Sri Lankan Airlines Business Class Review: A330-300 Colombo (CMB) to Seoul (ICN)
On our return trip from Sri Lanka, we decided to splurge on business class for the eight-hour overnight journey back to South Korea. SriLankan Airlines only operates the Colombo-to-Seoul route once a week on Sundays, with a 7:50 PM departure that makes getting some sleep especially appealing.
Ironically, my original plan was to book economy on the outbound flight and business class on the return. But by the time I was ready to purchase the tickets, the price had jumped significantly. Frustrated by the increase, I booked economy roundtrip instead and figured we'd simply upgrade later.
That turned out to be my first mistake.
Unlike many airlines that offer fixed-price upgrades, SriLankan Airlines uses a bidding system. You submit an offer and then wait to see if it's accepted, with results arriving about 72 hours before departure.
In hindsight, I should have booked the cabin I wanted from the start. Not only would I have avoided the uncertainty, but I likely would have saved money as well. Consider this my cautionary tale for anyone considering SriLankan Airlines' upgrade bidding system.
Flight Overview
SriLankan Airlines Airbus A330-300 Business Class cabin on an overnight flight from Colombo to Seoul
Airline: SriLankan Airlines
Cabin: Business Class
Aircraft: Airbus A330-300
Seat Configuration: 2-2-2
Route: Colombo (CMB) → Seoul Incheon (ICN)
Flight Time: ~8 hours
Departure Time: 7:50 PM
Lounge Access: Serendib Lounge
Traveling With: Husband + two children
Pre-security line at CMB Airport.
If you've never flown through Bandaranaike International Airport, the security and check-in process may catch you by surprise. Unlike most airports, you'll need to show a boarding pass or guest pass just to enter the building.
Even more unusual, passengers generally aren't allowed through the main security checkpoint and into the check-in area until about three hours before departure. If you arrive earlier, you'll find yourself in a public waiting area outside security. Fortunately, it's not a bad place to spend some time. There is plenty of seating, a handful of shops, and several places to grab a drink or snack while you wait.
First class, business class, airline and wheelchair entrance at CMB security.
As departure time approaches, however, the lines can grow quickly as hundreds of passengers begin queueing for security and check-in at the same time. One of the perks of flying business class is access to an expedited security entrance, allowing us to bypass much of the crowd and get through the process significantly faster. It was a welcome benefit and one of the places I find a business class ticket to be worth the higher cost.
First Impressions
Stepping onboard, my initial reaction was that this was clearly one of SriLankan Airlines' older business class cabins. While several aircraft in the airline's fleet have received upgraded interiors, our A330-300 still featured the previous-generation product. We actually discovered this when we went online to choose seats and saw the configuration - which was definitely not what was shown in the upgrade email. Of course the fine print states that not all of the fleet has been updated.
The cabin itself was well maintained, but the 2-2-2 configuration immediately felt dated compared to the direct-aisle-access business class seats. By the time we checked in, only center-section seats were available. As someone who always gravitates toward a window seat, I was disappointed to miss out on the views.
The dark turquoise and brown leather seats made a positive first impression, and the cabin itself was in remarkably good condition for its age. The white overhead storage bins were spotless, the seats showed very little wear, and everything felt clean and well maintained throughout the flight. The age was most noticeable in some of the smaller details, such as the seat controls and certain design elements that feel dated compared to today's more modern cabins.
However, the cabin didn't feel old because it was worn out—it felt old because of its design. SriLankan Airlines has clearly taken good care of this aircraft, and the hard product remains in excellent condition. The dated feeling comes primarily from the older 2-2-2 layout and styling rather than any lack of maintenance or cleanliness.
The Seats
LOL I just noticed that my husband and daughter had the seat divider up between them!
The seats convert into fully flat beds, which was ultimately the main reason we upgraded in the first place. On an overnight eight-hour flight, getting a few hours of real sleep can make a huge difference, and these seats delivered exactly that.
The footwell area felt incredibly spacious and reminded me a lot of the business class seats on Emirates' Boeing 777s — you can read my review at the bottom of this blog post about that trip. At 5'5", I had more than enough room, but even travelers around six feet tall should have plenty of space to stretch out comfortably.
Although the design lacks some of the privacy and convenience found in newer business class cabins, the seat itself was genuinely comfortable. The center pair worked well for our family, and everyone managed to get several hours of uninterrupted rest during the flight.
For travelers flying solo, however, the older 2-2-2 configuration may feel less appealing. Window-seat passengers have to step over their seatmate to access the aisle, and there is noticeably less privacy than you'll find on newer reverse-herringbone or suite-style business class products.
