Lufthansa…Innovations in Premium Air Travel

by Arie Boris, CruiseGourmet.com Editor-in-Chief In a recent issue of Lufthansa’s in-flight magazine, the cover story was about the increasing popularity of cruise vacations and the airline’s extensive network with connections to major cruise ports worldwide. With close to fifty percent of international cruise passengers traveling in Business or First Class, Lufthansa has recognized this valuable market and has provided an innovative approach to premium air travel.

Lufthansa Business Class is truly state of the art and continues to offer variety and innovation. The current twin aisle wide-body fleet (747’s and Airbus 330/340’s) has been upgraded and offers electronic flat-beds with only a nine degree incline to the cabin floor. Increased legroom with a foldaway privacy screen gives passengers more personal space. Electronic seat controls allow personalized seat adjustments and each seat has a power port for lap tops. A significantly larger work table and convenient laptop compartment in every seat makes work more comfortable.

Onboard entertainment is an appealing distraction. Lufthansa “Media World” provides 10.4 inch screens (four times larger than the old personal monitors), video and audio on-demand, language courses, audio books and CD’s along with an extensive games program.

With the advent of the airline’s Airbus A380 super jumbo service in 2009, comes the promise of increased space, amenities, and Lufthansa’s penchant for continued innovations for Premium air travelers. Recently, the airline, in conjunction with the manufacturer, operated the first trans-Atlantic proving flights to North America of the big bird. The flying machine is truly enormous, but once onboard it is quite reminiscent of today’s wide body jets. With two grand staircases, the double deck airliner has great potential for innovative and spacious premium travel. Let’s hope the executives at Lufthansa don’t succumb to the airplane’s capacity for 850 all coach seating!

My favorite Lufthansa innovation is the airline’s all Business Jet Service from Chicago and Newark to Düsseldorf and Munich. Onboard there is only one class of service, all Business Class. With only 44/48 seats on the entire single aisle aircraft, this is one of the most exclusive ways to cross the Atlantic! With lie-flat beds, and all the extra space, passengers can enjoy their premium experience in an especially quiet and relaxing space. Onboard service is truly personalized and because of the small number of passengers, boarding, deplaning and time spent at the baggage carousel is greatly reduced.

Lufthansa’s Private Jet connection service is really an impressive innovation! The airline can arrange a private biz jet (6-12 passengers) for immediate connections from your arriving or departing International flight to anywhere in Europe…point to point connection service to over 1000 destinations. The private plane is actually waiting for you on the tarmac. Lufthansa provides private security and through baggage service, along with other perks like, individual onboard catering and limousine service at your final destination. That’s what I call “Premium” travel!

When it comes to dining in premium classes, Lufthansa continues to set the standard. In 2007, the airline has aligned with executive chefs from the three Peninsula Hotels in North America to offer gourmet dining from all gateways in America. Examples include pistachio crusted shrimp with mango salsa from Chef Gordon Maybury in the Peninsula, New York, Szechwan king snapper from Chef Terry Crandall of the Peninsula, Chicago and stuffed baby eggplant with tomato fondue from Chef Sean Hardy, Peninsula, Beverly Hills. My particular favorite was Sean Hardy’s wild salmon with cauliflower, caper and golden raisin marmalade. Menus include backgrounds on the chefs and a recipe for one of their signature onboard creations. Desert was pure comfort food…Apple Raisin Bread Pudding with sweet cream.

Lufthansa’s Vinothek Discoveries wine program offers superb wines especially selected by World Master Sommelier, Markus Del Monego. Selections on our flights included a Nordheim Silvaner White with distinct aromas of apple and citrus, a 2005 Chilean Chardonnay, Baron Philippe de Rothschild along with Barrel Aged Merlot, Chateau Julien from Monterey California and a wonderful Champagne Duval Leroy, Frankreich.

With major hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, connecting to almost any European port on Lufthansa is efficient and well worth the experience, especially if you are in one of their comfy Business Class cabins! For more information about flying to your next European cruise with Lufthansa, log onto www.Lufthansa.com.

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Morning Calm…Korean Air Prestige Class

by Arie Boris, CruiseGourmet.com Editor-in-Chief

Korean Air’s in-flight Magazine is titled “Morning Calm.” It is apropos. From the moment of my morning arrival at JFK for my “Prestige” Business Class flight to Seoul, my experience with Korean Air was calm, relaxing and very impressive.

747-400 Korean Air

Korean Air operates out of Terminal One at JFK. It is self-contained, serves a handful of select carriers, and is considered the best facility at the airport. Prestige Class check-in was effortless. A ticket counter supervisor personally greeted passengers as we were processed. The Korean Air Business Class Lounge with warm wood paneling, large floor to ceiling windows and spacious seating areas was a calm and inviting environment. Along with a selection of champagne and spirits, the self-service bar was well attended and filled with an assortment of delicious sandwiches, pastries, snacks, and soft drinks.

