Take to the Skies in the Lap of Luxury
If you travel by air frequently, you know all too well how uncomfortable those economy flights can be. With ever-shrinking leg room and few — if any — amenities to go along with it, flights have become something people dread instead of look forward to, or even feel ambivalent about.
While there are many tips for flying that will alleviate some of the discomfort and dread associated with air travel, there’s one guaranteed way to make your experience infinitely better: fly first-class. If you’ve got the extra cash, luxury air travel is undoubtedly the way to go.
First-class options have been rebounding in recent years, with airlines launching new and ever more luxurious first-class cabins — some of which feel more like an apartment home than a space on an airplane. There’s no doubt that the following make the list of best airlines in the world — can you go wrong with a personal butler and personal flat screen TV?
A 3-Room Suite with Etihad Airways
Etihad is the only airline to date to offer a three-room suite. The luxury “penthouse in the sky,” known as The Residence, comes with its own butler and chef. It has a living room, a bedroom and a shower room.
It’s only available on the airline’s Airbus A380-800 aircraft. This large, nearly 500-passenger, plane is used on the New York to Abud Dhabi route — a journey that takes anywhere from 19 to 21 hours, and was just added in December 2016.
The living room has a 32-inch flat screen TV, a leather sofa and fold-away dining tables, where a Savoy-trained butler serves gourmet meals prepared by the on-board chef. The bedroom has a double bed with designer Italian linens and another flat screen TV that’s mounted on the wall.
Before landing, you can freshen up with a shower. And, if you have kids, you’ll even get to take advantage of the “flying nanny.” The experience also includes chauffeured transport to and from the airport, and a number of other perks.
Of course, it won’t come cheap. In fact, a one-way ticket will set you back the equivalent of the average one year salary: about $40,000.
A Porsche with Lufthansa
Lufthansa found a way to make a layover a great thing, at least for those who have a layover in Frankfurt or Munich, Germany. The airline offers the opportunity to go for a spin in a Porsche.
This luxury option isn’t just for the extremely wealthy. In fact, the cost is less than what you’d pay to rent a Porsche 911 in the United States. Lufthansa has been charging only a little over $100, including fuel, insurance, and all taxes and other fees, whereas if you wanted to rent one from Hertz, it would run you nearly $500 a day.
As an added benefit, Avis worked with Porsche to create route suggestions with precise timings so you can plan your ideal route and transit time back to the airport.
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Luxurious Bathrooms with Emirates Airlines
Emirates Airlines offers first-class passengers access to a bathroom that’s probably a lot more lavish than the one you have at home. It includes a shower, allowing you to soap up at 40,000 feet and arrive refreshed and presentable so you’ll be ready to explore your destination, or look great for an important meeting, as soon as you arrive.
Each first-class passenger can shower once per flight by booking a reservation with one of the shower attendants. And, if you’re on your honeymoon or enjoying any type of special romantic holiday, note the shower suite sign that reads: “Max. two occupants in shower.”
Celebrity Chef Meals with Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways offers connections between Europe and the far east, and is renowned for its Arabian hospitality. First-class travelers not only enjoy extra spacious cabins, but an outstanding dining menu created by Nobu Matshuhisam, a celebrity chef and restaurateur famous for his fusion fare that blends traditional Japanese dishes with Peruvian ingredients.
The unforgettable meals are paired with award-winning vintages that are personally selected by master of wine, James Cluer.
An 8-Point Massage Chair with Jet Airways
If you choose a first-class suite on Jet Airways, you’ll get 26-square-feet of personal, private space that’s hidden beyond Venetian sliding doors, as well as a chair that’s equipped with variable lumbar support options and an eight-point massage system.
When you’re ready to get some shuteye, or just relax while enjoying one of the over 100 films available on your 23-inch LCD TV screen, the chair converts to a spacious, nearly 7-foot-long bed.
Each of these elegant suites also includes personal light settings and wardrobe drawers, and, if that’s not enough, you can even study a foreign language or take advantage of the myriad of other learning options available in the virtual eBook or audio book library.
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Skip the Long Lines with British Airways
British Airways is absolutely amazing when it comes to exceptional first-class perks that begin even before you get to the airport. You can pack just about as much as you’d like with a baggage allowance that includes one cabin bag plus a laptop or handbag on board and up to three bags in the hold.
You also get to skip the long lines with dedicated check-in desks at most airports. If you’re departing from JFK in New York or Heathrow in London, you can take advantage of the Concorde Room, which boasts full waiter service, private cabanas, a state-of-the-art business suite that includes a fine dining experience, as well as vintage champagnes and cocktails at the Concorde Bar.
Once you board, you’ll be shown to your private, extra-spacious suite, and be welcomed with a glass of champagne along with “well-being essentials” delivered in a bespoke British Airways bag. In your suite, you’ll find a personal power supply for all your electronic gadgets, and a 150-inch screen for watching movies, documentaries and television shows, or for playing games.
The noise-cancelling headphones let you plug into music and audio book selections too. If you’re on a long-haul flight, your seat can be transformed into a bed that includes a luxurious quilted mattress, white cotton duvet and a pillow.
Flying overnight? You’ll even get a brand new pair of soft cotton pajamas.
And that’s not all. When it comes to dining, you can order from an extensive menu whenever you’d like, with dishes served on white linens and fine bone china. This is not your ordinary airline food either — you can choose from items like Herefordshire beef with truffle taglierini, as well as cheese platters, a full-cooked English breakfast, fresh fruit and more.