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…
In this post:
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?
Polaris center pairs are solid for couples too.
I’m literally in the middle of a round the world trip with my 4 year old and nanny. Beware of aircraft swaps where you originally booked J class with side by side seats (like LX 777 or TK 777). Due to aircraft swaps or having to fly another airline due to schedule changes, we ended up on reverse herringbone on some segments, which is not ideal if you are traveling with a small child. The...
I’m literally in the middle of a round the world trip with my 4 year old and nanny. Beware of aircraft swaps where you originally booked J class with side by side seats (like LX 777 or TK 777). Due to aircraft swaps or having to fly another airline due to schedule changes, we ended up on reverse herringbone on some segments, which is not ideal if you are traveling with a small child. The worst seats with a small child is herringbone because you can’t access the aisle to help your child while your tray is out.
For Couples = first row, middle seats on Air France’s A350-900. Huge amount of extra legroom and space (versus other business class seats on this plane) plus privacy doors
Hi Ben, have you travelled AF Business wih your child? tWe flew AF Business when our one year old was a lap infant. She is now 4, and I am taking her to Europe, and booked AF J Class on their 777-300.
AF policy is you can only book the single window seat for the child, as they deem it is safer for the child across the aisle from the parent, than in the...
Hi Ben, have you travelled AF Business wih your child? tWe flew AF Business when our one year old was a lap infant. She is now 4, and I am taking her to Europe, and booked AF J Class on their 777-300.
AF policy is you can only book the single window seat for the child, as they deem it is safer for the child across the aisle from the parent, than in the center pair of seats.
This seems counterintuitive, as I would prefer to have her seated in the center pair of seats next to me than across the aisle. Curious if you have any experience with this considering how often you travel with your child.
You've forgotten to include the best business class seats for travelling with infants, which are the old BA seats (still in existence on certain BA aircraft).
What about BA’s old business seats? They are on the way out but can still be found on some planes.
Another callout that doesn't get enough mention is Qatar's 787-9. They're the only airline to do this, as I'm aware, but they use a reverse herringbone seat on the outside, while the inside seats use herringbone.
This means that people who like to look out the window can see perfectly, while the inside seats can be perfect for people travelling together.
Not sure why more airlines don't do this
I believe United is doing similar to some of their center seats on their new 787-9s as well.
It's not great in any other way but the old British Airways Middle seats are great for travelling with young kids - they have a huge enclosed space in the middle and parents are very close to them.
@Lucky q suite next gen will have the companion suite, offering face to face at the window. I couldn’t find any renderings with a very quick search, but maybe one is out there or hiding in a patent.
I think how the divider is setup makes a huge difference. Do you have to lean forward to talk even with it slid out of the way? On a recent trip in Polaris, we were surprised how well the middle pair of seats worked for us. We weren't sleeping right next to each other, but that's sort of a benefit if you're sleeping a different times, but we could still chat, enjoy meals together, etc.
This is the most important question. Thank you for asking it, because I also would like to know if the divider goes down on these different ones.
I've said this before but TK's old seats are really underrated and the best for family's. Huge legroom, no cubbyhole for feet, and really comfortable as a bed.
Totally agree. Turkish is always a favorite, from the soft product to the lounge in Istanbul and the ability to one stop connect to most countries in the world.... Whenever I say this inevitably someone mentionsn the seats and I really dont find them bad since I travel as a family of four.
Then once in a while you get the newer A350 with doors which is pretty tough to beat
I fly alone and have only had a window seat in a 1-2-1 J. As the new tiered J fares evolve, I'm for sure paying the extra to not have a chance of being in the "2" section.
How about the least favorite list for couples and families? Have to imagine Luft-kaka (is that what you call it @1990?) takes the cake? Was looking at a Swiss redemption for 2027 and honestly thinking that I wouldn't book it for the family if the older A330 (which I know is not exactly world class) was retrofitted into the new swiss senses. The family seating chart alone is outrageous - the adults have to sit...
How about the least favorite list for couples and families? Have to imagine Luft-kaka (is that what you call it @1990?) takes the cake? Was looking at a Swiss redemption for 2027 and honestly thinking that I wouldn't book it for the family if the older A330 (which I know is not exactly world class) was retrofitted into the new swiss senses. The family seating chart alone is outrageous - the adults have to sit in the aisle seats while the kids get the window privacy seats for safety reasons? My word what a mess.
I’d like to credit “Luft-kafka” to commenter All Due Respect; and, yes, the LH group new config. is indeed odd.
AF has the same policy, which is not making any sense. Adults in the aisle, with kids in the window for safety reasons.
I know a lot of people didn’t like old BA club world but this was something the middle seats were really good for. The direct aisle access, individual notes obsession looked good pre-Covid in a high business travel scenario, but with more premium leisure demand a bit more of a mix of seating types. If Lufthansa allegris development had started by looking at people not revenue (and started after Covid) we might have had something...
I know a lot of people didn’t like old BA club world but this was something the middle seats were really good for. The direct aisle access, individual notes obsession looked good pre-Covid in a high business travel scenario, but with more premium leisure demand a bit more of a mix of seating types. If Lufthansa allegris development had started by looking at people not revenue (and started after Covid) we might have had something quite good.
I have a toddler right now and I’m actively avoiding business class because there’s precious few seats where I could stop them from unbuckling and running down the aisle during takeoff and landing.
It’s Q-suite. However… routing through Doha these days… eh, I’d give it more time…