The modern long-haul business class cabin has evolved into a genuinely premium travel experience. The products highlighted below offer fully lie-flat beds, designed to support rest on intercontinental flights rather than short-haul comfort. Airlines now treat business class as a flagship cabin, investing heavily in space, privacy, and consistency.

Beyond the seat itself, these products deliver a complete premium journey. Dedicated lounges, priority services, and elevated onboard dining are now expected rather than optional. Together, these elements create a business class experience that extends well beyond the aircraft and rivals what first class once offered on many routes.

Qatar Qsuite

Qatar Airways’ Qsuite business class first entered service in 2017 and quickly set a new benchmark for long-haul premium travel. The product is installed across the airline’s entire Airbus A350-1000 fleet, as well as a portion of its Boeing 777s and Airbus A350-900s. This broad deployment has made Qsuite one of the most widely accessible next-generation business class seats in the market. Availability still varies by route and aircraft, making seat selection an important consideration for travelers.

The defining feature of Qsuite is its fully enclosed suite with a sliding privacy door, offering a level of personal space rarely seen when it debuted. Center seats can be configured into paired “double beds” or combined into four-seat quad layouts, allowing families, colleagues, or couples to travel together. This flexibility is unmatched among most competitors and remains a major differentiator years after launch. The layout balances privacy for solo travelers with genuine social seating options.

“Qatar Airways is also showcasing its state-of-the-art Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner and Qatar Executive’s all-new Gulfstream G700. We continue to build on our promise of delivering unparalleled excellence in each and every iteration of our products and services. We welcome all visitors to experience the latest era of Qatar Airways at the prestigious Farnborough International Airshow this week.” – Engr. Al-Meer at Farnborough International Airshow 2024

Beyond the seat itself, Qatar Airways pairs Qsuite with consistently high-end onboard service. Business class passengers receive thoughtfully plated meals, a strong wine and beverage program, and attentive cabin service across most routes. Amenity kits from Diptyque further reinforce the premium experience, offering branded skincare products rather than generic toiletries. Taken together, the soft product elevates Qsuite beyond strong hardware alone.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines operates several business class seat types across its widebody and narrowbody fleets, reflecting the varied missions of each aircraft. Long-haul Airbus A380s and A350s, along with Boeing 777s, feature the carrier’s flagship widebody business class seats, while regional A350s and 787s use a slightly different design optimized for shorter sectors. Even the airline’s 737 fleet is fitted with lie-flat business class seating, a rarity among narrowbody operators. Across all aircraft, the focus remains on full-flat beds rather than recliner-style seats.

Singapore Airlines’ KrisWorld inflight entertainment system is consistently regarded as one of the strongest in the industry. Large, high-resolution screens and a responsive interface make it easy to navigate an extensive library of movies, television, music, and games. The system is regularly refreshed, ensuring new releases are available on long-haul routes. For many travelers, KrisWorld meaningfully enhances the overall onboard experience.

The airline’s “Book the Cook” service allows business class passengers to pre-select specialty entrées ahead of departure. Menus can be previewed up to six weeks before the flight, giving travelers the ability to plan meals well in advance. This option is especially popular on long-haul routes, where premium dining is a key part of the experience. By offering pre-order dining, Singapore Airlines gives passengers greater control over one of the most important elements of business class travel.

ANA Airways

Japan’s All Nippon Airways introduced its flagship “The Room” business class in 2019. The seat is installed on a portion of the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER fleet, primarily operating long-haul international routes. Since its debut, The Room has been recognized for its unusually spacious layout compared to traditional business class designs. Availability varies by aircraft, making seat maps and equipment checks important when booking.

The Room uses a staggered layout that creates two distinct seating experiences. E and F seats face backward and are positioned closer together, making them the better choice for passengers traveling as a pair. D and G seats face forward and are spaced farther apart, prioritizing privacy for solo travelers. Unlike Qatar Airways’ Qsuite, ANA does not offer the ability to combine seats into four-person group configurations.

