Flying
business or first class is definitely a treat.
The abundant access to luxury
comes in form of beds, complimentary drinks, better entertainment, privacy and
personal space, on-ground lounges and so much more. For the most part, not a
lot of travelers pay attention to flight food, but we do think it makes a
difference when you know what to expect. Here’s a list of the top 11 current
menus making the rounds up in the air, as compiled by The Condé Nast Traveler
Magazine. Bon Appétit!
11. Virgin
America First Class
Food
Specialty: The current menu for the trans-North American airlines has a special
Chicken and Artichoke dish that is at the top of the list of favorites from
their ever changing menu. The tender chicken breast is marinated with herbs and
cooked with giant beans and served with seared artichoke, roasted radishes and
caramelized fennel. The dish is also topped with sherry chicken jus. The
alternative to the chicken is a Korean ‘mixed rice’ (bibimbap) and coq au vin
with some slow braised short rib which is also quite the meal.
The
experience: Virgin America flights are built for short-haul distances and hence
don’t have stretch out beds but they do make up for that with spacious leg-room
and recliners. Every chair has a personal entertainment system that also has
the option to get movies, music etc. on-demand so travelers are not limited by
choices. Priority check-ins and securities ensure you get special treatment
from the ground onwards.
10.
Austrian Airlines Business Class
Food
Specialty: Besides the onboard flying chef that adds personal touches to every
meal or the sommeliers that help pick wines for meals, the coffee house is the
real limelight stealer. Aboard, business class passengers can choose from 10
different kinds of coffees, all freshly brewed and native to Vienna. The coffee
is served with traditional Austrian bundt cake. And of course, you could get
seconds.
The
experience: Austrian Airlines Business Class passengers get a wide variety of
special wines to choose from for their meal or recreational purposes. The
long-haul flights also come with air cushions that resemble normal bed
mattress. Besides access to the latest entertainment the seat also has an
integrated massage function for the utmost relaxation. The comfort kit, which
includes personal amenities, as well as the personal cabins are all Austrian
themed.
9. Alaskan
Airlines First Class
Food
Specialty: A common breakfast dish is apparently the most requested on the
flight – Granola. Besides the rolled oats, roasted sunflower seeds, pumpkin
seeds, brown sugar, dried cranberries and fresh blueberries make this granola
mix a sweet healthy meal for the start of any day.
The
experience: The single person recliner seats also come with an adjustable
headrest. Free Wi-Fi is a part of the on-flight entertainment. Every passenger
also gets their own personal flight attendant to see to whatever needs you
have, even if you just need somebody to talk to. The first class tickets are
refundable and flexible to fit every passenger’s schedules and an added bonus
is the additional miles over and above the regular miles passengers stand to
gain with every ticket.
8. JetBlue
Mint Premium Class
Food
Specialty: All the meals on board the JetBlue Mint Premium Class are supplied
by their partners and famous Manhattan restaurant, Saxon and Parole. Frequent
travelers can expect all their experiences to be different as the menus are
updated and changed regularly. Dessert is supplied by Mah-Ze-Dahr bakery and
Blue Marble Ice Cream, both, leaving the sweet toothed spoiled for choice.
The
experience: Though JetBlue is not an international carrier and the longest
flight would be from New York to LA, the premium class may make one wish, they
could stay on for a while longer. The seats are integrated with a massage
feature and another to adjust the firmness of the seat to fit your needs,
especially if you want to lie down. Entertainment also includes an in-flight
internet connection. The airlines gives every premium class passenger an
amenities kit from Birchbox – a big cosmetics and beauty brand, that contains
some grooming and lifestyle not only for women, but for men too. At the end of
the flight, premium class travelers are bid adieu with artisan chocolates and
the promise of their baggage being the first to arrive at the carousel.
7. Qatar
Airways Business Class
Food
Specialty: The business class meals are the handiwork of chef Nobu Matsuhisa.
His most praised main course is the yellowtail teriyaki which is fillets of the
yellowtail amberjack cooked in teriyaki and truffle sauce along with sweet
potatoes, roasted cherry tomatoes and okra. Though Chef Nobu makes a whole
array of dishes including dessert, this meal is a favorite and staple for many.
The
experience: The business class aboard Qatar Airways breaths comfort right from
the personal storage space to the personal cabins to the linen supplied by the
Italian luxury brand Frette. Besides the double screen touch interactive
entertainment system, since it is the business class, wi-fi, on air mobile
service, and a bigger desk support passengers’ needs to stay updated and be
productive. The personal staff are always available to help one do so with
unlimited drinks and in general, to make sure everyone is at their most relaxed
state of mind. The beds, designer sleepwear and Giorgio Armani amenities are
some of the finer luxuries on board.
6. LAN
Airlines Premium Business
Food
Specialty: The airlines might not have outstanding amenities to offer, even for
the premium class, but it does serve the best beef on flight along with a good
selection of South American wine. The beef, no matter what version of the dish,
is always cooked to perfection, so simple yet packed with flavor is always
served with the freshest vegetable produce of the season. The Brazilian
churassco Beef Fillet with potatoes à la dauphinoise aboard the partner TAM
Premium Business is an example of excellent beef. For dessert, passengers can
choose between the caramel flan and the dulce de leche torte or just get both.
