Flying to Australia, New Zealand & Fiji in Style

Comparing Flight Options on Air New Zealand, Qantas, United and Fiji Airways.

Congratulations! You’re planning a trip to Australia, New Zealand or Fiji and now need to start researching your flight options.

Due to the long-haul nature of these flights, choosing the right travel class can significantly impact your comfort and overall experience. For many travelers, investing in more comfortable flight options to  Australia, New Zealand, or Fiji makes all the difference. 

Air travel to any of these amazing destinations offers a mix of long-haul and regional flights, with major airlines providing direct and connecting routes worldwide. Key hubs in Australia include Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, while Auckland & Christchurch serve as New Zealand’s main gateways. Fiji, a popular tropical destination, is primarily accessed via Nadi International Airport. 

Whether traveling for business or leisure, selecting between Premium Economy and Business Class can help ensure a more enjoyable journey. Use this guide, which explores business class and premium options, to determine what works best for you!

What are the differences between ​​Premium Economy vs. Business Class?

Offering a more comfortable experience than standard economy, Premium Economy and Business Class come with varying degrees of comfort, amenities, and price points. 

Premium Economy

This option offers a cross between economy and business class without the high price tag. Premium economy means more legroom, enhanced meal options, priority boarding, and often additional baggage allowances compared to standard economy class.

While an improved experience, the seats do not recline into a full bed, making it closer to economy than business class.

Business Class

Being able to lie flat in Business Class provides a much higher level of comfort than Premium Economy. 

Additionally, Business Class offers enhanced dining, improved in-flight entertainment & amenities, access to premium lounges, and personalized service. 

The price difference between business class and premium economy is significant, but the extra comfort can be well worth it for those traveling from great distances.

Comparing Air New Zealand, Qantas, United Airlines & Fiji Airlines

AIR NEW ZEALAND

Offering more than 3,400 flights a week to 49 domestic and international destinations, it’s no wonder that Air New Zealand is one of our trusted partner airlines!

Premium Economy: Widely praised for its spacious leather seats in a 2-3-2 configuration, passengers enjoy more recline than economy, generous legroom, premium dining and beverage options, priority check-in and boarding, baggage privileges, enhanced in-flight entertainment, 

Business Class: Air New Zealand’s Business Premier is luxurious, offering fully lie-flat beds in a herringbone layout along with small sliding panels for extra privacy. Passengers enjoy priority check-in and baggage handling, enhanced gourmet dining (typically two hot meals), alcoholic beverages, premium wines, amenity kits, and access to airport lounges. 

The service is highly regarded, making it a great option for long-haul comfort.

It’s worth noting that Air New Zealand has some innovative  Economy Class upgrades, including:

SKYCOUCH: This “couch in the sky” option allows passengers to convert a row of economy seats into a flat surface. This means greater comfort and relaxation, particularly for families and couples! 

Skycouch seats are just like standard Economy seats, except each has an adjustable leg rest that can be raised or lowered individually. Passengers can lift the leg rests halfway up for a perfect recline, or all the way up to a 90-degree angle to create a lie-flat couch space. 

Additionally, Air New Zealand offers extra bedding, a seat liner and Skycouch kit with an adult/child loop and cuddle belt so guests can stretch out safely and enjoy their space in comfort.

SKYNEST SLEEPING PODS (coming soon): Providing an extra touch of comfort for economy travelers, select Air New Zealand flights will feature these innovative Skynest sleeper pods with flat-bed pods that come equipped with full-length beds featuring memory foam, adjustable lighting, and handy USB power ports.

The six Skynest beds look similar to the bunk-style beds that flight attendants use on longer flights (or rooms in pod hotels). However, travelers can rent the beds for a portion of the flight (in four-hour sessions).

Each pod will include a pillow, sheets, and blanket (which are changed between passengers), earplugs, a separate reading light, and a personal USB outlet. 

