It was not too long ago that First Class – and with it, the general notion
of luxury air travel – was more or less obsolete, with some carriers doing
away with it altogether. Flying on commercial airlines these days, however,
has become something of a chore for many business travelers and well-heeled
jet-setters, with ever-increasing crowds of passengers filling every available
aircraft in an already busy industry.
As such, in line with the growing fortunes of the developed world as well
as large, emerging economies, the demand for luxury airline travel is turning
the competition between established airlines up a notch. Having seats that
fold flat is no longer enough to distinguish First Class from Business Class,
with some airlines having introduced such facilities in their mid-range classes
already.
Instead, having a personal demi-cabin with a large bed, television, and
restaurant-style meals at one's leisure is no longer a luxury but now the
standard, with all our selected airlines here offering broadly similar amenities
such as these. Even personalized ground services and resting facilities are
now all of a very good standard, with most of our candidates offering airport
lounges and limousine transfers to their premium passengers.
Ultimately, then, in order to choose the very best airline out there for
one's traveling needs, it is now up to individual airlines to create distinctive
niches for themselves. In our view, they can best attempt to do this by providing
their customers with exceptional, memorable service on a personal level that
leaves a lasting impression, thus distinguishing their brand in an ever-more
crowded market.