Coach Does Not Pads, But It's Time For Ice Cream Sundae In Front Of :
NEW YORK (AP) Flying has never been so good - can show off.
While most travelers Thanksgiving will fight for the general bins and go hours without a snack, or room to stretch their legs, lives in the first class is without stress. It has always been a special place on the other side of the veil. Now it is even cushier.
American Airlines, a profitable company after a decade of catastrophic expenditures are almost $ 2 million to modernize its equipment customers more payment. On the roads the most profitable high international flights are processed before the flight with champagne, flat screen TVs and seats that convert into beds. Flight attendants greet them by name, hang jackets and serve meals in China.
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| High-Flyers Large Living Room |
A rich treatment is designed to keep people like Tim Carlson happy. Carlson, CFO of semiconductor materials, the company has made 189 flights over the past two years to travel 353 176 miles of United and its partners.
After the drivers, Carlson might just be the most important person in the plan. United States will do everything possible to ensure another airline does not fly business. Agencies to call on delays and divert it so that no shortage of meetings.
"I go to the top of the list for the next flight," said Carlson.
His recent trip from Newark, NJ, in Brussels, he met a curb with your boarding pass and was in front of the safety line. Four minutes to go down, he had gone to a checkpoint.
3400000 Most Americans are expected to fly this holiday week will not get any closer to that of the treatment. They paid a little 'less than $ 400 tickets for their return. And it's a ruthless business. You can save $ 5, travelers can choose another airline.
So it is not surprising that the most loyal customers, and are willing to pay more to improve services, the airlines want to reward them.
First class and business class passengers account for only 8 percent of international travelers, but represents 27 percent of revenue, according to International Air Transport Association. So one way bus ticket from Chicago to Beijing, can run $ 1,000 in business class costs $ 4,000 and $ 12,000 bonus.
"There is a war for the lucrative passenger," said Henry H. Harteveldt, co-founder of the Research Group on the air travel business.
Airlines focus on three areas:
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| High-Flyers Large Living Room |
To give passengers a full night's sleep. Delta, United and U.S. Airways are the installation of seats in premium cabins on international bow flat beds. American is not to make this investment, but adds a turndown service on certain routes, at bedtime, passengers pajamas and slippers while the cabin crew to throw a quilt, duvet and pillow.
Launch of taste buds. Come and meals for passengers to forget TV dinners. U.S. Airways serves citrus mahi-mahi with lemon sauce, herbs, jasmine rice, baby carrots and asparagus grilled in international trade. Service American ice cream Ben & Jerry cream. Hot fudge, caramel, berries, pecans and whipped cream is added to each seat.
Provided fleeing the chaos of the airport terminals. New Delta Seattle salon has large windows with views of Mount Rainier. U.S. new San Francisco club, members can next to a cozy fireplace.
"They now realize they need to offer a competitive product to attract the highest in U.S. dollars passengers," said Gary Leff, co-founder of loyalty points mile of the site.
In foreign airlines, the good life is even better.
Emirates Airlines first class passengers for the A380 Airbus her shower, and the walled-off suites, mini-bar. Lufthansa has a separate terminal in Frankfurt, passengers in first class, but it is unlikely that damage: passengers are dedicated to immigration authorities, and run them on a plane, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Porsche Cayenne.
Singapore Airlines trains flight attendants to walk without attracting passengers. And Virgin Atlantic Lounge in London, passengers can play pool, get massage, or relax in the sauna.
For a brief moment in the 1960's and 70's, flying was glamorous of all. Passengers dressed for the occasion. He had piano bars, and flight attendants - hired by his appearance - wearing tight miniskirts. However, the tickets are more expensive.
In late 1970, the real treat was gone. He had begun to look like crowded buses. In the decade following 9 / 11, the benefits that were missing. Airlines face new security costs, high fuel prices and recessions two. They were not trying to impress. They just wanted to stay in business.
That's why most travelers have been free meals, legroom and blankets stripped. Even before the plane has become obsolete. Foreign airlines have benefited and courted American travelers with new cabins, luxury and business class.
Now, U.S. airlines are catching up. Finally have a bit of money, and how to buy new aircraft, which have a reason to update the interior design. Engineers have also found ways to get rid of the seats flat without the need for more space.
"If you want to attract business travelers, you need a lie-flat seat," said Joel Wartgow, a senior director at Carlson Wagonlit Travel, one of the largest travel agency business.
Actually, coach passengers are seeing improvements in these days as a TV and Wi-Fi, then the airlines. And you can enjoy the luxury of other small fee. Seats and a few more inches of leg room start at $ 9. Lounge day pass costs $ 50. American offers up celebrity treatment, in which the agent escorting passengers to stop the door is $ 125.
But for the vast majority of passengers, the gap between the front and back of the plane. This is because the airlines know what is important for the average traveler. And it's not caviar.
"They want their luggage. They want to be on time. They want to clean the plane," says Andrew Nocella, U.S. Airways vice president of marketing. "Above all, they want a lower price."
