7 reasons to fly business class

We've all browsed the business class fares when booking flights, but one question always pervades: Is it really worth it? We take a look at United Polaris to find out

Using a trip from Sydney to Los Angeles on United Polaris as my test case, I can confirm the joy of lying flat, but I can also say Business Class is so much more than a bed.

Sleep is the hero of business class. Sure, you may be able to catch 40 midair winks seated close to upright at the back of the plane, but the real payoff for investing in the big bucks is floating through the arrival hall fully charged by eight hours of horizontal zees.

I can testify to this because in the past year, I’ve taken multiple long haul flights of 10 to 33 hours in the air, plus stopovers. A handful of trips were in business class and a few in premium, but most in economy. So, as much as I'd like to only fly at the front of the plane, I’ve got way more experience at the back. 

Using a trip from Sydney to Los Angeles on United Polaris as my test case, I can confirm the joy of lying flat, but I can also say business is so much more than a bed. Here are some of the other perks that help make the often eye-watering price of the ticket worth every cent.

1. Jump the queue

Nothing says economy like waiting, but fly in Polaris - United’s fancy name for business - and you’ve got a fast track through multiple congestion points at the departure and destination airports. 

In addition to going to the head of the line for check-in and onboarding, getting off the plane first is a bonus for an airport like LAX where the waiting area for customs and immigration is hectic and patience powered by sleep is essential. You’re not getting any preferential treatment - US custom agents are notoriously terse so brush up on the rules and regulations - but business class passengers are always a few steps ahead, a necessary perk if you’re transferring to a new flight. 

The final upside is the “priority baggage” tag which means your bag is off the plane and onto the carousel before the rest of the pack.

Once you’re airborne and ready for sleep, you can get cosy with luxe bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue.

2. Sit back, and relax 

We’re all familiar with the Walk of Shame, but not enough attention is given to the March of Envy. This slow, green-eyed shuffle of economy passengers as they move through business class on their way to the rear of the plane, is a curse you can break if you choose the more expensive ticket. 

On Polaris, the comparative seat stats go like this: business seats 55.9cm wide with a 198cm pitch and 180 degree recline (plus all the very comfortable degrees in between) versus economy’s 45.7cm width, 97cm seat pitch, and 15cm recline. 

Once you’re airborne and ready for sleep, you can get cosy with luxe bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue. 

3. Marie Kondo your pod

In economy there are only three places for your stuff - overhead, under seat, and back of seat - and the added obstacle climbing over or jostling anyone next to you to access it. Fly at the front of the plane in Polaris and there’s all manner of additional storage spaces to help make your home for the following 14 hours as pleasant as possible. Next to the seat is a small cupboard big enough for a 600ml bottle of water, noise-cancelling headphones, and an amenities pack or whatever bits and bobs you’d rather have access to; there’s a powerpoint and a usb port and a nook for your laptop or table, a recess for your shoes, and a handy mirror for any pre-disembarkation grooming.

In Polaris, there’s a powerpoint, usb port and a nook for your laptop or table.

4. Stay fresh 

There are two stars of the Polaris amenities kit. The first is the excellent face and hand cream, cleansing cloth, and lip balm by cult skincare brand Sunday Riley, the next is blue-and-white cotton grip socks that I’m still using long after my flight. The pack also contains a sleeping mask, toothbrush and paste, earplugs, and tissues. My flight outfit is comfy enough to sleep in, but if you can ask for pyjamas on flights of 12 hours or longer.

5. Kill time with screen time

I challenge even the most committed binger not to find something new and interesting to watch on the 40 inch screens in Polaris, but if you do want to know if you need to download your own shows, check unitedprivatescreening.com before you fly to see all the new release and classic movies, tv shows, and documentaries on your specific flight. 

Ready to relax? There’s a soothing selection of audio and visual options to help induce deep sleep or maximum relaxation. I go for starscapes, a mesmerising one-hour ambient astrolapse paired with classical music that shuts out the ambient sounds of the cabin and puts me into a deep sleep. 

6. Eat a proper meal

Plane food has come a long way since the days of UFOs (unidentified food objects), but in economy, no matter how zingy the curry or decadent the chocolate cake, the cups, cutlery and plates are still very much disposable. In business, while not quite silver service, you do get proper tableware and a delicious meal. My lamb loin with roasted vegetables and pearl couscous rate in my top meals on a flight ever. Add to that a bloody great bloody mary - always better up in the clouds and there’s science to prove it - a mug of tea that’s actually hot, and the business class ante goes up, up and away.

If you’re flying Polaris, you can head straight to the lounge at LAX and remove yourself from the chaos in the terminal beyond.

7. Live large in the LA lounge 

LAX is known to frequently feel like the 10th circle of Hell, but if you’re flying Polaris, you can head straight to the lounge and remove yourself from the chaos in the terminal beyond. Pop into the shower to pep yourself up, bliss out in one of the mediation rooms, or plug yourself into a noise-proof phone booth and check in on the kids. I start with a bespoke zesty cocktail called the United Polaris Star featuring gin, ginger and honey syrup and club soda before heading to the restaurant for an a la carte meal. My very tasty Polaris burger - cooked perfectly medium-rare as only the Americans do - with wedge cut fries but there are lighter options like tuna poke bowls and pan-seared chicken breast. 

Bonus points

Going to America? If you’ve got 50 states on your travel bucket list, United is the place to start because starting later this year, they’re adding 40 per more flights between the US and Australia/New Zealand.  Book now to start accumulating loyalty points and so one day you upgrade yourself to discover the the hero of business class.

The writer was a guest of United Airlines.

Originally published as 7 reasons to fly business class