Transaero last week received their latest Boeing 737-800, which as well as featuring the new ‘Sky Interior’ and WiFi capabilities, also features a whole new look for the carrier. The modernised design reflects the previous livery which was often mistaken for Air France. Originally slated to come in last year, the carrier decided to hold off on the new brand until the market picked up again, and now in 2015, the airline is proud to show off their new colours. Inside, the carrier has opted for two classes, not including the very special Imperial Class as it showed us back in 2013.

Designed by brand consultants StartJG, they believe the new look goes beyond a simple paint scheme “Crucially the new brand is a program of change, more than just a refreshed logo. While a refined and streamlined logo visually demonstrates this change.” The developers of the new style have preserved the colours of the well-known Transaero’s logo with a view to retain the identity of the brand, which has obtained strong positions.

“Our company cares for its traditions and professional values. This attitude contributed to building up true team, even a kind of family, spirit in the company. The family is the key to the future. We want passengers who choose Transaero to feel truly surrounded by family care. Adhering to thetraditions, we modernize the image of the company. That’s why our new slogan is “To the future together.” said Olga Pleshakova, CEO Transaero Airlines.

“Transaero is a brand born of Russia, being built to meet the needs of the world’s travellers today and tomorrow. Start was introduced in March 2014. We began working collaboratively to establish a roadmap for change that would enable the brand to become more valued by passengers and more valuable as a business. With the relaunch of the brand identity Transaero has taken this opportunity in time, against a challenging economic environment, to take a confident step towards the future,” says Mike Curtis, Head of StartJG agency. “This is going to be the start of the next chapter for Transaero and an important step for the Russian airline industry.”

The new livery may look familiar… perhaps the livery was inspired by a drawing we put together back in 2013, for what we thought the new American livery should look like? That said and similarities aside, we like the new brand image of the carrier, it’s certainly bold and fresh but also more Western in its image appealing to a larger, more international audience. However the carrier has stayed true to its roots, offering the Russian language treatment of their logotype on the entry side, and the English version on the other, a visual statement of how proud the carrier is to be Russian.

Virgin Australia have released some very basic images of a new premium economy seat product which will be unveiled on their 777 later on this year. Whist the actual hard product is still under wraps, the actual statistics are what are a little more interesting. The airline has increased its seat pitch to a generous 41″ and the cabin has been reduced from 5 rows to purely just three, offering a very intimate cabin of 24 guests.

Virgin Australia Chief Customer Officer Mark Hassell said: “We understand that Premium Economy guests want to arrive at their destination feeling refreshed and taken care of. We have therefore designed a more spacious and comfortable Premium Economy cabin and product, with a service that many other airlines reserve for their Business Class.”

“The Premium Economy cabin itself will be more spacious and comfortable, with more legroom than any other Australian airline and new cushioned seating to make the journey more restful.” But its the service offering that will set Virgin Australia apart from its competitors, bringing themselves inline with Air New Zealand and Qantas’ best bits.

Guests will be able to choose different variations of their meals, with different garnishes, along with the time and speed of service. Another new element, and becoming an increasingly popular, a new Premium Larder exclusively for Premium Economy guests situated at the rear of the cabin will be replenished throughout the flight, stocked with an assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, light meal options and snacks. We also love the fact the generous baggage allowance of 64kgs hasn’t changed too.

The Highlights of Virgin Australia’s New Premium Economy

• An exclusive and intimate cabin size of 24 seats
• A seat pitch of 41 inches, with more legroom than any other Australian airline
• A plated meal service inspired by business class, tailored to the guest and accompanied by a selection of beers, spirits and wines from our Business Class cellar
• Gourmet hot beverage selections including espresso style coffee
• A Premium Larder for self-service food and beverages for the exclusive use of Premium Economy guests
• Crew trained in Premium service
• Dedicated check-in, Priority Boarding and Priority baggage (up to 64kg of baggage), enabling guests to speed through airport formalities
• In-seat power plus a USB outlet for charging personal electronic devices
• Amenity packs with luxurious blankets, pillows and REN Skincare products.

Flight: BA27
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300
Class: World Traveller (economy)
Seat: 30A
Route: LHR-HKG
Date: June 2015
Frequent flyer program: BA Executive Club / Avios. Part of the OneWorld Alliance

www.britishairways.com

British Airways 777-300ER Economy Class Report

Written for TheDesignAir by Zoe Belhomme | As a Hong Kong-based British expat I find myself travelling between London and Hong Kong at least three times a year. The direct route is served by 3 carriers – Cathay Pacific (five times daily), British Airways (twice daily) and Virgin Atlantic (once daily) – plus there are a staggering number of carriers travelling between the two cities via another Asian, Middle Eastern or European hub. To say passengers have options would be an understatement.

But more often than not I find nostalgia and my British sensibility kicks in when I’m searching through flight options back to the UK and so end up booking British Airways. In fact I often pay significantly more for the privilege to fly on the plane with a Union Jack painted on its tail.

So is this just perceived value or is BA really ahead of the game when it comes to one of the popular long-haul routes in the world? In the past 18 months BA introduced two new planes on the route, the A380 and the Boeing 777-300. Compared with two years ago these planes instantly makes flying with BA on this route more appealing.

I recently travelled on the 22:00 flight from LHR to HKG in BA’s World Traveller cabin (economy to anyone else), here’s what I thought of my experience.

On the ground

Leaving from T5 of London’s Heathrow is a huge plus for me. The pick up/drop off areas are efficient, the terminal is clean and well laid out and even when going through security I never seem to have to queue for long. In general there is just more space so everything naturally feels less stressful. I had checked in and pre-booked my seat online so all I had to do was head to the bag drop (no queue) and flash my passport and digital boarding pass.

So far so good. I used my digital boarding pass again on the self-serve gates to get through to security. Once through the barriers I joined a short line – but nothing like the queues I used to encounter in other Heathrow terminals a few years ago. I was politely screened and my bags went through the scanner. From my car drop off to having a glass of wine at Plane Food was less than 20 minutes.

Before boarding my flight I had a look around the high-end shops. T5 is great if you want to treat yourself a handbag or dress before your flight as so many designers have outlets. The terminal also has a range of cafes, restaurants and bars designed to suit almost any budget so you can easily amuse yourself for a couple of hours . With 25 minutes to go to the scheduled take-off time my flight was called and we started to board. This was very efficient and orderly and done by rows in economy so it wasn’t long until everyone was in their seats and ready to go.

The seat

BA is in the process of updating all its fleet with new World Traveller and World Traveller Plus and these are now on both of the airline’s HKG – LHR flights. Unlike some airlines recent economy products, British Airways has maintained its 3 x 3 x 3 seating providing extra seat width, which is perfect for longer haul flights. This is the first time I’d tried the new seat and while I was slightly disappointed with the legroom, I found that the neck and back support were far superior.

I also noticed that I was able to recline further back in the new seat and could wedge the cushion provided against the headrest, making it so much easier to sleep. All in all, for an economy product, I thought that BA’s seat was more than satisfactory.

In-flight entertainment

The British Airways in-flight entertainment system has been revamped in recent years and is feature packed. There is a huge array of movies and worldwide television available (as you’d expect) and also games, music and maps.

On this route the screens are much wider than before and the touch screens are pretty responsive so you don’t have to spend ten seconds prodding the back of someone’s seat to get your film to play. What I really liked was that from the moment you push back to stopping at the terminal at your destination you are able to use the entertainment system. You won’t miss the end of your movie because your earphones are being collected 20 minutes before landing.

The food

As I’d had dinner with my family before heading to the airport, I wasn’t hungry and didn’t opt for the evening meal that was served about 90-minutes into the flight. Instead I watched a film and relaxed with a Johnnie Walker whisky and ginger ale. I noticed that our stewardess came round several times in the night with water and juices – something I always appreciate on any long-haul flight.

About two hours before we were due to land the lights came up and we were served a hot breakfast. By this point I was hungry so I was happy that eggs and bacon were on the menu. I was very impressed, given I often don’t eat on planes, the food was more than just edible – apart from the eggs being a little rubbery, the bacon, potatoes and tomatoes were all very tasty. The yoghurt was a good quality option but the little muffin was pretty dry so I didn’t bother to finish it. All in all, BA served up food far superior to many of the other airlines I have flown with recently.

The extras

Gone are the days where you get a full amenity kit on all long-haul economy flights, so I wasn’t surprised to only see a little plastic bag on my seat with my earphones and a toothbrush in. The Middle Eastern carriers still seem to do them but I find its overkill as on a return trip you end with four little bags which can only really be thrown in the bin. BA do give you a relatively decent pillow, blanket and also headphones.

In conclusion

So, would I pay the extra to fly BA between Hong Kong and London again? In short, yes. That said I also travel with CX and find economy to be equally comfortable (unless you’re unlucky and get those seats that slide down and forward to recline). I would also like to acknowledge the steward and stewardess who served me during the flight – they couldn’t have been more friendly, funny and helpful.

SWISS will be ushering-in a new era in the history of its long-haul aircraft fleet next January with the arrival of the first of its nine new Boeing 777-300ERs. In SWISS configuration these new state of the art Boeing aircraft will seat a handsome 340 passengers.

In SWISS’s configuration the Boeing 777-300ER will offer eight in First Class seats, an impressive 62 in Business Class and 270 in Economy. And the totally-redesigned cabin interior of the new SWISS flagship will provide comfort and aesthetics to meet the most discerning of demands in all three seating classes.

Designed by London based Priestmangoode, the design agency had their hand in reimagining the carriers iconic First Class, Business Class, monuments, galleys, entrances as well as consulting on trim and finish in Economy Class. The designs may feel familiar and there is good reason for this. PriestmanGoode actually has a long-standing relationship with SWISS and designed the airline’s A330 First Class cabin back in 2009. The new designs are a natural evolution of those award-winning cabins and “aim to provide passengers with an enhanced version of the previous seat with more space, storage and privacy whilst maintaining key elements of the brand identity.” say PriestmanGoode.

