5.1. Airlines Archive |

Emirates Business Class Review Pandemic Edition

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Dear Aviator,

In times of this pandemic, does it make sense to fly in Business Class? Pre-Covid, flying in Emirates Business Class was a truly luxurious experience with a world class service and lots of amenities for their valued guests. How is the experience now on board, with a pandemic taking place? Which drawbacks can you expect? I will share my personal flight experience with Emirates and let you know about benefits which are now more important than ever. Welcome on board my Emirates Business Class Review Pandemic Edition.

Photography by Manu (Professional photographer & plane spotter)

Pack Your Stuff and Escape

Don‘t you have the desire to pack your suitcase and fly far away to have a timeout from lockdowns and coronas restrictions? In November, I spent an amazing vacation in Dubai – the city of superlatives – where I could enjoy almost a “normal“ life.

MAY INTEREST YOU: “Duba i is open – the most thrilling activties in the city of superlatives“

I flew with Emirates in their Business Class from Frankfurt to Dubai. Pre COVID flying Business Class was a luxury experience with a world class service and amenities.

Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Patrick Biedenkapp | Captain (@pilotpatrick)

Stay Safe On Board

The pandemic has not affected my trust in flying with airlines, nor have I felt uneasy or not safe while on board. Airlines and airport operators have implemented lots of measurements and guidelines to make traveling as safe as possible these days.

MAY INTEREST YOU: “How risky is flying during a pandemic?“

I tried to be very respectful to other passengers and crew members in terms of keeping social distancing. But of course, to keep 2 or 1,5 meters social distancing on board is, at times, very difficult. Be respectful as well and follow the guidelines.

Emirates Corona Precautions:

Travel hygiene kit (with masks, gloves, disinfection wipes and hand sanitizer)
Crew wears a protective uniform (gloves, masks and face shield)
Crew interaction is reduced by a different service concept

Advantages of Flying Business During a Pandemic

More than ever the Business class can score with its amenities:

More space and separation to other passengers.
Less people sharing the same lavatories.
Less people passing through the aisles.
Smaller crowds of people during embarking and disembarking.
Cabin crew interacts with fewer passengers.
Separate and smaller cabins with fewer passengers.

My Recommendations On Board

To stay healthy during the flight:

The longer the fight, the higher chance of being infected.
Avoid walking through the cabin.
Wait some time before using the lavatory after a fellow passenger.
Take a seat at the window and if possible, avoid sitting next to another passenger.
Wear a mask. Preferably a FFP2 standard.
Direct the airflow of the vents onto your lap.
Reduce interaction with the crew to a minimum (e.g. order several drinks at the same time).
Delay your boarding in case passengers of economy have to board through Business class.

Is it Still Worth Flying in Business Class?

You will still have a spacious seat/a full bed, to get some rest. The service is still excellent, and the crew is still extremely courteous and friendly. Overall, it is still a luxury experience despite the fact that the mask can become quite annoying after some time. In my case the lounge in Frankfurt was closed due to Corona. The Emirates lounge in DXB was open. However the service war reduced offering pre packed food only. Always check for updates for your flight.

News News News

Emirates have just revealed its brand new Premium Economy – which is a unique cabin class between Business and Economy. You can enjoy more comfort through more space and a quieter smaller cabin on board the A380. It is considered an affordable product for those who do not want to purchase a Business Class ticket. On a day flight it is a great option. On a night flight, I would definitely prefer the Business Class Seat since you can convert it to a fully flat bed. Emirates will launch its new product on the London to Dubai route.

FAZIT

More than ever the amenities of flying in a spacious Business class seat can be enjoyed. That is why I think that it still makes sense and it is worth it. Especially, in terms of increasing the chances to stay healthy on your journey.

How do you feel about flying at the moment? Please leave me a comment below and do not forget to like this blog post: Emirates Business Class Review Pandemic Edition.

Safe and healthy travels.

Happy landing!

Your PilotPatrick

by pilotpatrick

How risky is flying during a pandemic? How to make it safer!

Dear Aviator,

I noticed that a lot of people are scared to travel during the pandemic. Especially on board an airplane in which social distancing is not possible, people are fearing infection by the coronavirus. Are these worries justified?

In this blog post I will inform you how risky flying is during the pandemic. How high are the chances of getting the virus and which safety measures make it safer.

Photography by Manu (Professional photographer & plane spotter)

How risky is flying during the pandemic?

What do you think is more dangerous? – going to the supermarket or flying on an airplane? Spoiler, it is the first!

The chances of getting the coronavirus on an airplane are existent but very minimal. If this is the case why do people fear to fly at the moment. Let me give you an analogy. You probably recall that a lot of people were, even before the pandemic, afraid to fly in fear of an accident. The chances of having a fatal accident traveling by plane are so little. 1 in 29 Million. By bicycle it is 1 in 340,000. 85 times higher. Yet, I know so many people who are afraid to fly but I don’t know anyone who is afraid to ride the bike (except for me).

Blog post: Tips against the fear of flying

It is identical to current times. People jump easily to the conclusion that air travel must be unsafe because that thought-process has already been made in our brain before. We irrationally associate it with risk, even though an airplane is the one of the safest indoor environments.

Airlines do the best they can

Airlines do their best to make flying even safer. Cabin attendants are wearing special protective uniforms. Emirates provides a hygiene travel kit with masks, gloves and hand sanitizer for every passenger. Social distancing procedures are in force during boarding and disembarking (some airlines free up the middle seat) Airlines use enhanced cleaning procedures.

