For decades, the idea of closing a door around your seat in the sky was reserved only for those flying first class. These private suites symbolized the highest level of luxury, far beyond the reach of most travelers. But the industry is changing.

Today, more and more airlines are introducing business class suites with sliding doors, blurring the line between first and business class. Why?

Several reasons:

• Competition on key routes like the transatlantic corridor, where airlines fight hard to attract premium travelers.
• Disappearing first-class cabins on many airlines, meaning business class has become the new flagship product.
• Passenger demand for more privacy, especially as travelers work, dine, and sleep onboard.
• Cabin innovation made possible by modern aircraft like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, which allow smarter layouts and more efficient use of space.

The result is a new era - privacy once reserved for first class is now becoming the standard for business class, and the U.S.-Europe market is leading the way.

Business Class Suites from U.S. to Europe

Photo by British Airways

British Airways - Club Suite

British Airways completely reinvented its business class experience with the launch of the Club Suite. Each seat is now a private suite equipped with a sliding door, lie-flat bed, and direct aisle access. The cabin follows a 1-2-1 layout, ensuring every passenger enjoys both space and privacy. All seats in this configuration are true suites, making it a consistent premium offering across aircraft types where it has been introduced.

The Club Suite is available on Airbus A350-1000s, Boeing 787-10s, and refurbished Boeing 777s. These aircraft operate major transatlantic routes from the United States to London, including New York JFK, Newark, Boston, Miami, Chicago, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and Dallas.

Photo by Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines - Delta One Suite

Delta was the first U.S. carrier to launch business class suites with sliding doors. The Delta One Suite combines a high degree of privacy with a lie-flat bed and direct aisle access. The design includes higher walls than many competitors, and every seat in this configuration is a full suite.

Delta One Suites are fitted on the Airbus A350-900 and Airbus A330-900neo. They operate from Atlanta, New York JFK, Detroit, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Los Angeles to major European hubs including Amsterdam, Paris, and London.

Photo by Jetblue

JetBlue - Mint Suites and Mint Studios

JetBlue’s Mint Class has brought a boutique, modern touch to transatlantic travel. Every business class passenger enjoys a fully enclosed Mint Suite with a sliding door, lie-flat bed, and thoughtful design details. The two front-row “Mint Studios” offer even more personal space, with an additional side table and room to host a companion. This makes JetBlue unique in that the entire business class cabin is composed of enclosed suites.

The Mint Suites are available on JetBlue’s Airbus A321LR and Airbus A321XLR aircraft. They currently fly nonstop from New York JFK and Boston to London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Paris, and Amsterdam.

Photo by Air France

Air France - New Business Class Suite

Air France has elevated its long-haul business offering with a newly designed suite that includes sliding doors, a fully flat bed, direct aisle access, and large high-definition screens. The cabin design reflects French elegance and ensures that every passenger has a private space. All seats in this refreshed cabin are full suites.

These suites are being introduced on selected Boeing 777-300ERs and Airbus A350-900s. They are currently found on flights from New York JFK, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles to Paris Charles de Gaulle, with rollout expanding to more U.S. gateways as additional aircraft are refitted or delivered.

Iberia - A350 Business Class Suites

Iberia has introduced redesigned business class suites on its latest Airbus A350 deliveries. Each seat comes with a sliding door for privacy, a lie-flat bed, and direct aisle access. The layout ensures that every passenger has a consistent suite experience, making Iberia’s offering a major step forward compared to older cabins.

These suites are available on Iberia’s newest Airbus A350-900 aircraft. They operate on transatlantic flights from New York JFK, Miami, Dallas, Chicago, and Boston to Madrid.

Airlines Introducing New Business Class Suites

Photo by American Airlines

American Airlines - Flagship Suites

American Airlines is preparing to debut its brand-new Flagship Suites, a next-generation business class product with sliding doors. These suites will bring more privacy and comfort than ever before, positioning American to compete strongly in the premium transatlantic market.

The Flagship Suites will launch on Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The first routes are planned from Chicago to London Heathrow and from Philadelphia to both London and Zürich, with further expansion expected as more aircraft are delivered.

Photo by Polish Airlines

LOT Polish Airlines - New Business Class Suites

LOT Polish Airlines is also preparing a significant upgrade to its long-haul business class. The airline will introduce new suites with sliding doors, each featuring a lie-flat bed, large 4K entertainment screen, Bluetooth audio, wireless charging, and additional storage. This marks a big step forward from LOT’s current 2-2-2 layout, bringing the product in line with the most modern business class offerings.

The new suites will debut on refurbished Boeing 787-8 aircraft. They are expected to roll out gradually through 2026, serving LOT’s key U.S.–Europe routes such as New York JFK, Newark, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles to Warsaw.

Photo by Lufthansa

Lufthansa - Allegris Business Class

Lufthansa is undertaking a long-awaited premium revamp with the launch of its Allegris business class product. These suites will feature sliding doors, lie-flat comfort, larger entertainment screens, and more personal storage space, bringing Lufthansa’s offering up to the level of its European and global competitors.

The Allegris suites will appear on new Airbus A350-900 deliveries and retrofitted aircraft. They are expected to debut on flights from Frankfurt and Munich to major U.S. destinations such as New York JFK, Chicago, and Boston, gradually expanding as more aircraft are fitted with the new cabins.

Photo by United Airlines

United Airlines - Polaris Studio

United Airlines will soon join the ranks of carriers offering fully enclosed business class suites. Its upcoming Polaris Studio will feature sliding doors, larger entertainment screens, and ottomans that allow for companion dining or extra workspace. This product is designed to elevate the existing Polaris brand into the same league as European and Asian competitors.

The Polaris Studio will debut on newly delivered Boeing 787-9 aircraft beginning in 2026. Initial routes are expected to include key transatlantic services from Newark, Washington Dulles, and Chicago to London, Paris, and Frankfurt, with further expansion as the fleet grows.

Making the Right Choice

First class still offers the most space and luxury, but business class is the flagship product for most airlines and the most in-demand among international travelers. That is why carriers continue to invest in it while limiting first-class availability.

But be aware that not all business class seats are same, not every aircraft has suites, even within the same airline. Some routes still operate with older cabins, so it is important to check the aircraft type before booking. Lufthansa, for example, will operate both Allegris suites and traditional seats during its transition.

For business class flights to Europe via the Middle East, airlines like Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad also provide suites with doors on connections through Doha, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.

With so many variations between airlines and aircraft, choosing the right business class seat can be challenging. This is where Above9 experts make the difference. Connect with Above9 experts and let us guide you to the most private suites and the best fares for your journey.