I flew on hyped new airline claiming to bring back 'golden age'
If you've ever jetted off from Manchester Airport to the Big Apple, your airline choices likely included Aer Lingus or Virgin Atlantic, perhaps even British Airways connecting via a London airport. But brace yourselves for a sky-high revolution as a new contender, Global Airlines, promises to channel the charm of yesteryear's glorious air travel days.
Arriving seemingly out of the blue, Global Airlines is taking on established heavyweight carriers, deploying the mammoth "Superjumbo" Airbus A380 as its weapon of choice.
The venture kicked off in 2021, steered by entrepreneur James Asquith – the same high-flyer who challenged the hospitality sector with Airbnb competitor Holiday Swap and snagged a Guinness World Record as the youngest bloke to trot across every nation on the globe.
Taking under his wing a seasoned 12 year old A380 that once graced the skies with China Southern, 'millionaire' Asquith – new to the aviation industry but not to travel – added the behemoth to his fledgling fleet in May 2023.
He's been upfront about it: launching an airline has always been his boyhood fantasy. But is this vision genuinely within reach?
Here's the grand blueprint: refit the airliner into a bastion of class-straddling splendour, including a unique gaming cabin, a lively onboard pub, and the inception of a newfangled travel category that blends the luxuries of business with premium economy's value.
Passengers can anticipate the novelty of boarding a four-engine, double-decker colossus — a dwindling thrill as most airlines favour smaller, easier-to-manage machines. Emirates remains one notable exception, still cruising triumphant with three A380s leaving Manchester daily.
The inaugural Global Airlines flight, operated by Hi Fly, from Glasgow to New York JFK on May 15 received mixed reactions, with the much-anticipated 'gamer cabin' missing and the aircraft retaining a strong China Southern vibe.
Youtuber Josh Cahill didn't mince words in his review titled "Global Airlines STRANGE First Flight and it was VERY BAD!", slamming the airline for failing to meet expectations. However, The Independent's travel expert Simon Calder offered a contrasting view, describing the journey as a "very comfortable flight" and a "fascinating event".
Despite its grandiose name, Global Airlines isn't actually an airline and lacks an operating licence; it's legally run by Portuguese carrier Hi Fly, with Travelopedia handling the ticket sales.
I joined the second Global Airlines flight from Manchester Airport to New York JFK on May 21, and it turned out to be one of the most bizarre flights I've ever experienced. From check-in to take-off, with plane enthusiasts peering through the airport fence, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation.
However, as the flight progressed, it became evident that the Global Airlines experience is still very much a work in progress.
The branded headrest covers, vanity kits and flight menus were no match for the obvious signs of 12 years' wear and tear inside the aircraft.
Strip away the icons from any major airline and you'd get a fairly good idea of who you were flying with based on brand identity alone. But take the Global Airlines branding out of the picture, and you wouldn't have a clue which company's aircraft you were in – not exactly confidence-inspiring in times when brand trust is everything.
However, taking a seat on an Airbus A380 was undeniably a highlight. The plane attracted plenty of excitement, especially from several YouTubers who were there capturing every moment of the journey – cameras seemed to emerge left, right, and centre over passenger seats.
Amongst them were the renowned travelling couple Kara and Nate, boasting a staggering 4.2million subscribers. Another YouTube personality even made the trip all the way from Melbourne just to be part of the flight.
So what was the flight like?
Here's the lowdown on my experience with Global Airlines from Manchester Airport to New York JFK.
Regarding check-in and boarding:
On the night before the flight, we got an email from James Asquith himself, where he said he was "looking forward to seeing us". He helpfully told us which check-in desks we should head to and reminded us about the ESTA – useful advice, albeit a bit late for those who hadn't sorted one yet.
We were also advised to 'charge up' our devices as we would need them to access the inflight entertainment system and informed that there was no wifi on board. I found the former more annoying; I enjoy watching a good film or two on a long-haul flight and appreciate being 'offline' for several hours.
Not owning a tablet, I have no desire to squint at my phone screen to watch a movie.
Another notable aspect: Global Airlines' website is basic, with little guidance on customer service. There was no help number, and no responses to any emails when we had a query about the booking.
Most major airlines have the option to 'manage your booking' online, but this was not the case here.
Upon arriving at check-in the next morning at Manchester Airport's Terminal 1, we saw banners displaying Global Airline's branding (with "operated by Hi Fly" in small print), one for each class: Global Traveller, Global Business, and Global First.
A sparkly photo point, branded cupcakes, and a buzz among passengers created a lively atmosphere. I spotted two men with Airbus A380 key rings dangling off their bags.
I chatted with two young men who had won their tickets in an Instagram competition, finding out only 48 hours before the flight's departure. After receiving my economy ticket, I proceeded through security like any other traveller.
