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Business Insider
a day ago
- Business
- Business Insider
I flew business class with Qantas, Singapore, and American Airlines. Here's how they compare — and which is my favorite.
Although I typically take at least 50 flights a year, I never turned left when I boarded an airplane until 2024. That's when I first tried flying business class. Between top-notch service and lie-flat seats, the upgrade made my flights feel like a vacation before my vacation. I've now gone on business-class flights with three different airlines: 16 hours on Qantas Airlines from Los Angeles to Melbourne, Australia, on an Airbus A380 (and then on a return flight from Sydney back to LA) 13 hours on American Airlines from Dallas to Tokyo on a Boeing 787-8 16 hours on Singapore Airlines from Singapore to Los Angeles on an Airbus A350-900 Here's how my business-class experiences compare — and which has been my favorite so far. Singapore Airlines had my favorite seat. I liked my seat on the Singapore Airlines flight the best, thanks to the plush bedding and three pillows provided when it was turned into a bed. My setup was so comfy that I slept soundly in the air for six straight hours. This seat's storage options also impressed me the most. I had a separate surface to keep my drink out of the way and a spot perfect for storing my Kindle and other in-flight essentials. Plus, the space included a built-in mirror, which was key to my pre-landing makeup refresh. My seat on the American Airlines flight was nice, but it didn't have as much storage. In terms of seats, American Airlines came in second for me. I liked that the seat was more angled toward the windows, which made it feel more private than the other two. Unfortunately, I didn't feel I had as many storage options, and the bedding felt a little less plush than what I had with Singapore Airlines. However, this lie-flat bed setup still felt cozier than the one on my Qantas flights. I was probably the least impressed by my seat on the Qantas flights. In my opinion, Qantas's bedding was the least plush of the three. I had a tougher time getting comfortable with less padding and just one pillow. That said, there was a really great amount of storage at my seat, which meant I never had to pull things in and out of the overhead bins during my flight. I got amenity kits on each flight. All three airlines provided me with an amenity kit. The contents varied a bit, but often included lip balm, earplugs, an eye mask, socks or slippers, and a dental kit in reusable toiletry bags. I got headphones on every flight, but I liked the Bang and Olufsen noise-cancelling models from Singapore Airlines and American Airlines the best. Only one airline gave me pajamas. Who doesn't love changing into a pair of pajamas for a long-haul flight? Qantas is the only one of these three airlines to provide me with a set, and they were super cozy. The pajamas were so comfortable that I've even continued to regularly wear both pairs I acquired at home. I'm glad I sized up, as they've shrunk a bit in the dryer. In terms of amenities, Qantas also stood out by having an in-flight lounge area. I also liked that Qantas had a lounge area on my deck, a cozy space where business-class passengers could grab snacks and drinks from coolers. It was also nice to be able to stretch a bit and try different seats — some even had tables. I felt Singapore Airlines had the most impressive dishes. For me, Singapore Airlines absolutely wins the food category. I'd give the airline top marks for the delectable food presentation and a wide variety of menu options — plus every dish I ate was full of flavor. The Singapore chicken satay with spicy peanut sauce was the most delicious thing I've ever eaten on a plane, and I still think about it months later. My Qantas Airlines meals were also solid. I was also happy with the tasty, hearty dishes I had on my Qantas Airlines flights. The Australian charcuterie appetizer stood out to me as a thoughtful touch when I was traveling to Melbourne. Plus, the breakfast I had before landing was quite satiating, with eggs, sausages, veggies, fruit, and a muffin. American Airlines' food was probably my least favorite. When compared to Qantas and Singapore, American let me down with its food. The dishes I had seemed less visually appealing, a bit more bland, and not as unique. The beef I ate was OK (although it wasn't as hot as I'd prefer), and the broccoli seemed overcooked. I think both could've used more flavor. My in-air snack also felt pretty carb-heavy and underwhelming: a sandwich with very sparse filling served with pasta salad. Each airline offered ample entertainment options, but Qantas let me down by not offering WiFi. Qantas doesn't offer WiFi on international flights. (That said, a representative from the airline told me it plans to start offering it on select aircraft sometime this year.) I was disappointed, and I didn't realize until about an hour into my flight. Although some passengers may have enjoyed the ability to disconnect, I'd been planning on getting work done. Thankfully, the robust in-seat entertainment kept me busy. In this category, American Airlines and Singapore Airlines are tied. Both had WiFi (although I had to pay extra for it) and large in-seat screens with plenty of movies and TV shows. I was impressed by the crew and service on each of these flights. All three airlines had such impressively friendly and helpful crew members that the service category is a complete toss-up for me. The Qantas crew offered me a guided tour of the airplane, including a peek into the first class below (business class was on the upper deck) and a secret set of stairs. The Singapore crew saw me struggling to transform my seat into a bed and quickly stepped in to take care of it. A member of the American crew noticed I was drinking a lot of water and brought me a huge bottle to enjoy for the rest of the flight, plus a second one to take with me. Of these three flights, the one with Singapore Airlines was my favorite. Traveling with Singapore Airlines was a bucket-list experience that exceeded the expectations I'd built up in my head for years — the flight attendants, culinary program, seat, and entertainment were all top-notch.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
IndiGo Orders 30 More Airbus A350 Aircraft for Long-haul Push...