The sleek contemporary residential feel in both First Class and Business Class is created by swathes of wooden veneer, rich deep textured fabric, and colour palettes that sit comfortable in the neutral and masculine colour spectrum, with a myriad of personal lighting options to further enhance the homely feel of the cabins.

First Class

Sadly Swiss has brought in the narrower seat layout, featuring 10 across, with 3 x 4 x 3 seating through the cabin. But the good news is the trim and finish has also been updated in Economy Class. SWISS is one of the only airlines in the world to feature a light coloured seat in economy.

The good news doesn’t stop there. Economy class passengers will be able to enjoy a large personal touchscreen. The biggest development is the introduction of a new walk-up bar. Outside the regular cabin service, all SWISS Economy guests will be able to make use of a self-service kiosk offering a wide range of drinks and snacks.

All nine Boeing 777-300ERs will also feature wireless internet via a broadband connection, enabling passengers to surf or send emails on their laptop, tablet or smartphone device. “With our new Boeing 777-300ERs we will be setting new benchmarks in terms of our guests’ overall comfort and travel experience,” says SWISS CEO Harry Hohmeister. “And on top of that, with their state-of-the-art engines, our new twinjets will give us substantial savings in fuel consumption and carbon emissions terms.”

Completing the residential feel, SWISS have an entrance to the aircraft that is treated like a reception, creating a welcoming area as you board the plane. It features an illuminated welcome panel, and the illuminated world map in a wood finish mirrors that in the reception of the SWISS lounges at Zurich airport.

In First and Business Class, the front bulkhead features a Matterhorn print, referencing Switzerland’s most famous mountainscape as well as featuring fully customised lavatories to continue the design aesthetic including the SWISS European oak signature finish.

Nigel Goode, Co-Founding Director of PriestmanGoode comments “SWISS has always been a world class airline, and their commitment to the passenger is exemplary. We are very happy to have worked with them again, enhancing our previous award-winning design to create an even better, more comfortable experience. We took inspiration from Switzerland’s design and craft heritage, as well as SWISS’ own brand identity, including the airline’s headquarters and flagship lounges in Zurich. The resulting cabins are luxurious, elegant and timeless with a lightness of touch, precise craftsmanship and attention to detail that embody the SWISS brand.”

We love this new product, it’s clean, contemporary, functional and inherently SWISS. There is something Iconic about swiss interiors, that lift the carrier to a design carrier echelon, and instead of opting for off-the-shelf products, the carrier has invested into producing something that will provide their customers with an excellent inflight experience, no matter what class they fly.

But where will it fly?

The Boeing 777-300ER offers the ideal range to serve SWISS’s farthest destinations non-stop from Switzerland. From the 2016 summer schedules onwards, the new aircraft will be deployed primarily on services to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Los Angeles. San Francisco, São Paulo and Tel Aviv will also receive Boeing 777 service several times a week.

The first six SWISS Airbus A340s will be withdrawn with the arrival of the more fuel efficient replacement Boeing 777-300ER fleet. Three further A340s will be replaced by new Boeing 777-300ERs between 2017 and 2018. These A340 aircraft will be transferred to SWISS’s sister carrier Edelweiss.

The Big Picture

Premium Japanese carrier ANA has announced they will be introducing their super-spacious 787-9 Dreamliner on a brand new Tokyo Haneda – Sydney route on December 11th this year. Whilst this new non-stop flight is still subject to governmental approval, passengers on the ever-popular Kangaroo route will welcome the news of increased competition and enhanced products on offer.

Whilst this is ANA’s fourth International addition this year (Houston, Kuala Lumpur and Brussels also all adding to ANA’s ever expanding network) this is arguably the most exciting of all of them.

The carrier has been able to secure excellent schedules for the flight, meaning that passengers from Europe and Australia can benefit from painless connections, as well as offering a convenient schedule for anyone wanting to take a domestic flight to any of ANA’s 42 Japanese destinations.

The introduction of the 787-9 means the carrier is wanting to attract premium passengers, and whilst the carrier hasn’t an aircraft featuring their luxurious First Class Suites on the Sydney route, ANA’s 787-9 is one of the least populated versions in the skies, featuring only 215 seats.

For passengers in the pointy end, expect 48 of ANA’s signature fully flat seats. In premium economy there is an incredibly intimate cabin of just 21 seats with generous leg-room and ample premium amenities. In economy, there are just 146 seats. Japanese carriers notoriously offer some of the best service levels in the skies and with such a small economy cabin, expect enhanced service levels in every cabin, making this the aircraft of choice, especially for those searching for the cheapest fares.

However, those lucky few travelling in the front of the Dreamliner will also be able to gain access to the recently expanded ANA Suite Lounge and ANA Lounge when travelling to Tokyo’s most convenient and heralded airport.

Osamu Shinobe, President and CEO of ANA, said, “We are thrilled to be expanding our footprint in Oceania and offering our passengers additional options and convenient connections through Haneda Airport. Our most comfortable seating and the optimized in-cabin humidity and air pressure of Boeing’s 787-9 Dreamliner should be especially good news for overnight travelers.”

Considering how popular Hakuba and Niseko are to Australian winter sport fans, the good news is that passengers in all cabins are able to take advantage of ANA’s special ‘Experience Japan’ fare, which costs only JPY10,800.

We are thrilled at this news. ANA is still (luckily for us) a relatively well kept secret to both Europe and Australia, however their Skytrax 5-star rating is well deserved and we would echo the sentiment, as they truly offer one of the best airline experiences in the skies.

KLM has just released a few choice images of their new 787-9 product due to arrive in October and has decided upon a brand new full-flat World Business Class product for its Boeing 787-9s. Unlike the carrier’s forward facing seats found in their 747’s and 777’s, the 787-9 has taken the familiar Zodiac seat for its business class cabin. This is both progressive and good news for passengers, as unlike the rest of the fleet, KLM has upgraded this version of their business class to an industry standard all-aisle-access product.

The design ethos hasn’t changed however with the familiar hues and tones we’ve come to expect of the Dutch airline, with the same warmer blues found throughout the cabin to unify the fleet’s product. Although on the 787 there are different shades for every seat as well as a large storage space ensure ultimate comfort and more personal room for passengers. Being the Zodiac seats, expect expansive 16” HD touchscreens in the seat backs.

With 30 seats in a 1 x 2 x 1 configuration, there is plenty of space to stretch out and for those wanting entertainment can enjoy both the most up-to-date entertainment system and WiFi connectivity.Whilst no images have yet been released of KLM’s 787-9 Economy or Economy Comfort (not to be confused with premium economy), we know the seating will be the typical 9 abreadst in a 3 x 3 x 3 configuration, with Economy Comfort offering 35″ of seat pitch.

The good news is that all economy seats can recline 40% further and all passengers now have access to a power socket where they can recharge their mobile equipment. “The Inflight Entertainment system has been renewed and extended with a larger, 11” screen, intuitive HD-quality touchscreens, interactive 3D maps, and the option to communicate via Seat Chat with fellow passengers who are not seated nearby. The Inflight Entertainment system provides access to more than 150 films and 200 TV programmes in 12 languages, including a large number of local films.” state KLM in their recent press release. We will reveal more here on thedesignair.net when the real product is rolled out in the upcoming months.

“My parts are showing? Oh, my goodness.” Excellent news Jedis. Japan’s largest airline ANA announced that two more of its planes will be decorated with Star Wars characters as part of an agreement with The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. BB-8, a brand new character from Star Wars: The Force Awakens scheduled for theatrical release in December 2015, will be displayed on the livery of the BB-8 ANA Jet, a Boeing 777-300ER. ANA also announced the Star Wars™ ANA Jet, which will showcase both BB-8 and R2-D2 on the outside of a Boeing 767-300. These Star Wars themed planes will join the previously announced R2-D2 ANA Jet, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

The good news is that everyone will be able to experience these new jets that will travel around the world flying both international and domestic routes. On October 18, the R2-D2™ ANA Jet is scheduled to go into service on international routes, initially as flight NH116 between Tokyo and Vancouver, and then fly between Japan and other cities in ANA’s robust international network including Seattle, San Jose, Munich, Paris, Brussels, Sydney, Beijing and Jakarta.

The airline has really celebrated their relationship with Star Wars, creating their own microsite www.ana-sw.com, which will include the flight schedules of all three Boeing jets. We will be checking this regularly to see if we can fly on our own piece of the Star Wars universe.

Speaking on the launch, Osamu Shinobe, President and CEO of ANA said “We’re thrilled to unveil the designs of our new Star Wars themed planes, and I’m sure fans across the world will love the look. At ANA we pride ourselves on offering the best possible flight experience, from the ANA Star Wars Project and our extensive in-flight entertainment options, to our peerless, award-winning in-flight service, dining options created by Michelin-starred chefs and wines chosen by our discerning sommeliers. We look forward to providing our passengers with an engaging in-flight experience as they travel our planet.”

This week marked the arrival of Korean Air‘s new 747-8i passenger aircraft. The first of 10 on order, these new aircraft are heralded as the flagship airframe for this South Korean airline. KAL, which already operates seven 747-8 freighters, has become the first airline in the world to operate both the passenger and freighter version of the 747-8, and operates a Boeing only fleet. About 70% of the 747-8i, by structural weight, incorporates new advanced aluminum alloys and carbon composites to reduce the weight drastically and giving a 16% improvement in fuel consumption and emissions over its predecessor the 747-400, while generating 30% less noise. With a range of 14,815km, the new B747 will be the fastest wide body passenger jet in the world with a normal cruising speed of Mach 0.86.

