From the Travel Office: Nonstop Flights to Australia

In a turbulent world, Australia is increasingly attractive to affluent American travelers as a peaceful and friendly destination. The only downside to a trip is the time it takes to get there — the nonstop flight from Los Angeles to Sydney lasts approximately 15 hours.

There seems to be a widespread assumption that the business class services offered by the world’s leading airlines are broadly comparable. But in our experience, this is simply not the case. Harper subscribers have consistently told us that Qantas Business class is the best that they have experienced. In particular, praise has been lavished on the airline’s lounges, which offer pre-flight fine dining with seasonal menus from leading Sydney restaurant Rockpool, and the state-of-the-art fully-flat skybeds, which ensure that the ocean crossing passes in peaceful sleep.

The number of trans-Pacific flights is also scheduled to increase: Beginning in December, Qantas will fly nonstop between San Francisco and Sydney several times a week, expanding service to six flights weekly by February.