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Business News/ Money / Calculators/  Flying in style: cost no bar
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Flying in style: cost no bar

On board Etihad's The Residencethe largest-ever civilian aeroplane which is a breathtaking private suite

For a 25 December one-way trip to London from Abu Dhabi, The Residence will cost around Rs14 lakh (indicative price) onboard an Airbus A380. Photo:Premium
For a 25 December one-way trip to London from Abu Dhabi, The Residence will cost around Rs14 lakh (indicative price) onboard an Airbus A380. Photo:

At 35,000 feet, on board the largest-ever civilian aeroplane is a breathtaking private suite. It features a living room, a bedroom, and an en suite shower room. And, of course, a personal butler as well.

This is what Etihad Airways PJSC, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has for the ultra rich—The Residence. For a 25 December one-way trip to London from Abu Dhabi, The Residence will cost around 14 lakh (indicative price). The facility is available on Airbus A380 and Boeing B787, also known as the Dreamliner. The Residence offers levels of luxury and privacy normally found only in private jets.

Each Etihad Airways A380 will offer a boutique version of The Residence with a unique colour palette, table marquetry and custom carpets. Guests will have the services of a personal butler during the flight. These fully trained service professionals will be trained at the Savoy Butler Academy in London.

Fliers booked on The Residence will also have a dedicated VIP travel concierge team which will ensure all details of their travel experience, including ground transport, cuisine and amenities tailored to the guests’ requirements.

There are many more perks in store for Etihad fliers. In its First Apartments, on the upper deck of the A380, each seat will have a 64-inch-high sliding door, a reclining armchair and a full-length ottoman, upholstered by Poltrona Frau, an Italian furniture maker. The ottoman transforms into a separate 80-inch-long flatbed.

In its First Suites, on the B787, Etihad Airways offers a large seat and ottoman, both upholstered by Poltrona Frau, which convert into an 80.5-inch-long flatbed.

In the centre seats, the armrests retract and seats can be joined to create a double bed.

Emirates Airlines has similar facilities in its first class. It offers a private suite complete with a shower spa in its A380 jets. It even has an on-board lounge. And to fly from Dubai to London (on 25 December), it will cost about 4 lakh.

Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd calls its first class the Upper Class. Upper Class passengers are picked up and dropped off in a chauffeur-driven car. At some airports, they can head straight to a private security channel and relax in luxurious lounges or clubhouses.

If you are planning to fly to Dubai from London in the Upper Class, it will cost around 3 lakh.

Apart from expensive airline tickets, which include the cost of some exceptional facilities onboard, there are some other routes on which airlines offer attractive features.

Here is a look at five of the world’s most expensive routes, based on a selection by US-based Hopper.com, which uses data sets comprising billions of flight prices to help travellers find the right destination for their budget.

1. New York to Hong Kong with Lufthansa ($43,535 for a round trip)

2. Los Angeles to Dubai with Emirates for upwards of $30,000

3. San Francisco to Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways for a $28,090 round trip

4. New York to Beijing with Korean Air, for upwards of $27,000

5. Hong Kong to New York with Cathay Pacific for a $26,572 round trip

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Published: 28 Sep 2015, 01:24 AM IST
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