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Travel + Leisure
3 days ago
- Travel + Leisure
Amtrak Just Upgraded First Class on the Popular Acela Service
A first class train ride just got more luxurious. That's because Amtrak is rolling out a new, elevated dining menu for premium passengers on its popular Acela line, according to the company. From charred chicken to a unique take on crab, first class Acela passengers will now have the opportunity to feast on the new menu as they zip across one of the busiest train routes in the United States. 'These elevated touches will add to the experience on board and improve expectations for what to expect on Amtrak and Acela First Class,' Amtrak said in a statement, adding "they reflect a larger commitment to redefining hospitality and positioning Amtrak as the leader in premium service." The new menu, which is now available on all Acela routes, was developed by James Beard award-winning restaurateur Stephen Starr whose restaurants are located in New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Florida, and Nashville, and include popular spots like Buddakan, Electric Lemon, Pastis, and The Clock Tower. Each main dish was inspired by one of Starr's famed restaurants, including the Charred Bobo Chicken with acorn squash and aji verde sauce from St. Anselm, the Washington D.C. outpost of the American tavern, as well as the ricotta ravioli with a plum tomato sauce from Philadelphia's Parc. Or feast on the crab enchiladas with coconut, poblano peppers, and corn from Washington D.C.'s El Presidente, served up with a guajillo chili glaze and topped with lime crema and queso fresco. Each meal service is also accompanied by a variety of premium wine and spirits as well as soft drinks. Some of the elevated onboard dining in the Acela First Class cabins. The rail company said it also recently upgraded its tableware and now serves meals with luxury amenities like linen table cloths and a hot towel service. Popular among business and leisure travelers throughout the Northeast Corridor, the Acela line stretches from Boston to Washington, D.C., with several stops along the way, including in New York City and Philadelphia. The train operates as an express service with fewer local stops and higher speeds, allowing passengers to get to their location faster. In addition to the elevated dining, first class passengers on Acela are also treated to other perks, like access to station lounges, including the Metropolitan Lounge at New York's Moynihan Train Hall, which features large glass windows, contemporary flooring, Wi-Fi, and snacks. On board, first class passengers also enjoy more legroom and comfortable seating (complete with adjustable headrests, lumbar support, and footrests).
WIRED
02-07-2025
- Business
- WIRED
Come for the Amenity Kits, Stay for the Flight
Jul 2, 2025 9:00 AM Airlines are wooing first-class passengers with elaborate complementary products sourced from the most luxe companies—and getting influencers' attention in the process. Singapore Airlines offers its business-class passengers a pouch of skincare products from Le Labo. Photography: Roberto Badin Last March, Air France hosted a private event at the upscale Ritz Paris hotel in Place Vendôme, in the luxurious heart of the city. The airline had built a full-scale mock-up of its new La Première first-class cabin and treated travel journalists like its most valued customers. The new cabin was classic and elegant, a showcase of the Air France aesthetic. Matteo Rainisio, founder of the Italian frequent-flier website The Flight Club, who was in attendance, called it akin to haute couture. Each first-class suite has a separate chair and bed, five windows, sound- and light-blocking curtains, and two 32-inch high-resolution 4K screens. At the end of the presentation, guests were given a gift: the same upgraded amenity kit the airline's future La Première travelers will receive, complete with high-end pajamas by Jacquemus. British Airways offers first-class passengers a Temperley London bag filled with Elemis products. Photography: Roberto Badin This single kit is a small part of a larger, increasingly aggressive push by major global airlines like Air France, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, British Airways, and others to attract coveted, high-spending passengers. These kits serve as powerful marketing tools, widely discussed online (see: amenity kit TikTok), collected by enthusiasts and sometimes even sold on eBay. Call it the amenity kit arms race. Gone are the utilitarian days of dental kits and foam ear plugs. At their lie-flat beds or private pods, premium guests in