The Dream Machines

There’s flying Business Class and there’s flying ‘Business Class’. Redefining luxury are the Dreamliners, a few of them stationed at the Aviation show at Begumpet airport, Hyderabad - like the Emirates A380, Boeing 787 passenger jet from Etihad and Qatar Airways’ A 350.

From the time double deck Airbus 380 was launched as the world’s largest commercial aircraft, a few airlines that have acquired themhave added their touch of opulence and value addition before releasing them into the aero-space.

Emirates’s A380 is surely a popular one in the category. It’s main deck 427 seater economy class is well spaced out, divided into four sections and the first row in each of them is set for kids, who need more space to move around and play, and there is a Lonely Planet play set that has among other things soft toys, games etc to keep them busy.

The area is also for mothers with their babies and so there is space to keep a bassinet too. The airlines that received the award for the best entertainment has the TV screens airing around 1500 channels and food and beverages (alcoholic too) are served at no added cost.

As you walk up the stairs to the upper deck, you enter the business class via a lounge bar that the airlines prefers to call the Network-lounge that allows the business class and first class guests to interact over drinks and food.

For India, the Emirates serves snacks like masala almonds and sweets too. Another value addition is the shower spa with Bvlgari toiletries and signature Timeless spa products.

While the business class has a well-designed private cabin with a flat bed, personal mini bar, in-seat power for laptops and mobile, a tab with remote control of the television, ambient light, privacy doors and so on, and as one wonders how every convenience of the guest is catered to with care; the first class suites (14 of them) take it a few notches higher.

The suites look opulent with gold plated interiors, private bar and screen, vanity table with mirror and more. Etihaad’s Boeing 787 passenger jet’s first class too has private cabins for the guests with recliner seats that can be converted into flat beds made of Poltrona Frau leather like in the Ferrari, and a chef on board ensures the guests get to eat the best of the cuisines; in addition she goes through the guest profile to come up with a chef special to suit their palate for every flight.

The meals here are served according to the guests’ preferred timings. The food table is conveniently big enough to enjoy a meal served in elegant crockery without feeling cramped up. There is an on-board flying nanny too who assists mothers with small babies and engages the kids in various play activities to keep them busy. A small prayer area with the screen indicating the direction to Mecca is another interesting feature on the Etihaad aircraft.

Apart from being spacious, the gorgeous aircrafts with tastefully done interiors seem to encompass every comfort that a seasoned traveler expects and evidently these dream machines are growing in popularity, in the luxury segment.