Passengers will indeed be rejoicing, especially in the premium cabins. The new B747-8 Intercontinental is configured with 368 seats in a three-class configuration; 6 First Class, 48 Prestige Class (26 seats on the upper deck and 22 seats on the main deck) and 314 Economy Class. The aircraft also features Korean Air’s brand new First Class Kosmo Suites 2.0 designed with a sliding door and higher partitions to provide added privacy for passengers. We have some exclusive shots of the new interior.

The first class suites are also equipped with updated in-flight entertainment systems, with large 24-inch high-definition monitors and new handheld touch remotes. The airline’s Prestige Class Suites will feature staggered seating and privacy panels, along with 18” high definition touch screens. The aircraft also features an all-new, 787 Dreamliner-inspired interior that includes new curved, upswept architecture, giving passengers the feel of more space and comfort.

Commencing September 2015, Korean Air plans to operate its B747-8 Intercontinental from Seoul on the Frankfurt and Singapore routes. The airline also plans to introduce the aircraft on the San Francisco and Hong Kong routes from November.

We really like the new interiors, and whilst they are perhaps a little basic in colour tone, the comfort in both business class and first class is definitely in the top league of its class, offering every premium passenger direct-aisle access, forward facing seats and enhanced privacy. Whilst the A380 has both a ‘Celestial Bar’ and the walk-in duty-free shop, the carrier has opted against both on this configuration, instead investing purely in seat comfort. This 747-8i is going to be one of the hottest tickets on Korean Air’s fleet. No wonder they are positioning it on their high-yielding routes. Hopefully we may see a retro-fit of the rest of the fleet, depending on the success of these new products.

We were delighted to be invited to Vietnam Airlines inaugural Dreamliner launch from London Heathrow today. It gave us the opportunity to see the carrier’s new 787-9 up close and personal on stand at Terminal 4 before its flight back to Vietnam.

On the outside, Vietnam Airlines’ 787 has a fantastic colour to it, and the livery seems iridescent to a certain degree. This by far is one of the best 787 liveries out there right now.

On entering the L1 door, you are greeted by an impressive business class cabin featuring 28 of the Zodiac Cirrus III seats. The cabin features a neutral fern, moss and yellow colour scheme, and the seats feature a traditional vietnamese flower motif embroidered into the seats. The cabin, with its seven rows of 1 x 2 x 1 seating, ensures every passenger has aisle access.

Unlike some carriers, this seat model is fairly basic, and it doesn’t feature the door on the headphones cabinet, which acts as a divider for increased privacy in certain carriers. The hand controller also isn’t the high tech Panasonic ex3 system that most carriers offer.

That said, the hard product is solid, reliable, and proven. There is plenty comfort to go around. With ample storage for passengers, including side storage both by the seat itself and in the footwell.

There are also USB charging ports and power sockets in every seat, along with an impressive IFE Screen that like all cirrus seats, pops out at the touch of a button to face the passenger.

The bed when fully deployed is both comfortable and long enough to cater for even the tallest of passengers, and for added privacy the arm rest can be raised, to help aid sleep and reduce the chance of being woken by someone walking past the aisle.

The Business Class Big Picture

In premium economy, which is a step up from the carriers previous ‘economy comfort’ product, passengers will be blown away by not only the amount of personal space, but the deep recline and comfortable wide seats on offer.

Not happy with just 38″, passengers will experience an industry leading 42″ seat pitch in a 2 x 3 x 2 configuration. The seats feature a deep 7″ recline and a leg rest in every seat. Whilst bulkhead seats don’t have one, all other seats also have a fold down foot rest. These seats are well padded and would be easy to fall asleep in.

Each seat has a large, HD touchscreen that comes from the arm rest which means that passengers reclining their seats won’t interfere with your viewing pleasure. The screens are solid and unlike older generation seats, won’t have the issue of slowly falling to the floor as the flight progresses.

The cabin is very intimate, with only 35 seats in the cabin, and it also has two toilets dedicated to the premium economy passengers, situated at the front.

Premium Economy Big Picture

In economy, passengers, whilst in a tighter 3 x 3 x 3 configuration (pretty standard now) will also have a huge upgrade compared to the previous incarnation, which excellent 10.6 touchscreen IFE screens, a deeper 6″ recline and 32″ seat pitch.

The seats also benefit from USB charging, power outlets (two per 3 seats) and obviously the mood lighting, reduced cabin pressure and state-of-the-art-play-with-the-window windows.

The best seats in the house are definitely the bulkhead seats (of which there are two sets) although the window seats will not have as much leg room as the aisle or middles seats due to the evacuation slide on the emergency doors.

However, our small bug bear is the controller on the arm rest, which is very sensitive, and may mean inadvertent cabin crew calling, disco light scenarios or channel changing as people shift around to get some shut eye. The shut eye however, made all the better by the pillows and blankets on offer for every passenger.

Generally speaking the economy cabin is very smart, and whilst not as miraculous as the more premium cabins upfront, will help put the carrier on the right steps towards earning the 4-star recognition it is actively seeking.

Economy Class Big Picture

All in all, we are very impressed with Vietnam Airlines new 787 product which has already started service as of today between Ho Chi Minh /Hanoi and London’s Heathrow airport. The good news is the carrier is planning on becoming daily on the Vietnam to UK routes by 2016, offering more passengers more choice and very affordable products. The carrier also announced it is planning on introducing inflight WiFi and SMS connectivity in the near future.

Domestic travel in the US is really heating up now, with a new wave of interiors just launched by United. Starting with the A319 next week, the new interior will be rolled out on A319s, A320s, 737s and 757s throughout 2016.  The new interiors are custom created for the airline as it pushes hard to compete with more design-led airlines such as Delta, Virgin America and JetBlue. It is no surprise that United have decided to keep up with their competitors and in certain areas possibly even push ahead of the competition.

Developed with input from customers whom the airline invited to test seat prototypes, the brand new United seats by design firm PriestmanGoode have created features several elements to improve the customer experience, including, all-leather seat covers, a patented-design tray table with tablet holder, articulating seat bottoms for greater comfort when reclining and an adjustable headrest; in-seat universal A/C power outlets for customers to charge their devices; increased in-seat storage, including two seatback pockets and side stowage for laptops and tablets; dedicated beverage holders; and check this out: real granite cocktail tables (no weight spared there!)

At 21.1 inches wide, the new United First seat is wider than the current seat and will have numerous custom-design elements and premium finishes including the signature United-branded tag. Each aircraft will continue to have the same number of premium-cabin seats. “This new seat is directly based on customer testing and feedback,” said Tom O’Toole, United’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “We designed a custom seat that incorporates the features that today’s passengers want and upgrades our cabins.”

As part of a wave of improvements across the carrier, United’s new premium-cabin seats found in 200+ narrow-bodies is just the latest upgrade the airline is making to its aircraft interiors, including larger overhead bins, more in-seat power outlets and new carpets, mood lighting, boarding music and galley flooring.

There is some real care and attention that has gone into the interior design, and Priestmangoode have managed to really capture the spirit of United’s new brand, whilst still injecting a modern and contemporary feel. It’s small elements like the extra storage, or tablet holders that will help United lift its image, and help present it as an innovative airline brand for the years to come. We love some of the finishes on display, especially the granite table tops, and duo tone seat backs. It will really be great to see these in situ in reality in the coming months.

The Big Picture

We’ve been waiting a while for this, but we’re over the moon. Literally. The R2-D2 ANA Jet, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, rolled-out from the Boeing Everett Factory for the first time this morning. The R2-D2 ANA Jet is the first of three planes to be decorated with Star Wars characters as part of an agreement between ANA, Japan’s largest airline, and The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd.

“Today the time has come to bring the ANA Star Wars project to life and we hope Star Wars fans across the world will be as excited about our R2-D2 ANA Jet as we are,” said Hideki Kunugi, Senior Vice President, the Americas, ANA. “At ANA we’re always looking for ways to improve the flying experience for our passengers, and what better way to start your trip to Asia than on a one-of-a-kind Star Wars plane?”

The R2-D2 design was unveiled to Star Wars fans at the Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California earlier this year. Today marks the first time a Star Wars character appears on the exterior of an actual commercial aircraft. It will be joined by other characters from the franchise.

On October 18, the R2-D2 ANA Jet is scheduled to go into service on international routes, initially as flight NH116 between Tokyo and Vancouver, and then fly between Japan and other cities in ANA’s robust international network including the US (Seattle and San Jose), Europe (Munich, Paris and Brussels), Australia (Sydney), China (Beijing), and Indonesia (Jakarta). As we covered early this year, The R2-D2 motif is imprinted onto the cockpit and front half of the jet’s main fuselage, while the Star Wars logo spans the length behind the wings.

The interior of the 215-seat passenger plane will feature themed in-flight decorations, such as headrest covers, paper napkins and cups, and good news – passengers will be able to enjoy all six of the currently released Star Wars films as part of ANA’s extensive in-flight entertainment options. This will be the first time that any of the Star Wars movies have been included as part of an in-flight entertainment system.

The Big Picture

Flight: AZ674
Aircraft Type: B777-200ER
Class: ‘Magnifica’ Business Class (older generation)
Route: FCO-GRU
Flight time: 11:12
Seat: 3A
Date: September 2015

www.alitalia.com

Best for: European one-stop travellers who are happy to connect in Europe for more affordable fares.
The crowd: Even though this is a very established route, the passengers seemed almost entirely Italian.
Business or pleasure: The carrier suits business travellers, and with their imminent introduction of Wi-Fi, things are only going to get better. The long haul network is very business-centric, with very few holiday destinations.
Routes: Great European coverage, with frequent flights on most city pairs. Long haul network is getting stronger, with major cities and continents covered, and they obviously have a great link up with Etihad, expanding their reach through the Middle East and beyond to Australasia.
Frequent Flyer Programme: Millemiglia, part of the Skyteam family, it’s well suited for Italian residents. If you have a sky team partner in your own country, stick with their mileage program.
Best bits: Hands down the food. Excellent dining, and fantastic service as well.
Worst bits: IFE was a little light on entertainment offerings, and the system was a little clunky to navigate.

