The five best Business Class seats flying from Australia

When it comes to flying Business Class, travellers from Australia are truly spoiled for choice. All of the ‘Big Three’ Middle Eastern carriers fly here – as do the ‘Big Three’ US airlines. Almost every premium Asian airline serves Australia too: not to mention airlines based closer to home, as well as further afield.

On most long-haul flights, two things in Business Class are relatively standard. One is direct aisle access from every seat – meaning there’s nobody to step over, or stepping over you. The other is a fully flat bed: the second magic ingredient for a good night’s sleep. Give travellers those two staples, and most are happy.

But a small number of Business Class seats stand out from the rest. They have a real X-factor about them: features that few other airlines can rival in Australian skies. You might even say that the very best Business Class seats meet – if not, exceed – the standards some other airlines follow in First Class.

So what are these high-performing Business Class cabins? We’ve ranked our top five favourites in Australian skies based solely on the seat. This isn’t about lounges or loyalty, and it’s not about meals, service or entertainment. It’s not even about onboard bars, which are often shared between Business and First Class. It’s about that seat on your boarding pass: where most travellers spend most of their time.

Without further ado, here are our picks for the top five Business Class seats flying from Australia in 2025.

1. Qatar Airways’ Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 Qsuite

• Where it flies: Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide to Doha. From 25 June 2025, Perth to Doha, and from 1 December 2025, Canberra to Doha (via Melbourne).
• Popular ways to book using points: Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Velocity Frequent Flyer.

When it comes to X-factors like closing privacy doors and double beds in Business Class, the Qatar Airways Qsuite has both. And let’s be honest – even in First Class, you don’t always get a door: or a double bed. Qatar knew that when designing Qsuite, and even now, still cheekily describes the experience as ‘First in Business’.

What’s interesting about this pick is that Qsuite is around eight years old. But in our book, it’s still the world’s leading Business Class seat. Since its initial unveiling in March 2017, we’re yet to see another Business Class product leapfrog Qsuite.

In fact, I still remember the sheer awe throughout the room when Qsuite was unveiled. I’d flown to Germany for the big reveal at ITB Berlin, on a flight from Doha with Qatar Airways’ CEO. I knew it’d be a big event… but once the display was open, you could barely get within 10 metres of the mock-up. Everybody was crowding around to see the next big thing in aviation.

Qsuite wasn’t – and still isn’t – like anything else in Business Class, anywhere in the world.

The best Business Class seat flying to Australia can turn into a double bed.

Flying solo? Enjoy the views instead – and there’s still a door for privacy.

With a staggered cabin layout, the Qsuites sitting closest together in the centre are also those that become a double bed.

If you must, you can even book four central Qsuites as a ‘Quad’, and hold a sky-high meeting. (Has anybody actually done this, though?)

A more likely use of four combined Qsuites is as a family zone.

Where Qsuite exceeds the rest is in its versatility. Flying solo? Grab a window seat, close the door and you’re in your own little world. Have a companion? Perhaps, snooze together in a big double bed – and close the doors. Or keep things professional, sit further apart and raise the central privacy wall when you want some ‘me time’.

There’s also ‘The Quad’: groups of four Qsuites that can become an open, shared space. While Sydney may get Qatar’s Airbus A380s with the onboard lounge, travellers from other cities get Qsuite instead. It’s a fair compromise.

Point Hacks review: Qatar Airways Boeing 777 Qsuite Business Class (Melbourne – Doha)

2. Delta Air Lines’ Airbus A350 Delta One Suite

• Where it flies: Sydney to Los Angeles year-round. Seasonally, from Brisbane to Los Angeles, and Melbourne to Los Angeles from 5 December 2025.
• Popular ways to book using points: Delta SkyMiles, Air France/KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Of the other Business Class seats travelling Down Under, the Delta One Suite also stands out. It’s modern, luxe, private, and easily the best Business Class seat flying between Australia and the United States.

Now, there are no double beds or ‘quads’, as with Qsuite. But the Delta One Suite comes into its own with a closing privacy door at every seat. Given Delta’s flights between Australia and Los Angeles run overnight and land in the mornings, it makes getting a good night’s sleep that much easier. And when you’re flying across the Pacific, that’s usually the goal.

Unlike Qatar’s proprietary Qsuite, Delta One Suite is a heavily modified version of Thompson Aero Seating’s VantageXL seat. Pops of red, white and blue make the product distinctly American – or should I say, distinctly on-brand for Delta.

The best Business Class seat flying between Australia and the USA has a closing door for a good night’s sleep.

There’s also plenty to enjoy when you’re awake.

Now, these don’t convert into double beds. But you could still book a centre pair if travelling with a companion.

