Premium Air Travel Perks

From copper espresso machines in business class (Alitalia) to hip lounges where you can get complimentary facials and haircuts before boarding (Virgin Atlantic) to fresh salads and sinful desserts prepared in-flight (Austrian), the business-class airline experience is better and more luxurious than ever. The following airlines epitomize the new service orientation of international carriers.

In order to break up the monotony of long-haul flights, Asiana flight attendants are not only well versed in the art of customer service but in the art of the cocktail: cabin crews are actually trained bartenders who can conjure up something magical to drink...or to watch, since many of them are also magicians. On many transpacific routes, flight attendants will perform stage tricks or individual hand tricks; they’re just as likely to form an onboard string quartet or choir, or solo on the violin, saxophone, or flute as to perform feats of prestidigitation.

Asiana is so intent on serving first-class travelers, elite-level frequent flyers and VIPs with quality service that the staff will memorize personal customer preferences, from films and wines to reading material and conversation topics. If you prefer snoozing to speaking, the new Asiana Sleeper First Class sleeper seats recline a full 180 degrees. 

British Airways also offers full beds in first class, and new this year, in business class on various long-haul routes as well. BA is also going out of its way to pamper all passengers. It just created a fourth class—World Traveller Plus—offering seven inches more legroom and an increased baggage allowance for economy-class passengers paying full fare. The new class is part of a massive (£600 million) upgrade which includes the sleeper seats for business travelers, a new first-class cabin, the roll-out of a new Club Europe, plus improvements to lounges and a new terminal at New York’s JFK. The new first-class cabin is being redesigned by leading British interior designer Kelly Hoppen, who’s known for her innovative, calm and sumptuous style. Meantime, the current first class is nothing to sneer at. BA introduced its “flying flat beds” in first class in 1996 along with individual cabins whose “buddy seats” allow travelers to discuss business matters with a colleague or enjoy a meal with another passenger in privacy. (Seat doubles are available for travelers wishing to spend the whole journey together.) Also available are Fast Track departure channels at Heathrow and Gatwick, city-center check-in at London Victoria for Gatwick departures and London Paddington for Heathrow departures, and a lounge at Heathrow with showers, suit-pressing service, hot breakfast and business facilities.

On the other side of the pond, Mexicana Airlines has just joined the Star Alliance™, allowing it to offer its customers access to 815 destinations in 130 countries. “Mexicana Airlines is proud to belong to such a prestigious group of airlines,” commented Mr. Fernando Flores, CEO and Chairman for Mexicana. “Within Star Alliance, Mexicana becomes a major link for the business traveler between Asia, Europe and Latin America through its main gateways in the United States, Canada and Mexico.” Mexicana’s frequent flyer program, Frecuenta, has been fully integrated with Star Alliance’s airline members’ programs. Current Frecuenta account holders at the Platinum and Gold levels will be integrated into the Star Gold and Star Silver programs of the alliance. Star Gold members will have access to over 500 Star Alliance lounges worldwide, as well as with priority baggage handling, and priority status with any of the participating member airlines. Mexicana executive-class passengers also have access to the exclusive executive lounges in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. 

Speaking of Star Alliance™, this is the network formed to better meet the needs of frequent international travelers. Besides Mexicana, the group now includes Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Ansett Australia, Austrian Airlines, British Midland, Lauda Air, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore Airlines, THAI, Tyrolean Airways, United and VARIG. Besides offering a host of benefits, including seamless interline connections and priority endorsement waivers, the Alliance also offers My Travel Manager, a travel planning tool that allows travelers to make and modify their own itineraries online. The system delivers the personalized information and services users specify in a profile. A customized basket of information on a destination—including exchange rates, cellular standards, airport facilities and weather reports—is a click away. 

At Delta Air Lines, the big news is the launch of the new BusinessElite U.S., a special transcon-tinental business-class service between JFK and Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. The new service features Delta’s award-winning sleeper-style seat and enhanced ground and in-flight service amenities.

“BusinessElite U.S. allows Delta to provide domestic customers in our key business markets a premiere travel experience—more personal space and upgraded amenities—at a business-class fare,” said Martin White, Delta’s vice president of consumer marketing. 

Here’s an interesting service angle: coach passengers on Northwest Airlines have a good chance of free upgrades to the front of their planes on connecting flights. Northwest’s ConnectFirst^SM program allows passengers paying full-fare coach to book first-class seats on most connecting domestic itineraries through Northwest’s Detroit, Minneapolis/ St. Paul and Memphis hubs. If first class isn’t available on a segment, double WorldPerksÆ frequent flyer miles will be awarded to travelers purchasing qualifying ConnectFirst domestic fares. In Asia, ConnectFirst allows travelers to book a first-class seat (space permitting) when purchasing a qualifying published business-class fare.

Wherever you travel on Northwest, in whichever class, you’ll see delicious evidence of a $23 million service enhancement program that includes meals on more flights. On select flights, chocolate chip cookies are baked on board and served just before landing. 

Malaysia Airlines’ traditional hospitality is just one of the reasons it has won Business Travel World’s “Best Asian Business Airlines” award three years in a row. Service highlights include wide, fully-reclining “Easy Sleeper” seats in the premium cabins, gourmet meals, individual Skyvision multi-media entertainment systems, live CNN International World News, a variety of video games, CD audio systems, and cordless in-flight satellite telephone service. On Malaysia’s B777 SuperRanger flights, there’s also an onboard Business Center for first and business-class members featuring PC, printer and fax machines, business and travel guides and additional satellite telephones.

Additionally, first and business-class passengers are treated to complimentary personal chauffeur service to and from the airport (available within the North American city from which the flight originates). 

Aeromexico’s business/first-class product, Clase Premier, is on a par with other major international carriers in terms of attention to comfort and exclusive services on the ground and in the air. Passengers are treated to AeromÈxico SalÛn Premier, Delta Air Lines’ Crown Rooms, or shared international lounges in more than 45 cities worldwide. In-flight amenities include telephones at every seat, a personal video screen with five channels, a special a la carte menu on international flights and cosmetic kits with aromatherapy products on intercontinental flights. Aeromexico is a founding member of SkyTeam which includes Delta, Air France, and Korean Airlines.