Alitalia 777-200ER Business Class Report

We were lucky enough to be invited to the grand unveiling of Alitalia’s new interior and livery back in June. However, on a recent trip to São Paulo, we wanted to give the current business class product a try before it was phased out across the fleet. As of July, the carrier has introduced an improved dining service, offering ‘dine when you want’ menus and food served direct to the seat, rather than using the older trolley service. Travelling from London, we were able to experience the SkyTeam lounge in Heathrow and a short hop across to Rome before the long-haul overnight flight to Sao Paulo Guarulhos airport. Alitalia is very well connected for Europe to South America flights, and with prices being fairly affordable, its a good one-stop option to São Paulo.

On the Ground

On arrival at Heathrow’s Terminal 4 the check in queues were fairly non-existent and business class passengers were able to take priority over economy passengers due to a dedicated lane, decked out with a red carpet.

With a warm welcome from the staff, we were quickly handed our boarding passes and our bag was checked-in the whole way through to São Paulo. With a two hour connection time, we were comfortable the checked bag would make it the whole way. Next to the check-in desk was the security channel. Passengers in business class are entitled to use the Fast Track lane, which in our previous experience has always been hit and miss.

This time the Fast Track was excellent, and we were airside within 10 minutes of arriving at the airport. As the connecting flight left at 4pm, the terminal was fairly empty, with only an Etihad A380 taking most of the passengers from the terminal, as well as the usual KLM and Air France shuttle flights.

The very spacious SkyTeam lounge, situated opposite gate 10, sits on top of the Etihad lounge, and offers two floors with plenty of seating as well as self-service buffet and drinks bars. On the ground floor, there is more light from the large picture windows, with a great view onto the Apron and the 27L runway threshold.

There best seats are the ones next to the windows, which offer tables and power sockets, however there are plenty of other options. The lounge has been open for a few years now, and is starting to show its age a little compared to some of the newer lounges open in Heathrow. That said, we like the living walls, and sweeping curves that adorn the lounge, and a nice touch is the Clarins spa in the lounge, which has two treatment rooms and offers complimentary facials and basic massages for guests of the lounge – we recommend the facial treatments.

The food offering was fairly basic, with a mix of hot and cold dishes, along with a well stocked self-service bar with a range of wines, spirits and champagne. As most SkyTeam flights are just a short-haul flight from Heathrow, the lounge is perfectly stocked for a short wait before the flight.

The Short-haul connection

Unfortunately our short-haul flight to Rome was delayed by 55 minutes, meaning that our connection time in Rome was only an hour, giving us just enough time to get from one aircraft to the other, and sadly not enough time to experience the Rome Fiumicino lounge. After boarding the A321, we sat in Row 1 of a three row first class cabin. Alitalia offer a 3 x 3 seating in their narrow body fleet (apart from the 2 x 2 embraer seating) and business class passengers can enjoy a vacant middle seat, which is converted into a cocktail table. Leg room is decent, and the service was very personalised, partly due to their only being three guests.

The food on offer was very tasty, it was a simple continental cold cut meats, warm breads and melon. There was a full bar service also on offer. It’s fairly traditional fare for a trans-European business class flight, but it was very tasty. After landing, we had a shuttle-bus take us to the terminal, whereby we quickly passed through security and headed to the G gates where the flight to Sao Paulo was departing from.

The Cabin

On boarding the 777-200 through the L2 door, you are greeted into the heart of the business class cabin, with seats both to the fore and behind the door. On both the A330 and B777, Alitalia have opted for the staggered forward facing Sogerma Solstys seats, which have been reworked by Alitalia for their new cabins, but the hard-product is virtually identical in both. The 777 cabin doesn’t feature the mood lighting of the A330, and the general effect of the cabin whilst boarding in the evening was fairly standard. There were no patterns on the bulkheads, and there was a basic dark carpet, leaving a fairly unbranded environment.

Opting for a seat in the forward cabin, the cabin felt small and intimate, and the seat configuration meant that it didn’t feel overcrowded. The seats are in a neutral grey tone, which was very smart and sophisticated.

The main business class galley has been converted to include a walk-up bar which is lightly stocked on the flights to include water, snacks and ice, however snacks and drinks are constantly on offer from the cabin crew.

The 777 offers two toilets, one at the front, and one in the middle of the cabin. They were nothing special, especially considering the new A330s toilets have been redesigned to be more appealing and sadly no branded amenities were on offer, just Alitalia towelettes.

The Seat

We have always had a fondness for the Sogerma Solstys seats, which are spacious, private and well-designed. The seats are distributed in a 1 x 2 x 1 configuration, almost all the seats are private, with only the centre seats offering a ‘Honeymoon’ configuration for passengers wanting to travel together. The most private seats are the window seats, which are positioned away from the aisle and any passing foot-fall accidentally brushing against you as you sleep.

The seats offer both a large table which can be folded down for dining on, and also a side table, which is perfect for drinks, laptops, magazines etc. Situated on the side table is both a magazine rack and a personal reading light that can flex to your needs. The seat can be reclined into a variety of positions and features a massage function that is fairly powerful.

Once sat down in the private suite-like seat, in front you will find a fairly large TV screen (sadly not touchscreen), a large ottoman which acts as an extension of the seat to form the bed, and underneath more storage for shoes or other personal effects.

When fully reclined the seat turns into a comfortable bed at 78″ long. Alitalia offer Frette brand bedding for their Magnifica class passengers.  Including a very warm duvet and thick pillow (although we required two pillows to be comfortable) We managed a very comfortable 8 hour sleep on the flight, showcasing the comfort these seats provide.

The Entertainment

Sadly, Alitalia’s entertainment offerings are the let down of the product. Thankfully the airline offers AVOD, meaning the small selection of movies and TV programs can be watched whenever you want, however, the list of entertainment is a little small, and the user interface, clunky and outdated. We know the carrier is adding a new IFE system in its retrofitted planes, meaning a more advanced IFE interface, and new seat controls. The screen was good, and there were more films in Italian, which will of course suit Italian travellers, however International travellers may find the options a little light.

Another small issue we had was with the hand controller, which is situated at elbow height and right next to the arm rest, meaning our elbow hit the stop button a couple of times during the flight, meaning having to start the films again and fast-forward to the position we left the film at.

The airline offers international newspapers and magazines before take-off, and the current magazine Ulisse, is ok and has a lot of content, although the design is a little dated on the inside. No doubt it will be updated to match the new brand shortly. Weirdly, and this can just be due to aircraft rotation, our IFE and magazines were still August programming, although the flight was almost 4 days into the following month.

The Food

So from the not-s0-good to the great. Alitalia’s star performance lies in its food. This is a flying foodie paradise, and whilst the short haul flight was impressive, the catering on Alitalia’s long-haul aircraft is phenomenal. No wonder it keeps winning awards. As soon as we took our seats, we were offered a glass of Franciacorta sparkling wine.

The menus for both food and drink were sat on our seats, featuring the new airline branding.  Just before take-off the cabin crew came around to take our order. As well as offering a wide range of snacks mid-flight, such as rustic sandwiches, cheese selections, chocolate cake and fruits, the main attraction was in the shape of dinner and breakfast.

The Dinner Menu

Appetizer
Beef bresaola and goats cheese mousse infused with fresh herbs accompanied by a mosaic of fruit mustard jelly.
or
Crepé cannoli filled with smoked sword fish, citrus zucchini and cured salmon

Primi
Potato ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach coated in a rich buttery cabbage sauce, light sprinkle of parmesan
or
Pasta tossed in a blended San Marzano Organic PDO tomato and basil sauce finished with grated parmesan

Secondi
Braised chicken supreme filled with field mushroom topped with a borage crust, accompanied by chicken jus
or
Prawns wrapped in fillet of turbot served with a light field greens infused reduction

Accompaniments
Parmesan gratin potato cake, sautéed spinach and butter glazed carrots
Crisp green side salad

Cheese
Farm style selection served with fresh fruit and crudités

Dessert
Selection of seasonal sliced fresh fruit
or
Traditional rich layered chocolate cake accompanied by berry coulis

Espresso, brewed coffee and tea selections

The Italian Breakfast Menu

Orange juice
Yoghurt
Fresh sliced seasonal fruit
Warm artisan bakery selection and preserves
Savoury pancakes with scrambled egg and cheese, served with Luganega sausage and cherry tomato.

Shortly after take off, an aperitif was served, and enjoying the sparkling wine so much, we opted for the Franciacorta again. It was served with a small plate of mini-quiche and fresh vietnamese prawn skewer. Within 10 minutes the cabin crew effortlessly dressed the table with a white linen table cloth and prepared the table for the starter.

We started with the beef, which was very tasty and quite filling. The meat was tender and melted in the mouth, and the goats cheese was lovely. The starter was served with a variety of warm bread rolls too. To go with the food we swapped to a delightfully light Sauvignon white.

Shortly afterwards the Primi course was offered. We asked the crew which was the better before we took off, and we weren’t disappointed when the recommended ravioli arrived. The taste was fantastic, and it somehow was perfectly cooked. The presentation was to an incredibly high standard too.

Already stuffed, but still wanting to go on, we were presented with the chicken course, which looked as if it had come out of a restaurant kitchen, rather than an aircraft galley. Everything was hot, perfectly seasoned, and the chicken moist and tasty.

Now full beyond belief, we begrudgingly turned down the cheese course, instead opting for the chocolate cake, which again, was moist, decadent, and perfectly balanced by a tart berry coulis.

Before heading to sleep, we were offered a green tea to help us get to sleep, which was the perfect finish to a culinary experience at 34,000ft. Just as we finished dining, the lights were turned down in the cabin, and we made the bed ready for sleep. As we climbed in, the cabin crew asked if we wanted to be woken for breakfast. Knowing we had a good few hours sleep ahead of us, we opted to be woken and were thrilled when we did.