HighlightsIndiGo has exercised an option to purchase an additional 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, doubling its initial firm order from April 2024. The Airbus A350-900 aircraft will allow IndiGo to operate non-stop flights to various international destinations, challenging Air India's dominance in the sector. IndiGo's total confirmed order for the Airbus A350-900 now stands at 60 aircraft, with options for 40 more, marking a significant shift towards wide-body operations. IndiGo has exercised an option to purchase 30 additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft, doubling its initial firm order placed in April 2024, signalling an aggressive push into the long-haul international market. The A350-900s, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, will enable India's largest airline to operate non-stop flights to destinations in Europe, North America, and beyond, from major Indian metros. The move will enable IndiGo to challenge Air India 's dominance in the international sector. IndiGo chief executive Pieter Elbers said the fleet expansion will position the carrier as a global aviation player. The latest order brings IndiGo's total confirmed commitment for the A350-900 to 60 aircraft. It has options for 40 more. The planes are expected to arrive from 2027 onward. Currently operating a fleet of over 350 aircraft, mainly the narrow-body Airbus A320 family jets, IndiGo's foray into wide-body operations represents a significant strategic shift. It operates only two wide-body aircraft – Boeing 777s leased from Turkish Airlines, flying to Istanbul from Delhi and Mumbai.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Embraer in talks with IndiGo, Air India for selling planes; sets up fully-owned unit in India
NEW DELHI: Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is in talks with IndiGo and Air India for selling planes, a company official told news agency PTI on Monday. To explore opportunities in the Indian market, Embraer has established a fully-owned subsidiary with its corporate office in New Delhi. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The company will set up a procurement team to explore opportunities in the Indian supply chain and consider sourcing components and services from India, Neto said in an exclusive interview with PTI in New Delhi. The organisation is currently recruiting staff in India across various departments including government relations, communications, procurement, engineering, sales and marketing. The present Indian operations include approximately 50 Embraer aircraft, encompassing 11 different models, distributed across commercial, business aviation and defence sectors. "India is the third largest market in aviation globally... we see a lot of opportunities for us in the future in this market for all the products we have, the different business units, commercial jets, business jets, military aircraft and eVTOLs. That's why we want to really to deepen our collaboration with the country and this step of opening a subsidiary in India," Neto said. Regarding private aviation, Neto indicated that regulatory adjustments would create additional opportunities. He is visiting New Delhi for the International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual general meeting. The trade relationship between India and Brazil shows significant growth potential, despite current modest levels. "We see a lot of opportunities", not only because of the long term relationship between the two countries, but also because both are part of the BRICS, Neto said. "We expect that the global south will increase the collaboration... Tired of too many ads? go ad free now increase the trade between the countries," he added. The biggest market for Embraer, which achieved record revenues in 2024, is the United States. Earlier on Sunday, IndiGo announced that it will place a firm order for 30 more wide-body Airbus A350-900 aircraft, as part of its long-term plan to expand international operations. This adds to the 30 A350s it ordered in April last year, with an option for 70 more. At a briefing in New Delhi, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers confirmed that the airline is now firming up 30 of those optional orders. IndiGo currently has over 900 aircraft on order for future delivery. Meanwhile, Air India, owned by the Tata Group, is in talks with Airbus and Boeing for another major aircraft deal. According to Reuters, the airline may acquire around 200 more narrow-body jets, in addition to its record 470-aircraft order placed in 2023.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
