FIRST CLASS AIR TRAVEL

From copper espresso machines in business class (Alitalia) to hip
lounges where you can get complimentary facials and haircuts before
boarding (Virgin Atlantic) to fresh salads and sinful desserts
prepared in-flight (Austrian), the business-class airline experience
is better and more luxurious than ever. The following airlines
epitomize the new service orientation of international carriers.

In order to break up the monotony of long-haul flights, Asiana flight
attendants are not only well versed in the art of customer service but
in the art of the cocktail: cabin crews are actually trained
bartenders who can conjure up something magical to drink...or to
watch, since many of them are also magicians. On many transpacific
routes, flight attendants will perform stage tricks or individual hand
tricks; they're just as likely to form an onboard string quartet or
choir, or solo on the violin, saxophone, or flute as to perform feats
of prestidigitation.

Asiana is so intent on serving first-class travelers, elite-level
frequent flyers and VIPs with quality service that the staff will
memorize personal customer preferences, from films and wines to
reading material and conversation topics. If you prefer snoozing to
speaking, the new Asiana Sleeper First Class sleeper seats recline a
full 180 degrees.

British Airways also offers full beds in first class, and new this
year, in business class on various long-haul routes as well. BA is
also going out of its way to pamper all passengers. It just created a
fourth class—World Traveller Plus—offering seven inches more legroom
and an increased baggage allowance for economy-class passengers paying
full fare. The new class is part of a massive (£600 million) upgrade
which includes the sleeper seats for business travelers, a new
first-class cabin, the roll-out of a new Club Europe, plus
improvements to lounges and a new terminal at New York's JFK. The new
first-class cabin is being redesigned by leading British interior
designer Kelly Hoppen, who's known for her innovative, calm and
sumptuous style. Meantime, the current first class is nothing to sneer
at. BA introduced its "flying flat beds" in first class in 1996 along
with individual cabins whose "buddy seats" allow travelers to discuss
business matters with a colleague or enjoy a meal with another
passenger in privacy. (Seat doubles are available for travelers
wishing to spend the whole journey together.) Also available are Fast
Track departure channels at Heathrow and Gatwick, city-center check-in
at London Victoria for Gatwick departures and London Paddington for
Heathrow departures, and a lounge at Heathrow with showers,
suit-pressing service, hot breakfast and business facilities.

On the other side of the pond, Mexicana Airlines has just joined the
Star Alliance™, allowing it to offer its customers access to 815
destinations in 130 countries. "Mexicana Airlines is proud to belong
to such a prestigious group of airlines," commented Mr. Fernando
Flores, CEO and Chairman for Mexicana. "Within Star Alliance, Mexicana
becomes a major link for the business traveler between Asia, Europe
and Latin America through its main gateways in the United States,
Canada and Mexico." Mexicana's frequent flyer program, Frecuenta, has
been fully integrated with Star Alliance's airline members' programs.
Current Frecuenta account holders at the Platinum and Gold levels will
be integrated into the Star Gold and Star Silver programs of the
alliance. Star Gold members will have access to over 500 Star Alliance
lounges worldwide, as well as with priority baggage handling, and
priority status with any of the participating member airlines.
Mexicana executive-class passengers also have access to the exclusive
executive lounges in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

Speaking of Star Alliance™, this is the network formed to better meet
the needs of frequent international travelers. Besides Mexicana, the
group now includes Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways,
Ansett Australia, Austrian Airlines, British Midland, Lauda Air,
Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore Airlines, THAI, Tyrolean Airways, United and
VARIG. Besides offering a host of benefits, including seamless
interline connections and priority endorsement waivers, the Alliance
also offers My Travel Manager, a travel planning tool that allows
travelers to make and modify their own itineraries online. The system
delivers the personalized information and services users specify in a
profile. A customized basket of information on a destination—including
exchange rates, cellular standards, airport facilities and weather
reports—is a click away.

At Delta Air Lines, the big news is the launch of the new
BusinessElite U.S., a special transcon-tinental business-class service
between JFK and Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. The new
service features Delta's award-winning sleeper-style seat and enhanced
ground and in-flight service amenities.

"BusinessElite U.S. allows Delta to provide domestic customers in our
key business markets a premiere travel experience—more personal space
and upgraded amenities—at a business-class fare," said Martin White,
Delta's vice president of consumer marketing.

Here's an interesting service angle: coach passengers on Northwest
Airlines have a good chance of free upgrades to the front of their
planes on connecting flights. Northwest's ConnectFirstSM program
allows passengers paying full-fare coach to book first-class seats on
most connecting domestic itineraries through Northwest's Detroit,
Minneapolis/ St. Paul and Memphis hubs. If first class isn't available
on a segment, double WorldPerksÆ frequent flyer miles will be awarded
to travelers purchasing qualifying ConnectFirst domestic fares. In
Asia, ConnectFirst allows travelers to book a first-class seat (space
permitting) when purchasing a qualifying published business-class
fare.

Wherever you travel on Northwest, in whichever class, you'll see
delicious evidence of a $23 million service enhancement program that
includes meals on more flights. On select flights, chocolate chip
cookies are baked on board and served just before landing.

Malaysia Airlines' traditional hospitality is just one of the reasons
it has won Business Travel World's "Best Asian Business Airlines"
award three years in a row. Service highlights include wide,
fully-reclining "Easy Sleeper" seats in the premium cabins, gourmet
meals, individual Skyvision multi-media entertainment systems, live
CNN International World News, a variety of video games, CD audio
systems, and cordless in-flight satellite telephone service. On
Malaysia's B777 SuperRanger flights, there's also an onboard Business
Center for first and business-class members featuring PC, printer and
fax machines, business and travel guides and additional satellite
telephones.

Additionally, first and business-class passengers are treated to
complimentary personal chauffeur service to and from the airport
(available within the North American city from which the flight
originates).

Aeromexico's business/first-class product, Clase Premier, is on a par
with other major international carriers in terms of attention to
comfort and exclusive services on the ground and in the air.
Passengers are treated to AeromÈxico SalÛn Premier, Delta Air Lines'
Crown Rooms, or shared international lounges in more than 45 cities
worldwide. In-flight amenities include telephones at every seat, a
personal video screen with five channels, a special a la carte menu on
international flights and cosmetic kits with aromatherapy products on
intercontinental flights. Aeromexico is a founding member of SkyTeam
which includes Delta, Air France, and Korean Airlines.

On 5 Dec 2003 01:57:54 -0800, (JAMIE) wrote:

Speaking of Star Alliance, this is the network formed to better meet
the needs of frequent international travelers. Besides Mexicana, the
group now includes Ansett Australia
[snip]

Ansett Australia? Hahahahahahaha!

Who did this research? Or is this just a cut-and-paste from some long
forgotten article?


Cheers,

Jason.

On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 12:11:30 +0000, Jason wrote:

On 5 Dec 2003 01:57:54 -0800, (JAMIE) wrote:

Speaking of Star Alliance, this is the network formed to better meet
the needs of frequent international travelers. Besides Mexicana, the
group now includes Ansett Australia
[snip]

Ansett Australia? Hahahahahahaha!

Who did this research? Or is this just a cut-and-paste from some long
forgotten article?

You missed the following:

Speaking of Star Alliance™, this is the network formed to better meet
the needs of frequent international travelers. Besides Mexicana, the
group now includes Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways,
Ansett Australia, Austrian Airlines, British Midland, Lauda Air,
Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore Airlines, THAI, Tyrolean Airways, United and
VARIG. Besides offering a host of benefits, including seamless
interline connections and priority endorsement waivers, the Alliance
also offers My Travel Manager, a travel planning tool that allows
travelers to make and modify their own itineraries online. The system
delivers the personalized information and services users specify in a
profile. A customized basket of information on a destination—including
exchange rates, cellular standards, airport facilities and weather
reports—is a click away.

Actually, isn't Mexicana in the process of *leaving* Star?

(And BTW, what are these funny characters like "™"? Some new discovery
by Micro****?)







Cheers,

Jason.