The advent of all-premium airlines has radically transformed international travel, bringing with it a great measure of civility. Suddenly, long airport queues, awful airline food and impersonal inflight service are a thing of the past.

Enter a world of door-to-door limousine service, express lanes at airport security checkpoints and luxurious lounges where passengers can dine or shower. Not only can you get to the airport much later - up to 45 minutes before departure - you no longer have to go toe-to-toe with 200 people on board.

Don't expect the trend to come to an end anytime soon though - come 2008, the US and the European Union will liberalize bilateral aviation restrictions and more airlines are expected to go all-premium class.