Is there a bigger dream than walking onto a flight (especially an international one that’s going to be overnight), seeing the lie-flat seats in business class and thinking, “One day, that’ll be me”. For some, it’s a frequent experience that comes by ascending through the ranks and getting enough money to splurge on a regular basis.

For others, it may be attainable through airline points, frequent flying, or just plain luck of getting the upgrade. Sometimes, you might put in an extremely lowball bid to get that business class seat and find yourself lucky enough to get the seat for $100. It does happen! (I’ve definitely had upgrades when I thought my bid was a joke)

Throughout my travels, I’ve been lucky enough to fly business class a few times through a combination of the above factors. Sometimes, that means putting in obscenely low bids for upgrades just in case and getting them. Other times it’s finding incredible redemption deals with Points that somehow cost less for Business than Economy. Sometimes, it is paying the money because the Economy ticket isn’t that much cheaper and the perks of business class end up being a compelling reason to budget a little more for the trip.

The question is — was it worth it?

This post aims to address some of the components of flying business, so you can weigh the cost versus the benefits you’ll receive and make your own decisions about whether you want to try getting that golden lie-flat seat and the sweet service that comes with it.

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The Price

There’s no avoiding the elephant in the room. If you fly business and are paying cash, you’ll be paying a high price. As mentioned above, you don’t have to pay full price. You can redeem points on a good deal. You can bid for an upgrade. Or you can keep an eye on sales for the rare times when business is cheaper or minimally more expensive than the other fares.

The question then becomes — is that high cost worth it? That’s a personal decision, but here’s a few reasons why you may decide it’s worth it for you. The items on this list are going to help make that decision, but at the end of the day, it’s a cost-benefit analysis with the rest of your trip and your budget.

Check In Perks

Occasionally, you’ll also get the ability to check in separately through a shorter line. This reduces the amount of time you need to be at the airport in advance. Often, these areas are away from the hustle and bustle of the other gates, allowing for a smoother check-in process as you drop off your bags.

Security Clearance

If you’re a frequent flyer, then you know that the security lines (and customs) can sometimes be the worst parts of travel . Standing in line forever, watching it crawl forward, and getting more anxious by the minute. These are all the things that make airports a stressful experience. However, when you buy a business class, you get the gift of Priority Security with it (when airports have that option). Not only will this reduce your stress, but it can vastly limit the amount of time you have to arrive in advance of your flight. Knowing that you’ll be able to skip the lines and get through security faster is a fantastic peace of mind.

Lounge Access

With a business class ticket (or the right credit card), you’ll gain access to lounges at the airports. If you’re flying domestic or within North America (for a Canadian traveller), you get a decent lounge. There’s free food, free drinks, free alcohol, a dedicated wi-fi, and plenty of space to stretch out. Admittedly, at certain airports, these lounges are often packed at peak travel times. This is a symptom of people being able to gain access with their credit card. However, there’s one exception — at least in Toronto and a few other airports.

If you’ve booked business for international on an airline like Air Canada, you gain access to the Signature Lounge. This is an experience I first got during early-post-COVID travel when business tickets were still fairly affordable and it was a game changer. For one, credit cards won’t buy you access. Two, you get a full bar with bartender alongside crafted cocktails, a full menu that changes by the season and is prepared on demand. Plus, the privacy of a dimly-lit and peaceful room while you wait to board your overnight flight. It truly made me forget that I was in the airport.

Overall, lounges in general can reduce stress levels and give you a little more worth for the high price of your ticket. You can even grab bottles of water or pop for the plane so you’ve prepared yourself with extra snacks. They’re not going to be empty these days though. Other than places like Signature Lounge in YYZ where you have to buy a ticket to get in, the majority allow for access for credit card holders.

In my experience, business class lounges are great for off-hours. During peak travel hours, they’re just as busy as any other gate. If this is your critical reason for buying, keep that downside in mind.

Lie-Flat Seats

Generally, this is the biggest feature that people think of when they think of business class. It’s the fantastic seats and the ability to lie flat.

