Each first class suite contains a seat that reclines from upright position to a 79-inch bed, an electrically-operated door, and a work desk with a built-in illuminated vanity mirror

Up, Up, and Away — In Comfort

I was onboard when Emirates Airbus A380 flew out of LAX for the first time — and I don’t have a clue where we went. It isn’t that I’ve forgotten — it was just a few weeks ago. It’s that I was too busy admiring the plane’s innovative passenger amenities, and it never occurred to me to look out the window.

As a matter of fact, I doubt that many of the 300+ invited media and members of the travel industry were aware of our location once we left the ground. We were more interested in the large first class bathrooms with showers, vanities, heated floors, and full-length mirrors. The 14 luxurious suites in this area also drew a lot of attention — each contains a seat that reclines from upright position to a 79-inch bed, an electrically-operated door, and a work desk with a built-in illuminated vanity mirror. Adjoining suites in the middle of first class have a privacy divider that can be raised and lowered.

The A380 is a double-decker aircraft. Upstairs, first and business class passengers receive complimentary Bvlgari amenity kits and share a lounge attended by a bartender. The 76 business class lie-flat bed seats are housed in individual shells that also contain mini-bars and generous stowage space. The main deck accommodates 399 economy class passengers.

All seats on the Emirates superjumbo come with video screens and on-demand access to over 1,100 channels, including 190 movies, 100 games, and regularly updated BBC news. Seat-to-seat calling, in-seat laptop power, in-flight worldwide telephone service, and mood lighting are also provided on both decks. Charming flight staff comes from 145 countries. The A380 gets better mileage than a Toyota Prius (per passenger mile) and — in spite of the animated buzz of Champagne-fueled guests on our two-hour joyride — it is the quietest plane I have ever experienced.

Emirates, which currently flies to Dubai from Houston and New York, will start service from Los Angeles on October 26 and from San Francisco in December. Initially, Boeing 777-200LR aircrafts will be used on the West Coast routes. (www.emirates.com/usa)

Travel & Leisure readers rate Emirates number two among international airlines. Singapore Airlines, number one in the poll, was the first to fly the A380 when they inaugurated the plane on their Singapore-to-Sydney route last year. Singapore has configured the A380 first class cabin with only 12 suites and offers standalone beds, not converted from a seat, along with its signature turn-down service, fine linen, full-sized pillows, and complimentary Givenchy sleeper suit and suede slippers. (www.singaporeair.com)

Qantas will start using the jumbo on its LAX-to-Sydney service later this month. The Australian airline has outfitted its A380s for four classes of service: economy, premium economy, business, and first. Premium economy bonuses include extra legroom and recline, priority check-in, and additional hand baggage allowance. Having commuted back and forth to Oz during the years I wrote the Frommer’s guides to that country, I know the airline deserves its reputation for great food and friendly service. (www.qantas.com.au)

Qantas also offers a good wine list and, in the 2008 Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky Awards, shared the Best Business Class Sparkling Award with Singapore Airlines. Other wine award winners were Air New Zealand for Best Business Class Red, Qatar Airways for Best First Class Red, El Al for Best First Class White, and Air France for Best Business Class White. Lufthansa won Best First Class Sparkling. (www.businesstraveller.com)

Cathay Pacific, number four in the Travel & Leisure poll, didn’t win in the wine awards, but they claim to have "the biggest bed in the sky." However, at the rate airlines are improving passenger comfort, that may no longer be true. Check out the latest on FlatSeats.com. Cathay, like Singapore Airlines, provides "sleep suits" for first class passengers. Qantas offers jammies in both business and first.

While 17 airlines offer flat beds in first class, less than a dozen provide the real deal in business. These include British Airways, Virgin Atlantic (VA), South African Airways (SAA), Air New Zealand, Singapore, Jet Airways, and Royal Jordanian. My husband and I flew to Johannesburg on SAA last year, and I can personally attest to the comfort of their premium section. Richard was only half kidding when he suggested we get a pair of these chairs for our family room.

Many veteran travelers opine that Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class is as good as the other guys’ first, and La Jollan Ruth Jacobowitz agrees that it’s "like getting on a magic carpet and arriving in London."

Class privileges include complimentary transfers to and from the airport, "the best bed across the pond," and Virgin’s onboard Freedom Menu — what you want to eat when you want to eat it. Jacobowitz also enjoys VA’s Clubhouse at Heathrow, which includes the Cowshed spa, Bumble and Bumble salon, fun places to eat and drink, a kids’ activity center, a well-equipped business center, and more — compliments of Sir Richard Branson. (www.virgin-atlantic.com)

Speaking of Branson, he was in San Diego last February for the launch of the first Virgin America flight from San Diego to San Francisco. This time, instead of a flight to who-knows-where, media were invited to a big party at Ivy Hotel, where Champagne cocktails, Virgin’s trademark cabin mood-lighting, and seat-to-seat chat stations were the order of the day.

Branson seemed like a mighty happy guy — and well he should be. San Francisco-based Virgin America started flying in August 2007 and is already number one on the Travel & Leisure ratings of domestic airlines. Virgin’s onboard fun stuff includes live TV, movies, and games on nine-inch screens at every seat, seat-to-seat messaging, and on-demand food and drink. In-flight WiFi is coming soon. (www.virginamerica.com)

Stateside, United Airlines (UAL) has teamed up with Westin Hotels & Resorts to create "Renewal Lounges" in UAL’s Red Carpet Clubs at JFK, LAX, and SFO. Here, first and business class passengers can experience blue-light phototherapy, relax on plush furniture, stretch out on a daybed, and unwind as LCD televisions play custom videos that feature footage of the natural world. Westin has also created oversized in-flight blankets and pillows based on the signature Heavenly Beds found in their hotels.

Given the current state of airline passenger amenities, looking out the window just might become passé.
— Elizabeth Hansen, photos by Adams/Hansen Stock Photos and courtesy of Qantas, Virgin America,
Emirates, and Westin Hotels & Resorts.

Qantas women’s amenity kit