BusinessClass

The Best Sick Day Ever: Flying Air Tahiti Nui's Business Class

It's a long flight from LAX to Papeete, Tahiti -- about eight and a half hours -- and somewhere over the Pacific, as the Air Tahiti Nui steward kneeled down beside my reclined chair and murmured if he could bring me anything to drink. I said no thank you and pulled the turquoise fleece blanket around me a little closer snuggling down into the bright yellow pillow. I realized that flying business class is a lot like having a fantastic sick day.

Think about it. You lie down, watch movie after movie, and burrow in soft blankets and pillows while someone brings you food on a tray. Only without the inconvenient illness part. Which is a plus in most ways, but also a minus, since I wasn't sick and therefore restless. So I walked to the back of the cabin and stood in the snack bar area that was set up with cup of soup and had some apple juice, which is something I drink exclusively when I'm sick.

Anyway, as Business Classes go, Air Tahiti Nui's is a nice one. I've written previously about their mid-flight wardrobe change and it was pleasing to see the ladies in their red or pink dresses splashed with white flowers during the flight, and it brought the proper sobriety to the occasion when we landed and everyone was back in their suits. The condition of the cabin itself was a bit shabby -- the seats not the newest, the fabric worn in spots, particularly around the bolts, and stained in others, particularly visible with the bright blue and green color scheme throughout the cabin.

The food was solid, especially the dishes served cold, a box of nuts from Fauchon with pre-meal cocktails, a choice of lobster with caviar or a duck salad for starters, both delicious. The warm dish was pretty much horrible. I had a chicken pot au feu which lacked anything resembling pleasing flavor or texture, but I heard murmurs of discontent from people who made the other entree choices. The after meal choices made amends, with a very thoughtfully selected cheese plate and a dessert course with three flavors of sorbet (framboise, coconut and mango) and other pastries.

I usually hesitate to comment on the service level I experience in an airplane since crews change and personalities are so variable, but this was all unfailingly pleasant and seemed actually caring. When I disembarked into the humid Papeete night, I felt that I'd actually been slowly acclimating to French Polynesia while I was in the air.

Tags: airplanes, business class, BusinessClass, tahiti

Qantas Business Class on Sale

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wings

One good definition of hell: flying 16+ hours in coach. And it's antipodean opposite: flying that long in Qantas business class, which I did a couple of years ago, LAX to Auckland. Not only was I totally comfy in my near lie-flat seat with privacy screen, not only did I totally dig the mood lighting that changed as the trip went on (meant, I think to bring the body clock into some semblance of sync), but I boarded the plane with a bad cold, and I disembarked without it.

Okay, I can't credit the flight with that, per se, but I can almost promise you I wouldn't have been in any kind of reasonable condition had I flown the distance in economy.

From now until October 29th, 2009, you can get into the Qantas business class cabin to Sydney and Brisbane from LAX or SFO for $4,439, and fares from New York (JFK) starting at $4,943. (Travel from 330 days on from the reservation date.) That's about 40% off the regular fair, so if you know you've got travel Down Under up coming in 2010, this is a deal you won't want to miss.

Tags: business class, businessclass, businessclassflight, qantas, travel, travel deals, TravelDeals

British Airways To Launch Luxury NYC-London Flights

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

It was an idea that flopped phenomenally in the past (see Silverjet, MaxJet and EOS, three business-only London to NYC flight companies which all folded) but now British Airways is giving luxury all-business service between London and New York a shot. However the fact that the airline will fly just 32 passengers on an aircraft normally fitted for 100 people doesn't sit well with some environmental groups. The Guardian reports that environmental group Plane Stupid will stage a protest at London City Airport tomorrow as the maiden flight launches, angered by the fact that recently British Airways CEO Willie Walsh had pledged that the airline would do its part to fight climate change. The layout of the plane means that each passenger is basically responsible for three times the emissions of a regular flight.

British Airways will offer twice daily service on Airbus A318s with flat beds and access to the internet. Round-trip fares will start at around $3,00 but go up to nearly $8,000 for more flexible tickets. Flights leaving from London will be forced to make a brief refuelling stop at Shannon airport in the west of Ireland because the London City airport's runway is too short to handle an A318 aircraft with a full fuel load. In order to ease the journey, BA is arranging for passengers to use the Shannon stop to clear US customs and immigration.

