Business travellers’ long-haul flight options are growing, and airlines are working hard to attract customers.
IT is not surprising that sitting almost bolt upright in an economy class seat for 15 hours or more takes a huge toll on the body. As many travellers can testify, recovery at the end of a long flight can take several days.
For business travellers, however, taking extra time to get over jetlag is simply not an option.
The choice of airline for long-haul flights from Australia is an important one, as it can affect how you feel at the other end, especially for important business meetings. To ensure the best chance of real rest and relaxation, it is vital that the premium options are considered.
Here is a summary of the long-haul services from Perth and what you can expect for the extra amount paid to fly in one of the premium sections of the plane.
It is important to note, however, that many of the shorter flights out of Perth to such hubs as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, for example, do not have the same level of service for the first shorter segment as they do for the ongoing, longer-haul sectors. Also, levels and types of service can vary according to the make and model of the aircraft and the actual route flown.
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines’ first class product is widely touted as one of the best first class services in the world. On boarding, together with a pre-flight drink, customers are handed a Bulgari amenity kit and a Givenchy sleep suit with a choice of two colours – just to ensure the fashion-conscious are completely satisfied.
The Skysuite seats, located in the nose of the 747, are fabric with magnificent leather and wood trims. The seat is fully adjustable and at bedtime cabin staff is on hand to help customers make up the completely lie-flat bed with mattress topper and duvet.
Each seat has its own power supply, personal light, large worktable and a big personal TV screen with noise-cancelling headsets. In-flight entertainment options and high-speed Internet access are provided, as well as lots of storage space for personal items and books and newspapers.
The menu is extensive with a huge number of Asian and Western courses and options all presented on starched white linen and Givenchy crockery. The wine choices, of course, include Krug and Dom Perignon champagne.
The service and menu is so good it almost seems a shame to sleep, but the extremely comfortable beds will definitely do the trick.
In business class (Raffles), the Spacebed is a generous 51 centimetres (20in) wide with a seat pitch of 145cm (57in), which is plenty of room to sleep in what is termed as lie-flat-style, rather than fully parallel to the floor. On a 747, the top deck has a two-two configuration and the main deck has a two-three-two layout. There is a personal reading light and a divider, which can be raised for privacy. Each seat has its own personal 67cm (26.4in) TV screen.
To allay boredom, SIA’s in-flight entertainment system (Kris World Entertainment system) includes 104 TV favourites, 60 movies, 85 interactive games and 12 music channels. You can even tune into the learn-a-language function for some last-minute brush-up on your French, German or Japanese. For those who prefer to work, there is inbuilt 110-volt power and on-board high-speed Internet access provided by the Connexion by Boeing system.
The food and wine selection is extensive and includes Asian and Western alternatives. Tea and coffee is available throughout the flight.
Emirates
The new airline on the block, Emirates, created a stir in the industry with its first service to Perth. Now, a second service – the first daylight flight to Europe – is planned, to start in March.
The airline is currently revamping its long-haul product to fit lie-flat beds in both first and business class, while medium haul aircraft are also getting a makeover.
The current first class cabin on the airline’s 777s seats 18, and with four crew, passengers receive exceptional service. The seats are pitched 160cm (62in) apart with a seat recline of 36cm (13.9 in). As would be expected the seats are fully adjustable and very comfortable with plenty of cushioning – something missing from many seats these days.
Emirates’ first class passengers receive first class meals, which are individually prepared by master chefs and are accompanied by an extensive range of award-winning wines.
The airline is currently installing its ICE entertainment system throughout its aircraft, which has no less than 900 options. It also offers its first class passengers complimentary chauffeur-drive service to and from selected airports.
Like a number of airlines, Emirates’ business class has been designed around the needs of business passengers with a host of amenities whether you need to work or choose to relax.
Flat beds are coming to business class from June next year but the current sleeperette seats are very comfortable with a recline of 29cm (11.5in). There is plenty of room to spread with seat rows spaced 117cm (47in) apart.
Business class passengers are served six-course meals and menus are changed regularly to cater for frequent flyers.
Malaysian Airlines
The airline has recently unveiled a total revamp of its premium class product. In first class, spacious lie-flat beds with lots of legroom and individual ottomans are enveloped in a wraparound seat pod, ensuring the utmost in privacy.
A la carte fine dining menus are created by top-quality chefs and served on exclusive dinnerware, with soothing mood lighting adding to the restful atmosphere. Best of all, Malaysian has adopted the industry standard of passengers deciding what time they wish to eat and guests can dine in twosomes, face-to-face, utilising the ottoman.
In-flight entertainment allows about 350 options including movies, games, infotainment, TV series and news, all shown on a big TV touch-screen.