When it comes to infectious disease, airplanes have an excellent safety record because the air people breathe while flying is some of the most filtered air in travel, according to Joseph Allen, who directs the Healthy Buildings program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Cabins: The safest indoor environment

The air in (many) planes is a 50/50 mix of outdoor air and recirculated air. The outdoor air is bled off the engine, conditioned and delivered into the cabin. The other 50% is recirculated air that goes through HEPA filters.

All major commercial jets have ventilation systems with high-quality HEPA filters capable of removing 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and other airborne particles with a size as small as 0.3 microns. For comparison, Covid-19 is thought to be between 0.06 to 1.4 microns.

Additionally, authorities have installed body temperature checkpoints at airports and implemented social distancing measurements. To numerous destinations you need a negative PCR-test prior departure which reduces the chance that a passenger infected with Covid-19 being allowed to board. (source: CNN)

Tips to lessen the risk

Wear the right mask at all times. Make sure it covers mouth AND nose.

Reduce the usage of the lavatory. Wait some time after another passenger used it.
Disinfect surfaces around your seat you may touch during the flight.
Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes with your fingers.
Spread out in the cabin to create more space between fellow passengers.
Think about the full travel experiences and not solely about the flight itself.
Bring hand sanitizer with you and use it regularly especially after using the lavatory.
The shorter the flight the less the risk of getting infected.

The risks of getting infected are higher in security queues or on the way to the airport in the public transportation or when visiting the supermarket before the flight to get some snacks. So think about the full travel experience and not only about the flight itself.

It is not about confining yourself and stopping doing things you enjoy but to use your capable mind to do research on the information that is just a google search away. Make the best decision for yourself, your mental health and others.

I hope you you find my article: “How risky is flying during the pandemic?” informative. Don’t forget to to like the post post and share it with users.

Stay safe and healthy travels

Your PilotPatrick

by pilotpatrick

KLM Business Class Review: Dreamliner to Rio

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Dear Aviator,

my last vacation took me to a destination which has been on my bucket list for a long time: Rio de Janeiro. Originally I had planned to go there February, but then my Captain Upgrade got in the way so I had to postpone it. This blog post will not deal with Rio, but about the flight that took me there. In my KLM Business Class review, I will share my flight experience on board of a Dreamliner. What can you expect? Additionally, you will be able to win a special souvenir of the flight.

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The Dreamliner

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How I book my flights

"You are a pilot you fly for free", "You have access to standby tickets", "ID-90 flying is great". Those are comments I have great below my postings on Instagram. I'm sorry, but all statements are not correct. All my flights are firmly booked and paid full price. I never had the opportunity to fly intercontinental for a fraction of the normal ticket price.

How do I manage to fly Business Class?

Whenever I can I book Business Class tickets on flights which last more than 6 hours. I either pay full price or I have enough miles to go on a reward flight. The price-quality ratio has to be acceptable. When tickets are overpriced in Business Class I book a travel class below (Premium Economy or Economy) and then I try to upgrade with miles or cash. Like I did on my flight to Miami in Eurowings "Biz Class".

I was lucky when I booked the flight to Rio. I knew I have a vacation for 12 days, so I opened up the world map of Google flight search. Selected the time period and my favored travel class. I was browsing through numerous destinations until Rio de Janeiro popped up with 1,800 € round trip for one person in Business Class. I immediately booked the flight. Normally you pay double this price, so it was a really good deal.

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Do not miss any of my videos and subscribe to my YouTube channel PilotPatrick

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Three flight highlights

First highlight: So far I only knew KLM from short range flights, so it was the first time for me to fly with them long-range. Second highlight: I was excited to fly with a Boeing 787, also called Dreamliner, for the first time. Third Highlight: I flew in the new World Business Class, which has an interesting cabin layout.

Berlin - Rio de Janeiro

KL 1822 Boeing B737-700

09:05 Berlin (TXL)

10:35 Amsterdam (AMS)

KL 0705 Boeing B787-900

12:45 Amsterdsm (AMS)

19:35 Rio de Janerio (GIG)

total travel time: 15:35 hours

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Crown Lounge at Schipol Airport

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Champagne above the clouds

The lounge

KLM recently opened up a new lounge called "Crown lounge 52" in the international departure area of Schipol airport. The lounge is huge and not yet fully opened. I had a hard time finding it. Navigation signs at the airport were not clear and a lounge briefing of the airline was missing.

The lounge expands over two floors with different areas, it even features an outside terrace, a cinema, and several outlets. In case you find the catering not tasty enough (like I did) you can visit the a la carte restaurant within the lounge (not complimentary).

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This is aviation porn

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lie flat seat

The seat

The seat surprised me the most on this flight! When I had a look at some photos of the seat, it seemed to be quite narrow. The entire Business Class is in the font section of the B787-9 and comprises only 30 seats in total.

Oh wow! That was my first impression after boarding the aircraft. The color selection, the arrangement, and the design were well chosen. Everything is there where you needed it and the designers took special care of every detail. For example, you have a mirror in your small cabinet.