I must say, it was the smoothest security experience I've ever had, breezing through in less than five minutes thanks to the new scanners that don't require you to remove anything from your bags - a real boon for passengers.
I can't say whether business and first class passengers were whisked away to a lounge, but I found myself left to my own devices in Manchester's soon-to-be-demolished Terminal 1. However, I did enjoy a splendid view of the Global Airlines A380 as I savoured my coffee at Starbucks, the massive aircraft dwarfing all others nearby.
Having purchased my obligatory (at least for me) magazines and a 750ml bottle of Buxton from WH Smiths, gate 20D was announced and I made my way there, where a gentleman directed me downstairs.
It quickly became apparent that the flight wouldn't be heavily populated. I later learned that there were only between 80-90 passengers on the plane, which has a capacity of around 500.
It does make one wonder: why operate such a large aircraft if you can't even fill it?
Asquith himself arrived, flanked by a group of people, but without any fanfare - you wouldn't know it was him unless you recognised his face - no grandstanding here. First class passengers were, naturally, called up first, partially filling the bus that would transport them to the aircraft.
The rest of us were then ushered on, although when my boarding ticket was checked I was told it needed to be altered and received a premium ticket - although there was no mention of the word 'upgrade', simply that I had been issued the wrong ticket at check in.
We sped across the apron to the plane, which bore the Global Airlines livery, its vast size truly becoming apparent. And it really was a beast of a plane - honestly massive.
Even the ground staff seemed excited about it. We climbed the steps to the lower deck, and headed inside.
We were led upstairs, passing through the first class cabin on the way, and then I settled into my seat in business.
Take off and settling in:
The flight was due to depart at 12.25pm, at 12.45pm we were taxiing to the runway, and after a smooth take off - watched by dozens of plane spotters - we were up in the air by 1pm, informed by the pilot that the flight would be six hours and 30 minutes.
My business class cabin was barely a quarter full, unlike any other flight I've been on. The way it's configured is that there are four seats across - one at either window and two in the middle.
Each has a side table, a screen directly in front of the seat and a foot rest which comes into use when you recline the seat into the flat position.
The foot rest also has a handy storage section for your shoes or bag. There's a tray table that can be pulled out for dining, and plenty of storage for your books, phones and more beside the seat.
My seat was adorned with a certificate for the maiden voyage, a menu, a bookmark with a message from Asquith, a blanket, a cushion and a vanity kit. This was a stylish zipped leather wallet containing socks, an eye mask, ear plugs and a dental kit, along with a pen.
It was decent but not too dissimilar to a Turkish Airlines economy kit I recently obtained - which even had slippers.
The seat was certainly comfortable and spacious; having the side table was a real plus. Yet it felt tired and dated; I noticed several scuffs and stains, and when I fully reclined my seat I could see what looked like tea or coffee stains on the plastic back of the seat.
You could see where old stickers had been removed, and where new stickers were covering up old ones. China Southern patterns were still visible and it all felt a bit shabby.
It's obviously not what Global Airline's had planned.
Food and drink:
My menu was the Global Traveller option, which presumably meant I was getting the economy meal while sitting in business, not unheard of if you're upgraded at the last minute but still a little bizarre. It stated that we would be presented with a selection of drinks including Laurent Perrier Champagne, fine wines, spirits and beers, soft drinks and juices, and snacks.
I was anticipating a round of drinks before the meal, but none came. However, it was intriguing to see that a few passengers near the front were being served and it became clear throughout the flight that they were receiving the true business experience, while I and other passengers nearby were not.
After a reasonable wait, lunch arrived: caprese salad to start, followed by a main course of either herbed chicken ballantine, pan fried sea bass or spiced white bean and aubergine cassolette, with a citrus tart to finish.
I opted for the chicken and it was scrumptious, served with carrots, spring onion, and crushed potatoes with some gravy. The salad was delightful with a charming tiny bottle of dressing, while the tart was exceptional, refreshingly tangy and light.
However, the bread roll was not served warm, as is customary on flights, making it rather chewy. There was also no salt and pepper, or wet wipe provided with the cutlery.
We were offered a drink but there was no sign of the champagne, so I chose white wine. The meal was satisfactory, but it lacked refinement.
I was told that during the Glasgow flight there was a delay in getting the food on board, resulting in long waits for passengers, although this was not the case on our flight.
About an hour later, the crew came round to offer us a snack such as crisps, olives and sweets, along with a drink. This time I asked for champagne and I did receive it, along with some salted Kettle chips.
