Is Business Class Worth It?

As a world traveler, one of my main modes of transportation is by airplane. Due to the fast speed of flying, it is often the only way to efficiently cross the world and be able to explore a wide variety of countries, landscapes, and cultures within a short period of time. However, traveling on an airplane is not without its problems.

In order to maximize profits, airlines are cramming more and more passengers into smaller seats that even an average-sized person cannot comfortably fit in. As someone who is 6’-4”, I have rarely found airplane seats that are comfortable unless I pay the premium to sit in an extra legroom seat. Although I prefer the window seat for the view, it comes with the negative of having to climb over my neighboring passengers in order to use the lavatory. The food onboard is mediocre at best, which is why I usually try and eat at the airport before flights. And don’t even get me started about the dreaded crying babies that I always feel like I am seated near. I will not fly without a pair of Bose noise-canceling headphones! Due to all of this, I am not a fan of flying, despite being an avid world traveler.

Now, what if I told you that there was an airline experience out there that went so far above and beyond that you did not even want to get off the plane?

Enter the world of business class! This luxury flying experience features large comfortable seats with plenty of legroom. On long-haul flights, many airlines have installed seats that convert into a fully flat bed for sleeping. The food and beverage quality onboard is equivalent to a five-star restaurant, and the service is second to none. There is a catch to all of this, however. These flights often cost upwards of five times as much as their economy counterparts. As a result, unless money grows on trees, this experience is out of reach for most travelers, especially backpackers.

Redeeming Flights with Miles

So, how was I able to get past this and experience the best flight of my life on the way to Australia?

I used credit card points to redeem a business class award ticket! I have always had an American Express Platinum Card, and although it has an annual fee of 550 USD, it comes with a host of benefits. One of these is being able to earn reward points equivalent to each dollar spent, and five times as many points for airline and hotel purchases. As a result, I had accumulated many points over time. American Express lets card users transfer to a variety of airline frequent flyer programs, where the value of points is often much stronger than their dollar equivalent.

After looking at various options, I chose to transfer my points to Asia Miles, the frequent flyer program for Cathay Pacific, where a one-way ticket from Europe to Australia in business class costs 90,000 miles. Each point is worth around one cent, making this flight worth around 900 USD, far below the 6,000 USD that the flight would have cost if I paid for it in cash. The program also allows people to redeem flights on many partner airlines in the Oneworld alliance.

There is a downside, however, to using points to redeem flights. Airlines often release an extremely limited number of award seats in business class since they will wait for passengers to pay the full price for them. Asia Miles allows passengers to “waitlist” for Cathay Pacific flights, where they will be notified if award availability opens up. However, considering it is a gamble, I opted out of this option. Last-minute openings, even without the waitlist, are not uncommon, but passengers are often left with less than desirable seats.

My process for booking this flight involved constantly stalking the Asia Miles website for any openings. Since my journey consisted of two flights, I needed to find availability for both a flight from Europe to Hong Kong and one from Hong Kong to Australia. When I saw that Qantas, a Oneworld partner, had several openings from Hong Kong to Melbourne, I kept a close look for any Cathay Pacific flights that opened up from Europe. In order to maximize my chances of getting a spot, I was fully flexible with my dates and cities that I would fly from. For people who are not flexible with dates or cities, I would not recommend this method.

After a long search, I finally found a Cathay Pacific flight from Dublin to Hong Kong that would connect with a Qantas flight to Melbourne. Without hesitation, I booked the flight and was ready to roll!

Airport Lounges

I arrived at Dublin Airport, ready to embark on my life-changing adventure. After checking in and passing through security, I headed straight for the airport lounge.

As part of the business class experience, Cathay Pacific gives passengers access to their lounges at airports across the world, along with partner lounges. At Dublin Airport, passengers have access to the Terminal 1 Lounge. This lounge is the same one that I would have gotten access to with my Priority Pass (another Platinum Card benefit.) The lounge is nicely finished on the inside with premium materials and comfortable seating. A shower is also available for use.

There is also complimentary access to a small buffet of hors d’oeuvres, as well as an open bar. I helped myself to a mimosa and some snacks. While the lounge here is certainly a nice offering, I have been to better Priority Pass lounges at airports such as Lima and Barcelona. It is too bad that Cathay Pacific does not give passengers access to The East Lounge at the airport, which is the one used by Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad.

By comparison, Cathay Pacific’s “The Wing” lounge at Hong Kong Airport is a step above any Priority Pass lounge I have been to and is only accessible for passengers with a business class ticket. There is even an exclusive first class lounge that I did not have access to. This lounge was extremely well finished and features both intimate spaces for relaxing and big open spaces for dining. The lounge also has a spa area with showers that are comparable to those in a five-star hotel.

The food selection at the main part of this lounge is only average, with another selection of hors d’oeuvres and snacks. What sets this lounge apart, however, is the tasty Noodle Bar. This section of the lounge features delicious Asian cuisine including dumplings, fried rice, and chicken. Like most other lounges I have visited, there is also an open bar.