Approximately two hours before landing, we were gently woken up, and offered a hot towel to freshen up. At the same time we were asked if we wanted an espresso. It was perfect, rich and strong, and the exact pick me up that was needed after a long peaceful sleep. Within 5 minutes, the table was once again laid, and breakfast laid out before us, including warm breads and pastries, fresh fruit and an egg and sausage dish which we promise, was tastier than it looks in our photos.

The Extras

Alitalia offer some great amenities. From the Salvatore Ferragamo amenity kit, which includes eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush and toothpaste, socks, and Salvatore Ferragamo eau de toilette, lip balm, shaving foam and moisturiser along with a razor for men. Females get their own version with slightly different contents. As well as the amenity kit, passengers get slippers, and noise cancelling headphones which are pretty decent.

In Conclusion

We weren’t fully sure what to expect from Alitalia before this trip and their long haul product. However, with our recent experience we were blown away by what is a leading long haul product. Whilst the hard product is strong, and equals the product you would find on Etihad or any other leading international carrier, its the service and dining that made our experience with Alitalia all the better. So we were frustrated with the IFE, but the roll out of the new hard product addresses this, and change is already underway. The introduction of the dine-when-you want, and at-seat service makes the world of difference to the Alitalia experience. With the addition of the new seats, cabin interiors and uniforms which will come out next year, Alitalia have added a little bit of Italian style to the skies, and the skies will be all the better for it.

The Big Picture

THEDESIGNAIR.NET TRAVELLED AS GUESTS OF ALITALIA, HOWEVER THE VIEWS EXPRESSED HERE ARE OUR OWN.

Flight: CI3 (Westbound) and CI4 (Eastbound)
Aircraft Type: B777-300ER
Class: Premium Business Class
Route: SFO-TPE-SFO
Date: September 2015

www.china-airlines.com

Written for TheDesignAir by Adam Ralston | San Francisco is inarguably one of the busiest US gateways to and from Asia. All US legacy carriers and a multitude of foreign carriers provide direct service to several points of entry throughout Asia. That said, it’s still exciting when a new entrant steps forward to toss their hat into the trans-Pacific ring. Especially when they’ve revamped their business, premium economy, and economy products and are eager to show it off.

Enter China Airlines. With a fresh fleet of 777-300ERs – the youngest delivered as recently as 25 August 2015 – the Taiwan-based carrier is giving hometown rival EVA Air a run for its money with a fresh take on the trans-Pacific service to Taipei’s Taoyuan Airport.

We’ve written (and admittedly gushed) about China Airlines before when we were their guests on their new planes last year, albeit on an intra-Asia flight. This new service, though, is ripe for review for those seeking a relatively affordable premium business experience to and from Central Asia from America’s west coast.

Though this was a return trip with two separate flights, the flights themselves were nearly identical in service, timing, and hard and soft product. We’ve thus combined most aspects of both flights into this one trip report, only differentiating when necessary.

On the Ground

Check-in at San Francisco via the Premium Business Class line was quick as we arrived slightly under three hours early. We were called to the counter promptly by the China Airlines check-in associate, provided with boarding passes and lounge invitations, and directed to the priority security line.

Surprisingly, China Airlines maintain their own lounge at the outstation San Francisco despite having only one daily flight to or from SFO. Housed in a small wing off the international A Terminal just past security, it could certainly use some updating – common amongst most of the foreign carrier lounges at SFO. The food spread consists of what you’d expect from a well-stocked US domestic carriers’ lounge: some finger sandwiches, assorted fruit, sushi samplers, congee, snacks in the form of chips/crisps, and cookies or peanuts. Soft drinks, waters, and beer were well stocked in several refrigerated units and one each red and white wine was available for self-pour. There was also a full bar – though it wasn’t manned actively whilst we were there, but I was told the lounge attendants would be happy to mix anything we’d like. Since, CI3 departs at 01:40, making a meal of lounge fare is likely not the priority for many of the lounge guests. But with fast internet – a highly sought-after commodity at SFO – and a clean and quiet atmosphere, it’s perfectly suitable to while away an hour or so pre-flight.

Check-in in Taipei was equally friendly and efficient, and security a breeze. Again, this was a later flight so neither the airport nor China Airlines’ three lounges were busy. We’ve already reviewed the new lounge in Terminal 1 here when we flew with them in November. All we can say is that the last 9 months have been very kind to the Ray Chen-designed lounge as it seems to have only gotten better with age. Any initial hiccups have vanished and the lounge just simply oozes sophisticated elegance and style.

A rotating menu and extensive liquor, wine, and champagne selection ensures repeat passengers won’t get bored with the culinary offerings no matter how frequently they travel.

Terminal 2 hosts China Airlines’ other lounge for both Dynasty Fliers and Sky Team elite members. Though plain by the high standards set in the Terminal 1 lounge, it is functional, comfortable, and provides ample food and beverage options. Offering shower and changing facilities and two levels of seating it’s decidedly the more Western-oriented lounge of the two lounges yet to be renovated as part of this China Airlines makeover. Though clearly a cut above San Francisco’s offering and perfectly lovely for a short layover or an hour or so pre-flight, we’d not make it a point to visit this lounge for its own sake.

Above immigration, overlooking over the check-in desks at Terminal 2, China Airlines have placed their Supreme Lounge, available only to the top tier Dynasty Fliers. Decorated in a distinct Chinese aesthetic, this lounge provides guests with various private and shared seating cubicles. Lots of glass, light woods, and Asian themes abound while lounge attendants provide table service to passengers awaiting flights. While the menus in all three lounges share key features, this lounge skewed more towards Eastern culinary themes while the other Terminal 2 lounge skewed Western, which makes sense as top tier members would likely be from Taiwan proper with the associated palate. With showers and private bathrooms, this quiet oasis above the hustle and bustle of check in most assuredly hits the mark with China Airlines’ elites.

The clear winner of the four lounges visited is the recently renovated Terminal 1 lounge, hands down. Really, though, that’s not fair to the others awaiting their own makeovers. Rumor has it the plans are in the works, but China Airlines staff were hesitant to provide any specific dates, so we’ll have to keep checking in for updates. Still, Terminal 1’s lounge is open to anyone who can access any of the lounges, regardless of their departure gate. So if you don’t mind a bit of a walk, you’ll not be disappointed.

The Cabin

Boarding was an orderly affair with lines separating Premium Business Class, Dynasty Flyers and SkyTeam partners with status from Premium Economy and Economy to keep people flowing. It’s worth noting that the gate agents were actively measuring and weighing hand baggage as passengers passed through the boarding queue – something to be mindful of if you’re prone to bending the rules but that we were happy to see.

Walking through door 2L into China Airlines’ much-touted Sky Lounge, we were warmly greeted by the in-flight crew servicing the Premium Business Cabin. All were sporting the new China Airlines uniforms, and discussions with various ground and in-flight staff show the update has been well-received and the new styling has blended well into operations over the last month. We tend to agree as the new look is quite sharp.

We made our way to our assigned seats in row 23, the last row of the second, smaller Premium Business Cabin. First impressions being critical, this new 777-300ER amazes. The persimmon wood-look finishes on bulkheads and horizontal surfaces and tray tables, accented by the glossy black and matte grey edging and vertical surfaces exudes class and polish reminiscent of an upgraded Westin or Grand Hyatt. Add to that chrome finishes on door pulls and edging.

The Ray Chen-designed interior, overall, is stylish and refined and lacks the over-the-top ostentatiousness of some other airlines’ business offerings that can make the interiors seem gaudy with loud colors or an overabundance of useless bells and whistles in the name of “features”. Its grey-black-ash palate exudes quiet sophistication, especially when compared to the myriad, boring shades of dark blue or grey that seem to be prevalent in many business class products. The addition of the faux-wood finishes softens the tone, as well, creating the atmosphere of a nice cocktail lounge. We hope China Airlines pays certain attention to these beautiful, coordinating elements as proper care will keep these cabins fresh and inviting for years to come.

The lavatories, an area of increasing focus in today’s premium cabins, continue the understated refinement of the larger cabin. Though China Airlines’ fall on the simpler end of the spectrum – no vessel sinks, fresh cut flowers, or wealth of designer personal care accouterments – the chrome finishes, monochromatic color palate, and the Taiwanese folk ink prints on the forward bulkheads provide a sense of sophistication. An interesting addition we’ve so far only seen on China Airlines is the piped-in Muzak; an eclectic mix of piano concertos and jazz classics, played just loud enough to be noticeable without being intrusive. Further, the flight attendants kept a watchful eye on all the lavatories and refreshed each after nearly every use, wiping down counters, fluffing tissues and paper towels, and folding each toilet paper end into a neat triangle.

The Seat

The BE Aerospace seats, configured in the now-commonplace 1x2x1 reverse herringbone setup, all offer aisle access and reasonable sense of privacy within an otherwise open pod. The only drawback of these otherwise intuitive and comfortable seats is that China Airlines have opted against the privacy divider between the coupled center seats, so those traveling as individuals may want to choose a position near the window. This is an inconvenient drawback that I would hope to be corrected when China Airlines accept delivery of their A350s next year.

Seating surfaces are covered in a cool grey-green fabric with interwoven silver elements to further enhance the metallic, earthy, and woodsy tones. All control elements are within easy reach, as are the Seat positioning is fairly upright for take-off and landing, but the presets for lounging and sleeping are clearly marked on the intuitive touchscreen seat controls used to manage the seat and ambient lighting and are usable once you’re off the ground.

The shell of the seat continues the design aesthetic of the bulkheads by incorporating textures reminiscent of bamboo grain. The look is subtle, and much more tactile in nature inviting you to run your hands over the surface, but is clearly present and intended to be noticed. This softens the otherwise monolithic look and feel of the shell situated ahead of anyone not seated in a bulkhead row.