The Skynest capsules debut in the fall of 2026 on ultra-long-haul flights operated from the airline’s base in Auckland, and inaugural routes have been confirmed as New York and Chicago, with flight durations exceeding 14 hours on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

QANTAS

Founded in the Queensland outback in 1920, Qantas has become Australia's largest domestic and international airline. Traveling to 65 destinations, Qantas is widely regarded as the world's leading long-distance airline and one of the strongest brands in Australia. Qantas has built a reputation for excellence in safety, operational reliability, engineering and maintenance, and customer service.

Premium Economy: Qantas Premium Economy features extra-wide seats with a 38-inch pitch in a 2-3-2 configuration and extra legroom. Considered one of the better premium economy offerings on the market, passengers receive a dedicated check-in counter, priority boarding lane and disembarkation access, upgraded meal service, noise-canceling headphones, and amenity kits on selected flights.

Business Class: Often branded as “Business Suites,” Qantas’ business class is flying comfort at its finest! With a spacious 1-2-1 layout, travelers enjoy lie-flat beds, direct aisle access, gourmet meals, personal on-demand inflight entertainment system, signature Qantas pajamas, stylish Koskela collection amenity kits, and access to the airline’s renowned lounges. 

Their service and premium amenities make it one of the best choices for travelers seeking comfort and relaxation. 

UNITED AIRLINES

As the largest airline in the world based on revenue passenger miles flown, United is trusted by millions of travelers every year. 

Premium Economy (Premium Plus): United’s Premium Plus offers extra-wide seats with a 38-inch pitch - this means more legroom and recline, plus adjustable footrests and power outlets. Travelers also receive upgraded meal service, typically hot meals, snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, noise-canceling headphones, priority check-in and boarding, separate security screening lines, and a free checked bag allowance.

Business Class (Polaris): United’s Polaris business class provides a significant upgrade, featuring lie-flat seats with 75–78 inches of sleeping space and seats reclining to 180 degrees. The seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration for privacy and convenience and come with luxurious Saks Fifth Avenue bedding. Polaris passengers also receive a Sunday Riley-branded amenity kit, Therabody amenities in the bathrooms, and Therabody amenity kit with eye serum, face spray, and more.

Business Class also offers luxurious dining and refreshments, lounge access, premier access to priority check-in, security lines, and baggage privileges.

FIJI AIRWAYS

Fiji Airways is Fiji's national airline, flying to 27 destinations worldwide. 

Premium Economy: Fiji Airways does not offer a dedicated premium economy cabin. Instead, passengers can purchase extra-legroom seats in economy, which provide some added comfort.

Both economy and business class flights include inflight meals and drinks (including alcoholic beverages), inflight entertainment, a carry-on bag and checked-in bag, plus access to USB ports, in-seat power, and generous storage space.

Business Class: Fiji Airways’ business class offers lie-flat seats on its long-haul aircraft, an impressive meal selection with Fijian-inspired cuisine, and lounge access. Its cocoon-shaped seats convert into fully flat beds, and the 1-2-1 configuration offers direct aisle access. Guests also enjoy amenity kits with Pure Fiji toiletries, dental kit, eye shades, and socks, an extensive in-flight entertainment system, three-course fine dining, premium beverage offerings, services dedicated check-in, increased baggage allowance, express airport lanes, access to lounge facilities at selected airports, and personalized service. 

Which Flight Option Should You Choose?

Determining what airline and class options depends on many factors. 

If comfort is your top priority and your budget allows, then Business  Class is the clear winner. Its lie-flat seats, premium service, and lounge access make these flights significantly more enjoyable. All our air partner carriers offer luxurious options, while Qantas and Air New Zealand offer some of the best flight experiences on the market.

Premium economy is an excellent compromise for travelers who seek extra comfort without the high price tag of business class.

No matter which option you choose, upgrading from economy to premium classes will make your journey to Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji far more enjoyable.

Take Advantage of Special Offers When Booking Your Travel With Aspire Down Under

Booking your air and ground arrangements with the dedicated team here at Aspire Down Under means receiving expert travel guidance AND access to special unpublished airfares that offer steep discounts on business class and premium economy.

Contact  an Aspire Down Under travel consultant for more details—we get you closer to saying G’day in comfort and luxury!