroughly pampered.
On the way home, we booked our car slot, dropped myself and the luggage off (forgot to give hubby his papers), and when he arrived back, I had to give him his papers so that he could go into the lounge, too.
Food A+, service A++. Would recommend paying for the privilege again.
There is one comment regarding checked luggage allowances.
BA & services to the US have a piece concept with
23kg Economy (1 piece)
46kg Premium Economy (2 pieces x 23kg)
64kg Business (2 pieces x 32kg)
96kg First Class (3 pieces x 32kg)
Most other airlines have
30kg Economy
35kg Premium Economy
40kg Business
45kg First Class
With additional allowances if you’re a member of their ‘clubs’.
Me, I’d rather have the extra kgs due to taking some ‘aids’ with me that fit into my luggage, that I never go anywhere without due to my disability.
My next trip will be back to the UK/Ireland when I can afford it, and in at least Business Class now that I’ve been spoiled 🙂
Is business class worth it? totally!!!!!! in 2019 my wife and I did this on the non stop Perth to London QF 9 and as we both have back problems and leg problems, we shelled out for the one way and I can agree it was fantastic and yes we did get 8 hours of sleep and a super attentive attendant – in fact every time we rolled over “would you like some champagne?”. arriving at Heathrow at 05:30 half hour ahead of schedule after an incredibly smooth flight, it felt good to be refreshed to walk of first and head for our next leg to Endiborough. No cudos for BA with business class being on an A320 with a tray locked in across the middle seat, but at least we were only in row 3. Beyond row 5 it looked like sardines. leaving England for Denver we were on BA again – one of the few 747’s still flying – bed pathetic with half way gap between seat and fold down bit from the seat in front. Cabin service average. La via Tokyo to Singapore was supposed to have been an A-350 flight but was changed out – great service but a dog leg sleeping position for the beds, but comfortable and top marks for in cabin service and menu. We ended up with Singapore having canceled Cathay Pacific due to avoiding Hong Kong during riots. Originally going to travel Emirates to London but not looking forward to 5 hour layover at Dubai and only able to get exit row economy. Although cancelling well in advance after having used points for the booking we were docked 100,000 pts although we had cancelled early (not impressed. We will do QF( again this coming year to Take in Scotland and Ireland and YES we will do it business class.
Yes I would love extra leg room in economy. After one long haul flight in economy, my legs swelled up so much I needed to spend a whole day with my legs horizontal. Sadly, one less day to enjoy my much anticipated holiday. It seems to me that some first class passengers have the additional benefit of claiming the whole ticket cost as a taxation work deductible expense. Or their employer has paid for the business class ticket. Lucky them.
I’ll only fly economy on a very short haul flight otherwise BC. I always look out for sales and that’s been our last two o/seas trips done BC. I’m not loyal to any airline, so look around for deals and you may be surprised at what you find. We’ve both worked hard and saved and now is the time for travel, as you don’t know how your health will hold out and it’s no good with saying I’ll do it later and later may never come around. Premium Economy is a good alternative, I’ve flown once and that was my first taste of luxury, now it’s BC. Our last trip this year we did a multi city trip, that I got during the Black Friday sales with Singapore Airlines and we arrived in Milan ready to tackle the world instead of trying to unpretzel our bodies and when we returned homebound from London we arrived in Brisbane ready to hit the ground running, so to be the extra money is worth it.
Agree a 100% with you.
Yes, in my humble opinion it is worth the cost just for the extra comfort and leg room that Business Class seating provides. I’m happy to fly short distances in economy or Premium Economy but, long haul as far as I’m concerned has to be BC!