You kind of have to slide into your seat, but once seated it feels more spacious than I thought. The seats are angled to the flight direction and surrounded by a cube, which makes every seat private. Especially the window seats are fantastic since you don't have to move your head to look out of the window. On top, the seat transforms into a fully flat bed. I am 1,85 cm and it was really comfortable

Highlights:

all seats have direct aisle access
a lot of privacy as a seat and bed
comfortable sleeping position
all buttons and controls are easily accessible
the armrest can be lowered to increase the sleeping surface
wide footrest for the bed function
big personal TV which can be stowed

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Watch the full Business Class review on YouTube

The catering

KLM would not win any prizes for its catering departing Schipol airport. On the 11 hours, flight lunch was served after takeoff. In between light snacks were offered and prior to landing, you could have a small dinner. The desserts were the best part of the catering: refreshing ice cream and a chocolate muffin with liquid chocolate inside.

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Healthy starter

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I did not want to show the nasty main dish too clearly

Specials of the Dreamliner

The B787 was not always a Dreamliner, it moreover started as a nightmare. Boeing had to fix several problems after the aircraft has started its line operation in 2011. It is one of the most advanced and modern airliners in the world. It not only generates less noise overall, but CO2 emission is reduced by 20-25% and fuel consumption by 20% as well. The aircraft leaves a smaller environmental footprint without lowering passenger comfort. Quite the contrary is the fact. Passengers windows are bigger, the cabin altitude is reduced and the cabin humidity is increased, which makes you feel better when you arrive.

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Mood lighting on board of the B787

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Fails on the flight

Nothing too tremendous, but still not acceptable when paying a lot of money for a ticket.

Wifi on board was broken. The airline blamed the satellite.
The espresso machine was broken and the coffee was nasty
Corners of the seats were not spotless

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Nap time!

Give away!

At the end of the flight, every passenger in the Business Class receives a souvenir. It is a miniature Delft house, which is famous in the Netherlands. I received so many messages from my Aviators, who want one of those houses since it is impossible to buy them. So I decided to give away one house, an amenity kit and a personal note to TWO Aviators

To join the giveaway

Like this post (heart symbol)
Leave me a comment below this article mentioning “I would like to fly to (destination) inspired by www.pilotpatrick.com"
REPEAT the previous step on my YouTube video!

I will randomly choose two winners on the 23rd of June 2019. Good luck!

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GIVEAWAY!

Safe travels and happy landings!

Your PilotPatrick

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by pilotpatrick

My day at the leading travel trade show in Berlin

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Dear Aviator!

How do you decide on which destinations are on your bucket list? Where do you get your inspiration from when planning your travels? I am sure you retrieve it online, from travel blogs, maybe even from my channels and most probably from friends, who report about their trips.

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Welcome to the ITB at the Messe Berlin

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Singapore Airlines double bed in Business Class

The ITB, the world's leading travel trade show, in Berlin is the offline hotspot for all travel enthusiasts like me. I was invited by Incredible India to explore the trade show and to visit their exhibition, which was, in fact, an entire hall. They provided me with some giveaways, which you will be able to win at the end of this article.

Through my job as a pilot, I get to fly to many fantastic destinations. At the moment the flight operation requires me to overnight in cities primarily in Europe. Sometimes I even stay up to three days at one destination which allows me enough free time to explore. But it is not the same as traveling privately. It is your job and you are traveling with colleagues and not with your friends and family. That is the reason why I go on so many journeys even besides my pilot travels. I like either to discover new destinations, I haven't been to or I return to places I have enjoyed as a pilot before.

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I am a ship captain as well ;-)

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Indian Aviators :-)

The ITB

As I mentioned before the ITB (International Tourismus Börse) is the world's leading tourism trade show. The companies represented at the fair include hotels, tourist boards, tour operators, system providers, airlines and car rental companies. Over 10,000 exhibitors from over 180 countries.

I not only use the ITB to inform myself about news in the travel industry but I also use the visit to connect with people from the travel industry. Primarily I try to get in contact with tourism boards of countries I would like to visit in the future. I think personal contact is extremely beneficial in regards to potential collaboration.

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Indian bride show

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Photo shooting with Incredible India

Incredible India

On a daily basis, I get asked on my Instagram channel, if I have been to this or that country and when I am visiting a specific country. In case I haven't been there my answer is that I will try to visit as soon as possible. I made it my life goal to travel to as many countries as possible.

This includes India for sure. At the ITB and the dinner night before, I already got a glimpse of India's culture and their travel offers. Incredible India filled an entire hall. You not only could get in touch with representatives of the tourism office, hotels and tour operators but could also experience a little bit of the Indian culture. The women were dressed in their traditional clothing, a real wedding took place and you could participate in a Bollywood workshop.

In the end, I received a Henna tattoo on my hand so that my memories will last a little bit longer.

Why would I travel to India?

One reason why I would travel to India is to taste genuine Indian food ;-) I really like Indian cuisine, but not too spicy, please. I am always open to exploring new things, places and countries. India would appeal to me as a destination is that it is so different than everything else I have experienced so far. What I have learned from the exhibition is that India has more to offer than good food and the Taj Mahal. In my opinion, the country is underestimated in terms of traveling. Check their Instagram page for travel inspirations in India.

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Getting a Henna tattoo with my logo

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Free henna tattoos with Incredible India

Good news for passengers

Another reason why I like to visit the ITB is that I am keen to learn about new cabin products of all the major airlines. Qatar Airways always surprises with new innovations in comfort for the passenger. For Business Class passenger they implemented the Q-suite, which offers a lot of space in an enclosed suite. Every seat has direct aisle access and the middle seats convert into a fully flat double bed.

