Latest news with #businessclass
Condé Nast Traveler
18 hours ago
- Business
- Condé Nast Traveler
What It's Like to Fly in Air New Zealand's New Business Class
'Is this the new plane?' the man in seat 1K asks the flight attendant, who is dressed in a well-tailored, deep purple Emilia Wickstead uniform. 'That it is,' she says with a happy little curtsy. 'It's quite nice,' is the man's initial review—we've only just boarded, after all. I'm one row behind in seat 2K, and finding Air New Zealand's business class cabin to be quite nice as well. It's mid-June 2025 and my second trip aboard this newly-retrofitted 787-9 Dreamliner, the first of its kind to get such a nose-to-tail makeover. It first took me to Auckland ten days prior direct from New York-JFK—on that flight, I rode Economy Skycouch—and now the time has come for me to make my return by way of Vancouver. For this 13 hour sojourn, I get to sit in Business Premier. These seats have a new angle and layout to allow for increased privacy and space. My neighbor in 1K has it even better as he's scored a Business Premiere Luxe ticket, with a larger bed and a door that fully closes. I'll be alright, though. Below, find the details of Air New Zealand's new business class product. The Auckland Airport experience This bit is not a new product: When you arrive in Auckland as a Business Premier customer, check-in (including bag check) is expedited and conducted in a private suite that's hard to miss at the airport's entrance. The lights are dim, the airline's signature deep purple soothes from all sides, and before you know it your luggage has been sorted and you're heading through the fast lane of security. The airport lounge, too, is not new, but has all the modern amenities you could need: showers, hot food, a full bar.
Skift
2 days ago
- Business
- Skift
Indian Travelers Upgrade to Premium Despite Fewer Trips
Travel disruptions due to unforeseen events may have led to fewer bookings among Indians, but they are making up for it by spending more for the premium experience of travel. The demand for premium travel to and from India is increasing, according to data shared by travel brand Trevolution Group. The company noted that despite lower volumes on outbound booking from India in the first half of 2025, its gross total bookings reached $68.36 million, up 6% from last year. This increase, it said, was driven primarily by higher spending and a greater share of premium-class purchases. 'The demand for business class bookings increased by 27.12%, while economy class demand saw a modest 0.78% rise, reinforcing the trend toward value-added, premium travel options,' the company said in a statement. For outbound travel from India, business class travel surged by 17.6%, 'pointing to a higher concentration of corporate and high-net-worth travelers.' 'We are now seeing more deliberate, higher-value travel to and from India, especially in business class,' said Alex Weinstein, the founder of Dyninno Group of Companies. 'The demand for trip protection and comfort is growing, as well as the demand for secondary hubs. This shows the evolving mindset of the Indian traveler.' The Inbound Travel Story: The overall surge in gross total bookings, however, was driven by inbound travel – which increased from $50.29 million to $56.10 million. According to Trevolution, this showed 'rising consumer spending and sustained interest in long-haul and purpose-driven travel to India.' It's worth noting here that expat Indians visiting friends and relatives form 20% of the numbers for inbound. The group issued over 39,000 airline tickets to India in the first half of 2025. This was a 4.21% increase over th
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
How Delta amenity kits changed across the decades, from shoehorns to spa-grade toiletries
The golden age of air travel is long gone, but the business-class amenity kit is one luxury introduced in that era between the 50s and 70s that is still with us. Delta introduced it in 1978, at the tail end of the period, and has been keeping a photographic record of its evolution. The fascinating pictures serve as time capsules that offer insights into aircraft etiquette of the day and reveal how amenity kits went from being merely practical to designer collectibles. First, we step back in time, to an age long before AI pricing and online check-ins, when according to the amenity kits, fuzz-free clothing and being able to remove one's shoes with ease were the priorities for wealthy fliers. 1978 Delta's first amenity kits arrived in 1978, when the carrier was using Boeing 747s and Lockheed TriStars for long-haul travel. One of the kits featured a white bag, Pepsodent toothpaste, a comb, hand lotion, a hand towel, and a large nail file. Yes, doing your nails mid-flight was a top priority. Another brown and beige offering featured Michaud shaving cream and hand and body lotion, along with a razor and eye mask. Milestones for the carrier in the 70s included the introduction of the first transatlantic service from Atlanta to London, and audio in-flight entertainment. 1985 Notable inclusions of the 1985 amenity kit were a lint mitt for removing clothing fluff and dust and a shoehorn. Bizarre? Not really, this was, after all, a time when people would don formal attire to fly business class, a concept alien to today's tracksuit-wearing one-percenters. The goody bag also contained a toothbrush kit, shave cream, mouthwash and moisturizing lotion, along with a comb and a nail file. By this time, Delta had introduced computer-generated boarding and automated advance seat selection. 1987 This picture shows a 1987 amenity kit, which includes a pair of blue Delta slippers, with the rest of the kit unchanged. In this year, Western Airlines merged with Delta, making it the fourth-largest US carrier and the fifth-largest world carrier, with new hubs in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. It was also the year that Delta began trans-Pacific services to Tokyo. 1995 In 1995, the amenity kit took a step up, with Delta partnering with Essentiel Elements, known for its spa-grade toiletries. The kit included an aromatherapy towelette by the firm, along with a 'disc case' for CDs (remember those?), and Rembrandt toothpaste and mouth rinse. By that time, Delta had purchased Pan Am and introduced onboard recycling. And in 1995, Delta introduced the airline industry's first seasonal menus and became the first US airline to ban smoking on all flights worldwide. 