One of the most notable aspects of The Room is its sheer width and spacing. There is approximately 38 inches of space between the armrests, significantly more than most business class seats. This allows passengers to move, lounge, or sleep without feeling constrained.

ANA has also unveiled “THE Room FX,” a next-generation business class seat designed for the Boeing 787-9, building on the original The Room concept. Announced at the 2025 Paris Air Show, the new seat features a privacy door at every position and is positioned as the largest business class seat ever offered on a mid-sized widebody. ANA plans to begin introducing The Room FX on major long-haul international routes starting in 2026. This expansion signals the airline’s intent to bring its flagship business class experience beyond its 777-300ER fleet.

« ANA is dedicated to providing the highest level of a customer experience and is investing in the future of the most advanced and comfortable travel with the new ‘THE Room FX’ seat, » said Tomoji Ishii, Executive Vice President, Customer Experience of ANA. « This seat represents our commitment to exceeding expectations and shaping the future of luxury flight. »

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific introduced its new Aria Suite business class earlier this year, marking the airline’s most significant cabin update in over a decade. The product entered service on June 5 on flights between Vancouver and Hong Kong. Aria Suite is being rolled out on retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, with additional routes expected as more jets complete refurbishment. This phased introduction reflects Cathay’s long-term widebody renewal strategy.

All Aria Suite seats face forward, departing from Cathay Pacific’s previous reverse herringbone layouts. Each suite is equipped with a 24-inch 4K inflight entertainment screen, one of the largest offered in business class today. Sliding privacy doors further enhance the sense of personal space. The result is a more enclosed and modern experience that aligns with current premium cabin expectations.

Cathay Pacific complements the new seat with upgraded soft product elements. Business class passengers receive Bamford-branded amenity kits, continuing the airline’s emphasis on wellness-focused partnerships. The kits include skincare products designed for long-haul travel rather than generic offerings. Alongside the new hardware, these details help position Aria Suite as a competitive top-tier business-class product.

“We are proud to continue our commitment to offering an unparalleled level of comfort and convenience by bringing our highly anticipated Aria Suite to our North American customers. Just over 40 years ago, Vancouver was our first long-haul passenger route between North America and Hong Kong. We are thrilled to introduce the Aria Suite to the Americas via Vancouver, further demonstrating the importance of the region to Cathay Pacific.” – Cathay Pacific Senior Vice President, Christ Vanden Hooven

Air France

Air France introduced its latest long-haul business class seat in mid-2022 as part of a broader premium cabin refresh. The product is installed on select Airbus A350 aircraft and the majority of the airline’s Boeing 777 fleet. This rollout has made the new seat widely available across Air France’s intercontinental network. As with most fleet upgrades, availability still depends on specific aircraft assignments.

Each business class seat features a sliding privacy door, bringing Air France in line with the latest generation of enclosed suites. The bulkhead seats offer noticeably more footwell space, making them especially attractive for taller passengers. Storage areas and surface space have also been improved compared with earlier designs. These changes create a more private and functional environment for long-haul travel.

Air France enhances the onboard experience with premium bedding and amenities. Business class passengers receive a Sofitel mattress topper designed to improve sleep quality on overnight flights. Amenity kits from Clarins include branded skincare products tailored for long-haul conditions. Together, these soft product upgrades complement the airline’s new business class hardware.

Take Away

The best business class seats available today reflect how far premium air travel has evolved. Airlines now compete on suite-style privacy, seat dimensions, and cabin design rather than simply offering a flat bed. Across these carriers, hardware quality is matched by increasingly polished soft products that elevate the end-to-end experience.

Aircraft type and seat selection remain critical when booking. Many of these products are still limited to specific fleets or routes, meaning the same airline can deliver very different experiences depending on the aircraft. For travelers willing to plan carefully, today’s top business class cabins can offer comfort and privacy that rival traditional first class.