Our menu also had an 'a la carte' section which included two types of afternoon tea, one for meat-eaters and one vegetarian. About 90 minutes before we were due to land the crew came round asking if we wanted anything - but didn't explicitly say 'would you like the afternoon tea', it was only by me pushing for more information that they said the afternoon tea was available.
I feared a bout of turbulence would threaten its arrival, but it safely appeared, although the sandwiches were a mix from both the options and the scones were missing. It was delicious though and filled a hole - I was just glad I had the initiative to push for it.
In flight entertainment:
Inflight entertainment, particularly if you're not going to offer WIFI, is key on a long haul flight. Across most major airlines it's gone from strength to strength and often it's a chance to catch up on new releases you may have missed in the cinema.
So to be told the screens wouldn't be working on board was a huge disappointment for me, particularly as I didn't have a tablet computer. I knew I wasn't going to bother watching anything but out of curiosity I scanned the QR code which connected me to the Global Times network.
The option to view the flight route was available, albeit in a very basic manner: it didn't display departure time, arrival time, ground speed or any of the usual information you'd expect on a plane. It seemed like my friends and family on the ground had more information about my flight than I did up in the air.
A few films were available for viewing, including Beetlejuice, Barbie and Twister, along with several others I hadn't heard of. There was a category labelled 'Europeen' - yes, spelled incorrectly, and only a handful of TV shows, including the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
I opted to stick with my magazines and podcasts, often catching my blurred reflection in the redundant screen opposite me.
The service:
The aircraft was staffed by a Hi Fly crew, though I was told that some of them had undergone Global Airlines training and they all wore the uniform. All crew members were friendly, polite and carried out their duties professionally.
At one point, we were given hot damp cloths (always a treat) and a selection of hand, foot and cuticle creams - I used the hand cream but due to cabin pressure, it wouldn't stop pouring out and I had to use a wet wipe to deal with the excessive greasiness. Still, it was a nice touch.
However, there was an undeniable feeling that this wasn't a Global Airlines crew, which added to the sense of an unfinished product. Cabin crew usually take great pride in their airlines, but the crew here felt like they were merely playing a role.
The other cabins:
I had the opportunity to explore both the first class and economy cabins. The latter was pretty standard as you'd expect.
Much like the business cabin, first class was spacious, with each seat in its own cubicle equipped with privacy screens. The Global Airlines touch was evident in the finer details: small leather handbags containing vanity kits, beige pyjama sets (which one Youtuber demonstrated has a zip that encloses the hood completely, almost like a morph suit), and slippers.
I managed to get a glimpse of the first class menu, which boasted more options than a high-end restaurant. Lunch choices included caviar, antipasti, a cheese platter and a smoked salmon platter.
An 'amuse bouche' course featured dishes such as tuna tartar, duck foie gras, and smoked duck breast.
Interestingly, while economy's 'a la carte' offered a lighter snack option of afternoon tea, first class passengers were treated to a three-course feast.
Considering this is a flight of under seven hours, after their lunch, passengers in first could then dine on: beetroot salad, tomato and mozzarella or balik salmon; followed by: blackened miso cod, beef tender rib, chicken ballantine or pan fried butternut squash; and finished with 'pina colada' and 'strawberry gem' desserts or a chocolate and avocado mousse.
The menu was certainly ambitious and impressive. However, I suspect it's the sort of grub you'd prefer to enjoy in a brand new first class seat, not one that's over a decade old.
How much did the flights cost?
We shelled out £697.28 for return flights from Manchester Airport to New York JFK, booked a week before take-off. This included 10kg hand luggage and 23kg hold luggage.
However, in the weeks leading up to departure, they announced several flash sales, with return economy tickets starting from £380 and return business tickets from £1999.
A safe landing, but an uncertain future:
Catching glimpses of the iconic Manhattan skyline, we landed smoothly at JFK, our bags ready to collect promptly after passing through passport control.
The A380, owned by Global Airlines, managed to get off the ground and safely deliver its passengers to their destination.
Judging by the buzz surrounding the A380, perhaps Asquith is onto something. There was a touch of magic in the air, the sense that this could be the start of something truly exciting.
However, the product I experienced felt unfinished. It somewhat resembled a stunt, akin to how people rent grounded private jets just to snap photos for their social media, creating an illusion.
This felt like the A380 had been rented too, slapped with some logos and sent off on potentially a one-off service.
Global Airlines has a mountain to climb in order to establish a strong brand identity, revamp its A380 (let alone expand its fleet), and crucially, it needs to become an official airline. Until then, trusted brands such as Aer Lingus, Virgin and British Airways seem much more attractive for transatlantic routes from Manchester.
If Asquith manages to pull this off, Global Airlines will mark a new chapter in the history of aviation. But that's a very big, Superjumbo jet-sized if.
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