One cautionary tale I have is that even though I’m absolutely able to lie down and have enough room for my legs at 5’10, the area where your head goes can get a bit cramped if you’re a stomach sleeper. More than once, I’ve woken up because the blood has been cut off to my arms. The other warning is that you will absolutely feel the plane rumbling along as you sleep. If you’re a sensitive sleeper, then the lie-flats may not be the cure that you’re hoping for. Still, it’s amazing to recline and get a better chance at sleep than if you were sitting in a seat with limited pitch. Some of them even have built-in massage capabilities to truly relax.

Leg Room

Going hand in hand with the point above, the best part of business class seats is the leg room. I’m tall and mostly leg, but every business class flight I’ve taken gives me massive amounts of leg room. Yes, you get this in Premium Economy or Economy Comfort as well, but I find that’s hit and miss. I’ve flown international Premium Economy before where I felt like the seat wasn’t that great. That was on Air France, though their Business class seats are fantastic like in the image below.

With the business class seat, not only will you have plenty of room to stretch out, but it’s going to be rare that you’ll feel cramped. Your little pod gives you the privacy that you need.

The Amenities

If you’re going international, you’re also going to get a little amenities goody bag if you’re in business class. This typically has the basics for what you’ll need for an overnight flight. There’s a toothbrush and toothpaste, some face lotion, and even a pair of compression socks. Don’t throw any of this away. On one vacation, my luggage was lost and the items in this kit were a godsend until I could get my luggage back.

The Privacy

If you’re looking to reduce stress when you travel, there’s truly something to be said about the fact that in a pod in business class, the world fades around you. You genuinely forget that you’re on a plane filled with other people. You interact with your flight attendants and can see other people in the cabin with you, but for the most part, you’re just in your own little world. If you’re wanting to arrive refreshed and ready to go, this is a huge benefit.

The Menu

It’s not a secret that people think airline food is sub-par. However, that is absolutely not the case in business class. The food here ranges from good to incredible. For instance, the duck lasagna I had on my Air France flight was on par with some of the better restaurants I’d eaten at during my trip, never mind plane food.

On top of the good food quality, you get access to snacks regularly if you’re hungry. Plus, there’s an open bar. This one is a little bit of a double-edged sword. After all, because you’re in a pressurized cabin, it’s likely not a great idea to let alcohol dehydrate you. On the other hand, you have access to amazing wines and spirits, and it’s included in the price of your ticket.

Which, as you remember, is not cheap. If that’s something you want to get the most value from, then stock up on your water.

The Service

In addition to the privacy and the experience, the service you receive in business class is truly phenomenal. The attendants have a smaller cabin to focus on, but that means you can easily get their attention whether you want another drink, some more food, or have an issue. I’ve had attendants get me ice before for a headache, continuously fill up my wine throughout the flight, and generally be complete saints.

It’s yet another touch that makes the experience feel elevated while reducing your stress levels. Flying longer distances makes this even more invaluable, because it opens up your ability to hit the ground running when you land.

Priority Baggage

As a business class passenger, your bags are going to be priority. Don’t think this is a guard against them getting lost. Once, travelling to Italy on business, they lost multiple passengers bags (though we suspect that was more due to the check-in agent not pushing them through than the baggage handlers). On the way back from that same trip, somehow, the Priority bags were the last ones out. However, that’s an outlier. Most of the time when I’m priority baggage, it’s out as one of the very first bags, which helps to hit the ground running when you arrive at your destination!

My warning from experience here is to watch your bag and make sure it gets onto the conveyer belt to be loaded. Nowadays, there’s a lot of bag scanning and tracking that takes place, so it’s slightly better, but your bag still might get lost. Don’t panic if that happens and follow these tips!

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With all that in mind, you can make the decision about whether it’s worth it for you. For me, the airport perks far outweigh the flight ones (though they absolutely don’t hurt) but only when the price is right.

That’s the key here – set your price cap where these benefits aren’t going to be worth it anymore, and that will differ for every person. Hopefully, though, this has helped to list out many of the perks you get when you buy the top range ticket to truly do that exercise.