Posted by This section is not written to boast or impress, but simply to document experiences as part of my personal travel records. I’ve always enjoyed writing, and travel—especially flying—is a meaningful part of the journey worth remembering. As this blog exists to capture places, moments, and experiences along the way, it feels natural to include the airlines we’ve tried under First Class and Business Class. If these notes help fellow travelers in any way, then sharing them here makes the journey even more worthwhile.
Note: For those who’d like to dive deeper into our travels, our book Exploring Around Australia has now been published and is available on Amazon, capturing our journey across the country through personal stories and experiences:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Exploring-Around-Australia-Nathanael-Nunag/dp/B0GDQR28KR
1.) Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines is one of Asia’s longest-operating airlines, known for blending Filipino warmth with premium service. Over the years, PAL has upgraded its premium cabins, particularly in Business Class on aircraft like the Airbus A350, offering lie-flat seats, refined onboard dining inspired by Filipino and international cuisine, and attentive service. The airline has also received international recognition, including being named “Most Improved Airline” by AirlineRatings, reflecting its continued efforts to elevate the passenger experience. We’ve tried the airline on our Manila to Melbourne flight. (Swipe below photo for more pictures)
2.) Norwegian Airlines
With Norwegian Airlines, known as one of Scandinavia’s major carriers and a well-recognised low-cost airline, the focus isn’t on traditional First Class but on its Premium/Business-style offerings that aim to elevate value and comfort on select routes. We experienced this on our London to New York flight, where perks such as increased legroom, priority services, and enhanced loyalty benefits through the Norwegian Reward program helped make the long-haul journey more comfortable. Norwegian has been widely recognised in the industry, winning accolades such as Skytrax’s World’s Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline multiple times and earning a 4-Star Low-Cost Airline rating, along with several awards from the Freddie Awards and Grand Travel Awards that reflect strong customer appreciation for service, innovation, and value.
3.) Batik Airways
We tried Batik Air, an Indonesian full-service carrier based in Jakarta and part of the Lion Air Group, during our Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur flight. It offered a comfortable regional Business Class experience with wider seats, personal inflight entertainment, priority services, and lounge access at select airports—features that stand out on short- to medium-haul routes in Southeast Asia. The airline holds a 3-Star rating from Skytrax, reflecting a solid level of onboard product and service for its category
