We flew business class on one of the world's longest flights. The perks made me wish our 17-hour trip was longer.

We spent our long 17-hour flight from Dallas to Melbourne in Qantas business class. The hotel-like pod seats, food, and service blew us away.

Apr 8, 2025 - 22:23

We flew business class on one of the world's longest flights. The perks made me wish our 17-hour trip was longer.

Author Ash Jurberg holding glass of bubbly while sitting in business class on plane — I used frequent-flyer points to get business-class seats for me and my wife on our 17-hour flight.
Ash Jurberg

I accumulated enough Qantas points for business-class seats on one of the world's longest flights.
Me and my wife agreed our 17-hour trip from Dallas to Melbourne felt luxurious, not exhausting.
We had a great experience with our pre-flight perks, in-flight service, and post-landing benefits.

My wife and I frequently tackle the 17-hour journey between Texas and Australia.

Our usual Qantas flight from Dallas to Melbourne is considered one of the longest in the world, and it can be pretty intense.

After years of flying it in economy, my wife and I recently accumulated enough Qantas air miles to experience the long-haul flight in business class, which would typically cost thousands of dollars a seat.

Here's what it was like.

The VIP treatment began before takeoff.

Breakfast order form on plane tray table — The form to preorder breakfast made me feel like I was getting room service.
Ash Jurberg

The dedicated business-class check-in and priority boarding meant our journey got off to a stress-free start. We didn't wait in any lines.

Once on the plane and seated, flight attendants welcomed us with bubbly and premium amenity kits containing basics like hand cream and a toothbrush.

We also received a form similar to a hotel's room-service card that allowed us to preorder breakfast. I checked boxes for my morning preferences and loved that I could confidently maximize precious sleep time without missing a meal.

My private pod felt more like a hotel room than an airplane seat.

Author Ash Jurberg's wife sitting in business class on plane — My wife and I each had plenty of space in our pods.
Ash Jurberg

My wife and I had the middle pair of seats in our row in business class, where two seats occupied the space of four economy spots.

Each pod featured a 16-inch HD screen loaded with hundreds of movies and TV shows, ample storage for essentials, USB charging ports, and enough space to store a small carry-on bag within arm's reach.

Plus, we each had a fully reclining seat that would later transform into a proper bed.

The dining experiences made me feel like I was in a restaurant.

Meal with wine, salad, bread, entree on tray table on plane — My first course felt fancy for airline food.
Ash Jurberg

The multicourse dinner rivaled meals I've had at high-end restaurants.

Dinner alone consisted of three courses, starting with a confit duck salad with tomato, dates, pomegranate, and caramelized walnuts. The main course was a seasoned beef fillet served with corn purée, green beans, and red wine jus.

As someone who usually avoids sweet desserts, I enjoyed finishing my meal with a curated cheese selection paired with red wine.

Throughout the flight, excellent service made me feel like a valued guest.

Toast with toppings next to green juice, coffee, fruit on plane tray table — My breakfast looked quite nice.
Ash Jurberg

The food choices didn't stop with the main meals — business-class passengers had access to a dedicated self-service area with premium snacks, fresh fruit, and beverages throughout the flight.

Flight attendants also regularly walked through the cabin to offer us water and light refreshments, ensuring we stayed well-hydrated during the long journey.

I was able to sleep on the plane — and our business-class perks continued after we landed.

Legs stretched out in front of seat on plane below a TV screen — I didn't have trouble sleeping on my business-class flight.
Ash Jurberg

As it got later, I changed into my complimentary Qantas pajamas in the bathroom and returned to my pod to find it had been transformed into a comfortable sleeping space.

The crew had laid out a thick mattress pad, a duvet, and a large pillow. The seat-turned-bed was flat, and I had enough room to fully stretch out.

Curling up in a bed was way nicer than contorting into increasingly uncomfortable positions while trying to nap upright in economy.

For once, I was able to sleep on a plane with ease — and I did so for nine hours. When we landed, I felt refreshed rather than exhausted.

Our business-class perks also continued on the ground. We were among the first passengers off the plane, and having priority-tagged luggage meant we got our bags quickly.

We were in an Uber to our next destination within 30 minutes of landing.

This flight definitely felt worth the points.

By upgrading to business class, our 17-hour journey transformed from an exhausting ordeal into a luxurious experience.

Despite arriving in Melbourne at 5:30 a.m., I stayed awake all day and didn't experience the foggy head and zombie-like state I always feel after long-haul flights. I attribute this lack of jetlag to getting a full night's worth of rest on the plane.

Business class can feel out of reach for many travelers since one flight can cost thousands each way. However, trying to use frequent-flyer and credit-card points to upgrade can be a great value — especially on long-haul routes like this.

It'll be challenging to return to the economy cabin for my next trip, but I'm already saving points for our next business-class adventure.

Read the original article on Business Insider