both first and business class today are greeted with a collection worthy of an Oscars gift bag. These are defined by collaborations with premier luxury brands. Emirates' first-class kits feature skin care products from Byredo, with face toner, eye cream, and even sleep oil. Singapore offers its business-class passengers a pouch from Le Labo filled with plant-based products. ANA, Japan's largest airline, collaborates with luggage maker Ettinger and Sensai cosmetics for first-class offerings, while British Airways works with The White Company for its toiletry kit and Temperley London for its amenity bag. Sometimes it's the bag itself that's the collectable. Delta's first-class kits are made by Tumi, Qatar's by the Italian luggage maker Bric's, and EVA Air's by Rimowa. These airlines' battle to offer the best bag takes place within the context of the rise of business class and the fall—until recently—of first-class travel. Beginning in the early 2000s, many airlines shifted away from first-class cabins, favoring larger business-class sections that offered an increasingly luxurious experience, with lie-flat seating becoming the standard. Some airlines, especially in the United States, scrapped their first-class sections altogether. The reason was economic: Business travelers account for only about 12 percent of passengers but can generate up to 75 percent of an airline's profits. In the past few years, however, high-end airlines have begun reinvesting in first class, betting that a small but influential market of elite travelers was being ignored. First-class availability globally has shrunk to about 1 percent of total seats, according to aviation analytics company Cirium, but the airlines that still offer it are making their cabins more exclusive than ever. Air France, Qatar, and Emirates have all launched, or are planning to launch, new offerings focused on unparalleled privacy, space, and luxury. Think a chauffeur service to and from the airport, private suites with doors, unlimited caviar, and even double beds for couples. The goal is not always direct profit but powerful brand awareness. 'What airlines are saying is that they've seen a surge of people willing to travel less but better,' says Rainisio, who took 155 flights last year, 80 percent of them in premium cabins. 'If you want to fly in style and you can afford it, there are still a lot of people willing to pay.' (Rainisio's favorite first-class amenity kit comes from Emirates; it features a keepsake gold mirror and luxury skin care and body care products in a bag from Bulgari.) British Airways' 'D'ora' print amenity bag took inspiration from women photographers of the early 20th century. Photography: Roberto Badin This new standard of luxury goes far beyond the kits. In recent years, airlines have introduced private suites with closing doors, onboard showers, and multi-course menus crafted by Michelin-starred chefs served on high-quality crockery, like the William Edwards plates on British Airways. Singapore Airlines, for instance, has its own wine program, buying vintages years in advance to mature them specifically for serving at altitude. It is the only airline in the world pouring Cristal champagne in first class and even runs a farm-to-plane program to ensure the freshness of its ingredients. 'We have a team in Singapore Airlines that looks after every aspect of the customer experience,' says James Boyd, the company's vice president of public relations. 'It's everything from in-flight entertainment to amenities, the food and beverage program, the wine program—everything that the passenger tastes, smells, touches, sleeps on, consumes, et cetera, is designed by this team, and we leave nothing to chance.' Ultimately, one of the primary reasons airlines focus so intensely on these accessories and comforts is speed. It can take years to design, build, and deliver new aircraft or to retrofit an existing fleet with multimillion-dollar cabins. A new-and-improved amenity kit, by contrast, can be conceived of and introduced relatively quickly. The value of these kits is both tangible and strategic. Some are estimated to be worth well over $100, but their real power is in the buzz they create. A great kit generates positive press and 'check this out!' posts on social media, while a disappointing one can lead to public complaints from loyal customers, says Rainisio, who ranks amenity kits on his website. (Emirates, Singapore, and ANA are his top three first-class kits.) 'I see a lot of people sharing pictures or comments about the product,' he says. 'Even if you are paying 15,000 euros or dollars for a ticket, you care about the amenity kit.'
