Is booking a business class flight really worth the extra money?
For most of my life, I’ve been a self-proclaimed “bougie on a budget” traveler — I enjoy the occasional splurge but will save my money on things I find unnecessary or overrated. While studying abroad in France, my friends and I had a habit of scouring the Ryanair website for the cheapest (and most uncomfortable) flights imaginable. Paying extra for seat selection, meals, checked bags, oxygen? Nah, I’ll hold my breath.
Then I became a flight attendant and was introduced to the world of flying in premium cabins. And boyyyy, is it nice. Lie-flat business class seats are so unexpectedly luxurious when you’re crammed in a tin can full of other people. If the prices were identical, 100% of people would choose business class over economy (it’s a fact).
But as it turns out, the prices are nothing close to identical. That being said, are the comforts of business class worth the extra money or points you would spend? Let’s dive in.
Benefits of business class
Larger & and more comfortable seats
Have you ever sat in a middle seat at the back of the plane, crammed between strangers that somehow always take over the armrests and what little legroom you have?
Business class is the opposite of that. Think spacious seats, privacy dividers, and even entire self-contained cabins or suites, depending on the airline. The ultimate score in the premium cabin world is a lie-flat seat, or a seat that reclines basically all the way horizontal. Lie-flat seats are the epitome of comfort on a long-haul flight. They provide more valuable legroom and the ability to have a comfortable sleep so you arrive at your destination well-rested. Comfortable seats are the single biggest difference between economy and business class.
Besides a bigger seat itself, a business class ticket also usually offers you more tray table space, a real pillow and blanket, and more overhead bin space. Many configurations give you clear access to the aisle, whether you’re in a window seat or an aisle seat.
Food & drinks
What’s the deal with airplane food? Meals in economy class are notoriously bad — you’ll often get a tiny tray of sodium-laden pasta or chicken alongside some bread and sides. To be fair, it’s pretty incredible that airlines and flight attendants are able to feed over 200 people at the same time while hurdling through the air. Any hot meal you receive is actually a marvel of modern science.
That being said, meals in business class are generally much nicer. There are more courses and larger portions. You get a choice between several different options for your main course. The food itself is served on actual plates, with actual metal silverware and fancy tablecloths. You’ll get a three- or four-course meal, complete with starters, main, desserts, and drinks. Snacks are also available on demand throughout the entire flight.
It’s not Michelin star quality by any means — just like in economy, business class meals are pre-cooked and simply reheated in the air. But unlike economy, the quantity and presentation almost make up for it. Keep in mind that the plane’s engine noise, pressurized cabin, and low humidity all contribute to change your taste buds, making food taste different (read: worse) in the air.
Of course, one of the other major perks of flying business class is access to free alcohol. Wine, beer, champagne, and spirits are all accounted for and flow readily throughout the flight. Nothing feels bougier than sipping on a pre-departure cocktail and watching all the unfortunate souls trudging their way back to the economy cabin.
Amenity kits
International business class passengers (and sometimes premium economy ones as well) receive little amenity kits filled with goodies to stay fresh throughout the flight. These kits usually include things like socks, an eye mask, earplugs, toothpaste and a toothbrush, lotion, and lip balm.
On really long or overnight flights, some airlines also offer branded pajamas to change into when you’re ready to go to sleep.
Entertainment
Premium cabin seats are generally equipped with much larger seatback entertainment screens than economy seats. (On some airlines, economy seats don’t even have screens — the horror. 😱) These screens will give you a comfortable way to watch movies, TV shows, and flight maps during your travels. While the selection of movies is the same throughout the airplane, there’s just something about not having to strain your eyes to watch a miniscule screen.
Complimentary noise-cancelling headphones are often provided to go with these larger screens (tiny plastic earbuds, begone!). Some airlines will also offer free wifi especially for premium cabin customers.
Better customer service
Business class passengers don’t necessarily get better customer service just because they’re sitting in business class — but they do get better customer service because the ratio of flight attendants to passengers is lower.
In economy class, there can be a ratio of one flight attendant for every 50 passengers. In business class, that ratio goes down to one flight attendant for every 10 or fewer passengers. On ultra-luxe airlines like Emirates or Qatar Airways, that ratio could be even lower, which ultimately provides the passenger with more personalized service.
Priority check-in, boarding, & deplaning
Flying business class gives you the privilege of cutting to the front of nearly every line at the airport. There are special access lanes before security, priority boarding lanes to get on the plane first, and dedicated kiosks should you need any help at the airport.
Business class passengers will also be the first ones off the plane once they arrive at their destination. This could make a significant difference when queuing up for customs and immigration since there will most likely be hundreds of people behind you.