1996 In 1996, Delta's business-class customers were treated to an enticing bundle, with Essential Elements lotions and potions still in place. In that year, a Delta plane carried the Olympic flame from Athens to Los Angeles for the 1996 Torch Relay to Atlanta. Watershed moments, meanwhile, were customers being able to make reservations and purchase tickets via Delta's website, SkyLinks, and Delta becoming the first airline to offer in-seat power and live broadcast television programming. 2001 This tin of delights, which included L'Occitane creams, arrived in 2001. This year also saw Delta install self-service airport kiosks, allowing customers to check-in and print boarding passes. 2006 The year 2006 saw the introduction of a vibrant red amenity kit with Lather products and playful inscriptions, such as "do not disturb, save me a snack" on a privacy notice. And in 2006 Delta became the first major airline with in-seat, on-demand movies, games and live TV on a large portion of its domestic fleet. Another first was the introduction of Delta flights to southern Africa, with a service to Johannesburg via Dakar, Senegal, launched. 2007 Lather products also featured in the blue and red 2007 amenity kit. The look of the airline changed in this year, with the carrier adopting a new three-dimensional red widget logo and livery. And an open skies agreement between the US and the European Union paved the way for services to Heathrow, which would launch the following year. New for 2025 Delta is rolling out "collectible" new amenity kits by Missoni in the fall "designed to reflect the colors of the sky". These will come in blue and cream and include "crew-length" socks; a breathable eye mask; an "upgraded" pen featuring "metal accents and Delta One branding"; Grown Alchemist skincare products in "elevated aluminum tubes"; a bamboo toothbrush; Marvis toothpaste; and earplugs. Delta is also launching a new bedding set by Missoni.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Outraged flyer reveals what young child did in business class that 'ruined his flight' - are his complaints fair?
A United Airlines passenger was left infuriated over what he claimed was the bad behavior of a young child flying in the business class cabin. Mitchell Miller shared two snaps of a little boy standing on his United Polaris seat on a transatlantic flight to Paris on his Threads account. 'An immature father who lets his son scream and shout and stand up in the seat and jump up and down so far for the whole flight,' Miller wrote. 'The kid hasn't STFU (shut the f**k up) since we took off and daddy couldn't care less. 4 hours, 52 minutes so far…2 more hours of this [expletive]. Can we get children under 12 banned from business class…please??' The post sparked a fiery debate over whether kids should be allowed to fly business or first class, where seats cost thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. 'You should have shamed them more. Bad parents deserve it. This isn't acceptable. Child is in a public place,' one comment agreed. Another commenter shared a similar experience when they were on a flight with a child screaming for their mom, standing and jumping on their seat, and running up and down the aisles during a 7.5 hour business class trip. 'The whole cabin was fuming. A baby I get, like annoying but it's a baby, this was a full child that they actively ignored and didn't once attempt to calm down or discipline,' the comment continued. However, others disagreed and stated that most children can behave on a flight. 'Kids belong in business class just like everyone else,' one argued. 'If you want a kid free flight fly private. My toddler loves business class and is always the best behaved person on the flight.' 'Dude fly private. My kids love business class and they are well behaved, soon as they start watching TV shows and playing games you won't hear a word from them,' another agreed. Mitchell shared that he was flying Polaris, which is United's elevated business class option. Polaris seats can be adjusted to turn them into a flat bed. The ability to sleep comfortably on a flight commands a steep price premium, with the thought of an unruly child in the cabin likely to offend many other business class passengers. Daily Mail reached out to United for comment on the backlash. Children are allowed on United Airlines. Kids under the age of two can sit on a parent's lap, or parents can bring an approved car seat aboard. The topic of allowing kids on planes has long divided travelers, with some claiming they disturb the flight. One viral Reddit post passionately declared, 'babies shouldn't be allowed on planes except in very particular instances.' The Redditor argued that it's acceptable for family emergencies or moving, but said it was 'selfish' for parents to bring their kids on flights for vacations. 'Babies are screaming on planes because they're in pain. their ears are not developed enough to deal with pressure changes. How would you like to be crammed in a flying tube for hours in pain and not understanding what's happening?' they argued. 'I agree with this it's literally awful for everyone involved,' one comment agreed. However, some disagreed, arguing, 'I don't agree with there being any actual regulations because there is no evidence of long term effects. 'A lot of flying babies are visiting family that can't come to them. I don't think parents are selfish usually… just impatient to share those experiences with their kids.' 'I travel quite a bit and it's mostly rude and inconsiderate adults that are the problem, not babies,' another wrote. Some suggested a child-free flight option as a compromise for those who don't want children on their flights. 'Not saying I agree, but I think a much easier compromise would be to have designated child-friendly flights,' one comment said. Japan Airlines previously announced a new feature that shows customers where babies are seated when booking their flight. A baby icon pops up above a seat when a family books it, so other travelers can opt to sit away from the child. Corendon, a Norwegian Airline, also took initiative to accommodate passengers worried about sharing a flight with a child by launching an 'Only Adult' area in 2023.