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Surrey v Durham, Somerset v Notts, and more: county cricket day four
Update: Date: 2025-07-02T09:29:39.000Z Title: Tuesday's round-up Content: Leicestershire dropped the form book in a puddle, tumbling to an innings defeat in three days. After Middlesex had flayed 534, Leicestershire collapsed to 204 and then 202, despite some stoical tail wagging. Naavya Sharma and Noah Cornwell, 19 and 20 and playing in only their third first-class games, finished with six and four wickets in the match. Yorkshire's Matthew Revis and Ben Coad bashed their highest first-class scores, turning the game on its head at York. Coad then grabbed two Essex second-innings wickets to set up an intriguing final day. Tom Taylor tickled Worcestershire towards victory over Hampshire while James Coles' 150 and six wickets for Warwickshire off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli enlivened a hot day against Sussex at Hove. Dan Worrall's new ball brilliance gave Surrey a sniff of a chance against Durham, despite Alex Lees' 125; Lancashire are on the brink of their first victory after a wonderful century from Ashton Turner against Derbyshire. Ben Kellaway and Colin Ingram, ingenu and veteran, made twin hundreds for Glamorgan against Gloucestershire as events at Sophia Gardens drifted towards a draw. There were four hundreds for Northamptonshire at Canterbury – for Ricardo Vasconcelos, Justin Broad, Saif Zaib and Calvin Harrison. Zaib's unbeaten 150 was his fifth hundred of a prolific season, while Harrison continued his campaign to become loan signing of the year. Jack Leach toiled through 53 overs for Somerset, finishing with six for 121 as leaders Nottinghamshire built a lead of 130. The main architects were Jack Haynes (157) and Indian IPL star Ishan Kishan with a sparky 77. Somerset had one over to face before stumps, and nightwatchman Matt Henry chopped the final ball into his stumps. Update: Date: 2025-07-02T09:29:39.000Z Title: Scores on the doors Content: DIVISION ONE Southampton: Hampshire 221 and 86-3 v Worcestershire 679-7dec Taunton: Somerset 379 and 4-1 v Nottinghamshire 509 The Oval: Surrey 820-9 v Durham 343-9 Hove: Sussex 533 v Warwickshire 415 and 88-1 York: Yorkshire 459-8 v Essex 368 and 33-3 DIVISION TWO Chesterfield: Derbyshire 261 and 139-3 v Lancashire 367 and 406-6dec Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 528 v Gloucestershire 380 and 12-0 Canterbury: Kent 566-8dec v Northamptonshire 624-6 Grace Road: Middlesex 534 BEAT Leicestershire 205 and 202 BY AN INNNINGS AND 127 RUNS Update: Date: 2025-07-02T09:29:39.000Z Title: Preamble Content: Good morning! This is our last day of championship cricket for a while, so come huddle in for some final day japes. Middlesex duly pulled off their heist at Grace Road yesterday, so all eyes to Chesterfield and Southampton – and, possibly, York. Elsewhere, the run-fests look certain to trickle into five o'clock draws. Play starts at 11am.
Times
29-06-2025
- Business
- Times
How Surrey are bucking trend for declining crowds at county matches
In a cricket context, a significant development has been happening in south London. At a time when crowds for domestic first-class cricket have been dwindling worldwide, Surrey are bucking the trend. Their past two home games, against Yorkshire and Essex, have each broken the record for championship crowds at the Oval in the 21st century, a culmination of a determined effort throughout the club to promote the county game. The visit of Durham (a Sunday to Wednesday fixture) is Surrey's fifth home Championship fixture and their last until September 8. During the course of this week's match, it is likely the club will break the attendance figures this year for the whole of last season, even though there will still be two home games to play. It fits a pattern of rising interest and attendances in first-class cricket and rising membership, at a time of decline or stagnation elsewhere. Some numbers, first of all. Over the past decade, Surrey's attendances for championship cricket have doubled, from 33,121 in 2015 to 65,433 last year. This year's average attendance has been 13,206 per game, with a peak of 14,982 against Essex. Total attendance so far in 2025 has been 52,825, so an average gate against Durham should see them past last year's figure. Membership has risen from a little under 10,000 a decade ago to more than 20,000 now. It is worth exploring why. No one would doubt that Surrey have some enviable advantages through a long-term staging agreement with the ECB and a ground that has benefited from significant investment, in one of the great capital cities of the world, sitting on the edge of a wealthy financial district. It would be easy for them to sit on their laurels and yet there has been a concerted effort to promote the less obviously marketable aspects of the county game, to see county members not as a problem to be solved but as their best customers, and to align a successful four-day team with a distinct marketing push. Oli Slipper, the chairman, credits the work of Richard Gould, formerly the chief executive of Surrey now at the ECB, and Richard Thompson, his predecessor as chairman, for their determination not to see county and championship cricket left behind after the introduction of the Hundred. He makes the point that Test cricket remains by far the biggest driver of ECB revenues, and therefore a vibrant championship, as a bedrock for that, is essential. He has no truck with the divisive narrative around county or franchise, red ball or white ball, recognising instead the potential for a virtuous circle, with audiences and interest from one feeding into the other. 