Arriving On Board

While I enjoyed the lounge access, I knew that the fun was only beginning. I headed over to the gate and got in the line with other business class passengers. As part of the premium experience, we were among the first to board. I walked down the jet bridge towards our aircraft: a 2-year-old Airbus A350! As I stepped on board, I was greeted by an extremely friendly crew. I showed them my boarding pass and they immediately directed me to seat 18A.

I had only just gotten to my seat and was already overwhelmed by the experience onboard. The seat was extremely comfortable, with thick padding and an abundance of legroom. Cathay Pacific uses a common business class seating configuration known as the “reverse herringbone” style. The seats are slightly angled towards the windows to maximize privacy. I felt like I was sitting in a cocoon, as I could barely see the other passengers around me. The space was luxuriously finished, with premium cloth over the seat, as well as padding and wooden accents within the rest of the open suite. Although I was only in business class, it felt like a true first class experience!

Shortly after getting seated, the flight attended came over. She addressed me by my last name and offered me a pre-departure beverage. I chose the champagne, and although it was not vintage, it was still high quality. I made a toast to the amazing flight that was ahead of me.

Once everyone had boarded, we went over the safety information as the plane taxied to the runway. I heard the engine roar as the aircraft lifted off the ground: the beginning of my one-way ticket to a life-changing adventure! I watched the takeoff from my TV screen via the aircraft cameras.

Five-Star Food Service

We eventually reached cruising altitude, and I was given a refreshing hot towel. My flight attendant offered me a beverage, and I chose Cathay Pacific’s Betsy Beer: a pale ale perfectly brewed to taste great at 35,000 feet in the air. It was a fruity and savory drink. I was also offered a snack, which consisted of nuts. I enjoyed my refreshments while taking some time to blog. Normally by now, I would be sore and uncomfortable from a tight airline seat. With business class, however, I was extremely comfortable and was more than prepared for the long journey ahead of me.

Before I knew it, the food service had begun. I opened the tray table, which is finished with a contemporary wood veneer on the A350. The flight attendant brought over a placemat and some silverware. I was offered multiple options for an appetizer, main course, and dessert.

For the appetizer, I opted for the chicken dish, which was served with rice noodles and topped with peanut sauce. The dish also included a side salad and a piece of pumpernickel bread. The chicken was tasty and had a nice hint of Asian influence with the peanut sauce.

For my main course, I chose the beef tenderloin, which came with mashed potatoes, gravy, and cooked vegetables. While I have had better steaks before, this one was juicy and flavorful. I also opted for some red wine to go along with my steak.

By comparison, on a recent economy flight I took with Delta, I was only given a turkey sandwich, some chips, and a cookie bar for the entire 9-hour flight. The sandwich was mediocre at best.

Finally, for dessert, I chose the fruit parfait, which was both sweet and tart. It was the perfect dish to finish off a great meal. I also ordered a glass of port wine. After the meal service concluded, I was offered some chocolates.

A Bed in the Sky

I thoroughly enjoyed my five-star meal, which was delicious and a huge step above normal airline food. It was time for me to get some sleep, as I still had several hours to go before reaching Hong Kong. In business class, one of the best features on long-haul flights is the ability for the seat to convert into a fully flat bed. I asked my flight attendant to bring me some bedding, which was soft and comfortable. With some help, I got the bedding on, pushed the button on the electronic seat controls, and watched my seat lower into the flat bed position. I popped in a sleeping pill and went to bed. Unfortunately, due to the time change, my body still thought it was afternoon, so I never fully fell asleep. However, it was a luxury to be able to get a proper nap on a long-haul flight.

The Home Stretch

I awoke to the smell of breakfast and another hot towel. Before I went to bed, I made sure to fill out my meal card and leave it next to my seat. I chose the Western breakfast, which came with scrambled eggs, a potato pastry, sausage, bread, and fruit. For my beverage, I opted for orange juice and coffee. I enjoyed my meal about an hour and a half before I was due to land in Hong Kong. I was approaching the end of this 11-and-a-half-hour journey, and for the first time on a flight this long, I did not want to get off the plane! Cathay Pacific went above and beyond to make this flight the best experience I have ever had in the skies.

I touched down at Hong Kong Airport in the early hours of the morning, and while I was feeling the jet lag, I did not feel the same level of tiredness that I feel at the end of a long economy flight. After the plane approached the gate, the seatbelt sign turned off and I grabbed my bags out of the overhead compartment. The crew gave one last “thank you” as I exited the plane. After reaching the concourse, I took one last look at the beautiful A350 that brought me here.

Concluding Thoughts

So, is business class worth the hype and the extra cost? My experience on Cathay Pacific was second to none. The level of luxury is high, and the service is impeccable. This is an experience that every traveler should have at least once in his or her lifetime. However, would I pay five times as much to have this experience? Absolutely not! You will continue to find me flying primarily in economy, as in my opinion, travel is about the experiences you have and not about the luxuriousness of your flights and accommodation. However, with the use of credit card reward points, you can get some sweet deals on award tickets that make long-haul business class an amazing value. Therefore, I look forward to experiencing business class again down the road!