The Independent
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Frequent fliers reveal the upgrade tips that actually work
Forget dressing smartly or trying to charm flight attendants. Those tactics for getting upgraded on flights are myths. Instead, heed the advice here from frequent fliers who reveal tips that actually work for securing upgraded air travel. Our experts are Gilbert Ott, Founder of travel site The Points Guy; and JT Genter, Editor-In-Chief of the AwardWallet blog. Read on and you'll learn why checking in at the last second can yield a better seat — but only on certain airlines. And why booking premium economy is one of the best ways of getting bumped up to business class. Booking tips for a seat at the pointy end If you can afford to book a premium economy seat, you've also landed yourself a good chance of being bumped up to business class, says Gilbert. He tells The Independent: "It's the smallest cabin on the plane and the one the airline wants to 'upsell' economy passengers into the most. "They love to oversell this cabin with upgrades, effectively selling a seat on the plane twice to someone. And since it's such a small cabin, here you're most likely to receive a complimentary bump to business or first class." If budget airlines are more your price point, Zach recommends checking in at the very last second. He explains: "If you're flying on one of the ultra-low-cost budget airlines such as Spirit or Ryanair, I typically recommend checking in at the last second. "They often fill their planes back-to-front and reserve the most premium seats until the last minute to see if they can convince people to upgrade to them. "If they end up going unsold, it's possible they might assign them to the last people checking in." Does the same trick work for more expensive airlines? It can, says Zach, but he warns that "those carriers often fill their better seats with elite members". Stay loyal Enroling in an airline loyalty program and staying loyal significantly increases your chances of a better seat. JT explains: "The best way to get an upgrade to business or first class is to be loyal to that airline. "Generally, upgrades are going to go to a program's elite members." Zach agrees, telling The Independent that rewards also include the ability to "reserve extra-legroom seats at no cost or at a highly discounted rate". The downside? "You'll need to spend thousands of dollars a year flying with that airline," says JT. Volunteer to take a later flight if yours is oversold — and negotiate an upgrade Gilbert reveals that Delta has offered passengers as much as $10,000 each to transfer from an oversold flight to a later one. And if there's no cash offer, negotiate for an upgrade. He adds: "Airlines regularly oversell flights, so letting them know at check-in and at the gate that you'd be very willing to volunteer — and holding out for a decent offer — is a great tactic." Collect air miles Collecting air miles through credit-card spending is one of the classic tactics to snare a more luxurious seat. Gilbert recommends the Bilt Reward Card as it "allows people to earn points for paying rent, typically the largest monthly expense, and there's no annual fee, so it's an easy way to jump into the game". He adds: "Plus, the more transactions and spend, the better your rewards." Zach is a fan of cards that allow customers to earn flexible travel points "that aren't aligned with a specific airline or hotel chain". He explains: "This way, you can transfer points to a partner airline or hotel.' Zach says that American Express, Chase and Capital One all offer cards with this feature. JT's pro tip here is to avoid spending thousands on existing cards and instead continually sign up to new cards to take advantage of sign-up bonuses. He says: "These bonuses will earn you points much faster than through everyday spending alone. "Done right, this strategy can help you earn hundreds of thousands of points each year. In fact, my wife and I have earned more than seven million points and miles through sign-up bonuses alone. "Just be mindful of card issuer application restrictions and be strategic about your card applications." Avoid peak season The magic months for the cheapest business-class flights are early November and December, and mid-late January and February, says Gilbert. He reveals: "These are low periods for airlines and airlines are willing to sell relatively cheap tickets — think $2,000 for a business-class London-to-New York round trip — if you're willing to book far in advance and accept no flexibility for changes or cancellation. "If you can stick to it, take advantage of it."