New recline system

For economy class passenger they presented a new seat at the ITB. In their mock-up cabin, I took a seat and I could experience their innovations right away. The new recline system surprised me the most. You probably know how bothersome it can be when your fellow passenger reclines his seat in front of you. Now with Qatar Airways innovation, the seat slides forward to recline without infringing the comfort. Moreover, this allows for more clearance for your knees and chin.

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Qatar Airways new Economy Class

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Qatar Airways at the ITB

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The new recline systemm

The ITB Berlin takes place annually in March at the Messe Berlin. So in case you missed it this year, I will see you there next year.

I had a fun day at the ITB and there is so much to discover. It is impossible to see everything in one day, so make sure you arrive once the doors open. I was exhausted after one day, but the impressions I could take from my visit were definitely worth it.

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Giveaway!

Give away

Incredible India gave me a present with fancy Indian accessories (see photo below) and I would like to pass them to one of you my Aviator. I will include a personal note as well.

To join the giveaway

Like this post (heart symbol)
Leave me a comment below this article mentioning your next vacation destination

I will randomly choose a winner 31st of March 2019. Good luck!

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Giveaway of Incredible India!

Subscribe to my newsletter, if you want to receive a message from me when I posted a new blog, video or event!

3 easy steps to subscribe:

Add me as contact: +49 152 52651846
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Send me the code “Takeoff”

Safe travels and happy landings!

Your PilotPatrick

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by pilotpatrick

First time flying on board of the A380

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Hello my Aviator,

welcome on board of my first flight with an Airbus A380, the king of the skies. Yes, I am being sincere. Even though I am traveling so much and I am an aviation lover, I have never had the chance to fly with the A380 so far. To make my first flight an experience, Emirates welcomed me on board their flagship for a flight to Mauritius. In fact, it was also my first flight with Emirates. In this blog, I am sharing those two premieres with you.

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Finally! I was excited like a little boy to go on my first flight the king of the skies. During the aerospace exhibition in Berlin this year, the ILA, I already took a glance inside the A380 of Emirates, which was displayed on the apron. At this point, I thought I will take forever until I will take a flight on board of the biggest passenger airline. But in the end, it took only 6 months to find me drinking a champagne in Emirates Busines Class on the way to Mauritius.

Check out my Vlog about the ILA and do not forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel: PilotPatrick

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The king of the skies

I am flying the A300, which was the first model ever built by Airbus. Its first flight was in 1972. About 20 years later in June 1994, Airbus announced its plan to develop a very large airliner, designated as A3XX to be a competitor to the B747. In 2005 the A380 had its first flight. The A300 is already a huge aircraft with 54 m length, 45 m wingspan and a maximum take of weight of 170 tons. Compared to the A380 this is small and light. The length is 72 m, the wingspan 79 m and the maximum take-off with is 575 tons. Impressive figures!

More economical than a car: The A380 consumes only 4,05L fuel per 100km per passenger.

Passengers: it seats a maximum of 853 passengers (typical 575)

Biggest aircraft? No there is one more airplane called Antonov An-225, it is larger than A380.

Wiring: If all the wiring in the A380 is laid end to end, it will stretch from Edinburgh to London – 320 miles.

Paint: More than 3600 liters of paint is required to paint the exterior of the aircraft.

Runway: Only 20 runways in the world are now fully capable of handling A380 aircraft. Others are not long or wide enough or not technically equipped for A380.

Flight hours: The Airbus A380 is designed to fly for 140,000 hours – meaning it could fly around the world more than 2,000 times in its lifetime.

Orders: as of September 2018, Airbus had received 331 firm orders and delivered 230 aircraft; Emirates is the biggest A380 customer with 162 ordered of which 105 have been delivered.

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Upper deck rear section of the Business Class

Emirates

Emirates was only founded in 1985. Today the Gulf carrier, based in Dubai operates 3,600 flights a week to 140 cities in 80 countries around the world. Emirates only uses two kinds of airplanes, the Airbus A380 as well as the Boeing 777. Itis is the worlds largest operator of both airplane types. In total Emirates flies 234 planes.

Here are some more interesting facts about Emirates

International crew: Cabin Crew from over 150 different countries. you will find at least 12 different nationalities of cabin crew. In total Emirates has over 60,000 employees.

First Flight from Dubai to Karachi was in 1985 on a Boeing B727 for the Royal Family.

Longest Flight takes 17 hours and 25 minutes from Auckland, New Zealand to Dubai on an A380.

Dubai Airport is the 3rd busiest on Earth after Atlanta Jacksonville and Beijing Capital Airport. 58 million passengers fly with Emirates in a year. (Source)

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Business class seat in row 23

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Business Class of the A380

Upperdeck! Flying in Business Class is truly a privilege and a luxurious experience. The entire upper deck of the A380 comprises the Business Class and First Class. The layout of the Business Class offers all seats direct aisle access. Especially the direct window and the middle seats (more for couples) grant extra privacy and storage. On all three A380 flights, I chose a seat in the rear cabin at the window. The seat right behind the bulkhead (row 23) is great since there is no other passenger right in front of you. I enjoyed a tasty menu of regionally inspired gourmet dishes and drinks from an endless beverage menu. A specialty on Mauritius you could choose coconut water as a welcome drink. The seat also seamlessly reclines into a fully flat bed with a soft, comfy mattress and a cozy blanket.

