I’m embracing my status as “free agent” this year, which will make it easier than ever to review new products, but also make the effective use of miles and points all the more important. Here are 10 business class products I hope to review for Live And Let’s Fly in 2025, some of them quite exotic.
10 Business Class Products I Hope To Try In 2025
This is not an exhaustive list, but I would place these 10 products towards the top of the list.
Lufthansa A350-900
It’s time to try Lufthasna Allegris and see how the carrier’s latest business class product stacks up against the competition.
Austrian 787-9
I miss Vienna so much and would love to try Austrian’s latest business class product on the 787-9.
Qantas A330-200
I flew Qantas in premium economy and first class in 2023, did not visit Australia in 2024, but would like to fly business class on Qantas in 2025 and fly from Perth to Sydney on an A330.
Aer Lingus A321neo
It has been several years since I reviewed Aer Lingus and I’d like to give the carrier another try and spend a night in lovely Dublin. I flew the A330 last time and since the seat has not changed, this time I will focus on flying the A321neo.
Brussels Airlines A330-300 [the REAL one]
I flew Brussels Airlines in business class last year and ended up with a Lufthansa interior (I’ll write about the flight shortly). It’s time to check out the Belgian flag carrier and Star Alliance members once again, but on an actual Brussels A330…not an ex-EuroWings/Lufthansa one…
Finnair A350-900
I’ve tried Finnair’s new “non-reclining” business class on the A330, but I would like to try another longhaul flight on the Finnair A350 between Helsinki and either the USA or Asia.
ITA Airways A350-900 + A321neo
ITA Airways, formerly Alitalia, flies A350 jets to Los Angeles and Buenos Aires and A321neos on shorthaul routes. Both have lie-flat seats. The soft product (with a beautiful appetizer, pasta course, meat or fish course, cheese, and dessert) looks amazing and it is now possible to use Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles to book award travel on ITA.
Iberia A350-900 + A321XLR
I last reviewed an Iberia longhaul flight (an Airbus A330 from Madrid to Los Angeles) seven years ago. It’s time for an updated review on two of Iberia’s newest aircraft, even though the business class seat has not changed on the A350. Ideally, I’d review the A321XLR in one direction and the A350 in the other.
Air Senegal A330-900neo
The chicken or the egg? Do I want to visit Senegal to fly Air Senegal A330-900 or do I want to fly Air Senegal to visit Senegal? Both are true. However, I do want to try Air Senegal, I guess to Paris since the Baltimore/New York flight has been canceled.
Cubana IL-96
One of Cubana’s Ilyushin Il-96 has been returned to Cuba after refurbishment in Russia for the flag carrier of Cuba. I would like to fly it while I still can…it’s flying regularly to Madrid these days.
There will be plenty of United Airlines flights this year, but likely a much greater domestic mix as I purchase based on price and schedule rather than simply not looking beyond United.
CONCLUSION
There’s a lot going on behind the scenes toward striking the right balance between this blog and my other endeavors, but I am confident everything will fall into place and you will be treated to some fascinating reviews this year. That said, it would not surprise me if I come up short on my list this year…but I’m still setting goals.
What business class products are you looking to fly in 2025?
“Iberia’s newest aircraft, even though the business class seat has not changed on the A350”
Actually, some have BC seats with doors now. Something to keep in mind when booking with them.
I flew on a QF A330 in J in 2022 (MEL-PER). It was a well-worn version of an OK hard product.
Matthew,
My daughter and I did a spring break trip to Oz last year, and flew J from SYD to PER in a A330-200. Believe me, it’s nothing to write home about, and we found the J seats on the A380 SYD-LAX to be way better on the hard product side. You’re not missing anything if you don’t cross that one off your list.
I’d love to see a review of Iberia’s J product with the door, hopefully they have improved the internet and IFE, since both of those items were slow and buggy on the A330 I flew on in 2023.
As for Qantas’s J product on the A330, I was a bit let down. It’s great for sleeping, especially if you get an overnight flight w pajamas. But my seat was loose in its tracks, the 1st set of headphones was only half functional, there’s no wi-fi, and the food whilst good was missing a few courses one would normally expect to see on a J flight. I’d still recommend them but temper your expectations.
I am looking forward to my flight on Austrian’s J product and would love to hear other reviews of them.
Qantas’ A330s domestically get swapped for 737s all the time in advance unfortunately. Would recommend you target an Int’l route instead like SYD/MEL/BNE – HND for better-padded A330 seats anyway
Yeah, about a year ago, my BNE-SYD flight was a 737. Then, a 330 was swapped two days before, only to go back to a 737 one day out. My aisle seat became a middle from this. Fortunately, the QF app asked if I wanted to move to an earlier flight on the day of the trip, and I was able to snag an aisle seat next to a 70-year old and her mother. I had a blast.
The new ITA route to DSS is flown by the neo, so it looks like they’ve already optimised your journey to Senegal.
Finnair flies between Bangkok and Sydney on behalf of Qantas.
No idea if this is true at the moment, but historically, you could find decent AAdvantage saver availability (57,500 miles) between DFW and HEL on the A350-900 if you were willing to book ahead. Spoiler alert – I don’t think you’ll find much different with the A330, other than the more comfortable environment generally on the 359.
Sorry, one other thought – also worth checking J cash fares between HEL and DEL, which is also operated by the 359. Occasionally I’ve seen fares for around $1,000.
Finnair BC service between HEL and DFW is on the A350, very enjoyable on the 10.5 hour flight.
I hope to try it soon (and use the sauna in HEL Platinum Wing Lounge!)
Currently have TATL reservations in J on the IB 321XLR in May and the SN 330-300 in July. IB has been slow rolling out the XLR. Looking forward to the Do&Co food on IB and the beer bar on SN.