With these fantastic and somewhat outrageous in flight amenities from various airlines, long-haul flights may not be long enough.
Sommelier Service on Asiana Airlines
Once a month, flight attendants turned sommeliers describe, pair, and decant wines for business and first-class passengers flying from Frankfurt and Los Angeles. Asiana foots the bill for its flight attendants to secure the sommelier licenses from international schools, such as the Wine, Spirit, & Education Trust. Call reservations (800-227-4262) to find out which flights will offer this service.
Double Beds on Singapore Airlines
There’s been some debate about whether first class suites are overkill, but we still think this is pretty fabulous and think it is the only way to fly. Couples in Singapore Airlines’ suites cabins (exclusively on the airline’s 16 A380 planes) can get cozy by booking two middle aisle rooms and transforming them into a double bed. This is the first such service of it’s kind in the industry.
Free Chromebooks on Virgin America
The benefit of Virgin America’s free, Chromebook lending system is twofold. Skip the hassle of schlepping a laptop through security, and spend travel time zipping through work thanks to free in-flight Wi-Fi. Through January 15, pick up Chromebooks on a first-come first-served basis at the gate for flights from San Francisco, Dallas–Fort Worth, Boston, Chicago, and New York (JFK); return the computers at your destination.
Fresh towels, Bulgari cologne, and the world’s only in-flight shower await first class passengers on Emirates A380 planes. The planes carry an extra 500 kg of water, enough for each flyer to refresh with a hot, five-minute shower. Emirates’ A380s currently fly from Dubai to Auckland, Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Kuala Lampur, London Heathrow, Manchester, New York, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, and Toronto.
Consider this the poor-man’s suite (relatively speaking). On Air New Zealand flights from Auckland to Los Angeles and London, economy passengers who book a SkyCouch row—otherwise known as “Cuddle Class”—can lift the oversized footrests to transform the three seats into a slender couch.
One fancy-schmancy bubbly would surely satisfy, but Singapore pours both Dom and Krüg Champagnes in all of its suites and first-class cabins—the perfect excuse to sip one of each.