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fully lie-flat bed

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The "Fly better" experience starts already before the flight. Since there is no flight from Berlin (unfortunately) I had to drive to Frankfurt Airport to catch my connection from there. The Business Class ticket includes either a free First Class Deutsche Bahn round-trip ticket (Rail & Fly) or the Chauffeur-drive. At Frankfurt Airport I arrived extra early so I could visit the Airport Lounge of Emirates. A picture/video is worth 1000 words. So check out my Vlog about my first time flying A380 with Emirates.

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Highlights of the A380

It is already a highlight itself to fly with the A380. The aircraft is extremely quiet inside the cabin. I was impressed that I could not really hear the take-off thrust on departure.

An onboard lounge: Fancy having a cocktail at 36,000ft in an exclusive lounge where you can mingle with other passengers and enjoy delicious snacks between meals. On the flight to Mauritius, the cabin supervisor invited me to have lunch at the dining table in the lounge. It felt like I was flying on a private jet.

Let's have a shower: Normally only First Class passengers are allowed to use the Shower Spa, but the for me the purser made a great exception. He knew how much you love seeing me taking a shower. ;-)

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Onboard lounge

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Shower Spa for First Class passengers

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Stop over in Dubai

On the way to Mauritius, I decided to do a short stopover in Dubai. It was only for 30 hours, but enough time to go shopping, to have a tasty dinner and enjoy some glamours vibes of the city of superlatives. I totally can recommend doing a stopover but plan for a couple of days so you can experience more. I stayed in the Le Meridien Airport Hotel. It is only a 10 minutes drive from the airport and 15 minutes to the downtown area of Dubai. Check out my Dubai Vlog from my vacation in April, If you want to find out about activities you can do.

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Le Meridien Dubai Aiport Hotel

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Thanks to the flight crew of Emirates for making my first A380 experience remarkable. I hope you enjoyed the journey as much as I did.

Have you flown on board of an A380 before? Leave it in a comment below and subscribe to my newsletter with your email!

As always safe travels and happy landings!

Your PilotPatrick

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by pilotpatrick

Best Business Class in the world

Cooperation - Advertisement

Hello my Aviator, it is a very long flight down to Cape Town in South Africa. I had the chance to travel in the best Business Class in the world. Even though I was not the pilot, I was really excited to go on that flight. In this blog post, I share my flight experience, give you tips when booking tickets and you can win a high-quality pajama of Mey bodywear.

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Boeing B777 in Cape Town (CPT)

How can I afford to fly Business class?

Most commonly it is believed that all crew and airline staff can fly for free or really cheap fares. For me, it is not the case. I have to pay full price for all my flight tickets. On long-haul flights over 8 hours, I try to book Business Class tickets. Of course, it is not cheap. For this round trip, I paid 2200€. This is a lot of money and about three times the price of an Economy ticket. I was pretty much open to fly with any airline, but Qatar Airways was for my travel dates almost 50% less expansive than other airlines. I do not fly long haul very often. That is why I invest in the comfort. Especially when going on vacation.

Tip: Compare prices and adjust travel dates. This way you may be able to save significantly. Sometimes a different airport of departure can help to save as well. Join a loyalty program and collect miles. This way I was able to fly First Class for less than 500€ last year.

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Rimowa Classic flight Cabin trolley

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Cheers - Excited for my first flight with Qatar Airways

How did I do the booking?

I book all my flight tickets direct via the website of the airline. This gives me an extra feeling that the reservation went through and is confirmed. Additionally, I can manage my booking like changing seats and ordering special meals online. Qatar Airways offers the great advantage to reserve the current fare for up to 72 hours. This costs a fee but in my case, this investment was well worth it. I still had to wait for the approval of my leave. When I finalized the booking the fare increased by over 1000€, but I still only paid the old price.

My tip: In general fares are cheaper when you book well in advance. But it is still common that prices may go down just prior to departure. Reasons for that may be low booking numbers or special deals. I suggest subscribing to the newsletter of your favorite airlines so you do not miss any special discounts.

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Business Class Cabin Boeing B777

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Layover at Doha Airport

The Best Business Class in the world

Qatar Airways is the World’s Best Airline at the SKYTRAX 2017 World Airline Awards. Referred to as the “Oscars of the aviation industry”, which is voted by travelers across the world in an annual passenger survey. Furthermore, Qatar Airways won an award for the World’s Best Business Class.

That is why I was really excited to fly with Qatar Airways for the first time. My expectations were high. Especially when flying in their premium product.

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Breakfast in the sky

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Sky of central Africa

The flight experience

I flew from Berlin Tegel via Doha to Cape Town. In total, I was about 16 hours in the sky for each direction. On all four legs, it was a Boeing B777-300. The aircraft are fitted with a 2 class configuration with the premium class up front. The Business Class consist of only 24 seats making the cabin really quiet. It is a 2-2-2 seating configuration.

The seat

Unfortunately, it was still the "old" Business Class seat on all flights. Qatar Airways recently introduced the Qsuite, which they call first in business. I really hoped that I will have the chance to test their new product.

Their "old" seat can keep up with any other Business Class seat. The extra-wide seats convert to a fully flat bed with enough space for your shoulders and feet. The rows are so far apart that they ensure privacy, space, and storage. Seats also have a massage setting and fully adjustable armrests, with precision controls to create the position that is right for you.

