Flights can be overwhelming, but when you have seats that recline into a flatbed at the push of a button, gourmet meals at your service, fine French wine, designer toiletries, priority check-ins, increased baggage allowance, chauffeured picks ups, personalised service and lots of space, the experience turns around. With the rapid evolution of technology and the massive canvas that interiors of the Airbus A380 are, airlines can now offer accommodations and facilities that were previously just a wild concept or figment of the imagination. The ever demanding consumer has triggered the second golden age of flying, especially at the pointy end of the plane.

In a bid to grab attention of flyers with deep pockets, airlines are doing more than ever to up the ante when it comes to a better first-class experience, pampering customers with luxury. Having said that, not all first-class services are created alike: along with ostentatious cabins these three airlines offer perks that take first class to the next level.

Moisturising sleepwear Emirates has long been at the forefront of innovation in airline luxury; be it bar lounges with bartenders to fix you your favourite cocktail to in-flight showers, the airline has raised the bar (pun fully intended) for others to follow. If the Emirates’s new moisturising pyjamas are anything to go by, luxury in the skies has taken on a new meaning. Not only do these pyjamas keep passengers soft and hydrated, their fabric contains sea kelp to keep the skin underneath those deep pockets from drying out. The fabric gently releases naturally nutrient rich sea kelp as you move around, preventing dehydration and stimulating circulation. The micro-capsule technology retains the moisturiser for up to 10 washes should you decide to wear them back home. Here is a level of luxury that few hotels have accomplished. Passengers are also treated to Bulgari amenity kits, faux sheepskin blankets and a full range of Voya beauty products to be used after an in-flight shower. Speaking about pampering the showers come with heated floors of which you can set the temperature.

Round trip fare: ₹4.7 lakh (Mumbai-New York)

Savoy trained personal butler Etihad, meanwhile, is reimagining airplane opulence in its own way by offering the only three-room suite on a commercial carrier. Fittingly labelled The Residence, it has a living room, a bedroom and an en suite shower. Spread across 125 sq ft, it is replete with LCD TVs in the living area and bedroom, a leather sofa, two foldaway dining tables and crockery made of crystal. What more would such an indulgence need? A butler, of course.

The Savoy-trained Jeeves is at your beck and call, of course, and will serve meals catered by the on-board ‘chef’ on 24-carat gold tableware, in the living area or in the comfort of your bedroom, while the blankets of clouds pass below you. The butler will also be in touch with a concierge team on the ground should you wish to make last-minute reservations at a three-star Michelin restaurant, or score tickets for a popular Broadway show. Etihad offers an equally luxurious experience on the ground. A limo pick-up is standard; the airline also sends a van only for your luggage. Just like a head of State, you have access to a personal lounge with private dining and an exclusive gate to board the aircraft. Clearly the most luxurious way for two people to hop continents.

Round trip fare: ₹16 lakh for double occupancy (Mumbai-New York)

Porsche drives for transits

“Flying first class? Long layover? Rent a Porsche!” is the motto of the people over at Lufthansa. Layovers are boring even in a first-class lounge. Lufthansa makes it better for select passengers, even encouraging them, perhaps, to have a long layover. The German carrier has partnered with Porsche so transit passengers can enliven the waiting time before their next take-off by taking a Porsche 911 or Panamera for a spin through Munich, the sub-Alpine landscape or Lower Bavaria. A definite treat for auto aficionados who can get to open the throttle of a Porsche on the holy grail of speed that is the autobahn. The nominally priced rental can be either pre-booked online or should the adrenaline craving hit you later, a dedicated assistant shall do the needful. That’s one way of stretching your legs.

Iif you aren’t a navigation expert, worry not! The airline has a map of several routes chalked out for you, ensuring that your Porsche manoeuvre is nothing but smooth. For your flight to be luxurious Lufthansa has installed air humidifiers in first class, which raise the humidity in upwards of 25 per cent so passengers feel refreshed after a night’s sleep.

Round trip fare: ₹4 lakh (Mumbai-New York)

Dhiram Shahis the founder of Luxurylaunches.com

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