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The 5 Airlines Taking Business Class to New Heights

Calling all jet-setting premium travellers! If you’re considering splashing out on business class for your next long-haul adventure, or it’s simply the only way you travel, some airlines are truly going above and beyond. And understandably, with so many amazing options, how will you choose?

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Published 3 April 2024

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Flight Centre

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Calling all jet-setting premium travellers! If you’re considering splashing out on business class for your next long-haul adventure, or it’s simply the only way you travel, some airlines are truly going above and beyond. And understandably, with so many amazing options, how will you choose?

Here are five carriers taking business class from South Africa to new heights of luxury, from customisable private suites and amenity kits from designer labels to world-class wine lists.

In this blog

Emirates: Travel in style – from the ground to the air

With not one but two exceptional business-class products, Emirates brings luxury to every flight:

The iconic A380 Business Class:

Lie-flat seating with personal minibar.
The unique Onboard Lounge social space – the spot above the clouds to mix and mingle over drinks and canapes. What a place to be seen!
Gourmet dining.
Over 6,500 entertainment channels.

The redesigned 777 Business Class:

Plush leather lie-flat seats.
58 cm personal entertainment screens.
Gourmet dining.
Over 6,500 entertainment channels.

Travellers can pre-order main courses from an extensive menu up to 24 hours before departure on board both the A380 and select 777 aircraft. With an extensive wine selection (some are exclusive to Emirates flights), travellers can also indulge in the finest wines 30,000 feet in the air!

Both aircraft operate from Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban to over 130 global destinations.

And the Emirates business class experience is just as indulgent on the ground. In Dubai, the chauffeur-drive service will whisk you to and from the airport in BMW 5 series vehicles. Business class passengers can also refresh at Emirates’ lavish Terminal 3 lounges, including the world’s only Moët & Chandon champagne bar in an airport. Now that’s the way to kill time while waiting to board your flight!

Qatar Airways: The game-changing QSuite

Named ‘World’s Best Business Class’ for 2023, Qatar Airways’ patented QSuite is business class redefined. This innovative offering features:

Private suites with closing doors and ‘do not disturb’ indicators.
Customisable layouts to create double beds or family rooms.
Direct aisle access for every seat.
Dine on-demand service with cuisine by renowned chefs.
Premium Diptyque amenities and ambient mood lighting.

QSuite is available from Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban on the cutting-edge A350 aircraft.

Qatar Airways - A World of Unrivalled Luxury

CHECK IT OUT

Turkish Airlines: Flying chefs on board

Turkish Airlines impresses with:

Lie-flat beds with built-in massagers on some planes (no more sore neck or back when you arrive!).
Designer Ferragamo amenity kits.
Denon noise-cancelling headphones for immersive entertainment.
The pièce de resistance? The Flying Chef program, where expert chefs prepare and serve seasonal tasting menus that change weekly.

Singapore Airlines: Culinary superstars

This award-winning airline is renowned for sublime service and incredible in-flight cuisine (just like their home destination), including:

Spacious leather lie-flat seats with direct aisle access.
‘Book the Cook’ service to pre-order from acclaimed chefs.
Signature dishes like lobster thermidor and champagne-poached halibut.
An extensive, award-winning wine list to accompany every meal.

Singapore Airlines - Creating a World Where Your Senses Take Flight

TAKE A LOOK

Ethiopian Airlines

Voted the Best Airline in Africa for six consecutive years, Ethiopian Airlines offers an acclaimed business class experience called Cloud Nine. Their influence shines through from the ground experience to the inflight service.

At their Addis Ababa hub, the 5,000 square metre Cloud Nine Lounge pampers with amenities like showers, massages, and the iconic Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Onboard, menus proudly showcase Ethiopia's diverse cuisines alongside global dishes, with vibrant presentations from multi-tiered carts.

The comprehensive menus feature authentic vegetable and meat stews served alongside injera - the country's celebrated sourdough flatbread. International selections and an impressive wine/cocktail list round out the dining experience. Attentive crews often don traditional dress during meal services.

As a Star Alliance member, Cloud Nine provides partner lounge access and priority boarding worldwide. Travellers can expect lie-flat seating with privacy dividers across Ethiopian's wide-body fleet.

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