a touch of class ■ flying in style
a touch of class ■ flying in style
Emirates
Just because you are going on holiday doesn’t mean having to slum it when you travel. These days there are far more options for treating yourself to a bit of luxury in the air and at the airport – and it need not cost a packet, as Gary Noakes explains Air New Zealand
ven the shortest hop to the Med can leave an indelible impression on air passengers of average height or build – poor legroom, narrow seats and service levels that shame a fast food restaurant can sum it up. No wonder many want something more for that once■ Premium in-a-lifetime experience to ensure that economy on Air the dream trip to New York, the New Zealand Maldives or the Caribbean is not spoiled by the process of getting there. The good news is there has probably never been a better time to travel in style at an affordable price and with a few simple tips, it need not be out of reach. Gone are the days when if you wanted a fully-flat bed on the flight, you had to travel first class, and equally distant is the time when if you wanted a little more legroom than economy, it meant the quantum leap to business class. First class has disappeared on many airlines, as its chief
■ Virgin’s Upper Class
Virgin Atlantic
E
42 tlm ■ the travel & leisure magazine
www.tlm-magazine.co.uk
selling point, a flat bed, is now almost the norm in business class. Further back on the aircraft, the recession prompted many airlines to fit or upgrade premium economy cabins for business travellers who weren’t allowed the expensive seats any more and these seats are a great option if your budget won’t stretch to business or even first class.
premium economy At its most basic, premium economy provides an extra six or seven inches of legroom and a wider seat. In airline speak, that means a 38-inch seat pitch compared with the usual 31 or 32 inches in economy. Some airlines, like Virgin Atlantic, upgrade the service in premium economy, with more drinks and better meals, while others, such as British Airways, provide only the same as in economy. Premium economy travellers usually get their own
Summer 2011
private cabins However, if you want it all in one package, that means flying business or even first class. Other airlines have caught up with BA and Virgin Atlantic in fitting seats that convert to fully-flat beds, so your choice is unlimited, but there are a few notable exceptions, such as American Airlines, Lufthansa, and some flights by Emirates, Qatar Airways and Qantas where inclined flat seats are still found. In particular, there is far more choice of good business class products to the US now that Delta, United and American Airlines have upgraded cabins, although their lounges at either end will not match the scale and opulence of BA’s and in particular, Virgin’s, whose Clubhouse lounge at Heathrow has so many amenities you will hesitate to board your flight. If you have a very large wallet or a wad of frequent flier points, you might even consider first class, but ask yourself what you will really gain. Unless you need a very large seat and much greater privacy, the inflated cost probably isn’t worth it, although the private cabins found on Singapore Airlines, Emirates and India’s Jet Airways or the opulence of Etihad are the ultimate in air travel. Whatever you choose, getting your swanky special
Summer 2011
Etihad
Using the premium lounges of some airlines is like being in a gentlemen’s club. Fly with Abu Dhabi’s national airline, Etihad, and its combined Diamond First and Pearl Business Class lounge at Heathrow offers a Six Senses spa with free massages and facials, showers, an a la carte restaurant, sound-proof kids’ room and a computer room. The spa in the Abu Dhabi lounges even has 24-carat gold grouting. Qatar Airways opened the world’s first dedicated Premium Terminal at Doha in 2006, purely for its first and business class passengers. It has recently been expanded and now features a spa, Jacuzzi, fine dining and duty-free shopping. But if it’s toys you want, no airline can beat Virgin’s Clubhouse lounges, which are at several airports on key routes. They feature a health and beauty salon offering beauty treatments and hairdressing, while the flagship Heathrow Clubhouse also has a poolside lounge, multiscreen TV wall, observation deck, sky lounge, library, music room, playground/video games room, study, bar and a brasserie/deli. ■ Etihad offers Six Senses spas
■ Qatar Airways’ Jacuzzi
■ Virgin’s Clubhouse
Qatar Aiways
extra mile
lounge around
Virgin Atlantic
■ An Emirates onboard lounge
■ An Etihad premium lounge
Etihad
Go the
cabin with fewer seats in it than economy, but some airlines, like United and KLM, offer a premium economy section that is just part of the normal economy cabin layout, so remember to check exactly what you will get. This particularly applies to legroom. Most airlines offer a seat with at least six inches more, but United’s Economy Plus offers five inches and KLM’s Economy Comfort only another four inches. The pick of premium economy cabins probably goes to Air New Zealand, whose new Spaceseat has a real wow factor. It allows couples to face each other when eating and is a hard shell design, which means that the seat in front does not recline onto your knees. Premium economy generally means a dedicated check-in, but no admittance to the business class lounge. You can make up for this on the outbound journey by paying to access one of the generic-branded lounges. Some have the charm and décor of a 1980s motorway service station, but others, like No.1 Traveller, are superb. No.1 is at Gatwick and Stansted and opens in Heathrow’s Terminal 3 in August, complete with bedrooms for transit passengers, although these will cost more than the usual £15-£20 entrance fee. Holiday Extras offers 37 lounges at 21 UK airports, with access from £12, and has also started offering lounges overseas. They can be booked through travel agents, as can the 150-plus lounges offered by Lounge Pass in the UK and worldwide. Getting lounge access on the way home is trickier, but membership of schemes like Priority Pass overcomes this obstacle. Priority Pass covers 600 lounges in the UK and worldwide, including No.1 Traveller. A £69 annual fee permits visits for £15 and guest entry for another £15. Snacks and drinks are free, as is Wi-Fi, so if you travel a few times a year, it’s worth considering.