The VIP lavatory is much more spacious than the typical aircraft toilet and incorporates wood-panelling, full-length mirrors and plenty of space to change clothes comfortably mid-flight.
In business class, Malaysian Airlines’ seats are what are termed ‘angled lie-flat’, which means that although the seat converts to a flat surface the final angle is a slight eight degrees. Multiple fine-tuned positions will ensure you do find a configuration that is comfortable. Leg rests, headrests and lumbar support are also adjustable.
Good-sized fold-out tables accommodate laptop computers easily and a 115-volt power outlet at each seat accepts multiple plug types. Access to business and financial news, email and Livetext is provided via the 38cm (15in) LCD touch-screen monitor.
The menu has also been upgraded and combines the best of Asian and Western delicacies and plenty of choice.
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand was once considered the poor cousin alternative to Qantas, but things are definitely changing. Its new premium class cabin will provide customers with luxurious comfort thanks to state-of-the-art lie-flat beds. The leather armchair and ottoman transforms into a bed measuring 202cm (79.5in) and is 84cm (33in) wide at the shoulders.
The unique herringbone layout of seats allows direct aisle access for each passenger, while the big adjustable tables enable passengers to dine face-to-face using the seat and ottoman.
Cabin mood lighting is fully adjustable to the time of day or the stage of flight and ensures a restful atmosphere while awake and a sleep-inducing one at the appropriate time.
In-flight entertainment incorporates video-on-demand and provides 780 hours of video options including the latest movies, comedies, lifestyle/travel programs, documentaries and sport broadcasts. Future upgrades will include Internet and email access, text messaging and multi-player games.
If business class is a bit too pricey, a viable alternative is the new trend by some airlines, including Air New Zealand, to offer an upgraded economy service that has some of the features of business class at a more affordable price.
Premium economy is situated within its own dedicated zone and with a seat pitch of 100cm (39.5in), customers get an extra 14cm (5.5in) of legroom compared with economy passengers. The seats also have extra recline and are slightly wider than those in economy. In-seat power for laptops and 21cm (8.4in) in-seat video screens are provided.
Although seats are not lie-flat, the service provided is at the same level as that within the business class zone for food, wines and beverages.
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific’s first class cabin is accessed through a private entrance and comprises eight separate single seats and two side-by-side doubles. Amenity kits from Elemis are presented to each guest at the start of the flight and include top-quality skincare products and toiletries.
The first class seat, with a pitch of 200cm (79in), easily extends into a full-length absolutely lie-flat bed cocooned by effective privacy screens. Cosy ‘sleepsuits’ allow passengers to hang clothes during the flight and luxury duvets and pillows make slumber a foregone conclusion.
An extensive array of Asian and international food options are freshly prepared in the state-of-the-art galley that boasts rice cookers, toasters, steam ovens and cappuccino facilities.
In-flight entertainment includes a 26cm (10.4in) TV with noise-cancelling headsets and 30 of the latest movies, 80 short features and 20 TV channels on-demand.
Cathay Pacific’s business class service has undergone significant refurbishment. On a new business class flight, creative cocktails and wines are offered when entering the cabin and amenity kits featuring Dermalogica skincare and toiletry products are presented to each passenger.
Comfortable multi-adjustable seats are widely positioned giving ample legroom and a feeling of spaciousness. The new seat is just over 190cm (75in) long with a six-way adjustable headrest and a four-
way adjustable lumbar support. It reclines to an eight degree flat bed. Thick fluffy pillows add to the feeling of comfort.
For entertainment, the StudioCX entertainment system includes a movies-on-demand service providing 29 movies and new noise cancelling headsets. In-flight dining on Cathay Pacific is a treat with a wide variety of choices for each course from Asian and Western options.
South African Airways
SAA’s business class is undergoing a radical refurbishment program on its A340-600 aircraft with the installation of true lie-flat seats. Seat pitch is 210cm (73in) in a two-two-two configuration. When laid flat, the bed is a wide 61cm (24in), which is one of the widest in the industry. Passengers are provided with a Delsey amenity kit, a comfy duvet and full-sized pillow.
Each of the new seats has a privacy screen, a lumbar massage function, a large one-piece tray table and individual cocktail tables, in-seat power and automatic electronic controls allowing fine-tuning of leg rest, backrest, seat height and lumbar support.
Additionally, the meal service has been upgraded substantially, offering passengers many selections for each course designed around a South African theme and served with a choice of top-quality South African wines and French champagnes. Adding to the occasion is the use of new linen, crockery, cutlery and elegant glassware.
Qantas
Qantas’ first-class sleeper seat has multi-adjustable leg rest and lumbar positioning and converts into a fully lie-flat bed complete with cosy duvets, warm lambs-wool blankets and fluffy linen-covered pillows. Complimentary sleeper suits ensure pyjama-like comfort and keep travelling clothes fresh.
