Traveling is one of our passions, especially after waiting at home for a long time to go back to explore the world. Here we share some of the best luxury airlines to take you to that beautiful destination you’ve been dreaming of.
AIR NEW ZEALAND
With a slew of awards under their belt including 2010 Air Transport World ‘Airline of the Year,’ Air New Zealand continues to impress with exceptional customer service and Luxury accommodations. Their Business Premiere class offers guests a 22-inch wide seat that transforms into a six-foot lie-flat bed; personal entertainment center with an expansive list of TV shows, movies, music videos, and games; and food options like pan seared snapper, braised beef short rib, and passionfruit panna cotta. New amenities have been added to the already opulent features including touch-screens to operate in-flight entertainment and food orders.
JAPAN AIRLINES
Since 1951, JAL has been a leader in first-class comfort, and apparently they intend to keep a good thing going. Select flights now feature their Skysleeper Solo specialty which is the airlines special interpretation of coddling for travelers. The seat’s leather upholstery is by sofa manufacturer Poltrona Frau, ensuring your comfort – awake or asleep – in the chair’s flat-bed configuration. Whether your palate yearns for traditional Kyoto cuisine or your cravings lie more in Western food, JAL has you covered as both menus are offered to satisfy varying palates and are so delicious that you’ll swear an Iron Chef is on board.
SWISS AIRLINES
Swiss Airlines have had a longstanding reputation for courtesy and efficiency, and so far their reputation remains solid topping some of the best airlines around. All the expected luxury appointments and services are present but for those wishing for a bit more, your inner techno- geek will appreciate too-cool features that are all too entertaining to ignore. For one, your video monitor can display flight data, such as air speed, distance flown and distance remaining. While such technology has been around for years, Swiss, always innovative, has upped the ante: two onboard cameras let you watch the world in front of the aircraft as well as below it.
ETIHAD
Etihad Airways aims to provide the utmost in Arabian hospitality as they travel from 68 destinations in 43 countries around the world. Five different seating classes offer an array of high-end features, with the Diamond First Class Suite being the most luxurious. Here in your own personal suite, enjoy a 6’8″ extra wide bed that lays perfectly flat, your own food and beverage manager offering five star dining with fine wines, 23-inch widescreen TV, personal mini bar, massage chair, and complete privacy among other features.
VIRGIN ATLANTIC
Considering that famed Sir Richard Branson is at the company’s helm, you’re going to get your money’s worth and then some. Virgin poses a strong argument for first-class — ahem, Upper Class Suite — travel, for which the carrier is quick to suggest it offers more spacious appointments than competing airlines. Either way, you’ll love the pampering, including the surprisingly roomy beds, which convert from your seat. If all you want is a good night’s rest, Virgin also accommodates this desire: Certain Upper Class overnight flights feature the “Snooze Zone,” with dimmed lights and minimal distractions. Virgin America is a new, California-based airline that is on a mission to make flying quality again, with brand new planes, attractive fares, topnotch service, and a host of fun, innovative amenities that are reinventing domestic air travel. With fleet-wide in-flight internet, mood-lit cabins, custom-designed leather seats, power outlets, and a video touch-screen at every seat back offering guests on-demand menus and countless entertainment options the Virgin America experience is unlike anything else in the skies.
EMIRATES
From a humble beginning with only a pair of planes in 1985, Emirates has henceforth become a luxurious force to be reckoned with. While many airline carriers have barely kept lights on at their offices, Emirates announced that their 2005 fiscal year profit was $762 million. As a passenger, you’ll feel like a million dollars too. Getting quality rest and relaxation won’t be difficult; Emirates has made quiet cabins a high priority. An exceptional journey from start to finish, Emirates has been recognized many times over the years for the quality of in-flight cuisine, the breadth of in-flight entertainment, and for excellent overall service.
Luxury Travel Special – EuropeanLife Magazine, 2021