Business class flights in the UK: which airline is best?

As a business travel manager with potentially a lot of people traveling regularly for work, you might want to treat them to a business-class flight for some extra benefits, particularly if it’s a long-haul flight to Europe or the UK for a meeting. 

There are a variety of airlines that operate in and out of the UK, flying worldwide to destinations such as the US, Africa, and beyond. Their business-class fares all have different benefits and costs depending on the airline. So, which one do you choose to get the most from your allocated budget? 

We’ve taken a look at some of the most popular airlines operating in (or flying from) the UK and analyzed their business-class offerings, comparing luxuries and costs, so that travel managers can decide on the right airline for them.

Disclaimer - All information, especially pricing and policies, is correct as of the date of writing (August 2025) and is subject to change.

British Airways

British Airways has flights to over 200 destinations across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia, and it mainly flies out of and into London Heathrow.

The average price of a business-class ticket with British Airways is between $3,000-$5,000.

And it doesn’t matter if you’ve got a business meeting over in the UK or elsewhere in the world, British Airways has two business class offerings: Club Europe and Club World. Here they are broken down:

On selected Club World flights, there is a Club Suite offering, which provides:

• Direct aisle access from every seat with a door for enhanced privacy

• A larger 198cm (6ft 6in) fully flat bed and plenty of extra storage space

• 17” high-resolution screens with the latest films and music

• Digital seat functions 

• Delicious in-flight food and drink

British Airways fees

Here are some of British Airways applicable fees:

• Change of time, date, or cabin - £35 ($46.91)

• Cancellation fee - £35 ($46.91)

• Oversized baggage - £65 ($87.12)

British Airways cancellation policy 

You can cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking and get a full refund, with no additional fees. But this is only if you have booked directly with British Airways - travel managers and their travelers should be mindful of this.

British Airways pros and cons

Pros

• 24-hour grace period for cancellations

• A generous baggage allowance

• A large number of destinations to choose from 

Cons

• More costly tickets

Virgin Atlantic 

Virgin Atlantic is another strong contender for long-haul flights, with 32 destinations available across all five continents. If you are catching a flight from the US to the UK, you’ll fly into either Heathrow, Manchester, or Gatwick.

Virgin doesn’t have a specific “business-class” fare, but its top-tier cabin is called Upper Class. 

A price example from New York to Heathrow for August 2025 is nearly $4,000 return.

Here it is broken down:

Upper Class benefits include:

• Extra-large seats 

• Fully flat bed

• A glass of bubbly when you board

• Luxury 4-course fine dining with pre-order options

• Access to Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses

Virgin Atlantic fees

Here are some of Virgin Atlantic's applicable fees:

• Overweight bag - £65 fee ($87.12)

• Oversized bag - £200 fee ($268.07)

• Adding additional checked baggage - £140 ($187.65)

• Changing details on your booking - fees are applicable depending on fare type and can be found on your booking information.

Virgin Atlantic cancellation policy 

You can cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking and get a full refund, with no additional fees. Refunds aim to be given in 14 days. 

If you cancel after this time, you may not be able to cancel depending on your booking class and fare type. If you are able, this might incur a fee, with bookings from the United States having fees of up to $50. 

Virgin Atlantic pros and cons

Pros

• 24-hour grace period for cancellations

• A large selection of extras with Upper Class

• Generous baggage allowance

Cons

• Not a huge amount of destinations to choose from compared to other long-haul airlines 

• More costly tickets 

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways is the national carrier of the State of Qatar, which was named the World’s Best Airline in 2025 by the World Airline Awards. 

It offers flights into many UK airports from destinations such as the US, Africa, and Europe, with the flights between the US and the UK costing between $3,000-$6,000.

Qatar’s business class was also voted the World’s Best, and here are its offerings:

You are also treated to the following extras:

• Fully reclined, spacious seats

• On-board WiFi

• Á la carte menu

• On-board entertainment

Additionally, businesses can also join the Beyond Business membership, which offers flexibility and exclusive savings. 

Business managers can work with Qatar Airways to get tailored solutions based on travel spend, and travellers can earn Qrewards from flights, which can then be redeemed against flight upgrades. 

Qatar Airways fees

Here are some of Qatar Airways' applicable fees:

• Additional 32kg bag:

  • Traveling between Africa and Qatar - £97 ($130)

  • All other journeys - £191 ($256)

• Oversize bag fee:

  • Traveling between Africa and Qatar - £56 ($75)

  • All other journeys - £56 ($75)

• Additional oversized bag (between 158-300cms):

  • Traveling between Africa and Qatar - £153 ($205)

  • All other journeys - £247 ($331)

• Cancellation fees:

  • Inbound flights - $50

  • Outbound flights - $75

Qatar Airways cancellation policy 

Qatar Airways offers a 24-hour cancellation policy for most tickets, allowing for fee-free cancellation within 24 hours of booking. After this period, cancellation policies and associated fees depend on the ticket type and fare rules.

Qatar Airways pros and cons

Pros

• Convenient business membership available

• Voted world’s best airline 2025

• Generous baggage allowance 

• 24-hour cancellation policy

Cons

• Can be costly tickets

Emirates

Emirates is a Middle Eastern airline, but it has many flights that depart from UK airports and 12 flights per day arriving across three London airports, from early 2026.

Known for quality, Emirates has a dedicated business class for travelers looking for that extra bit of comfort and ease. 

A business-class ticket is reported to start at $3,000, with a recent flight from Newark to Athens for $4,337. 

This is the breakdown:

You are also treated to the following extras:

• Fully reclined leather seats

• Gourmet meals

• 23-inch HD TV to watch the latest box sets on

• Access to the business class lounge 

Emirates fees

Here are some of Emirates' applicable fees:

• Charges for overweight or oversized baggage for flights to and from the Americas - $75

• Some fees and charges may apply to making changes to your booking, depending on your ticket type.

Emirates cancellation policy 

Emirates provides a 24-hour cancellation policy for tickets, provided the departure date is at least 7 days away. 

Fees will apply if you cancel after this period, and this will depend on your fare type and booking. 

Emirates pros and cons

Pros

• 24-hour cancellation policy 

• Luxury in-flight experience

Cons

• Not as much baggage allowance as other business-class fares

• Very expensive tickets

Overview comparison

If you are a travel manager wanting to ensure your travelers get the best experience, understanding the differences between each airline’s business-class flight offerings will help you match the features and services with the needs of your team. 

• British Airways is a reputable airline in the UK that includes a generous 2 x 32kg baggage allowance, fully reclining seats, high-resolution screens for in-flight entertainment, and in-flight meals. 

• Virgin Atlantic is another good choice, also with a fully flat bed and in-flight meals, but with the added extra of a glass of bubbly.

• Qatar Airways is highly rated and has four options of business class fare, giving you the choice that’s best for your business travelers. These all have generous benefits, such as an á la carte menu, on-board entertainment, fully reclining seats, and additional WiFi. 

• Emirates offers a slightly more expensive fare, but it includes a large 23-inch TV to watch films and TV on board, delicious gourmet meals, and access to the business lounge. 

Be prepared for business travel

Ultimately, choosing the best airline for employees to travel business-class will depend on a number of factors, including the length of the journey and whether travel time is used to work or rest.

With so many options available, a travel management platform like Perk simplifies how your teams travel for work. Get access to the best inventory, stay in control of your budget, and give your team the freedom to cancel or change plans with Flexible Travel.

To learn more about how Perk can help to simplify the repetitive, time-consuming admin required for work travel planning, book a demo to see the platform in action.