This is such a difficult question, made more difficult by the budget that you are working with.  But, we have found that throughout our many years of travel there is always a deal to be had. And, let’s face it, you have worked hard and deserve a little bit of pampering!

On our very first overseas trip we travelled first class. Etihad offered 2 for 1 first class tickets, and we took it!  What an experience it was.  Needless to say we have not always travelled first class, but we have always travelled business.

So, what should you be looking for.

  1. Visit airline sites frequently, and check out what they are offering.  We often find a 2 for 1 business class offer, and even if we haven’t any travels plans for the foreseeable future, we grab the offer in any event.
  2. There are a number of web sites that offer discounted first and business class airfares.  They are able to do this because they purchase frequent flyer points from people who travel enormous flight miles per year.  Once they purchase those points they then sell the airline seats like any other travel agent. This is completely legitimate, but the only issue is you might not be able to travel on the particular day you nominate.  However, the days offered by these companies will only be a day or two either side of your preferred travel dates. So, if you are flexible, these deals are genuine and should be checked out. We have used them on several of our trips, and never had a problem with them. All the other benefits of flying first class and business are still available to the traveller, such as access to the airline lounges and dedicated check in lanes.

Our preferred airlines are:

  1. Singapore Airlines

    • First Class – the best airline I have flown in first class. Spacious pods, an excellent menu and very attentive staff. What I also liked was that at Changi Airport there was a dedicated First Class entry and once inside the door the staff took care of everything for you, including helping you check through customs. Once you got to the lounge area there were two sections. The first lounge was for business class passengers as well as club members, with a second lounge being dedicated to those passengers who were actually flying first class. This is a very impressive airline.
    • Business Class – the experience in business class is still amazing, with spacious pods, an innovative menu and staff were excellent.

  2. Etihad

    • First Class – we actually flew first class on a 2 for 1 deal. An excellent airline and the first class cabin was exceptional. Again a menu that would be the envy of most high end restaurants, excellent wine list and the staff were great. The first class lounge at Abu Dhabi was amazing, with shower facilities, massages, a business centre and an extensive restaurant and wine bar. Nothing to complain about here. Etihad also offered a limousine service to take you to and from the airport from each destination.

  3. Air New Zealand

    • Business Class – no complaints with Air New Zealand. Even though the business class we flew in did not have individual pods, the seats were still spacious and well spaced out. The food was enjoyable, staff were great and the flight was comfortable and enjoyable.

  4. Emirates

    • Business Class –

Airlines which disappointed:

  1. Qatar – I would have to say Qatar was probably the most disappointing airline we have flown with. We have travelled both Business Class and Economy. Whereas Business Class had the individual pods, and these were quite comfortable, we found the service slow and the dining options limited. In economy my seat was broken and so it would not recline, the seat sizes were enormously tight and you could not visit the bathroom if the food trolley was in operation. The staff were not all that friendly in economy and it seemed that requesting anything outside meal service times was frowned upon.
  2. Qantas – Coming from Australia I found Business Class with Qantas very ordinary. The crew member who was serving me was on the offensive from the start. Even though the menu I had said that I could order my food at any time during the flight, the crew member made it perfectly clear to me that I had to eat immediately or I would not be eating at all. I am now avoiding any travel on Qantas. The airline has deteriorated much in the past few years, and the price of tickets far outweighs the service on offer.
  3. Thai – We travelled Thai First Class in 2015, and I must say we were disappointed. The first class cabin was an older version where you simply had bigger seats, no pods and no privacy. Whereas the Airport Lounge was excellent, I would probably not travel with Thai again unless they update their aircraft. There were no complaints, however, with the service or friendliness of the cabin crew. Overall travelling first class was no different than travelling economy, other than we had larger seats and more room.

Travel Tips

  • Alpha Flight Guru – they are one of a number of companies that sell discounted airfares as mentioned above. Once you enter your travel details on their site, you are then given a dedicated travel agent who will help you through the process.
  • Check with your travel agent if you have one. Often they are aware of airline offers which may not be widely advertised to the general public.
  • The benefit of flying business class is you have dedicated ‘express lanes’ in most airports, which means you do not stand in long queues waiting to get through customs.
Qatar Airways - Business Class Seat Controls