'So many people have almost given up on red-ball cricket, because it is difficult, but we see a vibrant red-ball crowd and many white-ball fans converting. We see a good audience there,' he tells me. Their marketing of the championship has involved various recent initiatives, at no great extra financial cost. The Essex game was a designated 'Festival of Red Ball Cricket' match, the second year such an initiative has been held. More than 3,000 of the almost 15,000-strong crowd in that fixture were first-time visitors to the club, and 40 per cent were under 45. Every championship match offers free entry after tea, the club allow spectators to play cricket and wander the outfield in the breaks, and to watch a Test-class team (when at full strength) on the field, they charge only £15 per adult per day and £1 for under-16s — great value when set against the cost of international tickets. Andrew Lane, the finance director, points me to the flexibility of various membership models. Previously, the club found a significant drop-off after the affordable under-16 rate finished, so now they offer a 16-21 membership for £73. For £144, there is a 22-25 age bracket membership, which guarantees entry to every Surrey match and the Hundred for the short-of-money, post-university, just-moved-to-London crowd. Eventually, they hope to transition these to a full membership at £270. Lane is convinced that the quality of the free broadcast stream (viewing figures for the championship this year for home matches are already double that of last year) is an important factor in the rise of championship crowds. Now, the four-day game is easy to follow and watch day-to-day, which allows the narrative to build and supporters to engage with it, encouraging many to pop in during or after work, especially on Fridays. The settled Friday to Monday starts for the early championship programme combined with this year's good weather has been a significant factor. It means that, for Surrey, the championship more than pays its way. Lane says that putting membership receipts to one side and accounting simply for takings at the ticket office, bars, restaurants and shop, then over the course of seven home championship games, match-day receipts should exceed costs by about £300,000. For Surrey at least, four-day cricket is not a loss-leader, but an essential part of their offering. All this is one reason why the club is against a reduction in championship cricket from 14 matches. A domestic schedule review is under way, with various options under consideration amid a strong push from the Professional Cricketers Association and many counties to reduce the red-ball programme. Recommendations, if and when agreed by the 18 counties, are set to be approved by the Professional Game Committee on July 8 and ratified by the ECB at the end of the month. There are five convoluted options on the table, all of which — bar one — would mean the championship programme is cut to 12 (or 13) matches. Surrey's preference would be an elite eight-team top division and a ten-team second division, with 14 matches, as of now. Given there is broad agreement across the county game to reduce the T20 Blast to ten or twelve games (but scheduled on better nights of the week to sell) Surrey's vision for a 14-match championship programme should still be feasible. Behind Surrey's rise on the field has been Alec Stewart, no longer the club's full-time director of cricket but still the most influential cricketing voice there. As one of England's finest players, the DOC behind Surrey's three-timer in the championship, and the man responsible for the production line of England talent from the club, his views should carry weight. He sees a clear delineation between the championship as an elite cricket competition — there to promote best versus best and to help produce England players — and the more commercial offering of the Blast and other short-form competitions. He reckons 14 games is a bulwark against rain and one-innings matches and if scheduled right should be both a good competition to watch and one that provides a thorough grounding to help produce England players. I stand to be corrected, but I cannot believe there is anywhere else in the world that would have doubled their four-day, red-ball support over the past decade. Those who see Surrey as an outlier, with unique advantages, are right to some degree, but there are also lessons to be learnt: they see county cricket as a growth business not a declining one; they see members as an asset, not a problem; there is a 'whole' club determination to push the county game and they have built a brilliant stadium and team. It is a template that is working.
Travel Weekly
24-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Lufthansa's Allegris suites are coming to more U.S. routes
Lufthansa said it plans to increase the availability in the U.S. of its first-class Allegris suites. Lufthansa showcased the seats in New York last week. The airline plans to launch the cabin in mid-August on flights to Charlotte, N.C., and on Oct. 26 on flights to Miami and New York JFK. Lufthansa on March 30 launched the cabin on routes to San Francisco, San Diego and Chicago, and in April on flights to Newark. Other North American gateways are to be determined. The new first-class cabin includes three suites, with the middle suite able to accommodate two guests. It is part of the Lufthansa Group's 2.5 billion-euro investment in product and service improvements -- including its cabins, lounges and catering -- by the end of 2025, said Lufthansa vice president of area management for the Americas Dirk Janzen. The company said about 2 billion euros of that figure will be for the Lufthansa brand. Lufthansa currently has 10 Airbus A350-900 aircraft equipped with the Allegris first-class cabin. In addition, 10 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft will be outfitted with Allegris first class, with the carrier to begin to receive those planes in the second quarter of 2026. There also is an Allegris first-class retrofit planned for 15 Boeing 747-8 aircraft, according to Lufthansa. Source: Business Travel News
