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SCMP Reporter

Air New Zealand AIR New Zealand's flying boats opened the 'Coral Route' to the South Pacific 50 years and today the airline remains the number one carrier to the region.

  For nine years in succession, it has won the British travel industry's 'Best Carrier to the Pacific' award.

  Of special interest to wine lovers, it also scooped Business Traveller International's 'Cellar in the Sky' award.

  A small airline with an enviable reputation, Air New Zealand flies twice a week (on Sunday and Thursday) from Hong Kong to Auckland.

  First and business class passengers benefit after just two return journeys from an 'Air Points' frequent flyer programme on the route. Points from the two trips entitle the passenger to a free upgrade on his or her next flight.

  Points can also be accumulated through Air New Zealand's partners in the scheme - New Zealand Duty Free, Hertz, Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts, Saks, Telecom and Southern Pacific Hotels.

  Amenity kits, meanwhile, have earned an international accolade for being environmentally friendly.

   The 'Clean Green' kits are completely reusable, reducible or recyclable, containing a natural wooden toothbrush, wooden razor and wooden 'massage roller' for sore necks.

  Singapore Airlines THE world's first global, inflight telecommunications system has been introduced by Singapore Airlines (SIA) as the carrier continues to lead the field when it comes to keeping the executive traveller in touch with the ground.

  With Celestel, passengers can telephone or fax anywhere in the world from their seats.

  'SIA is proud to have played a role in pioneering passenger telecommunications,' the airline's general manager, Dr Cheong Choong Kong, said.

  'Not only does Celestel enable passengers to contact almost any point on earth from anywhere in flight, it opens the way to a whole range of inflight telecommunications services.'   This includes business news and information such as stock market movements.

  As Mr Cheong puts it: 'These are business centres in the sky.'   Celestel represents a major investment for SIA, which is already renowned worldwide for the quality of its inflight service.

   The system, which includes avionics, antennas and telephones, costs around US$650,000 to install in each aircraft.

  The system is being gradually added to SIA's fleet but, by the end of this year, it will be operating in 20 'Megatop' 747-400s. Faxes cost about US$15 per page, with payment by credit card.

  Dr Cheong believes the service is one all airlines will eventually be forced to introduce for executive travellers.

  Celestel is also useful for cockpit crew. Information about air traffic and weather conditions at points of destination has previously been available only once the aircraft's VHF radio system is in range of airports.

   With Celestel, crew have access to uninterrupted communications with control towers worldwide at any time during any flight.

  Lauda Air IF you are flying to Vienna, the city of Mozart, then no class of travel could surely be more appropriate than 'Amadeus Class'.

 This is Lauda Air's new concept in luxury flying and it has already won a host of awards for its revolutionary seating and outstanding service.

  The seating in 'Lauda business sleepers' is horizontal, which ensures a good night's rest on the long haul to Europe.

  Inflight meals, meanwhile, are catered by Vienna's finest restaurant, Do and Co, with wines from France and Austria and aromatic Viennese coffee served as a finale.

  Each seat has its own TV monitor with six video channels.

  From November, an on-board telephone service will be available through Skyphone. Lauda Air founder, Nikki Lauda, said there would be one handset for every pair of seats in Amadeus Class.

  Lauda is next month launching a second weekly flight from Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore to Vienna, from where the airline operates connecting flights to most European cities.

  Return fares from Hong Kong in Amadeus Class range from $17,240-20,290, depending on the destination.

  Lauda will also be flying twice-weekly to Melbourne and Sydney via Singapore.

  Sunny Yu, the area director, said the airline aimed to offer passengers the most convenient service between Asia and Europe.

  Japan Airlines A UNIQUE experience of 'The Land of the Rising Sun' begins from the moment you step into a first-class cabin aboard Japan Airlines.

  On long-haul flights, you are helped into a crisp, cotton happi coat.

  After a welcoming glass of champagne, executives can scan the menu and find kaiseki, the authentic Japanese feast and a classic example of the nation's cuisine.

  Alternatively, the carrier will serve jubako, the complete Japanese meal, which is served on exquisite lacquerware.

 Appetisers veer towards Western rather than Eastern tastes, with sushi sitting beside caviar, truffles and pate de foie gras .

 JAL's Executive Class, meanwhile, caters for the international traveller, for only a little higher fare than economy.

  It is worth remembering, for example, that an economy ticket to Tokyo is priced at $6,420 return - whereas the Executive Class ticket is just $7,700.

   On the same journey, the first class fare is $9,280.

  JAL has another particularly tempting fare offer for those bound to the sub-tropical southern island of Okinawa.

   Economy seats are $3,720 return, yet Executive Class tickets cost $4,460 and the first class fare is just fractionally higher again at $5,220.

   If you are not a frequent first-class flyer, this is an opportunity to spoil yourself . . . just once.

  Emirates Airline IF Emirates Airline was a contender in the Olympic Games of executive travel, then it would probably collect most of the gold medals.

  The carrier's awards this year alone speak for themselves: Airline of the Year; Best Carrier to the Middle East; Best Airline for Inflight Entertainment; Best Airline for Food and Drink; Best Long Haul Airline (Executive Travel Magazine ); Best Airline (Globo, Germany); Best Carrier serving the Middle East (Travel & Tourism News, Middle East); and Best Airline to the Middle East (Travel Weekly ).

