I like to cover various aspects of the premium travel experience. For example, I’ve shared what I consider to be the world’s best business class airlines, the world’s best business class seats, and the world’s best business class lounges. In this post, I want to take a look at a related but different topic — which airlines have the best bedding in business class?
In this post:
Airlines underinvest in business class bedding
There are lots of features that contribute to a great business class experience. If you ask me, good bedding is an area where many airlines underinvest in premium cabins. It’s incredible to me how some airlines spend massive sums of money installing cutting edge business class seats, only to then skimp on bedding, which is really an important aspect of being able to get comfortable when you recline your seat.
It’s funny, because you’d think this would be one of the lower cost investments airlines could make. Yes, bedding has to be washed between flights, and there’s going to be some amount of theft. But still, the initial investment is quite small (compared to the cost of seats, for example), the ongoing costs are limited, and it’s something that I think many passengers really appreciate.
What makes for great bedding in business class?
Just about all airlines offer a pillow and blanket when traveling in business class on a long haul flight. However, the quality of those can vary greatly. For example, I think we can all agree that there’s a substantial difference between the bedding in MIAT Mongolian business class…
…and the bedding in United Polaris business class.
So, what makes for good bedding on a plane in business class?
- For one, it’s about the actual comfort of the standard pillow and blanket offered; ideally the pillow is quite substantial, and the blanket is cozy and soft, without being scratchy
- It’s great when airlines also offer mattress pads, to help make the sleeping surface a bit softer; for that matter, many people just find it more hygienic, or at least optically it appears that way
- Some airlines go above and beyond and offer a second pillow and/or blanket, which can really help with getting cozy
- I also love when airlines offer turndown service, but ultimately that’s secondary to the above
- Some airlines also offer pajamas in business class, though for the purposes of these posts, I’m not considering that
Let me also acknowledge that bedding preferences differ around the world, especially when it comes to how firm or soft we like various sleeping surfaces, pillows, etc.
Which airlines have the best business class bedding?
With the above out of the way, which airlines have the best bedding in business class? If you ask me, there are some airlines that really stand out. I’m not doing a ranked list, and this is by no means comprehensive, since this is so dependent on personal preferences. However, the below are the airlines that immediately come to mind when I think of good bedding.
As I hinted at above, United Polaris business class is in a league of its own when it comes to bedding. United literally has the best business class bedding in the world (it’s the only metric by which I’d consider United business class to be the best in the world), in partnership with Saks Fifth Avenue. Bedding includes a thick pillow for sleeping, a cooling gel pillow, a duvet, a day blanket, and a mattress pad on demand. There’s simply not another airline that offers both the quantity and quality of bedding that you’ll find on United.
Among the Gulf carriers, Qatar Airways business class probably offers the best bedding. It includes two pillows (one large, one small), a very cozy and stylish blanket, and a mattress pad. When turndown service is offered, the larger pillow is even placed in a pillowcase, which is a cute touch.
While not quite to the same level as Qatar, Etihad business class deserves a shoutout for the bedding, offered in partnership with Armani / Casa. It’s not about the quantity of bedding, but rather the quality, as I really like both the pillow and blanket. On flights of over nine hours, a memory foam mattress pad is also offered.
Among Far East carriers, two airlines stand out to me. Japan Airlines business class has excellent bedding, with a pillow, blanket, and mattress pad. They’re cozy without being overly warm, which is good, since the airline doesn’t have individual air nozzles on many of its aircraft.
EVA Air business class also excels when it comes to bedding. The airline offers what I’d consider to be the single most bed-like duvet you’ll find on any airline.
LATAM business class is another product that has a very impressive bedding setup, with a large mattress pad, a thick pillow, and a duvet-like blanket.
Lastly, let me give a shoutout to the most unexpectedly delightful airline when it comes to business class bedding. Boliviana de Aviacion business class has surprisingly fabulous bedding, with a great duvet, plus two thick pillows. Typically I find that the smaller government owned airlines out there don’t invest in bedding, so this is a very pleasant surprise.
