January 19, 2008
Airlines offering "hotel rooms" in the sky
Whereas most of us are looking for the cheapest airfare when we fly, some travelers can afford to pay the first class fares and travel in comfort. Flying first class isn't cheap, (although there are some bargains to be had) A quick check on various web sites found a first class ticket from JFK to Tokyo for about $11,000 and a ticket from London to Sydney for around $7,000.
Airlines make most of their money from the people who are prepared to pay for first and business class and are going out of their way to make the experience even more comfortable for those who can afford it.
The latest trend seems to be towards offering actual cabins in first class, instead of just a seat.
Singapore Airlines is now offering suites with double beds on their new Airbus A380 - the suites boast such extras as wardrobes, sliding doors, window blinds and turn-down service. And Singapore Air is well known for the quality of their service as well as the food and drink, even in coach.
And Virgin Atlantic also offers a first class seat that's almost a suite - including a guest seat and an extra large table for eating or working. The seat is the longest flat-bed seat - almost 7 feet long and almost 3 feet wide, offering plenty of room for a good night's sleep.
Virgin Atlantic also puts an emphasis on service and amenities on the ground, as well as in the air. The airline's Upper class (or business class) passengers receive such extras as free ground transportation and an airport clubhouse with dining, showers and internet access.
And for the rest of us stuck back in coach, our biggest concerns are probably not getting stuck in the middle seat and not having the person in front lean their seat too far back into our lap. But there may be hope for economy passengers - Lufthansa is said to be considering offering an all sleeper-seat coach cabin with triple bunk beds.
Guest entry by Mancunian
Posted by James Trotta at January 19, 2008 5:49 PM | TrackBack
You can have your cake and eat it too. I just got back from a round trip flight between New York and London on EOS airlines. The space, food and service were better than any first class flight I have taken on that route and I paid less than most biz class fares for the route. The plane has only one class, so boarding and deplaning with fewer people make it a breeze as well.
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