Hospitality, comfort and gourmet meals take flight for an extraordinary travel experience ...
Flying is increasingly a true experience. From the airport to the cabin, passengers, who have become increasingly demanding over time, are pampered with an array of services that are gradually becoming more exclusive.
At one time people traveled either in economy or first class, but today there are four types of travel classes: Economy, Premium Economy, Business Class and First Class, reflecting as many types of services and travelers.
First Class was born in the wake of its luxury counterparts on trains and ships. Instead, between the 1970s and 1980s when the figure of the businessman was depopulated, Business Class was born, which was designed for frequent travelers who therefore wanted more comfort than Basic Class. In the original idea it was intended to become the premium class of subsonic flights, while First Class would be the exclusive preserve of supersonic travel, thought of as luxury therefore exclusive and expensive. Today it is in fact the class of choice for passengers on long-haul flights who seek hospitality and comfort.
Flying in Business Class means traveling in comfort. Positioned at the front of the cabin immediately after First Class it offers a medium to high level of service. Key amenities include fast track and lounges at the airport, extra baggage, fully reclining armchairs, gourmet meals served on fine tableware, free and unlimited Wi-Fi, Bluetooth audio pairing to connect one's headphones to in-flight entertainment services, and the ability to read leading international magazines.
Passengers are greeted with a welcome drink, and in their seats they find soundproof or active noise-canceling headphones and a beauty case with high-quality products to make the journey more comfortable, as well as a blanket and soft pillow. Toilets are also more comfortable.
There is also a lounge on board the planes reserved for Business and First Class passengers, where they can enjoy exclusive wines and drinks as well as champagne, cocktails, beers and many other hot and cold beverages and converse with other passengers.
Business Class and Premium Class offer a varied landscape of services, and international airlines compete for exclusive amenities.
Italian carrier ITA Airwais offers two Business Class classes, medium-haul or long-haul, operated by the A350 that covers several routes including connections to Tokyo, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Buenos Aires or by the A330 or A320. On long-haul routes, leather-upholstered seats are available that recline up to 180°, with a fully horizontal sleeping position and massage function. Contributing to the in-flight experience are a lighting system with lights of varying intensity and color depending on the time and stage of travel, menus with national and international specialties, individual screens, and an extensive library of movies, games, music, and TV programs. On medium-haul routes, in addition to Lounge, sky priority, fast track, and the ability to carry two 32 kg pieces of luggage that it shares with the dedicated long-haul class, on board comfort is guaranteed by Recaro leather-upholstered and ergonomically designed seats, with a seat next to them always free to ensure more privacy and enjoy a menu of traditional Italian dishes.
Air France recently unveiled the Boeing 777-300 ER Business Class upgrade. New seats, reclining beds, and giant screens to recreate the comfort of a living room at home and provide more privacy for passengers thanks to sliding doors and panels separating seats, all with aisle access to provide greater range of movement. For now, it is available on routes to New York, Rio de Janeiro, and Dakar, but will soon be expanded to other routes.
Qantas is also preparing for a redesign of its largest Classes, starting in 2025 on the A350-1000 operating on direct routes from Australia to New York and London. The airbus will be completely redesigned, decreasing seats from 300 to 238 to provide greater comfort, convenience, health and well-being in flight. The cabins will be redesigned as hotel rooms with a two-meter flat bed, ample stowage space (including a large mirror), leather upholstered ottoman, 18-inch ultra-high definition touch screen TV, large dining table and feature lighting.
Singapore Airlines has Business Class on several aircraft. On the A380, seats are spacious with plenty of room to store personal items and carry-on luggage. The fully reclining seat becomes a bed, in the middle seats even a double bed if the personal divider is lowered completely. New seating positions are also available on the A350s and 777s: the Lazy Z, a cradle position that ensures that your weight is centered and well-balanced while sitting, and the Sundeck, a lie-flat position that stretches the base and feet of the seat so you can stretch your legs over the footrest.
Etihad chooses Armani and Armani Casa excellence to take the travel experience to a higher level in its Business Class. On board the B787 or A350, passengers will dictate the themes, choosing to sleep, entertain and eat, ordering meals from the a la carte menu, when they most desire. The seats have adjustable headrests, back support and features to adjust their stiffness-the ultimate in comfort and space. On long-haul routes the seat reclines to become a real bed; on shorter flights, on the other hand, the seat offers a generous backrest angle and plenty of legroom.
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