In front of you is a large, 18-inch, HD, touchscreen monitor. The picture is clear and quite bright. It’s the perfect size for the seat given how close you sit to it, making it both very easy to see and to reach when wishing to manipulate the IFE.

Opposite the screen, at the rear of the pod, is a decorative and functional table lamp great for use when lights are dimmed for takeoff or landing, or to provide for some work lighting while others are sleeping. Plus, we think it’s a decorative and functional addition to the seat that provides a touch of hominess to the overall feel.

Hidden amongst the frame of the seat are several storage compartments. The larger houses your China Airlines-branded slippers, on-ear, noise cancelling headphones, the corded IFE controller, two USB ports, and a multinational power outlet. The slippers are amongst the nicest slippers we’ve received in the sky. The headphones dutifully provided adequate sound and clarity, though we’d probably do better to bring our own on future flights.

Another, shallower compartment is just behind the larger and would be good for a small iPad, iPod, glasses, and passports. The height-adjustable armrest on the aisle side of the seat sports yet another compartment that holds a welcoming bottle of water and your amenity kit, stocked with Acca Kappa products. Finally, a fourth storage area can be found just forward of the fixed armrest, handy for storing your footwear when you slide into your slippers.

In sleep mode, the seat extends to a fully flat, 6’6’’ bed. China Airlines tout the seating surfaces – and thus bed – as being memory foam, but we couldn’t tell and will have to take their word for it. We found the cushioning to be firm but still supportive. When lounging or sleeping, the seat provided ample give allowing us to settle in comfortably. Shoulder width is adequate for small-to-average passengers, though bulkier fliers may feel a bit pinched for space. Still, back, side, and stomach sleepers should have no problem getting several, uninterrupted hours of sleep, which is the true test of comfort.

The Service

Pre-departure water, orange juice, and apple juice were offered as soon as we were seated, baggage stowed, and coat hung by the attentive in-flight crew. It’s worth noting that China Airlines did not offer alcohol on the ground, so any orders for cocktails will be held until cruising altitude.

Food and drink menus for both late night/early morning flights were handed out pre-departure, as well. To our disappointment, orders for both the abbreviated supper and the following breakfast were taken shortly before departure and menus quickly collected thereafter leaving passengers with minimal time to make a choice on both meals or to peruse the menu later during the flight to review what was on offer for snacking between meals. While we didn’t ask to see the menus again, we’re sure the crew would have happily obliged had we asked. Still, though, we’d have liked to keep the menus for the duration of the flight and think this is an easy fix for China Airlines.

Dinner service began once we’d reached cruising altitude. Given the late departure times for both flights, service was expedited to maximize sleeping time, even on the eastbound flight, which landed in the evening. Hot towels and drinks were served first, followed promptly by the starter, salad, a fruit medley (with some of the freshest fruit we’ve seen on a plane), and soup all served on one tray. To keep the process moving, flight attendants kept a watchful eye on each passenger’s progress ensuring glasses never went empty and that the main course was served as soon after the starters as permissible without being forceful. This continued through to dessert, which wrapped-up most passenger’s meals about an hour-and-a-half into the flight and prepped most to tuck into a movie or their beds for the remainder of the way across the Pacific.

For dinner, we tried both the Western and Taiwanese options. The Western option – a beef fillet – was one of the best pieces of beef we’ve had in the sky. The Eastern option consisted of stir-fried shrimp that was of a quality very similar to dishes we had in numerous restaurants on the ground. Finally, the Western breakfast was an omelet and the typical trimmings; perfectly satisfying for a pre-arrival meal without feeling overstuffed or overly salted.

When it was time to turn in for the evening, or morning as it were, China Airlines offer a turndown service that provides a fluffy duvet and a standard-sized pillow in addition to the thick blanket and bolster pillow that awaited us at our seats upon boarding. The flight attendants were more than happy to oblige when asked for the turndown and our seats were made up after a quick trip to the lav. We found the duvet served better as a mattress pad, though, with the thinner blanket as a covering. In all, we slept for a solid 7+ hours, waking just in time for breakfast.

The Entertainment

China Airlines have provided not just a large screen for viewing movies, but have provided as well a large selection of recent releases in a variety of languages – English and Chinese being the predominant. Even the not-so-recent releases were full of our favorites and had several genres to please most any traveler.

For television, we found a few Western series of moderate popularity and a bounty of Chinese series, with a handful hailing from other Asian origins. We didn’t listen to the playlists available so we can’t comment on the quality, but there was a decent selection to meet most tastes.

We found the ex3 system to be generally intuitive, and the touch-screen features were a pleasure to use. Of special note is the ability to scroll through a movie in a process much like the scrubbing feature found on the iPhone and iPad (iOS). Overall, the system was responsive to both touch-screen and the controller and certainly helped the flight whiz by. We also enjoyed the mapping function, which offered multiple 3D views and angles to track our flight’s progress.

Offering onboard Wi-Fi across the Pacific is a recent development for most airlines, and a China Airlines have dived right in. Connections speeds were very decent for in-flight wifi across an ocean, though at US$11.95 for an hour, and only meager quantity discounts for packages of longer duration, we’re not sure we could recommend it unless you absolutely must work overnight or you’re travelling for business and your employer reimburses you.

In Conclusion

Our flights were superbly enjoyable. Food, drink, and service were amongst the best we’ve experienced in business classes on most airlines and comparable to first class on some – and certainly hold their own among the majority of other Asian carriers offering similar routes. We were able to sleep at least 7 hours on both flights, arriving at both destinations legitimately refreshed – not to mention well fed – and no worse for wear despite the relatively long flight time and late departures. We’re excited to see this new competition in the market, especially against the US legacy carriers that seem to only recently be taking seriously their long-haul business products. And with a generally competitive price point for return tickets and an expansive intra-Asia network, we wouldn’t hesitate to book with China Airlines or recommend them to others in the future.

The Big Picture

THEDESIGNAIR.NET TRAVELLED AS GUESTS OF CHINA AIRLINES, HOWEVER THE VIEWS EXPRESSED HERE ARE OUR OWN.

Japanese carrier ANA have been having some fun with their 787 recently, both playing Star Wars with some avid sci-fi aficionados and also launching their new Brussels flight with a 787 service. On October 17, 2015, the R2-D2 ANA JET Fan Appreciation Flight event was held at Haneda Airport. A total of 91 passengers were selected—42 chosen from the Sightseeing Flight Campaign, where people sent in pictures of themselves in Star Wars cosplay, and the other 49 chosen from the AMC Members’ Campaign.

We love how involved everyone got in the event. We just wish we were at the airport, watching everyone in the queue checking in. From Darth Vader to an Ewok. The event was themed to perfection, even boarding passes with an R2-D2 design were given to all passengers of the R2-D2 ANA JET. The event began with a ceremony just in front of the aircraft. After opening remarks from Mr. Inada, the head of marketing at ANA, the participants gathered for a group photo with the themed jet.

As well as the outside, the inside was themed with R2D2 details such as headrests, napkins, cookies and paper cups. The event actually managed to showcase some of the unique features of the 787, when being seated, the main theme song played and LED lights alternated to blue or red utilising the advanced mood lighting the 787 offers.

At the end of the event, participants were allowed access to the apron to take photos, given gifts, including a 1/200 model plane, a print of the group photo taken at the start of the event, and a tote bag. Sadly, this was a one off event, although you may find the occasional Ewok on one of the R2-D2™ ANA JET flight as the aircraft began regular international flights on October 18, 2015.

The Big Picture

Brussels Launch

Meanwhile, in Brussels on the 25th, ANA was welcomed to the Belgian capital with a traditional “Kagami Biraki” Sake barrel ceremony. This is the sixth European destination for ANA and served by a daily 787 service (with two R2D2 flights scheduled in November). A month after ANA’s Kuala Lumpur launch, the new launch will see increased Star Alliance connections through their Brussels Airlines codeshare.

“We are proud to be introducing the only flight between Brussels and Japan starting this autumn, and look forward to working with our Star Alliance partners to welcome even more travellers from Europe to Japan and Asia, as Japan increasingly becomes a popular destination in Belgium,” said ANA president and CEO Osamu Shinobe.

The Big Picture

Alitalia today announced their latest wave of improvements to the passenger experience. Guests on all Alitalia flights can now use their phone to  check emails or send text messages immediately after their flight has landed, while the aircraft is taxiing to the terminal. A new “Gate to Gate” procedure to allow the use of personal electronic devices has been launched by the airline on its entire fleet of Airbus, Boeing and Embraer aircraft.

Alitalia have been doing their own research to see what means most to their most frequent fliers. According to the survey, the demand for connectivity by air travellers is steadily increasing. Three out of four travellers among those surveyed expressed three particular needs:

Even to a seasoned 737-800 Senior First Officer who has done their countless number of walk-arounds, the game of spot the difference is still mighty hard with the 737 MAX 8 which was rolled out today (December 8th) in Renton, Washingston State, USA. If you click on the image above, you’ll notice the variety of tail fins of airlines that have already placed orders for the familiar looking jet, but why? Beauty isn’t just skin deep.

The one or two standout features on the outside, the split scimitar winglets and 787 inspired engine nacelles (hiding the new CFM Leap engines) have helped the 737 create 20% fuel savings compared to the first Next-Generation 737’s and 8% fuel savings per seat compared to the A320neo. The rest of the technology happens below the skin and in the brains of the aircraft.

“Today marks another in a long series of milestones that our team has achieved on time, per plan, together,” said Keith Leverkuhn, vice president and general manager, 737 MAX, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “With the rollout of the new 737 MAX – the first new airplane of Boeing’s second century – our team is upholding an incredible legacy while taking the 737 to the next level of performance.”