One area where these seats still hold up surprisingly well is storage. There are thoughtful compartments throughout the seat, including built-in cupholders near the entertainment screen and a large storage area underneath the ottoman. Combined with the generous legroom, the overall seat design felt practical and comfortable, even if it isn't the most modern business class product in the sky.
I also appreciate when the seat adjustments allow you to extend the leg lift pretty far, without laying the back of the seat down as well.
Amenities, Bedding & Inflight Entertainment
Each seat was stocked with slippers, socks, headphones, a blanket, and a pillow. While the bedding wasn't especially premium, it was comfortable enough for getting several hours of sleep once the seats were converted into lie flat beds.
We were also given a beige Aigner amenity kit containing the basics most travelers will need on an overnight flight. Inside, we found a toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush, ear plugs, lip balm, lotion, and a small package of tissues. It wasn't the most luxurious amenity kit, but it covered all the essentials for freshening up.
The cabin was also equipped with conveniently located power outlets between the seats, making it easy to keep phones, tablets, and other devices charged throughout the flight. Between the charging options, practical storage spaces, and the included sleep amenities, SriLankan Airlines provided everything needed for a comfortable overnight journey, even if the overall experience felt more functional than luxurious.
One disappointment was the inflight entertainment system. Just like on our flight from Seoul to Colombo, the moving map feature refused to work. For many travelers, that probably isn't a big deal, but I'm one of those people who can happily spend hours watching our progress across the globe.
The rest of the entertainment system functioned normally, but since the moving map is usually my go-to form of inflight entertainment, it was disappointing to encounter the same issue on both segments of our journey.
Food & Drinks
Two days before our flight, we reviewed what appeared to be the onboard business class menu and decided to preorder sandwiches for all of us. My kids are notoriously picky eaters, and I wanted to ensure they had something they would actually eat.
Ironically, once onboard, we discovered that the menu being served was completely different from the one we had reviewed beforehand. Several dishes looked appealing, and had we known those options would be available, me and my husband likely would have skipped the preorder.
Fortunately, the sandwiches turned out to be quite good, so the decision wasn't a total loss. Still, it's worth keeping in mind that preflight menu information may not always match what is actually loaded onto the aircraft.
In addition to the main meal service, I opted to try the pineapple upside-down cake for dessert, paired with a cup of tea that was poured fresh at my seat. The presentation was appealing, and the cake certainly looked promising when it arrived. It tasted better than it looked. The Ceylon tea, on the other hand, was excellent and a relaxing way to wind down before settling in for the overnight flight.
There was also a breakfast service - and all 4 of us slept right through it.
Is It Worth It?
The answer depends entirely on what you value most when you travel.
SriLankan Airlines uses a bidding system for upgrades, and on our flight the starting bid was around $600 per person. Our upgrade ultimately cleared at $2,800 total for our family of four, or about $700 per person.
From a comfort perspective, the answer is yes. The fully flat seats allowed us to get several hours of quality sleep on an overnight eight-hour flight, and we arrived in Seoul feeling far more rested than we would have in economy class. For overnight flights, that's a benefit that's hard to put a price on.
From a value perspective, however, I'm less convinced.
Our upgrade ended up costing more than the original tickets themselves, and because this particular aircraft still featured SriLankan Airlines' older 2-2-2 business class cabin, the experience didn't feel premium enough to fully justify the price. The seat was comfortable, the service was good, and the extra space was appreciated, but this wasn't the type of cutting-edge business class product that leaves you feeling like every dollar was well spent.
Would I do it again? For this specific overnight route, probably—but only because sleep was the priority. On our daytime flight from Seoul to Colombo, we flew economy and while it certainly wasn't as comfortable, I wouldn't have paid hundreds of dollars per person to upgrade. During the day, I can tolerate a less comfortable seat. Overnight, it's a different story.
If you can secure a reasonably priced upgrade, SriLankan Airlines Business Class on the A330-300 is a comfortable way to fly overnight between Colombo and Seoul. Just make sure you know which aircraft configuration you're getting. The lie-flat bed and extra space were absolutely worth having—but at $700 per person, the older 2-2-2 cabin made the value proposition much harder to justify.
At the end of the day, the upgrade delivered exactly what we wanted most: a good night's sleep and skipping several long lines.
If you're planning your own trip to Sri Lanka, be sure to check out my other Sri Lanka travel blogs, including hotel reviews, domestic flights with Cinnamon Air, and our safari experience in Yala National Park.