As we boarded the spotless Boeing 747 for our 14-hour flight, the variety of newly introduced in-flight services and renovations were apparent. These improvements include a new interior design. Especially cozy and stylish, the curtains, seat covers and carpets in Prestige Class have been decorated in traditional celadon powder blue and match the snappy new designer flight attendant uniforms. The new interiors harmonize both Eastern and Western motifs and create a warm calming environment.

Cutting edge facilities have been included in the over-all upgrade. The new electronic seats are easy to use and are remarkably comfortable providing various positions and customized adjustments. Each seat has a power outlet for laptops and a new Audio & Video on Demand system (AVOD) that is incredible! The sound system is excellent and AVOD offers over 40 feature films, 60 short films, 16 music channels, and 55 music albums. The system is installed in every seat back and allows playback and/or a quick search of music and movies with a “touch screen” feature. It certainly is a temptation from working on the laptop. I enjoyed old classics like “All About Eve” and “The Sound of Music”, along with several first run flicks…one of the joys of a 14-hour flight on an airline with a great entertainment system!

Each guest receives a pair of Korean slippers for the flight and rather than a traditional amenity kit, personal items like razor, sleep masks, toothbrush, etc. are available upon request. The in-flight staff is gracious, welcoming and extremely attentive. The cultural influence is very apparent with Korean Air, as it is with most Asian airlines. Service is viewed as an art and serving guests is considered an honor. This was clearly demonstrated by our charming in-flight staff throughout the lengthy flight.

Dining onboard Korean Air is a ceremonial affair in Prestige Class. Tableware is designed by Kwang Ju Yo, a leading chinaware maker in Korea, and manufactured by Wedgewood. It is adorned with peaceful images of willow trees as is the Prestige Class signature menu. Along with traditional Korean fare, the Western choices were delicious. The lovely place setting included an impressive set of silver chop sticks. For starters, a Smoked New Zealand Salmon or Blue Crabmeat Salad was on the menu. A soup course included Green Lentil Cream Soup or Zucchini Soup. Western entrees featured Tenderloin of Beef, Chicken Aventino Italian or Mixed Seafood with shell pasta in cream sauce.

Guava Juice and Champagne

Korean dishes featured the popular “Bibimbap” offered with minced beef, vegetables, sesame oil and Korean hot pepper paste. Additional Korean fare included Korean style porridge or spiced fish cakes with chili dipping sauce. Dessert offered a choice of Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream or Cheesecake. Ramen with side dishes and freshly baked cookies were available between the main meals during this lengthy flight.

Piper Heidsieck is Korean Air’s champagne of choice. The wine list offered a fine selection of contemporary favorites. White wines included a Burgundy, Pouilly Vinzelles Vieilles Vignes, 2004, a Sauvignon Blanc 2004 from Kendall-Jackson, and from Chile, Santa Ines Reserva Chardonnay 2003. Wine List red’s included a Robert Mondavi Merlot 2003, a Bordeaux, Chateau Beau Site 2001, and a Santa Ines Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2003.

Lovely Staff

Service was attentive and professional…with flight attendants offering soft drinks and amenities throughout the flight. The in-flight staff does not retreat to the galley on Korean Air…I truly felt pampered and cared for…

With service from fourteen North American gateways, Korean Air is easily in reach for travel to Korea or with their hub at the new, twenty-first century Incheon airport, to virtually anywhere in Asia. Korean Air is a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, so you get miles on Continental, Delta or Northwest. This is one airline that comes highly recommended!

For more information, log onto www.koreanair.com.

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Continental Airlines First Class Trans-Con

by Arie Boris, CruiseGourmet.com Editor-in-Chief

Newark/New York to San Francisco

Domestic air travel is in chaos. Discount airlines are lowering the bar when it comes to service. Continental Airlines however, is raising the bar with in-flight culinary offerings that rival some of the most popular restaurants on the ground. What a joy it was to fly with Continental’s refined domestic First Class.

The aircraft, a spanking brand new

Crossing the Pacific with Malaysia Airlines

by Arie Boris, CruiseGourmet.com Editor-in-Chief

Crossing the Pacific with Malaysia Airlines

“It is an honor to have you on board.” That was the greeting I received as I was escorted to my First Class seat on Malaysia Airlines Flight 93, 747-400, one-stop service from Los Angeles to Kuala Lumpur. I immediately knew the next 23 hours were going to be quite exceptional.

Air France L’espace Affaires Business Class

by Arie Boris, CruiseGourmet.com Editor-in-Chief

Sophisticated, stylish, efficient and comfortable are all adjectives that come to mind when crossing the Atlantic onboard an Air France Boeing 777 in “l’espace affaires” Business Class. With four daily flights from JFK alone and departures from a variety of US cities, this historic airline continues to offer high service standards and the most flights from North America to France.