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? I actually covered this several weeks back, but based on some recent travels, I’d like to add a couple more airlines to the list…
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, three 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.

Cathay Pacific business class offers incredible bedding nowadays, as I learned during a recent flight. This is offered in partnership with Bamford, and includes a substantial pillow, a mattress pad, and even a 400-thread count cotton duvet.

Virgin Atlantic business class also offers a good night of sleep, thanks to a pillow, a mattress pad, and a substantial duvet.

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?
perhaps update the article with the WORST bedding and put Air Canada at the top of the list.
I would go for Malaysian Airlines on its long haul routes (KUL to LHR). Super quality - both the topper with the hood, large pillow and comfy blanket. Plus pyjamas of course. And the crew to actively assist you if needed.
Japan airlines actually has the worst bedding, their pillows are lumpy and flat with a weird rough terry cloth like pillowcase. It’s so bad it shouldn’t even be mentioned here.
American Airlines Casper bedding should’ve gotten a mention, they’re very nice.
Great list Ben and quite helpful! Only quibble is with United. As a former 1K, I spent quite a bit of time in Polaris. The bedding is great but you have to ask for the cooling gel pillow and PJ's. Virgin gives everything automatically and don't give you the death stare if you request something.
To me, the main impediment to sleeping on an airplane is not bedding, but cabin temperature and especially humidity.
while i really enjoy QR's blanket and mattress pad, i find their pillow to be far too small and the stitching on it is easy to feel through the pillowcase. an honorable mention for bedding is honestly BA - the blanket and pillow are comfortable and appropriately sized. AA's old casper bedding was rather nice as well
Just got off UA Polaris EWR-GRU and my word are those pillows perfect.
Granted, I like a softer pillow than most but honestly would love to just steal one.
Sometimes I forget how good United's bedding is and how much of a difference it makes. I flew to India this month using Air Canada on the outbound and United on the return. Wow, was it a difference in terms of how I slept. Had a bulkhead seat in both cases but my sleep in Polaris was so much better given the bedding situation. I also find the seat slept more comfortably in terms of...
Sometimes I forget how good United's bedding is and how much of a difference it makes. I flew to India this month using Air Canada on the outbound and United on the return. Wow, was it a difference in terms of how I slept. Had a bulkhead seat in both cases but my sleep in Polaris was so much better given the bedding situation. I also find the seat slept more comfortably in terms of where the bumps (or lack thereof) were located. Perhaps the mattress pad helps with that though it's thin enough I don't think it had an impact.
Sadly United's food is still so bad... But I'm unfortunately proving the point that I care more about the bed than the food because I just rebooked a trip this summer to switch to United Polaris away from Air Canada based on this recent experience.
Air Canadas mattress pads are cheescloth crap. its seats are so worn out the bars hurt.
i just did the same flight on AC 777-200lr and they plane is in terrible condition.
Fiji Airways has really comfortable bedding with a very cushy mattress pad, a duvet as well as a thinner blanket. The turndown service was also a plus!
No fan of plush bedding here. While I have no problem to buckle up without bedding (and without extension belt), it is an issue if you add a thick mattress and a duvet.
This is like setting the temp in a room with lots of people of different preferences. If it's cold, you can always add layers but if it's too hot, you can only take so much off without being indecent.
If you don't like plush bedding, there's always a thin blanket option so you don't need to use the plush bedding. However, I think it's important to have for anyone who either needs more warmth or feels more comfortable with plush bedding.
Bestie you NEED to fly iberia’s new a350 cabin. It doesn’t look that snazzy but it’s the best matress pad i’ve ever been given, really puffy and has a ”hood” so it actually stays on the seat when you move.
Honorable mention to air New Zealand’s mattress
I feel carriers who want to differentiate their first class, deliberately underinvest in bedding. Swiss and Lufthansa are specifically bad at business class bedding and I think it is intentional.
I'm not a big fan of bulky bedding.. It's nice to have it when sleeping, but when I'm not sleeping, it's just a burden. I don't wanna put it in the overhead bin or on the floor cuz I know it's never clean, and the bedding falls on the floor during takeoff. Also, where should I put it during meal service?
For this reason, I really like airlines that put all the bedding in...
I'm not a big fan of bulky bedding.. It's nice to have it when sleeping, but when I'm not sleeping, it's just a burden. I don't wanna put it in the overhead bin or on the floor cuz I know it's never clean, and the bedding falls on the floor during takeoff. Also, where should I put it during meal service?
For this reason, I really like airlines that put all the bedding in a bag so that it gets a lot easier to handle it.
It's all in a bag, then I have no problem with putting it in the "dirty" overhead bin or on the floor.
Airlines need to consider how to handle and store the bedding.
Ahhh…yes because we all fly Mongolian Airlines. **crickets**
I saw this article a couple of months back when you flew Boliviana de Aviación, and presumably you’ve updated it now because of the CX Aria Suite. Perhaps you could mention at the top that you have updated this article because of the CX bedding product.
Looking forward to see CX regain its rightful place near the top of the best business-class products near QR and JL!
Sorry, I see that that’s mentioned near the top, without referring to Cathay by name. Nevertheless, a timely update!
Thanks, Ben!