The lighting and design style in the Delta One Suites cabin is on point.

Open your door, top-up the Champagne, close your door…

It’s not all about the bling. Small touches like stylish adjustable ambient lighting really give the seat a premium feel. Storage options are plentiful, the seat is blissfully comfortable and the ‘do not disturb’ feature is a favourite when it’s time to nod off.

Point Hacks review: Delta Air Lines Airbus A350 Delta One (Los Angeles – Sydney)

3. British Airways’ Boeing 777 Club Suite

• Where it flies: From late October until late March ever year, from Sydney to Singapore and London (Heathrow).
• Popular ways to book using points: Qantas Frequent Flyer, British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and Qatar Airways Privilege Club.

It’s fair to say that British Airways hasn’t always been regarded for its long-haul Business Class. After all, the carrier still operates many flights with very outdated Club World seats. In those cabins, you literally face another passenger during take-off and landing – almost like sitting on a train. But for those patient enough to wait, along came Club Suite.

Practically a chalk-and-cheese change for BA, Club Suite goes big on privacy. Forget that public transport feeling. In Club Suite, you can close the door, and the space is your own. And if you’re sitting in the centre of the cabin, a second divider also provides a reprieve from your neighbouring flyer.

BA Club Suite is leaps and bounds ahead of the airline’s outdated Club World cabins.

Recognise this seat? It’s a mirror of Virgin Australia’s old ‘The Business’ seat, but dialled up to the next level.

It’s not all about sleep. The Club Suite is very practical when you’re awake, too. Everything has its place.

But when it’s time to unwind, pull that door shut and your Club Suite becomes even more private.

But, pro tip – don’t forget to turn the reading light off before you head to bed.

Club Suite is a customised version of the Collins Aerospace Elevation seat based on the manufacturer’s highly popular Super Diamond seat. It’s that level of privacy that separates BA from the pack.

Even without the door-toting tweaks of Elevation, Super Diamond is a superbly comfortable seat. I’ve previously flown it from Vancouver to Brisbane with Air Canada, and enjoyed a solid eight-hour rest. Those with an eye for detail might also see the similarities with Virgin Australia’s now-defunct ‘The Business’ seat. But of that trio, only BA brings the door.

Just be aware that BA tends to offer Club Suites on Sydney flights only during the busier ‘northern winter’ airline scheduling period, which is late October through late March. In other months, the Boeing 787 often appears—for now—with those less favourable Business Class seats.

Also read: How to book British Airways’ Club Suites from Australia using Qantas Points

4. Malaysia Airlines’ Airbus A330neo Business Class

• Where it flies: Selected flights from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur.
• Popular ways to book using points: Qantas Frequent Flyer, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and Malaysia Airlines Enrich.

Malaysia Airlines’ newest Business Class experience makes for a fresh entrant among these ranks. The carrier’s Airbus A330neo Business Class cabin brings a key feature not found on Malaysia’s ‘regular’ A330s: closing privacy doors. If you look closely, this is also based on Collins’ Elevation seat – the same as BA Club Suite.

The difference between Malaysia Airlines and British Airways is a tough call when ranking. In our book, BA nudges ahead by a whisker given the greater focus on design style and customisation, to give the cabin less of an ‘aircraft plastic’ feel. But realistically, both seats are very comfortable and highly desirable.

Malaysia Airlines’ new seat has the same bones as BA’s new Club Suite.

Unlike Malaysia Airlines’ previous generation of A330 seats, this cabin layout is 1-2-1 throughout.

There’s also wireless charging built into the side shelf.

Malaysia Airlines’ older A330 seats alternate between 1-2-1 and 1-2-2. For most, this new layout is the winner.

These adjustable reading lights are useful without the blinding power of an overhead lamp.

For now, Malaysia Airlines’ newest planes only appear on a few select routes. Of the airline’s Australian network, Melbourne is the first – and currently, the only – city to land these modern jets and seats. The flights to book are those showing ‘339’ on online booking systems, indicating the Airbus A330neo (A330-900). Flights listed with the aircraft as ‘332’ or ‘333’ carry Malaysia Airlines’ previous-generation cabins.

5. Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380 Business Class

• Where it flies: Selected flights from Sydney to Singapore. Seasonally, the A380 can appear from Melbourne to Singapore as well.
• Popular ways to book using points: Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Velocity Frequent Flyer.

Many travellers really value privacy in Business Class. After all, that’s a key reason our podium rankings above all go to seats with closing doors. But for others, a Business Class experience is less about being closed off from everyone. Instead, it’s about sharing a special flight with a special someone.