The LAN premium business definitely makes up in food what it lacks otherwise.
The
experience: This South American Airlines is one of the biggest in the region
and has been trying to make its way up it to the luxury niche. The premium
business section has bed converting seats and a personal cabin to ensure
privacy and rest. Personal flight attendants are also available to every
passenger to make sure they have the best experience.
5. Cathay
Pacific First Class
Food
Specialty: Every month, Cathay Pacific has a new menu aboard the First class
which are specially designed by the star chef from one of the Mandarin Oriental
hotels. The menus are planned to match the season and specialties of whichever
hotel is in-charge of the menu for that month. The chicken breast, roasted with
braised cannellini beans, chanterelles and lemon confit from the Mandarin
Oriental San Francisco had left quite the mark on passengers’ palettes.
The
experience: On board Cathay Pacific first class, every cabin is fitted with an
LCD touchscreen, from where the passenger can control and adjust the seat, bed,
and lights at ease. Every first class passenger gets a cotton night suit
designed and made by PYE Hongkong. The personal amenities, like skin care and
toiletries, come from Aesop in pouches made by Ermenegildo Zegna for men and
Trussardi for women. A wide screen TV and BOSE headphones are part of every
cabin. Cathay truly knows how to let its flyers travel in class.
4. Virgin
Atlantic Upper Class
Food
Specialty: The Thai Beef Salad is the best option for those looking for a tasty
but healthy meal. Created by Lorraine Pascale, British celebrity chef known for
healthy eating recipes, the beef is dressed with roasted pine nuts and topped
with a chili dressing. Besides that the on flight meals are good, but Virgin
Atlantic prides itself on being proper British. The tea time during day flights
aboard the first class is the best and is when the stewardess comes around with
trays of finger sandwiches, cakes, jam and cream scones, breads and a good
English cuppa.
The
experience: The Upper Class Suite boasts of a futuristic bar, which encourages
and was built with the idea of passengers being able to socialize with one
another in a more open space. The multiway recliner lets passenger sit
comfortably and switch positions with ease. The recliner also stretches out
into a full sized bed with soft mattress to help passengers sleep well. The
cabins have entertainment facilities like a personal screen as well as connecting
points for travelers to work. Each cabin also has an extra seat, just in case
you have visitors. Travelers can also enjoy a complimentary chauffer service
(airport transfers) on ground.
Food
Speciality: Being a Japanese airline, they take pride in serving authentic
Japanese meals to all their passengers. The Koura Yaki is fondly remembered not
because of its name but because of its almost exotic preparation and
ingredients. The dish is a made from crab meat and crab butter wrapped in egg
and fried tofu filled with rice and some veggies as an accompaniment.
The
experience: This 5-star Japanese airline offers travelers comfort in the form
of bed pad – a comfortable mattress that can also be used as a seat cushion.
Along with the bed pad, comes a body quilt and a pillow that are built to help
you sleep better. Passengers also get slippers to make you feel at home, aroma
cards to help you relax and a letter set. Other amenities include a L’Occitane
kit with a serum and a lip balm and other small comforts like earplugs, eye
masks and cotton pads. Light sweatshirts and foot massagers are available as
rentals.
2. Hawaiian
Airlines First Class
Food
Specialty: The meals aboard the first class are the works of Chef Chai
Chaowasaree and are a combination of Asia and North American cuisine, since
most of Hawaiian food is a mixture of the two. Filipino Beef Kare Kare is a
special dish that has been doing the rounds on most of the airline’s routes and
has gotten excellent reviews so far. The pork leg and oxtail stew with tripe is
slow cooked in a cashew sauce and served with asparagus, roasted potatoes and
carrots.
The
experience: First Class travelers aboard Hawaiian Airlines are served
complimentary drinks; unlimited drinks are available only on long-haul flights.
For entertainment purposes, every person in the first class is given a personal
tablet and only a set of specially trained cabin crew are at the service of
first class travelers.
Food
Specialty: Meals are served in Givenchy tableware and crystalware but that’s
not the highlight. Taking air travel to another level, the Singapore Airline
Suites allows passengers to ‘Book the Cook’ to ensure they have a special meal
crafted for them. With this service, passengers can enjoy whatever they feel
like from more than 60 dishes on their panel, whether it be comfort or healthy
food or just something they’ve never had before, and all it takes is a booking
at least 24 hours before take-off.
The
experience: The Singapore Airline Suites are definitely state of the art. It’s
not just a personal cabin, is a personal suite that has doors and blinds to
control your privacy. The suite has a lot of firsts for air travel, like the
bed, which unlike other premium flight services is not a seat converted into a
bed, and the 23” personal television in every suite. With all that opulence,
expect everything, from the linen to the amenities to be designer labelled.
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