Which Airlines Have The Best Business Class?

I’ve long published my rankings of the world’s best first class products and best first class lounges. In the past couple of years, I’ve tried to do the same for business class.

It’s kind of hard to truly rank business class products, simply because there’s so much variability in terms of the quality of products across aircraft, food and beverage service can vary significantly across flights, people prioritize very different things in business class, etc.

My list of the top business class products is essentially the airlines I generally most enjoy flying in business class, factoring in all the things that make a business class experience stand out. Before I get into this list, let me note a few things:

• This is highly subjective, and these choices are just my preferences, so if you have different picks, that’s totally reasonable, and I’d love to hear about them
• I’m attempting to factor in the overall business class experience, from seat, to food and drinks, to service, to amenities
• I’m generally going to be sorting the list starting with my favorite, though I could easily see myself switching many of these rankings by one or two spots
• I’ll always note which products I’m referring to with the rankings, since many airlines struggle with product consistency across the fleet

In separate posts I’ve written about the world’s best business class lounges, and the world’s best business class seats (which often aren’t airline specific). For that matter, going in the opposite direction, I’ve also written about the world’s worst business class seats.

With the above out of the way, below are my favorite business class products…

Qatar Airways business class

Qatar Airways sets the standard for business class, plain and simple. The carrier is known for its Qsuites business class, available on select Airbus A350s and Boeing 777s. Boeing 787-9s also feature an awesome business class product, though it’s a bit different.

There’s simply not a more well rounded business class experience out there. Qatar Airways has thoughtfully designed seats with privacy doors, amazing dine on demand catering, impressive amenities (including pajamas), virtually unlimited entertainment, reasonably priced high-speed Wi-Fi (and free Starlink Wi-Fi is currently being rolled out), and more.

The airline even keeps one-upping itself, and now even offers caviar in business class on some routes, and has plans for a next generation Qsuites product. If I could only ever fly one airline again in business class, it would be Qatar Airways.

Japan Airlines business class

Japan Airlines recently debuted its Airbus A350-1000, which is the carrier’s new flagship, long haul aircraft. While Japan Airlines has long been great, this really takes the airline to the next level. For one, Japan Airlines is the launch customer for the Safran Unity seat, which is one of the most spacious and well designed business class seats we’ve ever seen. The tech is also awesome, with features we’ve never seen before, like headrest speakers.

Beyond that, Japan Airlines’ soft product is excellent, from friendly service, to delicious food, to free Wi-Fi, to excellent amenities, including comfortable bedding. It’s amazing how both of Japan’s major airlines now have among the best business class products in the world.

All Nippon Airways business class

All Nippon Airways has what’s probably the world’s best business class seat, known as “The Room,” on select Boeing 777s. This seat is even better than Qatar Airways’ Qsuites business class seat, and it honestly feels more like a first class suite than a business class seat. As you’d expect, service on ANA is to a very high standard as well (it’s Japan, after all!), with both Japanese and Western food and drinks, and solid amenities.

However, the tech isn’t quite as good as on Japan Airlines, and I also slightly prefer Japan Airlines’ soft product. Furthermore, neither Japanese carrier has a soft product that’s as well rounded as Qatar Airways.

Singapore Airlines business class

Singapore Airlines is one of the world’s most recognizable airline brands. Ironically enough, the carrier’s business class hard product is not cutting edge, whether you’re flying the Airbus A350, Airbus A380, or Boeing 777. And in some ways the carrier is lacking a bit when it comes to amenities, with no pajamas, very basic amenity kits, no dine on demand, etc.

However, in my opinion there’s not an airline that more consistently has exceptional service in business class than Singapore Airlines. There’s just so much pride that goes into service on Singapore Airlines, and I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad flight with the airline.

The airline also has a lot going for it beyond friendly service, including free Wi-Fi, endless entertainment through the KrisWorld system, and “Book the Cook,” which allows you to pre-order your food from a huge selection of options that might not be available on board.

Etihad Airways business class

Etihad Airways is really in a groove, with its new Airbus A350 business class suite. Etihad has reverse herringbone seats with doors, and the seats are comfortable and feature incredible tech (bluetooth audio, wireless charging, etc.), with lots of entertainment and solid Wi-Fi.

Etihad’s soft product is excellent as well, in particular thanks to the Armani / Casa collaboration. From great bedding, to dine on demand catering, to a great coffee selection, Etihad has come a long way in business class. Etihad has also introduced a new Boeing 787 business class, which is excellent as well.