The production-complete airplane rolled out of the Renton factory and into the paint hangar on Nov. 30, the precise date determined when the MAX development schedule was defined more than four years ago. Today the freshly painted 737 MAX 8, named the Spirit of Renton, was revealed to employees in a special teal version of the Boeing livery. After celebrations are complete, the airplane will undergo pre-flight preparation in the factory before departing for Renton Field to continue flight test readiness. The airplane is on track for first flight in early 2016.

The 737 MAX incorporates the latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Boeing-designed Advanced Technology winglets and other improvements to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market. The 737 MAX 8 is the first member in Boeing’s new family of single-aisle airplanes – the 737 MAX 7, MAX 8, MAX 200 and MAX 9 – to begin production. The 737 MAX family has nearly 3,000 orders from 60 customers worldwide. Which will be not only good news to Boeing, but to the millions of passengers that will fly on these latest aircraft.

JPA Design recently created the DoveTail business class seat concept

Garuda Indonesia has appointed International transport design specialist, JPA Design to create its new aircraft cabin interiors as the airline expands its fleet and builds on its reputation as a world-class carrier. The same carrier that created the DoveTail business class seat (as shown above) and recently Singapore Airlines new Premium Economy Class seat.

Garuda’s new aircraft orders modernizes its fleet and will support additional short, medium haul flights and routes. JPA Design’s new cabin interiors for both Business and Economy class will feature on 50 new 737 MAX scheduled for first delivery in 2017 and will be retrofitted to Garuda’s existing long-haul wide body A330-300 fleet.

JPA Design also created the Singapore Airlines Premium Economy Class Seat

Garuda’s intention is to progressively re-brand all its aircraft interiors – both narrow and wide body – in order to achieve consistency across its entire fleet. The carrier also committed to operate aircraft with an average age less than five years, ensuring cabin environments that offer better service quality and passenger comfort.

JPA Design also created the Singapore Airlines Premium Economy Class Seat

JPA Design’s interior scheme – yet to be revealed – will be aligned to the airlines brand drivers as defined by branding specialists Landor Associates; Garuda’s new look Business Class: “an experience of accessible luxury that is energetic, authentic and dynamic.” Economy is defined as “an uplifting experience that is dynamic, positive and warm.”

Garuda’s current First Class cabin

Tim Manson, Design Director at JPA Design, commented; “Competition is getting tougher and passengers now expect more out of their flying experience. For an airline to successfully compete against the worlds’ best, you need to provide an element of surprise and luxury and ensure that you give those discerning customers an unforgettable travel experience.”

JPA Design’s DoveTail Seat Concept

On working with Garuda, Manson said; “Being selected to work with an airline that has such keen ambition and one that places passenger comfort and joy at the heart of all they do, is a great opportunity for JPA Design. We both share in the commitment to constantly innovative and strive for best in class solutions. To be design partners with Garuda Indonesia, the third airline we have worked with that is a member of the exclusive 5-Star Airline Award, is a real honour.”

Garuda’s Current 777-300ER First Class cabin

Nicodemus P. Lampe, Director of Services at Garuda Indonesia, commented, “Strong competition was forcing airlines to innovate their product gradually and we are pleased to work together with JPA Design on creating the next generation of our Business and Economy aircraft cabin interiors. As Garuda Indonesia continuously strives on its ongoing service enhancement program to provide its passengers with the best possible full-service air travel experience, we need to collaborate with industry members that share the same vision regarding service excellence, particularly in terms of reliability and quality.”

Alaska Airlines revealed a brand new look to an airline brand that has remained virtually unchanged for 25 years. The new refreshed look comes a couple of years after the airline refreshed it’s iconic wordmark to make it more legible, removing the strikethrough that the letter K created. The new brand was launched in a maintenance hangar in SeaTac where a new 737-800 was revealed in the new brand.

Beginning today, and throughout the rest of 2016, passengers and staff will see the visual updates in new signage at the airport, an all-new airplane paint job, a refreshed website and mobile app, as well as a full suite of other touch-points.

What is interesting to see is how the new brand came to life. “We’ve always been a company about genuine, caring service. Our values are staying the same, but it’s time for our brand to show up bigger,” says Sangita Woerner, Alaska’s vice president of marketing. “We’ve added 90 new markets in the past five years. As we continue to grow, we are updating the outward expression of our brand so it shows up bolder wherever we fly.”

“Our brand is our reputation and who we are as a company. The logo and identity, those are the outward expression of our strong commitment to our customers,” said Woerner.

But the brand shift seems to come up with an unexpected result. “Our goal was to bring more energy to the brand, so we brought color that represents the places we fly and our home here in the Pacific Northwest,” said Woerner. “We’re a brand that’s all about brightening your day, so we added some complementary blues and green to reflect that in our outward appearance.”

So whilst the carrier decided to name their new palette with colours such as “tropical green” for Hawai’i and Costa Rica and Alaska’s many international Mileage Plan destinations, and a palate of soothing blues: “breeze, midnight, atlas and calm.” the end result has been ribbon-like waves of colour that resemble the Northern Lights, something as synonymous with Alaska as the Eskimo on the tail itself.

When it comes to the livery, we love the balance found on the aircraft. The tail design is equally balanced by a bold (and enlarged) wordmark. The Logo typeface itself has been simplified, making it bolder and more contemporary, whilst maintaining the unique hand drawn character that became an iconic part of the brand over the past quarter-century.

The Eskimo on the tail has also been simplified, partly due to the brand now living in the digital age. Alaska states “The Eskimo of the 1990s was too detailed to render well online and on mobile devices. The team smoothed and simplified his features and expanded his ruff to include pops of colour.”

The addition to the ribbons of colour on both nacelles and winglets, along with grey underbelly mean that the aircraft are nicely balanced and Alaska has refrained from the simple Eurowhite design that many other carriers have opted to follow with their latest liveries.

“[The changes are] subtle,” said Alutiiq artist Alvin Amason, who shares a studio with Eaton and was also consulted by Alaska Airlines. “You haven’t revamped it – you’ve made it ‘today’.”

In focus groups before the brand updates, fliers unfamiliar with Alaska described its look as “corporate, functional and a bit cold.” The simple changes of streamlining the “icicle font” in the wordmark and adding green began to dramatically change people’s first impressions of the brand.

“This sets us up for future growth,” Woerner said. “We’re a fiercely independent company, and we’re updating our brand to take us into the future.” Horizon fans will be pleased to know the Horizon brand will follow suit in 2016 too.

Well done Alaska for creating a modern, contemporary refresh whilst remaining true to the original brand. Sometimes a gentle nudge forward is all that is needed to bring life back to a brand.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 flew for the first time yesterday in Seattle as the aircraft manufacturer makes its final stretch to get the aircraft program into the skies. The 737 MAX program achieved this milestone on schedule which begins a comprehensive flight-test program leading to certification and delivery.

The aircraft is the first to utilise the latest technology from the LEAP-1B engines from CFM International and Boeing-designed Advanced Technology winglets. The first member of the efficient 737 MAX family completed a two-hour, 47-minute flight, taking off from Renton Field and landing at 12:33 p.m. at Seattle’s Boeing Field.

“Today’s first flight of the 737 MAX carries us across the threshold of a new century of innovation – one driven by the same passion and ingenuity that have made this company great for 100 years,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive Officer Ray Conner. “We are tremendously proud to begin testing an airplane that will deliver unprecedented fuel efficiency in the single-aisle market for our customers.”

The new Boeing 737 MAX family has proven popular with airlines due to it’s efficiency and reliability as well as passenger comfort.. The new 737 MAX 8 promises 20 percent lower fuel use than the first Next-Generation 737s – and 8 percent per seat lower operating costs than the A320neo. The 737 MAX 8 is the first member in Boeing’s new family of single-aisle airplanes – the 737 MAX 7, MAX 8, MAX 200 and MAX 9 – to begin flight testing.

The 737 MAX will extend the Next-Generation 737 range advantage with the capability to fly more than 3,500 nautical miles (6,510 km), an increase of 340 – 570 nmi (629-1,055 km) over the Next-Generation 737. The 737 MAX family has 3,072 orders from 62 customers worldwide.

Flight: BA073
Aircraft Type: B787-9
Class: ‘First’ First Class
Route: LHR-AUH-MCT
Date: January 2016

www.ba.com

We were curious last year to see how British Airways new First product on their 787-9 were going to reinvent the first class experience, but when we had the chance to experience the product first-hand (forgive the pun) we jumped at the chance to see why BA were so proud of the latest product.

British Airways have been slowly shifting their positioning from a slightly dated premium carrier to a cutting edge British brand that is now sitting on top of the UK Superbrands list. The carrier is starting to give the impression it is as proud of their craftsmanship as other famous UK brands such as Jaguar and Aston Martin whose attention to detail has lifted the ‘Great Britain’ brand globally.

One of the biggest efforts to lift the brand, and a signal of the future of the carrier, now sits with the new First cabin on the 787-9.

On The Ground

British Airways currently operate from both Terminal 3 and their main hub Terminal 5 in Heathrow. Terminal 5 is incredibly vast and on entering the airport check in zone, we made the long walk to Zone J, which is dedicated for First Class passengers.

If you are getting to the airport by taxi, our tip is to ask to be dropped off at the end of the drop off area, to save you walking the entire width of the terminal building.

On arrival to zone J, we were greeted by dedicated First Class ground staff who act as receptionists to a dozen check-in desks, which also feature a lounge area for passengers to relax during the check-in process.

Within a matter of minutes, we were welcomed in and our boarding passes issued. The entire process felt relaxed, and any sense of urgency removed, and all guests were treated with a courtesy that made each passenger feel special and valued.

This is one area we have always felt has lacked in the British Airways business class product, where passengers feel more like a number than a name, perhaps due to the large number of seats available on their long haul aircraft.