Bottom line
There’s such variability when it comes to the quality of business class bedding across airlines. If you ask me, it’s one of the less costly investments airlines can make, yet the impact is huge. It’s pretty impressive that United has been in a league of its own when it comes to business class bedding for many years now, though there are some other airlines that deserve a shoutout as well.
What are your favorite airlines when it comes to business class bedding?
I had a great experience flying on Boliviana de Aviacion.
The business class, crew and counters staff made an unforgettable vacation trip.
All the best all employees who are part of this strategic air company.
Lufthansa, are you listening?
By far Air NZ has the best business class mattress pad, unless it's changed from 2014. It's memory foam (about 3 inches thick) and has to be fetched by the flight attendants. I know everyone hates the seat on Air NZ but the bedding was definitely the best I've ever experienced to date in business class.
I flew Thai Airways from BKK to Paris recently and they had the best pillow I've ever had in Business class. Thick and squishy, with a nice (silk?) cover. Good fluffy duvet also, and a decent mattress pad. Best sleep I've had on a plane (~7hrs).
Honorable mention to Virgin Atlantic (as a former long-time United 1K now switched loyalties to Virgin). Virgin has a nice mattress pad, pillow and duvet. Plus the FA's are more than willing to offer turndown service and they won't chew you out if you ask them for an extra pillow. Part of United's bedding is on demand. Virgin is proactively offered. On demand is tough when you have perpetually hostile FA's.
a huge part of the problem is cabin temperatures. Turkish COOK flyers the cabin is so hot, i avoid flying them. Next in the middle of a sleep FAs get cold CRANK up the temperature in the plane and i wake up sweating. I try to get hold of the "in charge" of the FAs and ask her/him to lock the temperature at 21c for the flight so FAs cant keep changing the temperatures.
I agree that Polaris bedding is the best.
Virgin Atlantic has comfortable bedding in Upper Class. Last week flight from London to JFK had nice pillow, mattress pad and comforter long enough to completely cover your feet and helped me get a solid 3 hours of sleep on the daytime flight
Ben you need to fly Cathay Business again, their meh service is meh but their bedding deserve an honourary mention! The Bamford blanket with actual thread counts is like a mini replica of what their first class bedding is like, and nice firm pillow.
As for Qatar (as a QR Platinum), not a big fan of the throw-style blanket, feels cheap compared the actual duvet blankets with cover.
While I do agree Polaris is leading the US carriers when it comes to bedding.
Since this is a US centric blog, it's worth mentioning that currently AA DL UA all offer mattress pads on their longest flights.
Eskimo, you are still here. As I will be enjoying the BA bedding between LHR and IAD today, I thought that you might like to join me for cocktails at the Fairmont tomorrow evening, Tuesday the 14th?
I do hope that you can come as we have so much to discuss. Trumps new British ex-SF BG for instance.
It should be fun, yes?
Anyone who wants free drinks from a Brit, head to the Fairmont tomorrow evening. Just tell him you're Eskimo.
And you win, between LHR and IAD, you won't get better bedding on AA or DL if they even fly. But UA bedding beats BA easily, even in Club Suites.
however there is a HUGE difference between what an airline offers as a mattress pad. Air Canada has the worst mattress pad, its basically Cheese Cloth.
Cathay really upped their J-class bedding game once they started their partnership with Bamford. The duvet alone is probably my favourite in the air at the moment (save for their F-class bedding).
Malaysia Airlines is the best for me on long haul flights from LON to KUL. Nice Base, Blanket and Pillow. Way better than anything I have experienced before
You also have to consider other things such as whether or not the airline gives you pajamas. You can expect earplugs and eye shades, but most don't give pajamas. Also for a good night's sleep, whether or not you have a door that fully encloses your seat is important.
Agree with United Polaris bedding. It’s simply awesome.
Would be nice if Ben can do one on the worst bedding among the major airlines.
My vote goes to Swiss. A small, really cheap looking pillow and a scratchy sheet dubbed as blanket. Awful.
yes lets get a post on the WORST bedding for sure Air Canada would be right up there with NO PJs and its Mattress pad is a joke its cheesecloth
United's bedding is the best if you get the mattress pad before they run out. Sadly, they're not stocking them 1:1 and I've come up short before.