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Flying in a Mey pyjama

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City Center of Doha on departure

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Business Class catering

Entertainment and service

The entertainment program seems endless. Food can be ordered whenever you want. The catering was all right. The excellent service made up for it. Especially the return flight was a lot of fun because the purser (head of the cabin) recognized me from my social media channels. Together with the crew, I did a boomerang for my Instagram story.

Tip: Stop in the amazing Business Class lounge in Doha. I had a layover of more than 7 hours at the airport. I went for dinner, took a shower and rested in private quite rooms. On board, I enjoyed row 2 the most. This row had no missing window, was not in the bulkhead and the full storage was available.

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Doha Business Class lounge

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Was it worth it?

Totally! My vacation already started on board and I arrived well rested at my destination. It is always hard to say goodbye to a great vacation. But knowing that I will be flying back comfortably, I am actually looking forward to my return flight.

Two years ago I flew to Cape Town in Lufthansa's Business Class. I paid about the same price for this flight. The connection via Munich airport was a lot quicker, but the flight with Qatar Airways was a whole different experience.

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Thanks for the amazing flight with you

Give Away

On both flights, I was flying through the night. MEY, a well known German fashion brand for day- and nightwear, provided me with a comfortable pyjama. I am already a big fan of their undershirts which I wear underneath my uniform. But now I love to sleep in their pyjamas as well. You can win one fancy MEY pyjama in my favorite color blue worth 120€. Additionally, I will send you an amenity kit with a personal note.

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Giveaway!

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The lucky winner is Jens!

Here are the steps to join the contest:

subscribe to my newsletter with your email
leave me a comment just underneath this article with your clothing size
subscribe to my YouTube channel

I will randomly pick a winner on the 28th of February 2018.

Happy landings and good luck!

Your PilotPatrick

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by pilotpatrick

My first time flying in first class

In May I spent over two weeks of vacation in California. On the way to San Fransisco, I flew in Lufthansa's First Class Cabin. I am now excited to share with you this amazing experience. My dream was to fly in First Class before I turn 30. I am so happy that I accomplished this goal. Read in this blog post how you can fly First Class without spending a fortune and how you can be the winner of my giveaway

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Timelessly elegant design and top-quality materials

My last long range flight with Lufthansa was to Capetown in 2016. On this flight, I was seated in the first row of Business class. During the flight I was wondering how it would be to fly in First Class as traveling in Business class is already luxurious. At this point, I never imagined flying in First Class already one year later.

The first seven years of my aviation career I was working as a First Officer for a private jet company. I got to know the most exclusive flight service possible. That is why I was excited to see the differences between a private jet flight and a First Class flight as a passenger. You probably can imagine how excited I was to go on my flight to San Francisco.

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Lufthansa A340-600 MUC Terminal 2

Lounge and connection

My trip started off luxurious with the limousine service of Blacklane. A comfortable Mercedes S-Class picked me up from home to take me to Berlin Tegel Airport. This service can be booked in more than 250 cities worldwide and is easy to pre-order via an application on your smartphone. In Berlin, I can recommend Blacklane's airport transfer in a business class car since it is faintly more expensive than a regular taxi. Their cars are clean and a friendly driver awaits you.

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Blacklane chauffeur service to Berlin Tegel airport

My flight connection

04.05.17 TXL - MUC LH2037 13:00 - 14:05 Airbus A321 BUSINESS

04.05.17 MUC - SFO LH458 16:10 - 19:05 Airbus A340-600 FIRST

Lounge

During my short layover in Munich, I visited a First Class Lounge for the very first time. The lounge was located in the new Terminal 2 satellite building and is better than any private jet lounge I have been to. Besides a huge buffet, you could also choose from a la carte menu. While enjoying a refreshment you could watch the air traffic on the apron from cozy seating areas inside and from a terrasse outside. All kinds of facilities are provided for a demanding passenger. Compared to a Business Lounge it was much more exclusive and private. Unfortunately, I could only stay for 1,5 hours in the lounge. Try to get a connection which allows you to stay a minimum of 2 hours to enjoy the lounge the fully.

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Seat and airplane

My Seat was 1A on an A340-600. This is a window seat in the first row of First Class. I had so much space and storage. I really could not believe it. My seat not only offered direct aisle access but also four windows all for myself. Firstly I had to play around with all the buttons and check out the features of my own little living room above the sky.

The cabin consists only of eight First Class seats creating a really private and calm atmosphere. After dinner, the flight attendant did the turndown service to my seat. In the meantime, I took a small walk through the entire airplane wearing my pyjama. I had the impression that people were staring at me. I probably looked quite silly in this grandpa style outfit. The A340-600 used to be one of the longest aircraft and offers four different booking classes. Honestly, the economy class looked tighter than before. I wish I could have invited them to the free seats up front.

Returning to my seat I found a full flat 2-meter long bed with a mattress topper. A real 5-star bed in the sky.

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Seat 1A with Jil Sander Amenity Kit and Van Laack Pyjama

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My 2 meter flat bed in the sky

Service and food

The service was exceptional and was tailored to one's wishes. You can decide when you want to eat. There are no fixed service times. I enjoyed the full menu including the famous Lufthansa caviar service. If you get hungry during the flight you can always order something from the menu or get sweet and salty snacks from the small bar in front. The food was delicious and nicely decorated.

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Famous caviar service in First Class

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Three different starters on my huge dining table

Worth it to fly First Class?