EVA Air business class

Taiwan is blessed with three amazing airlines, with China Airlines and EVA Air being the two longstanding ones. EVA Air has the edge, and has an incredible business class soft product. The carrier’s business class seats are nothing special, and include reverse herringbone seats on the Boeing 777 or staggered seats on the Boeing 787, but it’s the food, drinks, amenities, and service, that set the airline apart.

From amazing champagne, to a collaboration with Din Tai Fung for food, to comfortable pajamas, EVA has one of my favorite soft products in the world. If you’re lucky, you can even fly on one of EVA Air’s Hello Kitty jets.

Starlux Airlines business class

Starlux Airlines is Taiwan’s newest long haul airline, and the company has started operating long haul flights with its Airbus A350s. Starlux’s business class is excellent. For one, the airline is the launch customer for the Collins Aerospace Elements product, which is without a doubt the world’s best reverse herringbone seat. This is an excellent hard product, with each seat having a door, a large footwell, and unbeatable tech.

Starlux’s soft product is quite good too, with free Wi-Fi in business class, pajamas, nice amenity kits and bedding, and an extensive selection of food and drinks. I’m excited to see this airline continuing to expand.

Cathay Pacific business class

Cathay Pacific recently debuted its new Aria Suite business class, which is being retrofitted on Boeing 777s. Much like on Starlux, Cathay Pacific selected a modified version of the Collins Aerospace Elements seat, which is stellar. But what’s great about the product goes beyond that.

For one, the seat’s tech is amazing, from the crisp entertainment screen, to the bluetooth audio and wireless charging. On top of that, the bedding is phenomenal, among the best you’ll find on any airline in business class. Cathay Pacific’s food and drink selection is also imaginative, from the signature Cathay Delight, to vegan and wellness oriented options.

Turkish Airlines business class

Turkish Airlines actually has a pretty mediocre business class hard product. Turkish’s Boeing 787 business class consists of staggered seats, while Turkish’s Boeing 777 business class has seven seats per row. Turkish does have some ex-Aeroflot Airbus A350s with an impressive hard product, and also plans to introduce a new business class seat soon.

So why do I rank Turkish Airlines so highly? Well, everything about the soft product is excellent. In my opinion, Turkish has the best food of any airline in business class, plus a great coffee selection. On top of that, I find hospitality on Turkish to consistently be genuinely hospitable and friendly.

Türkiye is an incredible country with so much to offer (that’s a statement about the food, culture, history, and people, and not about the government), so connecting through Istanbul is always a pleasure.

Emirates business class

Emirates is one of the most popular airline brands in the world, and the carrier has a huge halo effect from its A380 fleet. Emirates’ A380 business class definitely isn’t cutting edge, and on many aircraft, even looks quite outdated. The cabin is also huge, so service doesn’t feel that personalized.

However, there’s no denying that there are some things Emirates does really well, and people love flying the carrier’s A380. The seats are comfortable, having an onboard bar is awesome, the drinks are phenomenal (including cocktails), the entertainment is incredible, the Wi-Fi is free, and the amenities are great, with gorgeous amenity kits and even pajamas.

Air France business class

Many people may (correctly) observe that virtually all the carriers on my list are from Asia and the Middle East. Unfortunately that’s just the cookie crumbles, given the competitive landscape. So I want to add a wildcard to the list, which is Air France business class.

While Air France business class isn’t quite to the level of some of the above, I’d argue that the carrier’s new Airbus A350 business class and Boeing 777 business class are by far the best in Europe. The planes have comfortable reverse herringbone seats with doors, excellent tech, and amazing bulkhead seats.

On top of that, I find Air France’s business class soft product to be a cut above the competition. Crews are generally friendly, food and drinks are tasty, entertainment is excellent, and Wi-Fi speeds are quite good (with free Starlink Wi-Fi being on the way). In Europe, Air France is among my favorite airlines in business class.

ITA Airways business class

Let me add a wildcard to the list, especially since it’s not an Asian (or Middle Eastern) airline. I’m a huge fan of Italy’s ITA Airways, and I don’t care whether I’m flying the carrier’s Airbus A321neo, Airbus A330neo, or Airbus A350.

It’s not that the hard product is necessarily that amazing, but instead, it’s that the food and drinks are top notch, as you’d expect from an Italian airline. I’ve also found the service to be exceptional. So while there are areas where ITA doesn’t match other top carriers in business class, on balance, I enjoy my flights with the airline immensely.

Bottom line

It’s amazing how far business class has come over the years, especially when it comes to seats. Many business class seats are now better than first class seats 15 years ago.

Since we’re all looking for different things, there’s not a single business class product that we’ll all agree is the best. The above are my favorites, and Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines, and All Nippon Airways, are definitely my top three. However, there are lots of other lovely products as well that I really enjoy.

What are your favorite airlines you’ve flown in business class?