It’s a question all frequent flyers have pondered, regardless of whether they’ve had the pleasure of turning left. When you’re paying for a business class experience, is it really worth it to doze off as soon as you hit the seat?
Anyone who’s even momentarily navigated the business class section of an airplane knows that 90 per cent of passengers are conked out for the majority of the flight (which equally makes them excellent cabin-fellows, unless you’re unfortunately located next to a big-time snorer).
Of course, for regular travellers, this is precisely the appeal. More space, increased comfort, and amenities that allow for a good night’s sleep. But for those less acquainted with the world of fast-track security, complimentary champagne and airport lounges, it can seem like a complete waste. Business class offerings often involve elaborate menus crafted by world-class chefs, significantly improved entertainment systems, and – most importantly – the regular deposit of warm towels.
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So, is it a waste of money to sleep in business class? It’s a question I pondered while on a recent Air France flight from Paris to New York, where I tested out their newest business class cabin, available on a selection of the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350 aircraft.
According to research published in August 2025, international premium class travel is outpacing growth in global economy flights, with business and first class passenger numbers having grown by 11.8 per cent year-on-year, in comparison with 11.5 per cent in economy. This has led to a competition among carriers, who are rushing to enhance the “experiential” nature of their premium cabins.
Booking business class as a one-off “treat” is increasingly popular among younger passengers, who post snippets of their flights on TikTok and rate their experiences. While most travellers slip into their eyemask and hunker down post-takeoff, there are 127,000 TikToks under the business class search term that prove people are increasingly picking business class for the full experience, not just for snoozing. There’s also a whole subsection of YouTube dedicated to reviewing business class offerings, including the meals.
So I decided to give this method — business class for pleasure — a go. Minimal sleep, maximum enjoyment. Within minutes of settling into my private, reclinable booth seat, I was offered champagne or orange juice, to which I responded “Yes”. (Mix them together and make a mimosa, obviously.) Next came the food offering, curated by thrice-Michelin-starred chef Régis Marcon.
Smoked salmon and pearl couscous were accompanied by warm bread rolls, French butter, and a fresh orange and grapefruit salad. This was followed by a fillet of pollack cooked in sherry, which sat alongside pureed potatoes and hazelnuts. Look, Anthony Bourdain might not like people eating seafood on Mondays, and he’d probably turn in his grave if he knew someone was recommending eating fish on a plane, but in this one instance, Bourdain is wrong: the pollack was delectable, and the smoked salmon even more so. Imagine if I’d dozed through that?
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Following a couple of refills of my makeshift mimosa, I enjoyed the in-flight entertainment system, which was located on a screener larger than my own MacBook. No flimsy headsets here — proper cushioned overear headphones are provided, with optional hygiene covers. There’s also plenty of opportunity to do your skincare (and stare at yourself) in business class, because most of the seats now contain pop-up mirrors. This is a particular favourite amenity of the TikTok generation, who now film “do skincare with me” videos while airborne.
After another meal, several more mimosas and a few hours of diligently working to milk everything business class for all its worth, I slipped into a nap that proved exactly that. Between the reclining seat, privacy divider and the added mattress (a Sofitel creation that’s new to Air France’s business offering), it was the best sleep I’ve ever had on a plane. In fact, it rivalled the sleep I’ve had in some actual beds.
So, yes, if you’re forking out for business class as an experience, don’t nod off straight away, you’ll miss all the goodness. But you also can’t really knock a good horizontal sleep at 40,000 feet.