tlm ■ the travel & leisure magazine www.tlm-magazine.co.uk
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a touch of class ■ flying in style
indirect On a similar theme, consider flying indirect. American Airlines’ hub at Miami airport and its network in the Caribbean mean a simple one-stop hop to many islands that will usually be cheaper than flying non-stop. In the other direction, the Middle East carriers will, for example, get you to Australia, Sri Lanka or Goa on a one-stop flight. Consider also going via Paris, Amsterdam or Frankfurt if your local airport has connections with Air France, KLM or Lufthansa, as these fares will often be cheaper and more convenient than the trip from Heathrow. Another crucial point is time of year. For example, August is a great time to fly to New York – if you can bear the humidity – as few business passengers travel there then. A BA Club World return, normally £4,000£5,000, plummets to as little as £1,500 then, provided you stay over a weekend and book in advance.
flying in style facts airlines Air France: www.airfrance.com Air New Zealand: www.airnewzealand.co.uk American Airlines: www.americanairlines.com British Airways: www.ba.com Delta Air Lines: www.delta.com Emirates: www.emirates.com/uk Etihad: www.etihadairways.com EVA Air: www.evaair.com KLM: www.klm.com Lufthansa: www.lufthansa.com Jet Airways: www.jetairways.com Oman Air: www.omanair.com Qatar Airways: www.qatarairways.com/uk Singapore Airlines: www.singaporeair.com United Airlines: www.unitedairlines.co.uk Virgin Atlantic: www.virgin-atlantic.com
lounges No.1 Traveller: www.no1traveller.com Priority Pass: www.prioritypass.com Lounge Pass: www.loungepass.com Holiday Extras: www.holidayextras.co.uk
■ BA’s all-business class Airbus A318 British Airways
occasion flight at a good price requires some guile. As it is a holiday, you won’t be delayed in any business meetings so you can buy the cheapest fare category, a ticket that is not flexible. Be sure, however, to make it to the airport on time or face a hefty amendment fee. Secondly, ask a good travel agent to search for all airlines that fly to your chosen destination. You may not realise, for example, that Air New Zealand is an excellent way to get to Los Angeles or Hong Kong, or that Taiwan’s EVA Air flies to Bangkok. Both of these go non-stop from Heathrow and can undercut the more familiar brands while offering a frequently-superior experience.
Economy: Air New Zealand’s Economy Skycouch looks like a conventional row of three seats, but it unfolds to permit two adults and a child to lie flat. Premium economy: Resembling a slimmed-down business class seat, Air France’s new premium economy design will win fans. Business: All Delta’s flights from Heathrow now offer the Business Elite cabin, making it the only US airline to offer fully-flat beds on the New York run. British Airways’ London City-JFK service is another sleek way of travelling to New York, using dedicated Airbus A318 aircraft with a single business class cabin. But don’t expect a sumptuous lounge in London – and remember that the flight is designed for bankers to sleep on the way back, not for partying. First: Emirates’ Airbus A380 probably takes the prize for its onboard showers, although Singapore Airlines’ own super-jumbo aircraft offer a seat and a separate bed. Jet Airways allows you to dine face-to-face in your own cabin. Frequent flier: Don’t forget to register for the airline’s frequent flier programme when you book, as your one premium ticket may give you enough miles for a free short-haul flight as well. Limo service: Some airlines, including Virgin and Emirates, offer a chauffeur-driven service to and from the airport for premium class passengers, so you can start and end your holiday in style.
■ Emirates first class suite Emirates
■ British Airways’ Club World
British Airways
tips for flying in style
advice Gary Noakes is an aviation and travel writer who regularly flies the world’s airlines, good and bad. He’s been fortunate enough to enjoy the posh seats on many occasions.
44 tlm ■ the travel & leisure magazine
www.tlm-magazine.co.uk
See www.seatplans.com for advice on which airline to choose
Summer 2011