This depends solely on your personal needs. If you need the extra space and a more exclusive service then go ahead and fly First Class. A big plus over the Business Class is the larger bed, the privacy shield, and the much smaller cabin. In the end, you do arrive at the same time as everyone else and you have to wait until everyone has boarded to be ready for take off. The price for my route was about 3000€ one way. Definitely not for everyone's budget, but if you compare it to a private jet which costs 60,000€ the ticket is worth the price. I think if you want to allow oneself a flight in First Class then do it together with someone else at a special occasion.

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My ultra comfortable seat with a movable footrest

How can you fly First Class?

You want to want to fly Economy on your next flight but do not want to spend a fortune to fly Business and First? Then register with the loyalty program of the airline or alliance you fly most of the time and start collecting miles. I usually fly with companies of the Star Alliance and I have been a Miles and More Member for ages. Since I have to travel a lot for my company and also on a private basis I reached a higher status which grants me extra benefits like the lounge access. If you are patient and start collecting miles in every possible way you end up having enough miles to book an award flight. With the Miles and More program you do not necessarily have to fly to earn miles. You can collect them by paying with your credit card or setting up a mobile. Check regularly their website for new ways to earn them and soon you will be flying First Class as well.

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Approaching San Francisco

Amenities and my recommendations

The list of amenities is almost endless. Here are my favorite once

First Class lounge with restaurant
High baggage allowance
Priority boarding
Large choice of food and beverages
Amenity Kit, pyjama and slippers
Turndown Service
In-flight entertainment
Sound insulation
Privacy shield
Wifi (really poor connection on my flight)

My recommendations when flying First Class

Book a seat at the window
Try to fly A380 (LH: bigger lavatories and better cabin air)
Fly at least 10 hours
Use the First Class lounge (minimum 3 hours between flights)
Enjoy the full meal service including the Kaviar
Ask for the turndown service

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GIVEAWAY of my unused amenity kit (read below)

It was truly a first class experience. Even though I did not sleep during the whole flight of 12 hours it did not last long enough to enjoy everything in detail. I love to fly as a passenger as well, but the real First Class remains up front in the cockpit. You get to your destination and you even get paid for it!

First Class give away

I am giving away my unused First Class amenity kit of Jil Sander with La Praire products, sleeping mask, socks, etc. Just subscribe with your email to my blog and leave a comment with your favorite airline below this article and you have the chance to win it!

Good luck and happy landings!

your Pilot Patrick

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by pilotpatrick

Air Berlin Business Class review

"As much as I love to fly myself I also enjoy the time as passenger, especially when traveling comfortably in an airplane."

My last long range flight in business class was with Lufthansa to Cape Town last January. That is why I was super excited to fly with Air Berlin in their business class for a spontaneous vacation in the Caribbean. Air Berlin offers non stop connections from Berlin and Düsseldorf to destinations in North America, Middle America and to Abu Dhabi.

The outbound connection was with a short layover in Düsseldorf. The flight AB7446 departed at 09:50 to Punta Cana (PUJ) and touched down in paradise already at 14:30. The return flight AB7315 was nonstop back to Berlin departing at 16:50. Read my review about the flight experience in Air Berlin's business class.

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Seat

The business class cabin is Air Berlin's premium product since they do not offer a first class. The business class cabin is located in the front section of their A330 long haul fleet. With only 19 seats the cabin is really intime and tranquil. That is a big plus compared to other major airlines, where the cabin is much bigger and noisier. All business class seats offer direct aisle access and convert to a fully flat bed. I am 1,86 m tall and I could fully stretch out. I could lay comfortable on the site and on my back, but I found the seat width a little bit too narrow.

My seat on the outward was 4K which was situated directly at the window providing extra privacy and extra shoulder width due to the curvature of the cabin. A seat at the aisle has the advantage that it is easier to get in and out. The 6 seats in the middle I recommend only to couples traveling together since the seats are quite close to each other.

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Unfortunately my inflight entertainment was not working properly on both flights. I found that the storage for personal belongings was not sufficient. But good news from the ITB this week. Air Berlin presented their new business class seat, which they have modified to be even more comfortable. The current configuration will stay the same.

Service

One of the best food and beverage service I have had on board of a plane so far. The meals where delicious, hot and well presented. The food and beverage menu was rich in variety. I really liked the fact that I could have an espresso to my dessert and snacks in between meals. Since the front cabin is small the service is individual like in a restaurant. There are no big trollies moving around for food and drinks. In my opinion there was a little bit too much meat on the menu. But in case you are vegetarian or vegan you can always request special meals prior the flight (also in economy)

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Entertainment

The inflight entertainment offers music, show, games, movies and much more. The selection of movies is not the biggest but it is well enough for a 10 hour flight. My movie recommendation: Suicide Squad and Miss Peregrine’s home for peculiar. The headset is comfortable to wear and reduces background noise quite well.

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Air Berlin exquisite

Air Berlin offers all passengers who book an economy ticket to bid on available business class seats. This online service is called airberlin equisite. The price is completely set by yourself. 12 hours prior to departure you will find out whether the bid was successful. I used this kind of auction and was lucky to fly in business class to Miami. The upgrade was around 500€ (one way)

My vacation already started when boarding the aircraft. For me it is luxury to stretch out and have a good sleep in a flat position on board. The high price was definitely worth it since I only stayed for six nights in Punta Cana. This is how I could reduce my jet lag!

