Is Business Class really worth it? Take a sneak peak at what it's like to fly Business Class.

We’ve all seen the price of travelling business class and don’t get me started on first class, and most of us have this experience on our bucket list. We know you get perks like lounge access, nicer meals and more space, but is the cost of the fare actually worth the experience?

Even as someone whose job it was to book flights, even working in a Luxury Travel Agency where it was unusual to book an economy fare. I just still couldn’t comprehend spending that much money on an airfare. This line of thinking is partly because I like to think of myself as a “thrifty” or “bargain” traveller, I mean I just love the hunt for a deal and will spend a ridiculous number of hours trying to find ways to book a nice holiday for the least amount of money possible. The other part of this thinking is partly clouded by the experience we had flying Premium Economy, but that’s a story for another day.

Emirates A380 Business Class

My thoughts on flying business and first class changed a little once I started doing aircraft inspections, getting to see the product in the flesh, so to speak, and getting a sneak peek of what the experience may be like, but I still couldn’t get past the fare.

Then – this is my big brag moment – I got to fly business class for free! Yep, one of my best experiences working in the travel industry was going on my first and only famil. I was hosted by Qatar on a five day trip to Mykonos as a way to promote their new (at the time) seasonal direct flight from Doha to Mykonos. Our flights were booked as economy, but the Qatar rep managed to get us upgraded last minute on the long-haul sector between Sydney and Doha, and again on the return long-haul sector.

Having lived the high life for two flights I have to say I get it; I get why people who can afford to travel business class only travel business class. From the moment you board you are treated so well. The staff remember your name (although this could have been because I was a hosted agent), you are greeted with a glass of champagne while you settle into your massive seat or business class pod. Once you order your first drink, they remember what drink it is you like and will continue to serve you that, unless you ask for a different drink, so I kept they on their toes, because I like to try all the drinks! The meals are amazing as far as plane food is concerned, although I’ve only ever had a handful of bad plane meals. And you are provided with a small toiletries kit with quality products.

You have so much space and everything you need to be able to work, if you are travelling for business and need to work on your flight.

Qatar has a bar on their A380 for first and business class passengers. Here they will make you cocktails and provide snacks while you enjoy time away from you seat and mingle with other passengers, or when you have a group of travel agents, take over the bar and play bar tender, (again not sure if this is something they would let all business class passengers do or if it was special treatment - I guess I'll have to fly again to find out).

Now the really good part about flying business class is the sleep, now not all business class cabins are the same, the business class product differs greatly between aircraft types and airlines, but if you are on an aircraft that offers a lie flat bed, you’ll never want to fly another way again. Being able to lay down to sleep, even with broken sleep, I have never gotten off a flight feeling as refreshed and ready to face the next part of the trip or day, as I did after these two flights in business class. At “bedtime” the flight attendants will bring around some PJs for you to change into, which if you choose to, you can keep. They will set up and make your bed with a nice pillow and blanket and leave you to continue relaxing or drift off to sleep.

Qatar A380 Business Class

This year we also flew domestic business class with Qantas from Mackay to Brisbane. It was only a short flight, but when I was looking to book the flights, it wasn’t much more than economy class with Qantas Frequent Flyer Points and Pay, plus they were the only reward seats available for our preferred flight time and day, so I thought, why not treat ourselves. While it definitely wasn’t Qatar’s A380 business class it was still a great experience. Having the access to the lounge before the flight gave as all an opportunity to fill our bellies and enjoy a pre flight beverage. The onboard experience was definitely a better experience to flying Qantas domestic economy. The flight attendants go above and beyond, they even approached me before they served our meal, yes, we got a proper meal on the short domestic flight, to ask if I wanted them to find an alterative option to the two meal options they had for business class for our son. Which was great because if they served the business class meal, I could see two things happening, he wouldn’t have eaten it and it would most likely have ended up all over the floor and seat. So, they served him his own special meal on a tray with an assortment of biscuits, a juice, the fancy bread they were serving in business class with some spreads. Some cakes and pretty much anything they could find leftover from previous flights.

The extra room, not just for your legs but in the seat as well was great, especially with having a bub on my lap and a toddler in the seat next to me.

Read Family travel planning and how to tackle flying with kids

So, while I don’t know if I will ever be able to afford to fly business class on a long-haul flight, I definitely am now able to see why people fly business class, and strive to hopefully do it again with my husband, if not my whole family one day.

Things to know about business class

• Not all business class is created equal, the business class product varies greatly not only between airlines, but between aircraft types.

• Be mindful if you are tall, you will not fit well into the lie flat beds. I was probably at the max length for the Qatar lie flat bed at just over 170cm tall, so my 6 foot 4 husband would need to curl up, however I’m sure it would still be the best flight experience just for the leg room alone.

• Fully reclined and lie flat are different

• If you are travelling as a couple or party, check the seating configuration. Even when there are 2 seats together in the middle of the plane, there may be a wall or divider to separate you from the passenger next to you providing you with privacy, however it means you aren’t actually sitting next your travelling companion.

• Most, but not all airlines will let you keep the PJs or cardigan they provide you during the flight, if you’re not sure ask

• Check if there is a lounge you have access to at the airports you are travelling through, usually there will be a partner airline’s lounge available in the bigger airports if the airline doesn’t have their own lounge

• Their will be a self-serve area set up in the galley on most business class flights, this allows you to still get access to snacks and drinks while the crew take their breaks. This is something that’s pretty standard in all cabins on all long-haul flights, it’s just different products that are offered between classes

• Do your research and ask questions if you are looking to book business class and haven’t flown business class before or are travelling with a different airline, to make sure you will be getting the experience you are picturing in your mind

• Be mindful of code share - check that the flight you are booking is actually operated by the airline you are booking with, if you are booking that airline specifically for their business class experience

Ways to help you achieve your dream of flying business class

• Look at booking a mixed fare, so business class on one sector and economy on another, this will reduce your overall fare

• Use frequent flyer points to upgrade – you need to make sure that the original fare you have purchased allows this so make sure you read the fare rules. This is also dependant on if the seats are available for upgrade

• Bid to upgrade – I know people who have got lucky and managed to upgrade for a reasonable price doing this, just know that it’s not guaranteed though

• Use points and pay to book your flight – you need rewards seats to be available for this though and you would need a lot of points in most cases

• Fly the path less travelled – sometimes flying with a carrier (airline) that isn’t know for flying to the destination you are flying to can have good business class fares. The flight may be less direct though so be prepared for that

• Look at code share flights, sometimes booking a Business class ticket through an airline who uses another airline to operate their flight can work in your favour

Read How to get cheaper flights