I did prefer UAs bedding over even Etihad first class.
Exactly. It's a race to get them before others do. And asking FA's for something on United is a dangerous proposition.
Have to agree on Polaris evaluation. Not to mention pajamas on longer haul flights. That makes a nice difference.
I've always told my wife that out of all the business class flights we've flown last year (AF new biz class bullhead seats, QR Qsuites, EVA biz, UA Polaris), United Polaris is my favorite simply because I got the best sleep in it. I commented about their comfortable mattress pads to her but I had no idea they're the best in the world! No wonder they were so comfortable.
Great bedding >>>> “suite” with a tiny door that doesn’t do much for the experience
I agree that LATAM's bedding is among the best. It is as comfortable as it looks. I don't usually sleep well when flying but I got a good night's sleep on our SCL-JFK flight.
I’m not a big fan of added bedding. Usually the seat belts are getting really tight, if you add a thick matress plus a duvet. (Yes, I’m not the slimmest person, but without the bedding I have no difficulty having the seatbelt losely fastened for sleeping)
One thing I really liked about ANA is their "mattress pad" was one of those zigzag foam mats you might use while camping. Lightweight, provided great cushion, and no reason to reinvent the wheel. (It was obviously inside a fabric cover)
CX is missing in your list
Just to make a quick note: I'm not sure why some carriers can't offer a proper plush duvet on a long-haul flight. Korean is a perfect example where they offer you a thin blanket even on their longest flights.
KE typically keeps it cabin warm. No need for a warmer blankets.
Just like you don't need a duvet in a sauna.
Just flew Starlux from Taipei to Los Angeles and the bedding was fantastic. The blanket was really soft, the pillow was substantial, and the mattress pad was nice as well. Bonus points for pajamas too.
Recently flew iberia from MAD to EZE on their new a350 and i was really impressed by the bedding. While most mattress pads just slide around iberia’s had a little hood so you could hook it. Brilliant. It was also really plush
I also was impressed by the bedding on a recent Iberia A350 flight. The new seat with door and the bedding actually was one of my more comfortable business class beds I've ever had, better than the EVA flight I'd had a week earlier.
My assessment of bedding depends heavily on cabin temperature. If I had a dollar for every time Ben Schlappig mentions "individual air nozzles" in a post...
I find cabins too cold 5x as often as I find them too warm. When I encounter a nozzle, I close it immediately, because it's so damned cold. So I'm nearly always happy with a very warm duvet, as on United or EVA. For those who run hot and...
My assessment of bedding depends heavily on cabin temperature. If I had a dollar for every time Ben Schlappig mentions "individual air nozzles" in a post...
I find cabins too cold 5x as often as I find them too warm. When I encounter a nozzle, I close it immediately, because it's so damned cold. So I'm nearly always happy with a very warm duvet, as on United or EVA. For those who run hot and want cabins cooler than they usually are, I'd imagine their preferences would be different.
May I add a pedantic observation? People often use the word "plush" in posts and Comments. I bet it's not a word and nobody agrees on its definition. so how about a real word, when we're complimenting/criticizing a blanket/pillow?
Ok I'll go get a life now.
Pretty funny! But be careful what you wish for...the recommended thesaurus words to use instead of "plush" would give you heartburn and probably seizures based on your reaction.
As for the bedding, aside from really enjoying plush duvets, plush bed mats, plush pajamas....it's all about the pillows...and as long as the airline isn't offering a super non-plush thin and scratchy blanket.
Has anyone else been on flights, usually to/from Germany, where people will change into...
Pretty funny! But be careful what you wish for...the recommended thesaurus words to use instead of "plush" would give you heartburn and probably seizures based on your reaction.
As for the bedding, aside from really enjoying plush duvets, plush bed mats, plush pajamas....it's all about the pillows...and as long as the airline isn't offering a super non-plush thin and scratchy blanket.
Has anyone else been on flights, usually to/from Germany, where people will change into their PJs in the aisle? Awkward....
Time for me to get a life as well... (and watch some football!)
@LAXLonghorn
I think it's normal for European to strip naked.
Changing into PJs in the aisle and not completely naked is already a courtesy.