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Where to book?
www.airberlin.com

Where to fly?
Non stop from Berlin and Düsseldorf: Miami (Mia), Los Angeles (LAX), Abu Dhabi (AHU), New York (JFK), Punta Cana (PUJ), Havanna (HAV ) Cancun (CUN), Chicago (ORD) ...

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Amenities in business class

Welcome drink
Amenity Kit with cosmetics
Blanket and pillow
Food and drink menu
Inflight Enterainment
Priority boarding
Lounge access
higher baggage allowance

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Insider tips

Reserve a seat free of charge when booking your ticket
Exquisite: You can bit on available business class seats
XL Economy seats offer more space in economy class
Sign up for top bonus to collect miles for free flights

Where is your next flight taking you to?

Your Pilot Patrick

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by pilotpatrick

Business Class review - with Lufthansa to Cape Town

I decided to publish my first airline review, because you were interested in my opinion as private jet pilot about a flight experience in a higher booking class.

Business class review Lufthansa

This year I spend three weeks of vacation in South Africa. I had an amazing time and I felt in love with South Africa. The flight made this vacation special as well. Months in advance, I was excited to go on this flight. One reason for this was, that I flew in Lufthansa’s Business Class on the A340-600. But the flight almost did not depart…

A340-600 at the parking position in Munich prior boarding to Cape Town

I want to give you a brief review of my experience on board of Lufthansa, one of my favorite airlines. This might help you when booking your next flight, maybe to Cape Town.

My flights:
Berlin Tegel – Munich
Munich – Cape Town (night flight)

Cape Town – Munich (day flight)
Munich – Berlin Tegel

Welcome on board!

On the flight to Cape Town seat 3D was mine. Right after I stowed my hand luggage and took a seat, I was offered a welcome drink. Overall the service was excellent. The flight attendants were really friendly and gave a personal touch to their service. The front cabin of the A340-600 was quite spacious, but I noticed right away that there is not much privacy when seated. Nevertheless I really liked the modern design and the interior.

Welcome drink on board of Lufthansa's A3400-600 in Munich. Seat 3D

Take off thrust set in Munich. Reaching about 120 km/h the four engines spooled down and the brakes were applied. I said quite loudly: “Aborted take off!" I was right. The aircraft vacated the runway. Interesting fact: In 6 years as pilot I never had to reject a take off. Fortunately the pilots could solve the technical problem, so that we attempted for another take off 30 minutes later, after the brakes had cooled down.

Seat

Lufthansa Business Class Configuration 2-2-2

I was surprised about the versatility of the seat. It felt comfortable when eating, watching a movie and especially when in the sleeping position. A flat bed on a long-range flight is luxury. I am 1,86 m tall and I had enough space in length. Additionally you can adjust the degree of hardness of the cushion through air. Unfortunately I had the impression that the seat width was a little bit too narrow and the pillow a little bit too thick.

Food

Dinner in Business Class shortly prior landing in Munich

As I mentioned in my recent post “I am a foodie pilot”, I am really strict and picky about my food. That is why I am definitely not a benchmark. But I have to admit, that the selection and the taste of food were really good. Great wine and drink menu. I missed some snacks in between meals on a 12 hours flight. Fantastic was have an espresso above the clouds.

Inflight Entertainment

A huge selection of movies, series, documentaries, games, music and so on in up to eight languages were offered. The headsets were comfortable to wear and the interface was easy to control. I used Wi-Fi during flight to keep you up to date on my snapchat. :-)

Flat bed in Business Class, Seat 3D good while in sleeping position

My recommendations:

If possible reserve a seat in the first row. The seats in row 3 (A340-600) at the window give you some kind of shelf and the seats in the middle give you some extra legroom.

Seat 3D to CPT and seat 3A on the return flight

When traveling alone I recommend to take a window seat, because the seats in the middle section are angled a little towards each other. Those ones I rather recommend for couples.

During night flights I suggest to take a middle seat, since each seat has direct aisle access. Find your seat map on Seatguru.

Choose a seat in the front of the Business Class, because during boarding only Business and First Class passengers will pass you in the aisle.

Overhead Africa on the way from CPT to MUC

Following extras can you expect:

Amenity Kit (including socks, ear plugs and cosmetics)
Cosmetics in the lavatories
Water bottle at the seat
USB and power plug at your seat
Free newspapers and magazines
Big pillow and a blanket
High quality headset

Leaving Cape Town on Lufthansa's A340-600 overflying Camps Bay

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSga1AL2q5w?rel=0]

The price for a Lufthansa Business Class ticket can be quite expansive, but the investment is totally worth it. This way the vacation already starts on board and you are looking forward to your flight. Especially on the way to Cape Town, which primarily takes place during the night, the flat seat is fantastic. Since their is only one hour of time difference, you can enjoy the day fresh and fit.

My rating

My rating of the flights in Lufthansa Business Class, where 5 aircrafts highest and 1 lowest:

Business Seat ✈️ ✈️ ✈️ ✈️
Privacy ✈️ ✈️
Aircraft ✈️ ✈️ ✈️ ✈️
Service ✈️ ✈️ ✈️ ✈️ ✈️
Food ✈️ ✈️ ✈️ ✈️
Entertainment ✈️ ✈️ ✈️ ✈️ ✈️
Extras ✈️ ✈️ ✈️ ✈️

My Rating: ✈️ ✈️ ✈️ ✈️

Which airline has the best Business Class for you? Please comment below.

Read my next blog post: "What's in my bag?"

Your Pilot Patrick

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by pilotpatrick