Sneak peek at exclusive business class 'rooms' rivalling first class

Imagine flying long-haul in a luxurious private suite with a lie-flat bed, closing door, 4K entertainment screen and customisable LED lighting. It sounds like something you would expect from a first class cabin - except it's in business class.

Cathay Pacific is the latest airline to bring this type of exclusive business class suite to Australia. Called the Aria Suite, it is now available on Sydney-Hong Kong flights.

The Aria Suite features a reverse herringbone arrangement where all passengers are angled away from the aisle, a sliding door for privacy, storage space, "mood" lighting options, a 24-inch high-definition screen, and Bluetooth-enabled headphones.

It also offers a wireless phone charging pad, a personal electronic device holder, suede walls, wool seat coverings, a leather headrest and gold accents throughout the suite.

Flat Beds founder and managing director Mark Trim said the Aria Suite positions Cathay Pacific in a new league, with a "highly elevated business class suite experience" to rival All Nippon Airways' The Room and the Japan Airlines A350-1000 suite.

"This means that if you book carefully, you can experience a much improved offering whereas other flights offered by the airline will fall well short of this new product," he said.

A mix of corporate and leisure travellers fly in business class, with premium cabin leisure bookings "absolutely booming post-Covid," according to Mr Trim.

"The luxury travel segment only continues to grow from both established travellers in that market along with new entrants from younger, aspirational luxury travellers which is keeping demand high.

"Whilst the peaks of ticket pricing seen in a supply-restricted 2022 have now subsided, we don't expect any major falls in fare pricing moving forward with this combination of business and leisure demand in the market."

Customers are now demanding more and more from business class, and Mr Trim said it could be argued these new business class suites are "replacing first class in terms of expectation levels", albeit with a bit less space and fewer bells and whistles than first class.

"But the days of something like the Qantas Business Suite being seen as an impressive offering, as it was some ten years ago when first launched, are well behind us," Mr Trim said.

"Sadly, when Qantas launched the 787 Dreamliner business class they really didn't push the category forward as Qatar Airways and ANA have done, and that design is starting to look rather dated in comparison for flights that can last as long as 17 hours. "

Other premium business class offerings include Qatar Airways' Qsuite which includes moveable panels allowing you to "entertain" other travelling companions in your suite.

The Qsuite comes in single, twin, double or "the quad", depending on how many people are travelling, and the suite offers lie-flat beds, storage space, turndown service and doors with "do not disturb" indicators, just like in a hotel room.

Passengers get a quilted mattress and a plush blanket plus sleepwear and slippers by The White Company and an amenity kit by Diptyque.

ANA's The Room also features a lie-flat bed in a cabin with a closable sliding door. The seat is extra wide and the personal monitor is 24 inches offering 4k high definition.

Japan Airlines A350-1000 suite also offers a lie-flat bed with a sliding closable door. The doors offer translucent panels giving a sense of space, and for the entertainment-lovers, there are built-in speakers in the headrest. The monitors are 24-inch and 4K, there is a personal wardrobe where you can hang up your clothes, and there's a wireless charging pad.

What about at the other end of the spectrum - business class that's more affordable? Mr Trim said one of the most affordable business class products on the market to Europe is from Oman Air, a boutique airline based in Muscat which is soon to join the oneworld Alliance.

"With a range of partner offerings via various Asian gateway cities, those who are open to a two transit option can get an affordable business class ticket which still delivers with incredible onboard product and comparable privacy levels to the Aria suite," he said.

"Otherwise, for travellers looking to fly to North America, Fiji Airways can often be a much cheaper alternative than the direct carriers across the Pacific with a reverse herringbone flat bed product, albeit without the privacy doors."