Airline Reviews Archives

TOP CHAMPAGNES IN BUSINESS AND FIRST CLASS – announced last month at The Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky Awards

The Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky Awards have been running since 1985, with a record number of 36 airlines taking part this year. Blind tastings took place over two days on November 4 and 5 at the Grosvenor House, London, with five judges independently scoring. The judges included:

• Charles Metcalfe, TV wine presenter and co-chairman of the
International Wine Challenge;

• Sam Harrop, Master of Wine and winemaking consultant;

• Derek Smedley, Master of Wine for more than 40 years,
consultant and co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge;

• Peter McCombie, Master of Wine, accredited tutor for the Wine and
Spirit Education Trust and consultant; and

• John Worontschak, leading winemaker and wine business development
consultant.

Business Class Sparkling

1. Qatar Airways – Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle 1996;

2. Etihad – Henriot Blanc Souverain;

3. and
4. (JOINT) British Airways, Qantas and Singapore Airlines –
Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve AND LAN – Louis Roederer Brut Premier; and

5. Jet Airways – Dom Pérignon 2002.

First Class Sparkling

1. Qantas – Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1999;

2. United Airlines – Henriot Brut Millésimé 1996;

3. (JOINT) Qatar Airways, All Nippon Airways and Cathay Pacific –
Krug Grande Cuvée;

4. Thai Airways – Bollinger 1999; and

5. Malaysia Airlines and Jet Airways – Dom Pérignon 2002.

Participating Airlines:

Aer Lingus, Aegean Airlines, Air Astana, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Alitalia, American Airlines, All Nippon Airlines, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, El Al, Etihad, Emirates, Finnair, Gulf Air, Iberia, Jet Airways, Kenya Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Korean Air, LAN, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, South African Airways, TAM, Thai Airways and United Airlines.

Liz Palmer

Air France “l’Espace Affaires” – Crossing the Ocean in Style

I am beginning my ten-day journey to Paris, the Champagne Region of France and Belgium. I am flying “l’Espace Affaires”/Business Class from Toronto to Paris, and looking forward to the “Business Class” travel experience with Air France.

Settling into a large comfortable seat with a welcoming glass of Champagne, a copy of the Air France in-flight magazine immediately gets me into a “Parisian” mood. The magazine consists of Paris spring fashion trends, locations of the best restaurants as well as comments on what is going on in the art scene. This in-flight magazine is a fashionista’s dream come true; lots of French-styled shoes, dresses, purses…. In between sips of Deutz Brut Classic, I’m handed a dinner menu and wine list by one of the coiffed, well-mannered flight attendant who speaks both French and English.

The wine offerings are superior, and it is refreshing to see a well-constructed wine list that has ample offerings. I notice there is a reference on the menu that the wines have been chosen by Olivier Poussier, the World’s Best Sommelier in 2000 – this is an added bonus. The attendants place a white linen tablecloth on my table, immediately followed by fresh, delicious baguettes with creamy butter. I choose Saint-Veran Chateau de Fuisse 06 a nice easy Burgundy, to pair with my choice of seafood hors d’oeuvre of marinated shrimp, served with miso and ginger sauce, served with soba noodles.

The main course of grilled tournedos of beef with scallion butter, potatoes au grain, broccoli and tomato truly melts in my mouth, particularly paired with a glass of Clos Triguedina Cuvee Prince Probus 05. This is another perfect match and an excellent choice with meat and game-nice intensity and refinement.

Fine china, silver and an impressive wine list coupled with first class service, make me feel like I am in an exclusive international restaurant, not on an airplane! I skip coffee and chocolate torte, and decide to get a few hours of sleep. I found sleeping a delightful and restful experience. The tilted seats turn into a perfect horizontal position and pillows and quilts are quite abundant. Within a few hours I awaken to the smell of fresh coffee brewing…Y E S I’m almost in Paris. The French-style breakfast consisted of juice, yogurt, fresh fruits with pastries, lots of coffee, and Champagne if I want – so perfect!

My “l’Espace Affaires”/Air France Business Class experience has truly proven to be Crossing the Ocean in Style!

Liz Palmer
Wine and Travel Writer

Top Five Airport Lounges

Cathay Pacific’s “The Wing” at Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong

43,000-square-foot open-air space; private cabins with bed and shower; full-service day spa; complimentary WiFi; four restaurants, and a library.

British Airways First Class Concorde Room at Heathrow Airport, England

Full-service lounge with Swarovski crystal chandeliers; members-only personal concierge; Elemis Spa; a champagne bar and private cabanas-hotel-style rooms with a day bed, and en-suite bathroom.

Air France l’Espace Premiere Lounge at Charles de Gaulle International Airport, France

Clarins massages, a business center; and a complementary champagne; prior to departure, members make their way to their plane by chauffeured Mercedes.

Lufthansa First Class Lounges at Frankfurt Airport, Germany

Upscale spa with exotic treatments; “quiet rooms” with enclosed leather day beds and Bang and Olufsen music systems; a cigar lounge and six shower rooms. Members make their way to their plane in a Porsche Cayenne.

Qatar Airways Premium Terminals at Doha International Airport, Qatar

Members are greeted by a porter who will take their bags; free nanny service and Wii consoles are available; full spa services are available and Qatar Airways provides secretarial services.

Air France “l’Espace Affaires”- Crossing the Ocean in Style

April 9^th2009 and I am beginning my ten-day journey to Paris, the Champagne Region ofFrance andBelgium. I am flying “l’Espace Affaires” (business class) fromToronto toParis, and looking forward to the “business class travel” experience with Air France.

Settling into a large comfortable seat with a welcoming glass of Champagne, a copy of the Air France in-flight magazine gets me into a “Parisian” mood. The magazine consists of Paris spring fashion trends, locations of the best restaurants as well as comments on what is going on in the art scene. This in-flight mag is a fashionista’sdream come true; lots of French-styled shoes, dresses, purses…. In between sips of Deutz Brut Classic, I’m handed a dinner menu by one of the coiffed, well-mannered staff. I am pleased see that that the flight attendants speak both French and English without hesitation.

The wine offerings are superior. What a nice surprise to see more space on the dining menu devoted to the wine list than to the food. There is also a note on the menu that the wines have been chosen by Olivier Poussier, World’s Best Sommelier in 2000. This is an added bonus. The attendants place white linen table cloths on our tables, immediately followed by fresh and delicious baguettes with creamy butter. I choose Saint-Veran Chateau de Fuisse 06 a niceBurgundy, to pair with the seafood hors d’oeuvre of marinated shrimp served with miso and ginger sauce and serving of soba noodles.

Fine china, silver and an impressive wine list coupled with first class service, make me feel like I am in an exclusive restaurant, not on an airplane. I skip coffee and chocolate torte, and decide to get a few hours of sleep. I found sleeping a delightful restful experience due to the tilted seats that turn into a perfect horizontal position and pillows and quilts are quite abundant. Within a few hours I awaken to the smell of fresh coffee brewing…Y E S I’m almost in Paris.The French-style breakfast consisted of juice, yogurt, fresh fruits with pastries and lots of coffee – so perfect!

My Air France Business Class experience has truly proven to be crossing the ocean in style!

Liz Palmer