The Sky Café allows passengers to enjoy several international cuisines on-board Air Arabia
When we take a look at the airline industry’s frenzy-filled mania, the objective of each carrier becomes clear: outclass and outmanoeuvre the rivals. This, in turn, drives the increasing numbers of highly valued passengers to their side; forming an unbreakable emotional connection. This association then ensures that all customers will continue to fly with that airliner even if the competitors upped their game.
Once your air travel experience with a certain carrier turns out to be outstanding, it’s obvious where you would want to spend your hard-earned cash the next time you wish to fly long hours to Maldives.
What you get
Amenities in the premium classes, commonly known as the first and business class, differ widely from airline to airline. It is, therefore, important to research various tour and travel packages carefully before choosing the one you want to fly on so that you get access to the amenities you had been attracted to for so long.
Some carriers don’t offer first class services for less-than-six hours or shorter routes anymore – except in the high-yield Asian routes (for e.g. Hong Kong – Singapore) and in the United States, where the domestic ‘first’ is equivalent to business class. The short-haul business class, on the other hand, is increasingly offering the same in-flight facilities as economy class, the main selling point being dedicated security queues, flexibility and access to luxurious perks like airport lounges.
Little big things that count
In the recent years, airline companies have started adding more services to their globus world tour repertory, easing customers’ increasing frustrations with travelling.
Whether it is an in-flight luxurious spa or a concert on a domestic flight, commercial carriers are pulling out all the stops to get people excited about air travel again. Some of the features might seem a tad bit over the top, but these days it really is the little (big) things that count.
Here is a list of 6 basic amenities that one must experience if they are travelling by air.
1. Personal televisions
On most long-haul routes, many airlines have now installed personal televisions for every passenger. These TV sets are either located on the back of the seat or tucked away in the armrests for front row seats and the first class. Some broadcast live satellite television, while others offer video games using PTV equipment.
Inflight-gaming - Video games are becoming one of the emerging facets of in-flight entertainment. Some game systems, in fact, are networked to allow interactive playing by multiple passengers. One of the best examples of this scenario is the popular trivia game series and the Berlitz World Traveller that allows passengers to learn a new language in their own native language, while being rightfully entertained.
Air India’s ‘dream-line’ game changer - Air India’s new Dreamliner, Boeing 787 has got a game-changing on-board entertainment system from the firm Thales French technology. Thales has provided its state-of-the-art inflight entertainment i-8000 to air India’s fleet of 787s.
The system hosts the interactive capabilities of easy navigation, including audio and video on demand (AVOD), shopping catalogues, games and a new ASXi moving map application.
2. The Wi-Fi
Several contemporary carriers are testing their in-cabin Wi-Fi systems. The in-flight internet access is provided either through an air-to-ground or a satellite network.
Data communication via satellite system, in the Airbus A380 aircrafts, allows passengers to connect to the internet from the individual IFE units or their laptops via the inflight Wi-Fi access.
3. The amenity kit
If you have ever flown in the premium classes, you are probably familiar with the ever-present amenity kit. For all those who haven’t had this opportunity, an amenity kit is a package of personal care items that carriers provide to their passengers on long-haul flights.
It is certainly not unusual to receive one while flying on coach, even though the kits are usually given to the first and business classes. More than often, the packs contain travel sized toiletries, earplugs and other useful items like a bag, case or even an iPad holder. What makes these kits extra special is that they give off an essence of high valued utility and exclusivity at just the right time.
4. Open and closed suite seats
For those who want to travel in style, try looking for a suite more than a seat. Suites offer a typical extra wide seat that converts into something close to a twin-sized bed, found in the first class cabins of the world’s top rated airlines. At times, suites even offer an additional seat so that your potential travel companion can sit and chat with you and maybe share a meal too. Personal closets are also very common in these suite seats.
Mastering the idea of ‘me-time’ with Emirates
Once you slide the privacy doors closed, you are free to unwind in your own world. Lie back and enjoy a glass of exclusive champagne, or help yourself to your personal minibar. You can even convert your seat into a fully flat bed with mattress and drift into a deep, restful sleep. Emirates makes sure its passengers have something to look forward to post-journeying.
5. The airline meal
The inflight meal or airline food, prepared by specialised airline catering services, is usually a small 3-course meal served to passengers on commercial carriers. The dishes vary widely in quality and quantity across the classes of travel; ranging from a simple snack or beverage in economy to a seven-course gourmet meal in the long-haul first class.
Contents
The in-flight dinner typically includes meat (most commonly chicken or beef), fish or pasta; a small salad bowl, bread roll; and a dessert plate. For passengers with restricted diets, caterers usually produce alternative meals that must be ordered in advance, sometimes when buying the ticket.
Some carriers also offer children’s meals, containing foods that children tend to enjoy such as mini-hamburgers, hot dogs and baked beans.
Emirates’ fine dining
Savour the flavours of your destination by choosing from the menu of Emirates’ delicious multicourse meals. The chefs use the locally sourced, fresh ingredients to prepare gourmet dishes, updating their menu every month.
In order to make sure everyone travels on a well-fed stomach, the flight prepares a wide range of dishes to meet the specific passenger dietary needs, including the distinctive children’s meals.
The sky café: airarabia
The Sky Café allows passengers to enjoy several international cuisines on-board Air Arabia, allowing them to select a wide selection of appetizing on board food. Catering varies greatly from scrumptious hot meals on long haul flights to light snacks at extremely affordable prices.
6. Pre-moistened towels
On some airlines, particularly Asian, passengers are given hot towels before each meal, just like in some Asian restaurants, for cleaning their hands – quite a refreshing experience for most passengers.
In a nutshell
Many enthusiastic air travellers have become keen on the ‘amenity’ aspect of their journey; to the point that they continue to fly in the same carrier just to get one step closer to completing their collection of these goodies.
It is also to be kept in mind that inflight passenger services might be the only impressions that stay with you after a long/short haul trip – or your only saving grace when you mistakenly leave behind your boarding pass and home keys in the hotel room.
Air travel amenities, just like a Swiss Army Knife, personify versatility, and every traveller should get an equal chance to experience them.