Travelling in first class allows passengers to enjoy the fast track lane, which at 7 in the morning was virtually empty, meaning we were airside 7 minutes after arriving at Heathrow.

Only available to passengers travelling in long-haul First Class, we were invited to use the Concorde Room, which is accessible from the main South lounge complex entrance, or for those wanting a short-cut, through a manned door just after security, which saves 5 minutes of walking through the terminal.

Once inside, we made our way to book a spa treatment from the Elemis spa. Sadly, even though we called five days before, all the treatments were fully booked, so we recommend calling the ‘You First’ phone line as soon as you have booked your tickets to arrange your treatment.

As with every day the Elemis spa leaves two spaces available for anyone to walk up. That meant we were able to experience the spa’s automatic massage chairs, which we found pleasantly powerful. The treatment lasted 15 minutes.

After the quick massage, we headed back to the Concorde room. It’s split into lounge areas, dining areas, a bar and a patio area, which is open to the main terminal building.

The dining area offers full waiter service and passengers can select from private booths or the main dining table in the lounge. The dining in the morning consisted of a variety of traditional breakfast options. We opted for the eggs benedict, which were perfectly cooked, and the pastry basket. The lounge offers a variety of drinks.

The best place to relax and unwind is on the Patio, which also has waiter service, and even though it’s situated in the open of the terminal, is reasonably quiet and offers excellent views of both of Heathrow’s runways.

Approximately 45 minutes before the flight we headed to the aircraft situated at the C satellite gates, which is accessible by a quick train ride. By the time we arrived however we were one of the last to board.

The cabin

On boarding British Airways 787-9, you can still get the new plane smell, and quite rightly so, the fleet is only a matter of months old. Boarding from the main door, which was the only door in operation, we turned left, passing a mini business class cabin, before heading into the first class cabin that is separated by the use of a permanent bulkhead.

On entering the cabin, there is a noticeable difference to the rest of the aircraft. Narrower aisles allow for wide and expansive suites. The bulkheads are decorated with wooden veneer and the British Airways ‘To Fly. To Serve” crest.

On the forward bulkhead is a patterned panel featuring an illuminated Speedmarque logo that changes colour and appearance as the Dreamliner’s mood-lighting changes throughout the flight.

There is a distinct monochrome colour palette made from carpeting, seats and hard surfaces that give the appearance of a performance British sports car.

The cabin features eight seats, in 2 rows in a 1 x 2 x 1 seating configuration. The best seats for solo travellers are those by the window and for those travelling as a couple should opt for the centre pair of seats.

The cabin also features one toilet at the front of the cabin, which is fairly spacious and well appointed with toiletries.

The Seat

On taking a seat, it is clear to see the improvements on the previous First seat, the passenger now has more privacy, space and storage. The seats are either angled to the window or angle to each other in the middle seats, however the middle seats also feature an automatic privacy screen if you were to travel solo.

The biggest improvement on the previous first class seat is the TV has been permanently positioned in front of the viewer, meaning gate to gate viewing is now possible without having to store the TV screen. The only downside to this is it now means the opportunity to dine with a partner (buddy dining) in the same seat has been brought to an end.

The other improvements are the in-seat wardrobe and increased storage areas which have led to an amazing array of options to store your passport, gadgets and clothes.

The seat itself is adjusted by the control wheel feature, currently found in the First seats meaning a passenger can scroll their way to an infinite amount of seat positions. The dial also now controls all the lighting elements in the seat too, meaning finding your ‘sweet spot’ is just a fiddle away.

The seat, when reclined turns into a long and comfortable bed, which is surprisingly spacious, helped in part by the fact the side table has space underneath allowing the passenger to really stretch out rather than having to sleep in the fetal position to avoid parts of the furniture.

What you can’t help but notice is the trim and finish, and BA have employed a wealth of different materials to kit the seat out, all working in harmony, but adding a myriad of design flourishes that continue to surprise and delight as the flight continues.

Our favourite design element is the table lamp, which in its own right is a piece of art, but combined with the sinuous brushed aluminium trim that surrounds each seat element, completes the design and makes the suite feel more like a study than an aircraft interior.

The Food

Quite frankly, we were blown away by the quality of dining, especially considering we have found the business class dining of a satisfactory level, but never really taking us to gastronomic heights.

On boarding we were offered champagne, and opted for the Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle, before moving to the rose by Duval Leroy, which was their Prestige Premier Cru NV.

After take off, a further glass was brought to us by the attentive, caring and friendly crew, accompanied by warmed nuts.

We were then treated to a lunch and then an afternoon tea.

The Lunch 

To Start
Meze plate featuring lamb shawarma, baba ghanoush, labneh with chives and parsley with falafel and prawn kofta.

West Country Somerset Brie, spinach and walnut soufflé with red onion marmalade and roasted walnuts

Haricot bean soup

Fresh seasonal salad with a choice of honey mustard dressing or Caesar dressing

Main Courses
Fried Arabic chicken with machbous rice and aubergine stew

Seared fillet of Aberdeen Angus beef with braised carrots, trompette mushroom filled potato with herb crust, carrot puree and jasmine tea jus

Seared Welsh seabass with roasted garlic confit, white asparagus, rocket pesto risotto and lemon and parsley cream sauce

Confit Gressingham duck with Chinese five-spice lentil salad, cucumber, pomegranate and sweet potato

Bistro Selection
Thai vegetable curry with sticky rice

Pulled British chicken with barbecue sauce, Monterey Jack cheese, Manoucher flatbread, potato salad and dill and cucumber dip

A selection of biscuits

A selection of cheese and fruit

Desserts
Mango and coconut delice

Apple and blackberry charlotte

Madagascan vanilla ice cream

Cheese Plate
Ogleshield, Gillot Camembert, Brighton Blue & Thomas Hoe Red Leicester

Fresh Fruit

Chocolates by Lauden

Afternoon Tea

Sandwiches
Crayfish with mango
Roast beef with horseradish
Egg mayonnaise with rocket
Smoked Applewood cheese with onion

Patisserie
Pistachio and raspberry Opera
Lemon meringue tart
Ginger cake

Scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserves

Selection of teas

Although we took off on time just after 10am, we decided to opt for lunch straight after take-off to give us ample time to work through the vast amount of food on offer and give us enough time to try afternoon tea as well.

Before the starter was served, we were given a pistachio cake and hummus amuse bouche, which was light and moist, and set the tone for the Arabic feast we opted for.

Afterwards, the Arabic meze was presented, which was substantial in size, and in many airlines would be considered a main course. This was accompanied by a bread basket with a half-dozen bread types all warmed perfectly.

The meze was full of flavour and very filling. We decided to wash this down with the Envoy Sauvignon Blanc, which was vibrant and had hints of grapefruit. After the meze, we followed with a crisp and tasty salad course.

After a short pause, we took to the Arabic chicken dish, which didn’t have the wonderful presentation that the other dishes had, but packed so much flavour all was forgiven. The size was substantial, but we managed to finish it off.

Still up for more culinary punishment, we went for the Mango and coconut delice, which simply put was the best dessert we’ve ever had on an aircraft, both for presentation value as well as taste. This should be a regular staple in BA’s kitchen if they haven’t made it already.

Now completely sated, we opted out of the cheese and fruit and nestled into a couple of movies before the all too short flight meant that we were being served afternoon tea.

The tea was a grandious affair, as much as the lunch course, with a variety of finger sandwiches and delightful cakes, that wouldn’t have been out of place in Fortnum and Mason. The scones were also tasty and moist to the palette.

It’s fair to point out that although the flight stops off in Abu Dhabi and passengers finishing there get off, whilst the remaining passengers stay onboard, the cabin crew remain with the aircraft, serving drinks and keeping the First passengers catered too while the aircraft got restocked.

After the short one hour layover, and once in the air, a champagne and canapé service was offered, perfectly suited to the 45 minute hop across to Muscat.

The Entertainment

British Airways certainly have a lot of entertainment, even more so on their new Thales system, which is powerful, and fast, although we hate to say, a little difficult to use on the new hand controlled situated in the seat.

The screen at 23” is large, but is situated just too far away to reach and use the touchscreen controls, so most passengers used the handheld controller to navigate their way through the library of films and TV channels, although we weren’t the only ones to accidentally call the crew, or mysteriously stop a film half way through by pressing the wrong button.

However after a little bit of getting used to the controls, it was responsive, although best suited to a smaller hand and a lighter touch. The headset was also of good quality and with the advantage of being on a quiet aircraft, and right at the front, meant the noise cancelling was superb.

We were however disappointed with the First magazine that seemed lost in the seat pocket, and compared to Air France, the main magazine felt light on content, but thankfully there were many other magazines and newspapers to choose from, as well as a comprehensive IFE system.

The Extras

As soon as you board, British Airways laden you with extras that a passenger would expect of a First product. As soon as you are sat in your seat, the crew provide you with pyjamas emblazoned with the First logo, slippers and an amenity kit that is packed with razor, comb and the usual amenities, as well as a selection of creams and lotions from The Refinery.

Passengers are also treated to big fluffy pillows, thick duvets and eyemasks and earbuds to allow for the soundest of sleeps.

In Conclusion

British Airways may not have the bells and whistles of their opulent middle eastern or Asian counterparts, but that shouldn’t be seen as a negative, as British Airways have actually worked out what passengers want, and deliver it to them in the very finest of products.

The suites are private, the TV large, dining excellent, and comfortable seats and beds. Our only criticisms of the product are the lack of a chauffer service for passengers and also the slightly glitch IFE system with a fiddly remote (which could be fixed with a software update to change the UX) Really well done BA on producing a product to be proud of that will serve the airline well as it continues into the next decade.

The Big Picture

THEDESIGNAIR.NET TRAVELLED AS GUESTS OF BRITISH AIRWAYS, HOWEVER THE VIEWS EXPRESSED HERE ARE OUR OWN