I’ve shared what I consider to be the world’s best business class seats (and the worst business class seats), and also about what I consider to be the best business class airlines. In this post, I’d like to take a look at the best business class seats for couples and families.
As we’ve seen airlines improve their business class seats over the years to offer more privacy and space, it’s clear that some airlines just haven’t put much thought into the needs of non-solo travelers. So while some of the world’s best business class seats are great for couples and families, others aren’t. Let’s take a closer look at that…
Many new business class seats are designed for solo travelers
It’s surprising how many airlines just don’t seem to consider the desire for couples or families to sit together. For example, the new Lufthansa Allegris and SWISS Senses cabins are intended to give consumer choice, with five different types of business class seats. Yeah, you have a lot of options, unless you actually want to sit next to a travel companion, in which case only the front row business class suites will work (and those cost a lot extra!).
Meanwhile I’m a big fan of reverse herringbone seats in general, and they’re among the most common long haul business class seats out there, like you’ll find in Starlux’s A350 business class. While you can sort of sit together in the center section, it’s still not really ideal for those who want to spend time together. You have to lean forward to talk, and you’re still quite a distance apart. For that matter, if you’re traveling with little kids, these seats can be challenging.
Business class seats that are good for couples & families
With the above out of the way, what are the best business class seats for couples and families? To start, let me share my own philosophy on picking seats when not traveling alone. Honestly, if I’m just traveling with Ford, we’re usually happy both sitting at windows on long haul flights, and not next to one another:
- We spend enough time together as is
- We both love looking out the window
- We ultimately have different sleeping patterns (he sleeps more on planes than I do), and I’d rather not disturb him
That being said, as I’ve discovered in recent times, it’s a totally different story if traveling with a toddler. Fortunately our older son is now approaching four years old, where he’s actually able to listen and (usually) understand he has to follow certain rules. But if a kid is just over two years old, good luck making things work in business class seats that are far apart.
With that in mind, I’m not going to do a ranked list of the best business class seats for couples, since there are so many different products out there that are good. Instead, I’ll share some general thoughts.
Staggered “honeymoon” business class seats are ideal
Arguably the single best business class seats for those looking to travel close to one another are the “honeymoon” seats in staggered configurations. In some layouts with staggered configurations, every other row in business class will have two seats that are very close to one another, which really let you enjoy the flight together, like in Emirates’ A380 business class.
These seats have a privacy shield if you’re traveling next to a stranger, but otherwise, you’re basically as close to one another as you’d be in economy, for better or worse.
There are a countless number of airlines offering this type of configuration, though I should mention that not all staggered configurations have this “honeymoon” seat concept. For example, Delta’s A350 business class has staggered seats, but none of the center seats are particularly close to one another. While they’re staggered, the two center seats are always the same distance apart.
What I’d consider to be two of the world’s best business class hard products are ideal for couples and families, as they have this “honeymoon” seat concept. ANA’s 777 “The Room” business class has this staggered layout, with center seats close to one another, in what’s the world’s most spacious business class.
Qatar Airways’ Qsuites business class also excels in this regard, and even takes it to the next level, and I’d argue it’s the best business class for couples. Not only does the product have these “honeymoon” seats that turn into double beds, but you even have the ability to create a seating quad, with the two seats across from it, to create a private space for four people.
There are so many airlines with great “honeymoon” seat concepts, like Etihad’s 787 business class…
…and Condor’s A330-900neo business class…
…and Korean Air’s 787-10 business class…
…and many more.
Some old style business class seats are great as well
Many of the business class products that I don’t enjoy when flying solo are actually great when traveling with others, especially if you want to enjoy the flight together. Lufthansa’s old business class? I’m kind of a fan, if traveling with someone! Heck, arguably, it’s better than the new Allegris business class for those purposes.
Turkish Airlines’ A330 & 777 business class, with the pairs of seats? I’m also sort of a fan!
Even though it’s a dense product, I enjoy the Collins Aerospace Diamond product when traveling with someone, like in Ethiopian’s A350 business class, since you can really enjoy the flight together.
Bottom line
There are all kinds of top notch business class products out there, but the best really depends on whether you’re traveling alone or with soemone, and how much you value sitting together.
In general, I’d consider the best seats for couples or families to be any sort of a product with a staggered layout and “honeymoon” seats, with ANA and Qatar Airways having the best seats for those purposes. However, there are plenty of other honeymoon configurations out there.
Meanwhile I’m a huge fan of reverse herringbone seats, though their biggest strength is also the biggest weakness — you know exactly what you’re going to get, since all the seats are virtually the same, but you better not actually want to sit close to anyone.
What do you consider to be the best business class seats for couples?
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