  Emirates' chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, is understandably delighted with the recognition.

 'Our philosophy from the start has been to provide a quality service for frequent flyers and the industry's top award is a very welcome indication that we must be doing something right,' he said.

  Indeed, the carrier is. First class aboard Emirates means precisely that: an exemplary service providing nothing but the very best.

  At Dubai or Abu Dhabi, the service extends to chauffeur-driven transportation to and from the airport. If you flying from Britain, a car will also collect you from within an 80-kilometre radius of Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester.

  Inflight service begins with Dom Perignon champagne, Sevruga caviar and chilled vodka. At five-course meal-times, the cutlery is silver; the bone China plates are Royal Doulton. Though the cuisine is international rather than Middle Eastern, no pork products are used, in keeping with Islamic religion, and all meats are prepared according to the halal method of slaughter.

  The first class, round trip fare from Hong Kong to Dubai is $19,870.

  Gulf Air TWO people can fly to Bangkok for the price of one in a special promotion aboard Gulf Air.

  The offer is open to purchasers of first or business class return tickets from Hong Kong to the Thai capital.

  Anyone booking a ticket in first class ($5,980) or business class ($4,940) is entitled to an extra ticket free.

  The free ticket does not have to be used at the same time. 'The only restriction is that the name of the free ticket holder must be given when the ticket is issued,' Gulf Air's Rosana Tung said.

  Another special promotion on its European route, which also continues until the end of next January, enables passengers to fly first class for the price of a business class ticket.

  The national carrier for Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Abu Dhabi prides itself on its Arabian hospitality - which includes fresh dates and steaming cardamom coffee served to passengers in the first class 'Golden Falcon' seats.

  For those who find Arabian hospitality (and a six-course dinner) rather daunting, the airline has introduced an a la carte 'Executive Choice' menu, which can be ordered at any time during the flight.

  Ansett ANSETT Australia launched its Hong Kong-Sydney service earlier this month with the promise of the world's largest first class seats and much, much more.

  The carrier is flying Boeing 747-300 stretched upper-deck 'Spaceships' on the route and its seats are bigger than most lounge chairs.

  The first class cabin is also extremely exclusive, with just 12 seats.

  General manager Alan Loke believes first class travel is all about 'knowing when to leave passengers alone by not disturbing their personal space'. To this end travellers can actually order meals at any time during the flight.

  When it comes to meals, Ansett is also leading the field by retaining a trained air chef on board. 'Ansett is believed to be the first airline in the industry to do this,' Mr Loke said.

  The first class fare to Sydney is around $17,300 return (as opposed to a published fare of $25,420) and the menu is distinctly Australian with a choice of Pacific seafood, Tasmanian smokehouse platter and York Peninsula baby lobsters.

  Ansett is introducing the Sydney service three times a week, but aims to increase the frequency to five times a week by next April.

  For inflight entertainment, no fewer than 40 movies - including Chinese films - are available on video.

  Virgin Atlantic  VIRGIN Atlantic's equivalent to first class, known as Upper Class, is being enlarged this month due to popular demand.

  When Richard Branson launched the Hong Kong-London service last February, there were just 28 seats in the cabin he originally suggested should be called 'Toffs'.

  But capacity is now being increased to 38 seats because the cabin has been 91 per cent full since the flight originated.

  For a competitive $21,390 return fare, the most exclusive seats aboard Virgin include either an airport limousine service at both ends of the trip, or four days free car hire in Britain.

  Alternatively, for those in a real hurry to beat traffic jams and reach the city, a motorcycle transfer is available.

  Virgin prefers to call its Upper Class a 'super business class' - but the perks are even more original than those offered by most carriers.

  An on-board beautician provides manicures and aromatherapy.

   There is a stand-up bar in the cabin, while those recovering from a few drinks can sleep them off with a 'snoozone service' - inflight slumber in 'snooze suits'.

  Virgin's inflight entertainment is second-to-none in all classes, with 16 channels of movies, as well as a range of video games.

  Meal times are fun - especially the champagne breakfasts - and a truly respectable wine list has been selected by Raymond Blanc's sommelier at the world-renowed restaurant, Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons.

  Virgin's clubhouse at Heathrow - 'Arrivals' - is another perk for Upper Class passengers, with a shower and changing facilities, indoor pool, whirlpool spa, solarium, steam room, body massage, beauty treatment, gym and, believe it or not, a nine-hole golf course.

  British Airways A NEW service offering a 'breakthrough in comfort' for first class passengers has been launched by British Airways on its Hong Kong-London route, together with the introduction of inflight movies in Cantonese and Mandarin.

  Together with the comfort of an established 'Sleeper Service', BA decided to offer passengers a choice of when, how and what they eat.

  BAs' Hong Kong manager, Freddy Li, said all the company's research showed passengers liked to choose when to eat and sleep, and that they wanted as much sleeping time as possible without being woken for meals, duty-free trolleys and drinks.

  For a good night's rest, first class passengers paying $42,000 for the round trip from Hong Kong-London slip into snug 'sleeper suits' to settle down in recliner seats with a duvet, pillows and crisp sheets.

    The 'Sleeper Service' is part of a $1,000-million upgrade at BA for First Class, Club World and Concorde passengers.



Super service for the upper crust