Checked bags come out first
If you check a bag when flying business, it’s marked with a priority tag, meaning it will come out first at baggage claim. Combine that with quicker lines at immigration and you could potentially be saving a lot of time after you land when compared to flying coach.
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Lounges
Flying business gives you access to your airline’s departure and arrival lounges at the airport. These can be a great place to get away from the crowds and enjoy a complimentary drink or meal. Some lounges will also offer work spaces with private rooms and resources like printers. Others will have fancy shower stalls so you can freshen up after a long flight.
For passengers with long layovers, a nice airport lounge is a great perk.
Keep in mind that not all lounges are created equally. They can often be crowded and some will have pretty mediocre offerings (you’d be better off getting a pretzel from the airport food court).
Business class drawbacks
EXPENSIVE af $$$
Obviously, this is the biggest consideration you’ll make when booking business class over economy. Everybody knows that premium cabins are more expensive — but exactly how much more expensive? Let’s compare flights from Chicago to Paris.
Economy class:
Round-trip, nonstop flights cost about $600. Not pocket change, but definitely still affordable if you are able to save and budget for a bit.
Business class:
The SAME Air France flight that costs $598 in economy costs over three THOUSAND dollars in business. That’s over a 550% increase.
The business class experience is often touted as being the most luxurious and desired way to travel. And it is! But the bar has been set pretty low to begin with, and everybody on the plane makes it to their destination just the same. You need to decide whether a comfy seat and access to a business class lounge justify the massive price hike.
Credit card points = still money
So what if you book your business class ticket with points? It’s easy enough to justify spending more points on an expensive ticket when they don’t feel like actual money. But for most people, earning enough points to pay for an upgrade comes at a big cost. That can come in the form of credit card annual fees, high interest rates, and actual money spent trying to reach a sign-up bonus.
Additionally, those credit card points can be used to book a hotel instead. Would you rather redeem them on a luxury hotel room for 7 days or a slightly better flight experience for 7 hours?
Is business class worth it?
Short-haul vs. long-haul flights
Business class cabins on short-haul flights versus long-haul flights are as different as night and day. A short-haul domestic flight won’t have lie-flat seats, amenity kits, or the same level of service as a longer flight. The differences between economy and business class aren’t as massive, making short-haul business class flights more affordable.
Even on a long-haul international flight, the differences among premium cabin set-ups can be vast. The quality of the seats, entertainment, food, and service will differ from airline to airline (and even from aircraft to aircraft).
If you’re booking a business class flight, I’d recommend checking out your specific aircraft type on SeatGuru. This will show you the configuration, amenities, and unique quirks of any seat on the plane.
Evaluate your priorities
Depending on your circumstances and what you value, paying extra for a premium seat could be worth it. Here are a few instances when you might want to upgrade:
- Traveling with a baby/young child
- Being especially large or tall
- Traveling with a pet in cabin
- Needing access to an aisle or window to lessen anxiety
- Having a disability/medical condition
- Having a tight connection/needing to exit the plane faster
- Traveling for business/needing to be well-rested as soon as you arrive
- A special/once-in-a-lifetime trip (honeymoon, anniversary, etc.)
Under these circumstances, having the extra space or comfort associated with a business class seat could justify the higher price tag.
My take
Considering the price difference, I don’t think flying business class is worth it for me personally.
As a young and able-bodied traveler (with particularly short legs), the added comfort of a business class seat is not worth the expense. I’d rather spend my money on a nicer hotel, fun activities, or better food when I reach my destination. I’m a proud basic economy bitch, through and through. To each their own!
How to get cheap business class tickets
Travel hacking
Travel hacking, or strategically signing up for credit cards in order to get the sign-up bonuses, is one of the best ways to fund a business class ticket.
If you do it right, you won’t accrue any debt because you’ll be paying your cards off as soon as the balance hits your account. By planning your card use out in advance and taking advantage of large purchases you were going to make anyway, you can rack up thousands of points with very little overhead.
This guide by Nomadic Matt is a great place to get started if you’re interested in learning more!
Sign up for email alerts
There are several different email alerts you can subscribe to that will alert you of amazing flight deals. Most will be economy fares, but occasionally you can find a great deal on a business class ticket. Here are some of my favorites:
Work in aviation
My personal favorite method of getting cheap flights, for obvious reasons! As an ex-flight attendant, I’ve traveled in business class countless times for both work and leisure. Depending on the airline, you can also get travel perks as a pilot, gate agent, ramp worker, customer service representative, and more.
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Thanks for reading! Have you ever flown business class before? If so, let me know if you think it’s worth it or not in the comments below.
xoxo Niki
