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’d like to take a look at a related but different topic — which airlines have the best bedding in business class? I last covered this topic a couple of years ago, so I’d like to update the list based on some recent travels.
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 most 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 this post, 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 ranks up there when it comes to 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. Side note — Qatar Airways actually lets you take the smaller pillow with you as a souvenir. That’s the only airline I know of where such a policy exists.
Riyadh Air business class is the newest premium product in the Gulf region, and the airline really nailed it when it comes to bedding. Business class passengers get a plush duvet, two pillows (one small and one large), and one of the most substantial mattress pads I’ve received in business class on any airline.
While not quite to the same level as Qatar or Riyadh Air, 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 well. 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?
What about AF?
I haven't had the chance to try their mattress pad since they introduce it. For me it was really the missing piece to their superb J product!
If your priority is a good sleep, nothing beats the United Polaris bedding especially how they consistently keep the cabin not only cool but freezing cold. (Plus with the exception of the legacy CO 764s, 772s, and some 763s, the entire fleet has air vents)
However, I disagree with JAL being on the list. I found the pillow extremely thin. But everything else was decent. I would add Oman Air instead, which has a thick but comfortable comforter and fluffy pillows.
Qatar also here a winner for me. They also do a very efficient turn-down service. Only thing that some pooular flights like Maldives are too short to provide bedding, etc. Etihad is great too. Also very efficient that they leave the mattress topper at the seat. You can put it on in like 10sec so no need to request turn-down service.
Since the article thumbnail is of United, I will say, that extra lumbar support pillow is a nice touch. (Now, this might be ‘TMI,’ but… what’s the cleaning procedure for them pillows? Like, are they just 50% ‘peoples’ fart’ by now?)
Lucky mentions “cosy” about 7 times, yet his #1 amenity of a plane is an air vent so that he can cool down :)
Cosy (or cozy for Americans) is a relative term. I think one's coziness can be elevated with an air vent as it allows selective cooling and comfort. The line between suffocating and cosy can be close one on airplanes without air vents.
Air France added a thin mattress pad this summer. Need a better pillow still.
My experience, Air India is too on my list of bedding provided which was much better than EVA.
Lufthansa has the best, most comfortable, close to normal sized pillows. Not sure why other airline skimp on that. Also, I am pretty sure they use the pillow colors to blend with the cabin ambience. Accentuates the look of the cabin as you board.
Another carrier to commend…Air Canada.
I’ve found their bedding to be excellent, especially their mattress pads, which secure to the seat in a way that prevents the nearly unavoidable shifting that plagues every other airline mattress pad I’ve used.
I think that any airline that does not supply a mattress pad as part of the set-up does not deserve a mention on anyones 'best' list.
How often are the seat surfaces really cleaned, if ever? Only if there is an unfortunate accident of one sort or another . Would you like to stretch out on that seat, sans nattress?
No Lufthansa?
That little United pillow is the bomb. I'd buy those if they would sell them
I always found the Saks Fifth Avenue partnership odd…Saks is a (failed) retailer, not a designer or producer of high quality bedding.
I have an inflatable mattress pad that I am not shy about using even in First on Emirates!
IMHO Emirates bedding is miles better than Qatar Airways - thick mattress pad, actual duvet (compared to Qatar Airways' sofa blanket), and good pillow. Agree with comments about Singapore Airlines (at least on the A380).
Does UA still only stock a limited supply? IIRC, they don't/didn't have enough mattress pads or gel pillows for all C pax. The mattress pad alone would make a huge difference in sleep quality, so if they don't supply it for everyone, that should knock them down a notch.
Unless something has changed, UA has gel pillows at all seats.
Never forget Air New Zealand’s heavenly thick mattress
The best mattress pad I've used was on ANA, it was brilliantly simple, they used a corrugated foam rolling mat you might use on a backpacking camping trip, put inside a fabric pouch to appear more fancy. Great for weight saving and no reason to reinvent the wheel with something overly fussy.
If BA would ever get an actual mattress pad I think they could be a contender for this list. I think their pillow and blanket in J are far better than QR’s offering
Lucky — not sure it’s been covered on here, but I was pleasantly surprised by Delta’s bedding on a recent Delta One flight (on a 767 no less!). They had introduced Missoni-branded mattress pads which made the seats quite comfortable, along with thicker pillows and a pretty comfy blanket. Not quite to the level of United, but a big improvement over prior experiences.
Based on your rave reviews my wife will try United Polaris soon. We have never tried it, can't wait to hear feedback.
And I agree with @Rob, SQ not bad.
Surprised SQ or TK didn’t make the list but QR did. Def think both are better, with SQ giving pax 3 pillows and a premade bed (on the 350lr/ulrs at least) while TK has 2 types of blankets and a much better mattress pads.
@Rob SQ ‘s sleeping surface on A350 or 777 is tough (not sure about the ulr). The regional planes are even worse, expectedly so. On the A380 at least they give a mattress but it’s quite basic. Sleep quality is the biggest issue with SQ J IMO. I always ask for an extra blanket to put below. I’d happily trade a pillow for a more comfortable sleeping surface.
SQ bedding is indeed excellent when I've flown the A359ulr routes.
Problem with SQ is far more the footrest positioning on those planes.