Source

Tags: airlines, british airways, BritishAirways, business class, BusinessClass, flights

US Airways Unveils Envoy Suite

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

This week USA Airways unveiled the latest seating option for business class travelers on trans-Atlantic flights. The Envoy Suite offers four abreast seating in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone design in a business class cabin. The redesigned cabin layout allows each customer to face forward and away from the aisle in a lie-flat, 180° recline seat with direct aisle access. The seats offer a panel that includes a 110-volt universal power outlet, satellite telephone and USB port as well as an entertainment system with a 12.1" adjustable touch-screen. The Envoy Suite will make its debut on one of US Airways` Airbus A330-200 aircraft in December 2009 with the remainder of the A330-200 fleet installation completed by summer 2011 for a total of 15 aircraft. Each A330-200 will offer 20 Envoy Suites.

Source

Tags: business class, BusinessClass, envoy, plane, seat options, SeatOptions, travel, us airways, UsAirways

Woman Pays $32,000 to Fly Her Dog in Business Class

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Pets

The harsh realities of life in the Middle East has left Israelis with a reputation for no nonsense, but as one of the world's busiest economies, some exceptions were bound to pop up. Take this report, for example, of an Israeli woman who insisted her dog had to fly with her. In business class. And she paid a whopping $32,000 to make it happen.

According to reports, the 60-year-old woman identified as Rivkah (a not uncommon Israeli name) rented out the entire business class section of an El Al jet flying just four hours from Paris to Tel Aviv just for herself, her dog and a veterinarian. The process involved removing several seats to make room for the giant cage, but for Rivkah, who identifies with her dog – a boxer named Orchuk – as a child and not a pet, the cargo hold was not an option, and cost was no object.

[Source: Telegraph]

Source

Tags: business class, BusinessClass, dog carrier, dog travel, DogCarrier, DogTravel, el al, ElAl

Virgin Atlantic And British Airways In Price Wars

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

The heat is on between rival European airlines Virgin Atlantic and British Airways and it's the business class passenger who is benefiting. Virgin Atlantic has reduced business class fares by as much as 40% from London to destinations like New York, Dubai, Tokyo and Washington D.C. from now until the end of January on flights as far ahead as September. British Airways is also cutting their prices to keep pace. Both are hoping for a temporary boost to help prop up what have been some dismal travel statistics that have been eating away at the lucrative premium market. The discounts are aimed at the business travelers who may be paring back their travel budgets.

Other companies are also offering deals. US Airways has a January fare sale going on that offers deep discounts on some international travel. And Portfolio's Joe Brancatelli reports on deals from Jet Blue, Virgin America, Quantas and more. If you are interested in traveling, especially internationally, any time soon now is the time to book.

Source

Tags: british airways, BritishAirways, business class, BusinessClass, virgin atlantic, VirginAtlantic

Continental Unveils New Business Class Seats

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

New seats have been announced by Continental Airlines for their BusinessFirst cabin on Boeing 787, 777 and 757 aircraft that serve mostly trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific routes. The 180-degree lie-flat seat provides 6 1/2 feet of sleeping space in the extended position. It measures up to 25 inches wide when the the adjustable armrest is positioned flush with the seat cushion. Electronic controls enable customers to move the seats to pre-set upright, cradle and fully extended sleep positions and adjust the seat back, lumbar support and leg and foot rests. The lie-flat seats also offer individual storage space for personal items. Laptop power, headset and USB plugs are tucked above the customer's shoulder and there is additional storage under the ottoman, on a shelf under the monitor and on an amenity storage alcove. BusinessFirst seats on the 787 and 777 aircraft will have a 15.4-inch video monitor while seats on the 757 aircraft will feature 10.6-inch monitors. The seats also have a six-way adjustable head rest and an individual overhead reading light and an adjustable seat light allowing a customer to read in bed without bothering the person next to them. The new seats should start appearing in the fall of 2009.

Source

Tags: airline, business class, BusinessClass, continental, seats