'I flew to Paris on Premium Economy and Business Class. Here's my verdict on whether they're actually worth it.'

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The last time I visited Paris, I was 17 and travelling with my mum.

Now aged 44 and a working mum of two tweenagers, when I was offered a long-haul flight all alone, I squealed, shed tears of gratitude, and dusted off my suitcase.

Let's go!

We were flown by Qantas to Paris via Perth on the near-new direct flight that takes us straight to the city of lights in 17 hours straight — all you have to do is get to Perth.

And before you guffaw at that flight duration, consider that the alternative is flying via Singapore or Dubai to London with a several-hour stopover — plus another flight to your final destination — that would have you totalling an average of around 27 hours of travel. Back in the 90s (oui, très vintage!), this direct flight was the stuff of Back To The Future miracles. Yet here we are.

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Needless to say, a week away from hearing "Mum?" 100,000 times a day, I would have happily travelled by pigeon courier, but much to my delight, the 5-hour flight from Sydney to Perth is in a very comfortable premium economy seat instead. The time flies by (pun intended), and we land in Perth for a quick refuel.

Before long we're back on the plane, champagne in hand, and the next stop is Paris — and honestly I can't explain the elation, which I think is mostly down to knowing that the flight is direct and there's no international stopovers to slow us down.

Another way this trip would  be very different from the one I did back as a teenager was that I was flying premium economy one way, and business class return.

So I'm going to break down the difference for you and let you know which one is actually worth it.

Is Premium Economy worth the upgrade on economy?

The premium economy seats on the 787 Dreamliner give you up to five-and-a-half more inches of width than a standard economy seat. And the legroom? You get a full six inches of extra space to stretch your pins — and trust me, that makes the biggest difference.

Combined with the generous recline, I could stretch out and much more comfortably get some sleep so I could land in Paris feeling fresh and ready to take it all in.

So generous! Image: Supplied.

Plus, it was non-stop great food and drinks, with excellent service from the flight attendants who kept the snacks, a sneaky G&T (or two) and Lindt balls flowing. Plus the morning coffee was honestly the best I've had in ages — land or sky.

So was it worth it?

Absolutely in my opinion. At $4,384 (return Sydney-Paris, including taxes, at time of publishing) premium economy is slightly more than double the economy price, but the upgrade is all about space — and the seriously stepped-up multi-course dining experience.

This is what excellent food + excellent service looks like. Image: Supplied.

To be honest, I usually find that a flight to any holiday location is great. I'm excited, my adrenaline is pumping and the anticipation of getting to my destination is enough to push through. So the real test is the return flight. 

Is Business Class worth it?

For me on this trip, after a whirlwind 2 days in Montpellier and 36 hours in Paris, I've running on very little sleep and I'm exhausted. It's time to return to reality.

But for this flight, we're seated in business class — so my reality is somewhat altered by luxury. 

Let me tell you: when they ask if business class is worth it, I give a resounding "hell yes".

Here's the new mum-math: If premium economy is the difference between enduring the flight and enjoying it, business class is the difference between enjoying the flight and making it an actual part of the holiday.

If premium economy's generous recline gave me the chance to "get some sleep", my business class nook was my own self-contained pod that converted into a completely flat bed complete with a proper mattress topper and doona.

A completely flat bed complete with a proper mattress topper and doona during my flight. Image: Supplied.

I didn't just land "feeling fresh" — I landed feeling genuinely rested, as if I'd just woken up in a high-end hotel. All this came along with business class lounge access which boasts free-flowing cocktails, champagne or coffee (or all three if you like), gourmet food on demand and a hot shower.

Image: Supplied.

Oh and you get the Qantas pyjamas, which are the gift that keep on giving now I'm home — plus they make the best fake-tanning pjs ever.

And the service? Not being dramatic, but this is a full-blown high-end restaurant at 35,000 feet.

We're talking white tablecloths, a multi-course gourmet menu designed by chef Neil Perry and paired with the best Australian wines on offer, finished with the most perfect cheese platter I've ever tasted.

Feeling so relaxed and refreshed. Image: Supplied.

It's bougie and so special. The perfect way to end — or should I say extend — a trip.

Now, I'll be straight: the price for the Sydney-Paris return flight is significantly more and for many people it's likely prohibitive. At $11,983 including taxes, it's a lot of money at a time when life costs so much.

But honestly, you get what you pay for, and I do believe that a business class flight completely transforms the entire experience of international travel. So if you have the funds, or the time to save for even one leg of the trip — go all in.

Of course, there's the savvy traveler's way to fly high-end without that cash price tag: using Qantas points. For that same Sydney to Paris return trip, Premium Economy would set you back 290,300 points plus $784 in taxes. That jump to Business Class? It's 843,000 points and $1,516 in taxes.

Frequent flyer points are like the ultimate hack — making your money work for you based on where you shop and the payment methods you choose. It's nothing new, but after travelling for a week with three points experts, I'm inspired.

I'll be reinstating our points-linked credit card, hooking up my Everyday Rewards and Flybuys to make the most of my exorbitant grocery bill, and adding a plug-in to my Chrome browser, so when I'm buying my next pair of kicks or jeans, I'll be earning points towards my next business class flight.

A few highlights of my flights:

• Champagne on arrival — because who doesn't want to start their trip with French bubbles? Premium Australian sparkling wine is the swap on Premium Economy after the first glass.

• The prawn brioche roll in business is something dreams are made of. A week later I am still salivating over how delicious it was.

• Unlimited Lindt chocolate in the galley for the sleepless hours — or to stock up for the trip beyond the flight (which my future self was very happy about days later).

• The seat massaging my lower back in business — no, I'm not joking, that really happens.

• Watching Meryl and Goldie in Death Becomes Her (IYKYK) whilst sipping on gin and tonic.

• That moment when the recline turns to flat bed and I could get a full night's sleep before being reunited with my family.

• 20 hours of travel with no one saying "Mum" or asking me to do anything for anyone else.

Needless to say, I feel completely reborn and will be saving up my pennies to return to the pointy end of the plane again!

This writer travelled as a guest of Qantas. All opinions expressed as her own.

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Feature image: Supplied.