The 12 Best Business Class Seats for Couples - 2020
Most people who travel in premium cabins tend to be traveling with a companion — often a significant other. This is especially true when heading to leisure destinations such as French Polynesia, the Maldives, or Thailand.
Furthermore, the trends of global air travel are seeming to favor business class over first class as time goes on. The result of this changing competitive scene is rapid improvements in business class products.
Whether it’s offering classier amenity kits, more real estate at your seat, more comfortable bedding, or tastier food, airlines are continuing to compete for your business class business.
In this guide, you’ll find the focus being on the intersection of business class travel and the couple demographic.
1. Qatar Airways QSuite
Qatar Airways has always been at the forefront of innovation when it comes to commercial aviation. In March 2017, the airline rolled out their most disruptive product yet: this business class product with double beds, known as QSuites.
Not only is every single aspect of this product sensational, but the QSuites are remarkably accessible — Qatar Airways is installing QSuites at an unprecedented pace. These seats are excellent for couples because they are one of only 2 business class products that can become a double bed.
In addition to this, the rest of the business class product includes BRIC and The White Company amenities. You can use the sliding doors to enclose your suite, and this ultra-luxurious product also features artisanal food and beverage offerings, plush bedding, and awesome service.
The seat is 21.5″ wide and 79″ long when fully flat, which is a lot of space to yourself.10. EVA Air
2. Singapore Airlines New A380 Business Class
Ever since Singapore Airlines rolled out their first-class suites in 2006, airlines have been fiercely working to one-up them. While the competition has stepped up to a certain extent, the lasting impression and reputation Singapore Airlines instilled on consumers was more influential than any particular product.
Recently, Singapore Airlines began retrofitting some of their A380 “Superjumbos” with a refreshed first class suite featuring the largest footprint in the world. These head-turning improvements in first class somewhat overshadowed the work they did to improve their business class.
3. Emirates A380 Business Class
Emirates is known to be a snazzy airline, and the reputation rings especially true on premium cabin seats. Aboard the A380, Emirates offers a comfortable business class product, and some seats are close enough to be side-by-side with your traveling companion — generally referred to as “honeymoon seats.”
There are a few things that scream “form over function,” but the overall experience in Emirates business class will be a memorable one. You’ll see some cool quirks such as power shades, a personal mini-bar, and glamorous finishes to your seat.
Emirates business class has decent food, the best inflight entertainment system, and awesome Bulgari amenities. Some areas of concern include slow Wi-Fi, mediocre bedding, and poor redemption prices.
4. British Airways Business Class
This next choice is going to raise the eyebrows of many points enthusiasts and frequent flyers, since British Airways doesn’t exactly have the best reputation.
But British Airways actually invented the lie-flat seat in 1996, which ushered in the modern era of premium cabin travel — so they’ve got a lot of historical pedigree when it comes to commercial aviation.
Over the years, though, their business class product has fallen behind the competition, especially with their dense configuration of 8 across in wide-body aircraft. As you can see in the above photo, some seats are rear-facing and some are forward-facing.
Though interesting, this characteristic can be advantageous for couples traveling together because it’s very easy to see and talk with the other person. There are very few other products that feature an alternate orientation like British Airways.
5. Etihad Business Studio
Offered by Etihad Airways on the 787 and A380, these business class seats represent Etihad’s flagship product in business class. World-renowned for offering the Etihad Residence (which tops the list of the best international first class products) you must also not forget their excellent business class.
Etihad distinguishes these seats from the rest of their offerings, calling their flagship business class seats the Business Studio. The seats are very well-cushioned and among the most comfortable seats in the world. In addition, you can expect to enjoy awesome service, great amenity offerings, and decent catering.
Importantly, the configuration of these seats is conducive to couples travel, since half of the middle seats are staggered next to each other. Most couples will enjoy this arrangement, which is why the Etihad Business Studio ranks highly on this list.
6. China Airlines
China Airlines, the flag carrier of Taiwan and fierce competitor of EVA Air, is also known for offering a fantastic business class product and amazing premium economy seats.
On China Airlines, you can expect small touches that go a long way, such as Evian water bottles, The North Face amenities, tasty food, and beautiful cabin finishes. The inflight monitors are abnormally large for reverse herringbone seats at a whopping 23″.
These reverse herringbone seats are in a standard 1-2-1 configuration. Even though reviews generally rave about China Airlines, the service has recently been a bit inconsistent. In any case, China Airlines is an excellent way to travel as a couple in business class.
7. Vietnam Airlines
Vietnam Airlines is another of the most underrated airlines around. Because they don’t have an established route network in America (yet), it’s understandable to not know much about them.
This airline is the flag carrier of one of the fastest-growing countries in the world: Vietnam. With a GDP growth rate in the ballpark of 7%, there are plenty of business opportunities, and their tourism industry has been growing like crazy.
The amenities were excellent, and the food and beverage program was great. The main criticism for Vietnam Airlines business class is that the flight attendants can be inconsistent in the quality of their service.
8. Air France 777-300ER
To pivot back to Europe, here’s the thing with Air France: They operate a bunch of different aircraft and make swaps all the time, so it’s difficult to be 100% certain that you’re going to book their best business class product.
Even on the 777-300ER, which typically contains their flagship business class seat, you run the risk of being in an angled-flat 2-3-2 seat, as is the case for the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) flight on AF 681.
But if you manage to book the right flight in business class, you’ll be in for a treat. Reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, excellent French dining, and consistently good service make for a pleasant experience.
If you’re traveling as a couple, going to France is probably at the top of your bucket list.
9. Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia is another great example of a stellar business class experience. Great food, excellent bedding, and comfortable seating are the main highlights of this product. The small drawback is that while the service is excellent, it doesn’t have any “X factor” aspects that make it extremely memorable.
You can book Virgin Australia using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles, but award availability is difficult to come by. You can also try to accrue Virgin Australia Velocity points if you are based in Oceania.
10. Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific has traditionally been known for their excellent first class product. While Cathay Pacific’s first class product is regarded as phenomenal, their business class is known to be average.
This is somewhat due to the crazy high expectations drawn from their first class offering, but also due to cost-cutting measures. In Cathay Pacific business class, you’ll see a cabin of reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. These seats are average in size for their type, but the product itself hasn’t changed in a long time.
For example, you won’t be provided a mattress pad or pajamas. The good news is that compared to economy flights, Cathay Pacific business class is still an excellent way to fly.
11. Air Canada
Air Canada’s biggest strength seems to be the consistency of their premium cabin products. The seat is average in size for a reverse herringbone layout, and the food and beverage program is decent.
Service tends to be very warm, and the highlight seems to be the bedding. With a mattress pad and high-quality furnishings, it’s easy for travelers to luxuriate at their seat.
12. Singapore Airlines 777-300ER
Singapore Airlines operates the 777-300ER on a select number of routes. In the United States, they do so from:
Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT) – Singapore (SIN)
San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Singapore (SIN)
The first impression of this product is that the seats are gigantic. Truthfully, 28″ of seat width in business class is something to marvel about.
You and your travel companion can occupy a middle seat pair and have a wonderful experience. The middle seats are great for couples because it affords travelers tons of space to themselves, but interacting with your seat mate never feels like a challenge.
Singapore also offers “Book The Cook” and it’s an awesome service that’ll allow you some degree of customization for your food. Overall, this hard product has held up very well over time, though it’s recommended you reserve a bulkhead seat. Otherwise, you’ll have to fit your feet into a narrow footwell and sleep diagonally.
Enjoy your travels 2020!