Each passenger has a 21cm (8.4 in) touch screen built into the armrest and a personal fibre-optic light on a flexible stalk, ensuring good quality reading light throughout the flight.
Fine dining meals, inspired by renowned Australian chef Neil Perry of Sydney’s Rockpool Restaurant, are served and feature distinctive Australian-style food, which also reflects the flavours of the flight’s destination countries. Flexibility is the buzz-word here, so meals can be modified to suit passengers’ needs, from full restaurant-style a la carte options to express-style snacks at any time during the flight. The wine and champagne list is extensive.
Amenity bags by Oroton contain Swiss La Prairie skincare products for the women and ClarinsMens range for the men on board. Redesigned and spacious bathrooms are more attractively appointed and provide much more space than typical aircraft toilets.
Noise-reduction headsets and new larger 21cm (8.4in) touch screens enable first-class passengers to watch an extensive range of movies, play interactive games and listen to a host of audio options.
Qantas’ business class service is being progressively upgraded on its long-haul aircraft and features the new Skybed, created by leading Australian designer Marc Newson. It is widely promoted as one of the longest (at almost two metres) and most comfortable business beds.
In-built back massager, multiple electronic adjustments and ergonomically designed cushioning within a cocoon-style shell for privacy are some of the notable features of the Skybed, which have made it an award winning seat/bed.
In-seat power for laptop computers is provided as well as lots of storage space for shoes, water bottle and magazines/newspapers. Each passenger has a personal 26.5cm (10.5in) TV screen and high quality noise-cancelling headphones.
Cabin mood lighting adjusts the interior ambience according to the time of day and onboard activities ensuring that the flight is more relaxing.
British Airways
Perth passengers can join British Airways in Singapore through the code-share flights with Qantas.
Dubbed FIRST, British Airways’ first class product is second to none. Lie-flat 198cm (78in) beds with fluffy duvets, crisp linens and full-sized pillows ensure sleep is effortless.
An excellent video library selection including the latest box office movies, comedies, documentaries and sport programs are shown on the multi-channel entertainment system. In-seat phones and power sockets enable passengers to keep in touch with the world while flying.
A la carte meals are freshly prepared and served whenever passengers request them and an extensive wine and champagne list showcases the best from around the world.
Club World service on British Airways caters specifically for the needs of business travellers. The NightCap service ensures that the cabin crew will dim the lights soon after take-off, and keep in-flight announcements and trolley movements to the bare minimum.
Recently introduced large pillows and thick blankets ensure that the truly lie-flat beds are made as comfortable as possible and a range of ‘midnight munchies’ are available if you wake up feeling peckish.
If you’re not feeling tired, entertainment options include 18 channels of the latest movies and TV programs, 12 audio channels and on some flights, a selection of interactive games. Otherwise, in-seat power can keep your computer charged while you work.
World Traveller Plus is British Airways’ premium economy product and offers a more spacious cabin, wider seats, extra legroom and more seat recline.
Situated in a separate cabin at the front of economy (World Traveller), the seats incorporate adjustable leg rests, footrests and lumbar support and give passengers around 20 per cent more personal space.
Complimentary bar service and generous three-course meals are provided as is in-seat power for laptop computers.
Thai International
Thai’s fleet has been undergoing a long overdue major revamp and the results are stunning. In the 747-400 fleet, first class has new flat-bed seats with a 180-degree recline and improved seat pitch to 203cm (80in), while business class has shell-type seats for privacy with a 170-degree recline and seat pitch to 152cm (60in).
On the 777 and A330 fleets, business class has the shell-type seats, with the configuration changed from two-four-two across the cabin to two-two-two. The re-configuration of the A330-300s and 777-300s was completed in February and the 777-200s and 747-400s were finished in June.
In all of the reconfigured aircraft, in-seat audio and video-on-demand with interactive capability is installed and the airline is considering Internet in first and business classes.
Royal Brunei Airlines
Royal Brunei Airlines’ refurbished business class, now branded Sky Executive Class, features new lie-flat Sky Dreamer seats. Extending to 190cm (75in) when fully reclined, they ensure good levels of comfort even for the tallest passenger. Wraparound seat pods ensure extra privacy and each comes equipped with in-seat power connector and a 26cm (10.4in) personal TV.
The menu is considered first-rate and features Asian and Western choices. Although alcohol is not offered, you can bring a bottle on board and staff will ensure it is kept cold and provide glasses for you to pour your own drinks.
In-flight entertainment is provided by the latest Thales i-4000 series system with 17 video-on-demand selections, 10 game options, 12 CD albums on-demand, 15 channels of audio entertainment in a variety of languages and five broadcast video channels.
