Qantas new business class suites with lie-flat beds and privacy doors

Stretch out, sleep and sip Champagne.

The flight doesn’t tend to be a part of the trip most people look forward to, but with the unveiling of Qantas’ new business class suites – this could all be about to change.

The Qantas Airbus A321XLR fleet has undergone the largest renewal in the airline’s history, with the new business class suites featuring a lie-flat bed for the first time on a Qantas single-aisle aircraft. Designed to revolutionise the travel experience on longer routes, the suites will be available on transcontinental services to and from Perth, as well as on short- and medium-haul international routes.

What will Qantas’s new business class suites look like?

qantas business class suite work space

The design of the suite is arranged in a 1-1 configuration in an angled herringbone layout, which is a first for a Qantas single-aisle aircraft. Implementing this style helps to make the most of all available space, giving every business class customer a lie-flat bed and a sliding privacy door.

A considered approach has been adopted in the design process, with comfort and privacy being top priorities. Rather than feeling shoulder to shoulder with fellow passengers, passengers in these seats will be able to work, sleep, or unwind and watch movies as they please throughout their journey.

If passengers are hoping to use the flight to binge movies and TV shows, the 19-inch entertainment screen will be a massive bonus. If they’re hoping to use the time to catch up on work, the wireless and USB-C charging capabilities will keep their devices charged throughout. The generous storage space is also handy, as laptops and other personal items can always be within arm’s reach during the flight.

Which Qantas aircraft will feature the new suites?

New qantas business class suite lie-flat bed

These new and improved suites have been designed on the Airbus A321XLR fleet, the latest addition to the Airbus A320 range. The single-aisle jet features extra space, large windows, a quiet cabin, more bag room and in-flight wi-fi for those who don’t want to be offline.

The aircraft can accommodate 197 passengers, with a 66 per cent increase in premium seating options when compared to the 737. Demand for premium travel is continuing to outpace economy, with Qantas reporting that premium cabin revenue is growing at twice the rate of economy across the business globally. Qantas Group CEO, Vanessa Hudson, has noted that this launch reflects how the demand for premium travel has shifted.

Qantas was the first airline to introduce business class seats back in 1979, and Hudson notes that the brand has “continued to redefine what it means ever since" and adds that this launch serves as “another step in that journey, transforming the premium cabin experience and the level of comfort for our customers flying on longer domestic and short- and medium-haul international services."

When will Qantas’s new business class seats launch?

qantas business class suite single-aisle

The first of the 16 aircraft configured with the new and improved business class suites is scheduled to arrive in 2028, and we’re crossing our fingers it’s here in time for that year’s European summer holidays.

As with all customers travelling business on a Qantas international aircraft, travellers will have access to Qantas lounges, priority check-in and boarding, a generous baggage allowance (two pieces up to 32 kilograms each) and genuinely impressive onboard dining.

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.

Qantas unveils new business class suites with lie-flat beds and privacy doors

Stretch out, sleep and sip Champagne.

What will Qantas’s new business class suites look like?

Which Qantas aircraft will feature the new suites?

When will Qantas’s new business class seats launch?

8 trips of a lifetime you need to stop putting off

Is a white Christmas the new Euro summer?

The world’s best island for 2026 is a blissful Asian idyll

These are officially the 5 best train journeys in the world right now

5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay