Page 10 - AAA MAY - JUNE 2018 Online Magazine

Business Class seat surrounded by
a futuristic carbon composite shell.
Four years in the making and
backed by extensive customer
research and customer focus
groups, the end result is superb
and crammed with features. By
2020 the entire A380 fleet will be
refitted as well as various other air-
craft types in the fleet. While the
front of the bus has had the magic
treatment, in Economy Class, the
airline is offering what it calls the
most comfortable seat in the air.
It has retained the Economy seat
pitch at 81cm and width at 47cm
by re-arranging the cabin layout to
create space.

The new Recaro Economy
seats are thinner and
designed to offer improved
ergonomic support,”
says AirlineRatings.com Editor make space. Another innovator on X seating across its fleet of 777s,
Steve Creedy. a smaller scale is Virgin Australia A330s and 737s and the extra leg-
“Other features include a six- with its Business Class suites that room product is proving extremely
way adjustable headrest with have now been fitted to its fleet of popular. Passengers choosing
foldable wings, a 28.19cm A330s and 777s. This suite has Economy X get an additional three
touch-screen monitor, a won numerous awards and has inches (7.6cms) of legroom as
patented reading light under one of the most comfortable beds well as preferred overhead locker
the monitor, storage for in the air. The A330s are used on space, priority boarding and priority
small items, a coat hook and domestic flights and to Hong Kong security screening. On long-haul
in-seat power,” Creedy adds. while the 777s are used to LA. Air international flights, it also fea-
New Zealand continues to tweak tures guaranteed first meal choice

Another airline that has rolled out its Business Premier, and many will and premium noise-cancelling
the innovation and luxury, over the argue that its bed is the ultimate headphones.
past 12 months is Qatar Airways by nature of its thick rollout mat-
tress. And the kiwi airline is also Route Dynamics
with its Q suites. Gulf carrier Qatar
has been plugging its Qsuite as fine tuning its Premium Economy ith the advent of the
the bright star of premium travel, product, and this is now considered 787 and A350, route
touting its patented design as one of the best value for money innovation has also
closer to some competitors’ First propositions in the sky. Wdeveloped as another
Class than traditional Business Etihad Airways is now selling weapon in the armory of airlines.
Class and this is one case where economy passengers luxury but One of the biggest advances in
reality reflects the hype. Qsuite is don’t stress, it’s not going to charge this space was the Qantas Perth
spacious, private, well designed for meals and drinks. What you can to London non-stop with the 787-9,
and packed with features aimed buy is Christian Lacroix amenity kits which has followed United’s San
at making travel at the pointy end with exclusive Omorovicza skin care Francisco-Singapore and Los
more comfortable and productive. It products, Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee Angeles-Singapore flights United
is a genuine suite featuring a sliding Brut NV champagne or Christian which started last year. In addition
privacy door and enough room to Lacroix cotton sleepwear. Those to being the longest US flights to
sprawl out comfortably, feet on the wanting to chug down a Planet anywhere, United’s LA-Singapore
ottoman, without having to worry Coffee cold brew coffee will also trip is the second longest (8,700
about swapping things around to be able to do so. Virgin Australia miles) and San Francisco is the
has also rolled out its Economy third longest flights (8,466 miles)

10 | May/June 2018 www.GBP.com.sg/AAA