This article first appeared in the Jul/Aug 2014 issue of World Gaming magazine.
Most of us don’t have the pleasure of flying in the opulent surrounds of business class. Our experience tends to consist of tiny seats, occupied bathrooms, cheap food and stepping over our fellow passengers when we need to go to the toilet or simply stretch our legs. Not so The Eagle, who always travels in comfort. But rest assured – even in business class not all is created equal.
For those who travel mostly for leisure, that nice looking cabin you pass through on the way to your seat must seem a curiosity. Many a traveler gazes longingly at the extended leg room and inviting cushions only to find themselves squished alongside the passenger from hell in cattle class.
That’s why it is so important for those who spend much of their lives in the air to understand not only which airline experiences get you from point A to point B but which do so efficiently and in comfort. The premium paid for business class is meant to guarantee this. It is also meant to deliver you to your destination in a state where you can walk off the flight and step straight into that all important business meeting.
With nearly all airlines offering a business class experience, the standard offering of better seats, meals, cabin crew and lounge access seem to be a given. But frequent travelers will attest what truly differentiates between the different business class offerings are the details and how the service is executed.
The Eagle knows this because he has flown business class in over 20 different airlines in the past two years. Here are my top five business class offerings from around the globe.
By far the best business class experience currently on offer – and one of the most expensive – is found on Singapore Airlines. Dedicated lounges, on board internet connectivity, true priority luggage and boarding, meals designed by a panel of experts and generously proportioned seating and bathrooms are just some of the features which stand out. The training and professionalism of the polite and helpful cabin crew is sometimes overwhelming. The ground staff and crew deliver a complete human experience.
#2 Lufthansa
Efficiency must have been invented by the Germans because if there is one word to describe the lounges, boarding process and meals it is efficient. The consideration for work space and catering to the “larger than average” German business traveler has resulted in a seat configuration which enables many hours of comfortable work whilst in the air. An airline that wouldn’t have been on my list a few years ago, Lufthansa has certainty lifted its game of late.
The great thing about having three relatively new Middle Eastern airlines all vying for position in the region is that the customer is the winner. Qatar excels over Emirates and Etihad by surpassing the “complete” experience the two E’s offer. The ultra-modern aircraft fleet is staffed by an international cabin crew who attend to your every need. From the ground chauffeur service to great on-board entertainment and quality wines and champagne, Qatar is shining. Having said that, the connection through Doha can be both good and bad. The premium lounges are opulent and cater to all your needs but sometimes I would forgo the layover for the extra few hours at my final destination.
#4 Qantas
The check in and lounge experience of Qantas is like arriving at a five star hotel. That may be because these experiences are run on behalf of Qantas through their ties with the Sofitel Group and celebrity chefs like Neil Perry. The land and air experience of restaurant quality food and wine is a joy. Whilst the seating and entertainment is adequate, the product does fall behind other competitors who are more generous with the little things like amenity kits. Recent cut backs mean Qantas has one of the most “mature crew profiles” of all the airlines on this list but having recently cut ties with British Airways while strengthening those with Emirates, we’ll keep a close eye on their progress.
Virgin’s clubhouse was the first to offer pre-flight spa and massage services and set the tone for deluxe airline lounges which have now been replicated by most others. The actual bar in the sky gives you an excuse to get out of your seat and have a chat with cabin crew and fellow passengers. Whilst seated, you have complete privacy in what has affectionately become known as “coffin class”. The Virgin crew is always young and fun and make the experience more like a nightclub than a flight. The sleep suits, holy cow amenities and mood lighting help you forget you are 7 miles high.