IndiGo shares in focus after doubling Airbus A350-900 order
Live Events IndiGo Share Price Performance (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel Shares of InterGlobe Aviation , the parent company of IndiGo, are expected to be in focus on Monday after the airline announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus to convert 30 purchase rights into firm orders for Airbus A350-900 wide-body aircraft . This effectively doubles its earlier order of 30 jets placed in April 2024.'IndiGo, India's most preferred airline, announces the further strengthening of its fleet by signing an MoU with Airbus to enlarge its wide-body aircraft order by converting 30 aircraft out of its purchase rights for 70 into a firm order. This is yet another step in defining the airline's long-term plans for international expansion,' the company said in an exchange decision takes IndiGo's total firm order for the Airbus A350-900 to 60 aircraft, with purchase rights for an additional 40—marking a decisive step in the airline's global of these aircraft are expected to begin in A350-900, powered by Rolls-Royce's Trent XWB engines, will offer extended range and fuel efficiency, supporting IndiGo's plans to connect Indian metros with global destinations. This expansion aligns with the airline's strategy to diversify beyond its traditionally domestic-focused operations and offer customers more international travel in March 2025, IndiGo also began preparations for its long-haul operations with six temporarily leased wide-body jets, five of which are scheduled for delivery by aggressive fleet ramp-up underscores IndiGo's intent to secure a strong foothold in international aviation the past year, IndiGo shares have gained 28.16%. On a year-to-date (YTD) basis, the stock has risen by 16.16%. In the last six months, it has climbed 22.00%, while over the past three months, it has surged 19.04%. For the one month, the stock posted a more modest gain of 1.71%.The shares of IndiGo closed flat at Rs 5,333.45 on the BSE on Friday.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
IndiGo shares in focus after doubling Airbus A350-900 order
Shares of InterGlobe Aviation , the parent company of IndiGo, are expected to be in focus on Monday after the airline announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus to convert 30 purchase rights into firm orders for Airbus A350-900 wide-body aircraft . This effectively doubles its earlier order of 30 jets placed in April 2024. 'IndiGo, India's most preferred airline, announces the further strengthening of its fleet by signing an MoU with Airbus to enlarge its wide-body aircraft order by converting 30 aircraft out of its purchase rights for 70 into a firm order. This is yet another step in defining the airline's long-term plans for international expansion,' the company said in an exchange filing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Egypt (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo This decision takes IndiGo's total firm order for the Airbus A350-900 to 60 aircraft, with purchase rights for an additional 40—marking a decisive step in the airline's global ambitions. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Deliveries of these aircraft are expected to begin in 2027. The A350-900, powered by Rolls-Royce's Trent XWB engines, will offer extended range and fuel efficiency, supporting IndiGo's plans to connect Indian metros with global destinations. This expansion aligns with the airline's strategy to diversify beyond its traditionally domestic-focused operations and offer customers more international travel options. Live Events Earlier in March 2025, IndiGo also began preparations for its long-haul operations with six temporarily leased wide-body jets, five of which are scheduled for delivery by 2026. The aggressive fleet ramp-up underscores IndiGo's intent to secure a strong foothold in international aviation markets. IndiGo Share Price Performance Over the past year, IndiGo shares have gained 28.16%. On a year-to-date (YTD) basis, the stock has risen by 16.16%. In the last six months, it has climbed 22.00%, while over the past three months, it has surged 19.04%. For the one month, the stock posted a more modest gain of 1.71%. The shares of IndiGo closed flat at Rs 5,333.45 on the BSE on Friday. ( Disclaimer : Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