That’s where Singapore Airlines’ upgraded Airbus A380 Business Class seats come into play. You won’t find doors, as in Qsuite, Delta One Suite, Club Suite or on Malaysia Airlines’ newest planes. Instead, three lucky pairs can combine their seats to form a double bed on every flight. These are found only at the bulkhead rows – thus, three couples per flight.

Other than Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines is the only other carrier to offer a double bed in Business Class on flights to Australia.

During waking hours, the centre pairs of seats are still very intimate. There’s a privacy divider though, if you don’t know your seatmate.

The choice pick for solo travellers are the individual seats by the windows.

Here, it’s not a double bed, but it’s still very comfortable. [Photo by Brandon Loo for Point Hacks]

Singapore Airlines’ seat is also very modern and stylish. [Photo by Brandon Loo for Point Hacks]

If you want to cosy up, the seats to book are 11D + 11F, 91D + 91F and 96D + 96F. Just ask the crew to make up your bed in these magic rows, and it’s done. During waking hours, you can sit together too – something possible at every centre pair of seats.

While having double beds secures Singapore Airlines’ place in this rundown, the seat is still a solid pick on daytime flights. The design is premium yet understated. The bold purples you see in images are, of course, out of view once seated. Instead, you feel cocooned by the seat’s shell and have all your bits and pieces within easy reach.

We recognise that some travellers may favour this seat even more highly than those above – particularly when flying with a partner. For others, especially for those beyond six feet tall taking an overnight flight, choosing a bulkhead seat can maximise comfort. Even if that’s just a solo seat by the window.

Point Hacks review: Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Business Class (Sydney – Singapore)

Runner up: China Eastern’s Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Business Class

• Where it flies: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Shanghai (Pudong).
• Popular ways to book using points: Qantas Frequent Flyer, Air France/KLM Flying Blue and Delta SkyMiles.

I can almost guarantee you’re just as surprised to see China Eastern get a mention as some of my Point Hacks colleagues were. But the Business Class seats on China Eastern’s Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s are surprisingly good.

This isn’t any regular Business Class seat. It’s based on the same Thompson VantageXL seat as the Delta One Suite. Okay, I know you’re still shocked. But go on – scroll back up, look at Delta One Suite, then scroll back down and look at China Eastern. See what I mean?

Business Class on China Eastern’s newest planes is a surprising standout.

When you want privacy, this is the best Business Class seat to book on direct flights to China.

If you’re travelling with a companion, open the central privacy divider. Seats in the very front row (pictured here) have even more room than most.

Whether it’s to sleep or just for privacy, close the door and relax.

China Eastern’s new Business Class is a big step above what many other Chinese carriers offer.

We’ve listed China Eastern here for a few reasons. Chiefly, it’s the only other Business Class seat flying to Australia with a closing privacy door. The others are already ranked above. And of course, these rankings are all about seats that go above and beyond the usual and expected pairing of a fully flat bed with direct aisle access.

After X-factor, design style also plays a role in these rankings. That’s why the similar (but much less plasticky) Delta One Suite is second, and China Eastern’s more plainly coloured seat places fifth. But still, if you’re taking a direct flight to China, there’s no better Business Class seat to travel on.

For the record, yes, I’ve flown on it. In fact, I was one of the first Australians to experience it aboard China Eastern’s inaugural Airbus A350 flight from Sydney to Shanghai back in 2019. The two things that remain in my mind are the sense of space and the feeling of privacy. When you compare seat to seat, those aspects always stand out.

Also read: A guide to redeeming Qantas Points for China Eastern flights

Summing up

Our picks for the top five Business Class seats go beyond the conventional. And of course, different travellers have different priorities – such as whether a double bed or a closing door is more important, if you can’t have both.

It’s also true that there are many excellent Business Class experiences available on flights from Australia. Two others that stand out are the Taiwanese carriers China Airlines and EVA Air. Both fly immaculate Business Class cabins to the East Coast, but they do not have doors or double beds.

Other airlines with the Airbus A380 – particularly Emirates, Qantas and Qatar Airways – also elevate the experience by offering somewhere else you can sit. That is, an inflight bar or lounge: and yes, I’ve experienced all of these too, to compare. But again, these rankings are all about the Business Class seat.

Whether you place as much importance on the seat – or instead choose an airline based on the food, drinks, service, lounge experience, loyalty or anything else – is your call. But if all of these elements were considered, any rankings would be highly subjective. And of course, everybody has their own favourite.

On that note, what’s your favourite Business Class seat? Vote for your favourite from our top five, and let us know your thoughts via the comments below.

Also read: The five best First Class seats flying from Australia

Except where otherwise credited, all imagery courtesy of the respective airline.