Flight Review: Jetstar Business Class from Sydney to Seoul

We give you an inside look at what it’s like to fly onboard Jetstar’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner Business Class between Sydney and Seoul.

South Korea is quietly climbing up the ranks of Australia’s list of most popular travel destinations, with the South Korean government reporting a record-breaking 198,000 Australian visitors in 2023 and 2024 numbers were expected to hit over 200,000 for the first time (with last reported numbers sitting at 170,000 in September). A growing obsession with K-culture – think everything from K-pop and K-drama to K-beauty and Korean cuisine – has led to its rise in popularity. And Jetstar wasted no time in making it possible – and more affordable – for Aussies to take the 10.5-hour journey direct to the capital.

The airline reports over 240,000 passengers have flown its Sydney to Seoul route since launching in October 2022 and it is showing no signs of slowing down. Australian Traveller’s Head of Content Katie Carlin recently flew Jetstar Business Class from Sydney to Seoul (Incheon) to see if the flight is as easy and affordable as they say it is.

Pre-departure

an Australian passport and a Business Class Max ticket, jetstar business class review sydney to seoul — A Business Class ticket comes with priority boarding. (Image: Katie Carlin)

Sydney International Airport was busy when I arrived for my late Monday morning JQ47 flight to Incheon and Jetstar’s dedicated Business Class line made the check-in process seamless. Unfortunately, the airport was experiencing significant delays through security and immigration. Airport attendants were directing everyone to join one queue that wrapped around the perimeter of the airport check-in area. It also meant I missed the much shorter Business Class line. But I had baked in enough time to allow for delays, so it wasn’t a stressful experience.

Jetstar doesn’t have its own business class lounge, but if you upgrade to a Business Class Max ticket (approximately an extra $200), you can gain access into the Qantas International Business Lounge at Sydney Airport, as well as other benefits. I was flying on a standard Business Class ticket, so I headed to the food court for refreshments before the flight.

My Business Class ticket came with priority boarding, which meant no long queues or rush to get onboard to make sure the overhead bin space wasn’t taken by another passenger (honestly, the lack of carry-on space is what causes me the most stress when flying economy these days).

The seat

The first thing to note about Jetstar’s Business Class experience is that you don’t get a lie-flat seat, but you do get a wide leather recliner with retractable footrest and a generous amount of legroom (tip: if you’re tall, the middle seat offers the most leg space as there are no fixtures to obstruct the space under the seat in front of you). Being a day flight, I wasn’t planning on sleeping anyway, however my return flight was overnight, and I can confirm that I slept roughly seven hours – it probably helps that I am only 5’2, but I found it comfortable and spacious enough to sleep in. Each seat also has its own armrest, so I didn’t have to fight for elbow room and charging my tech was easy with a universal power socket and two USB ports beside the footrest. The seats are at the front of the plane and are configured in a 2-3-2 layout.

Food and beverage

food onboard Jetstar’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner Business Class — Ravioli with spinach, pumpkin and basil. (Image: Katie Carlin)

A flight attendant welcomed me onboard with an option of sparkling wine or orange juice and handed me a lunch and drinks menu to choose from [see photo of the menu below] – I chose ravioli with spinach, pumpkin and basil.

She also advised that a second light meal, consisting of a vegetable pie, slice of bread and a mango swirl cake would be served mid-flight. There are also options for unlimited snacks throughout the flight, but it’s easy to miss this on the menu. Make sure you ask what’s available if you get peckish as the offering is quite extensive.

the menu showing lunch and dinner options onboard Jetstar’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner Business Class — What’s on offer in Jetstar Business Class. (Image: Katie Carlin)

The food and drink onboard was enjoyable, I was handed a bag of pretzels straight after take-off and both the pie and the pasta were satisfying.

Entertainment

a glass of sparkling wine onboard Jetstar’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner Business Class — Kickstart your holiday with a glass of bubbles. (Image: Katie Carlin)

Even though Seoul is only one hour behind Sydney the lights were turned off and windows dimmed immediately after lunch service. A reading light is available above to continue reading or working on a laptop, but I gave up on work after a few hours of typing in darkness and read my Kindle instead. However, there were plenty of other passengers happily taking the opportunity to rest or watch a movie.

The in-flight entertainment included three pages of new release movies and a fairly extensive library of films, television shows and audio options to choose from. I didn’t watch anything on the flight over, but I watched Saturday Night and most of The Outrun on the return leg. Note, there is no wi-fi onboard – but I prefer to disconnect while on a flight, so it didn’t bother me.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Service

a snack and drink onboard Jetstar’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner Business Class — The snacks and drinks served were enjoyable. (Image: Katie Carlin)

The service onboard was very good. The cabin crew were quick to help me when I struggled to get my footrest to release after take-off and before landing. Food and drinks were served and cleared efficiently, and the crew would walk the aisles intermittently throughout the flight to check if they were needed.

Each seat came with a set of headphones (I had brought my own noise-cancelling headphones, and they still worked with one pin in the socket), pillow, blanket and an onboard amenities kit with inflatable neck pillow, socks, eye mask, ear plugs, hand cream, lip balm, wet wipes, toothbrush and toothpaste and a pen.

The verdict

Jetstar’s Business Class experience is in line with its more affordable price point. The absence of a lie-flat bed makes it more comparable to a Premium Economy seat on other full-service airlines. However, the seats are extremely comfortable, and I had ample legroom and didn’t struggle to sleep on the overnight return flight.

The flight time is long enough to justify upgrading to Business Class from Economy for the extra comfort, full food and drink service and priority boarding. Plus, you also get 30kg of checked baggage, 14kg of carry-on and seat selection included in the cost. Speaking as someone who departed with 16kg checked luggage and returned with 22kg, trust me when I say you’ll be thankful for the extra weight after visiting Olive Young.

From June 2025, Jetstar will operate up to 10 return flights between Australia and Seoul each week, making it the largest carrier between the two countries.

The writer experienced South Korea on InsideAsia Tours’ Soul of Korea small group tour. Keep reading to find out why South Korea is a destination on the rise.

Discover if Cathay Business Class is really worth it

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Is Jetstar Business Class from Sydney to Seoul worth it?