The business class route most Australians don't consider - but should

It's Friday night and I'm heading for a party - the first commercial service of Philippine Airlines' Airbus A350-1000, fresh from the Airbus factory. Toronto is its inaugural destination from Manila: a journey of 15 hours and 40 minutes aboard flight PR118, running thrice weekly and offering an alternative route to the east coast of Canada. Thanks to Philippine Airlines' new partnership with Qantas, I book Melbourne to Toronto via Manila for 182,900 Qantas points plus $392.25.

CHECKING IN: Staff in Melbourne efficiently tag my bag to Canada. I'm well within the two 32kg checked baggage allowance, and although the 7kg carry-on limit is tight, my bag isn't weighed. Manila transit security is swift and the renovated Mabuhay Lounge is great for a shower. Boarding for Toronto is hectic with an additional document check and a crowded gate. Business class laughably unlocks a "priority" section of carpet where we all stand waiting, shoulder-to-shoulder.

THE FLIGHT: Our 7.30pm service doesn't hit the runway until 11.45pm, thanks to a technical fault left undiscovered after the plane's delivery flight. This pushes our scheduled 10.45pm Toronto arrival to an eye-watering 2.46am - four hours and one minute late. My priority-tagged bag is then the 86th item to emerge at the other end. I stand there counting, yet I'd rather be in bed.

THE CLASS: Frustrations stay on the ground as the new "Mabuhay Studio" business-class seat beats expectations. Each of the 42 seats sports a closing privacy door. A mattress topper, blanket and pillow enable an eight-hour snooze in seat 5K: strategically by the window and equidistant from the galleys. The roomy 20.25-inch (51.44cm) cushion width and 44-inch pitch enhance the comfort, with AC, USB-A, USB-C and wireless charging completing the offering in this 1-2-1 cabin. There are two restrooms at the front plus two more between business class and premium economy. Individual air nozzles are absent, but the cabin is kept cool.

FOOD AND DRINKS: Today's service starts with dinner, offers breakfast before landing, and hot bites on request in between.

The evening meal is comprehensive; the delay happily aiding my appetite. A crab salad precedes a choice among three mains - I enjoy the braised beef and oxtail - then there's a cheese course, with dessert coming as a delicious mango crepe with coconut sticky rice.

Given our evening arrival, I appreciate the more dinner-esque breakfast choice of stuffed bangus (milkfish) with rice. A glass of champagne (Chanoine Freres Brut NV) also helps my jet lag ... or so I tell myself.