Skip to Content

Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.

Map of the world

Businessclass posts

Video: I need an upgrade. Give me an upgrade. I am an elite member.

Feb 25th, 2011 at 1:00PM: Looking for the perfect video for the lazy Friday afternoon? Check out this animated clip showing an average business traveler demand an upgrade from the poor ticketing agent. As funny as this may seem, this is actually based off real passengers and real interactions with airline employees. Obviously, the whole thing looks funnier in an animated clip, which is what makes it perfect for ...

The top six gangster style first and business class flights from the US -- without chartering a G6

The top six gangster style first and business class flights from the US -- without chartering a G6 Feb 20th, 2011 at 2:30PM: We all like to treat ourselves once in a while, whether its with luxury fur coats, $300 gastrogasm dinners at Noma or Momofuku or the Presidential Suite at the DC Mandarin Oriental. For the brass over at Gadling Labs, we like to fly in international First or Business class. And there are a few, very special routes that rank among our favorites ever taken. Curious? Ever taken one yourself? ...

Five indicators of the airline industry's future: start with first and business class

Five indicators of the airline industry's future: start with first and business class Oct 14th, 2010 at 11:00AM: Airlines are getting a little lucky. The big bucks and wider margins that come from first- and business-class fares are coming in faster than the nickels and dimes from economy class. This will delight the various airline industry employees who think that passengers aren't paying enough, and it's also a growth indicator. According to the International Air Transport Association, an industry ...

Business travelers told to be logical with tickets

Business travelers told to be logical with tickets Aug 3rd, 2010 at 2:30PM: In a move that's shocking because it's sensible, corporate travel managers are pushing business travelers to make decisions that aren't stupid. In the past two years, 75 percent of companies in North America have changed their travel policies, with cost-cutting a major motivation. First and business class have become more and more elite in the white collar set, thanks to more restrictive policies, ...

United creates Optathlon games for day-of-departure prizes

United creates Optathlon games for day-of-departure prizes Jul 26th, 2010 at 5:00PM: It's a long shot, but if all of your attempts to find a better seat, upgrade and improve your upcoming trip on United Airlines have failed then there's one last thing you can do. Last week, United launched a series of video games on their website with prizes aimed at traveling customers. What can you win? Among other things, it's possible to earn the opportunity to skip those pesky long lines ...

How to get an upgrade to first or business class (and how not to)

How to get an upgrade to first or business class (and how not to) May 4th, 2010 at 1:00PM: For some reason, the topic of "how to get upgraded" pops up on almost every travel site. And in most cases, the information provided in them is exactly the same as every other similar article. One thing they all have in common is that the tips are a mix of old information, incorrect information and complete lies. So, we've collected some of those tips to explain what does not work - and ...

Galley Gossip: Enter to win two business class tickets to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific!

Galley Gossip:  Enter to win two business class tickets to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific! Apr 26th, 2010 at 9:30AM: Until May 31, 2010 Cathay Pacific is giving away two free tickets in business class from any city to Hong Kong, as well as three nights' accommodation at The Upper House, a portrait session with campaign photographer Andrew J. Loiterton, and eight times the Asia Miles you earn flying on Cathay Pacific from now until the end of May. Now that I have your attention, keep reading. Contest details can ...

Designing Air New Zealand's new long haul configurations

Apr 7th, 2010 at 11:00AM: Air New Zealand's marketing team is well underway promoting their new cabin configurations that we reported on earlier this year. The designs, which our very own Kent Wien covered in a series of on-the-ground dispatches, are set to vastly improve the business class and coach experiences, with redesigned business class cabins and lie-flat sections implemented in economy. The highly dramatic ...

Daily Pampering: British Airways' Club World service from London City to JFK

Daily Pampering: British Airways' Club World service from London City to JFK Feb 26th, 2010 at 3:45PM: Thirty-two seats is all that your business-class-only jet will host on your journey from New York City to the heart of London, England. The aircraft, an Airbus A318, has been outfitted by British Airways specifically for this purpose – as a posh, express service between two of the hippest, strongest, richest activity centers of the world. From JFK, the experience will begin far before ...

Business travelers forced into coach may never see first class again

Business travelers forced into coach may never see first class again Feb 18th, 2010 at 10:00AM: When the economy imploded, corporate business travel took a nosedive. Those companies that still allowed their staff to fly, changed the corporate policy forcing everyone into the back of the plane. Within many companies, travel policy allowed for first or business class travel on long flights, while others had policies in place that allowed premium cabin travel for high level executives. To ...

Daily Pampering: Air New Zealand's business class beds

Daily Pampering: Air New Zealand's business class beds Jan 22nd, 2010 at 4:00PM: Have you ever slept better on an airplane than in your own bed? The only time that this has ever happened to me was on an Air New Zealand flight between LA and Auckland, comfortably tucked into the business class cabin on the upper deck of their 747. This business cabin (lower deck pictured above), a ten seat Eden of comfort, good food and endless inflight entertainment is one of the only ...

Daily Pampering: V Australia Business Class service to Sydney

Daily Pampering: V Australia Business Class service to Sydney Jan 15th, 2010 at 4:00PM: Seats 5H and 5K are the best two seats in V Australia's fleet. Nestled in the back right corner of business class, these two lie flat seats are separated from the rest of the cabin by a series of curtains, creating a minature, private room in which one can cross the Pacific Ocean. Combined with V Australia's top quality service and inflight product, its a 14 hour journey that will breeze by in ...

Inside Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class clubhouse

Inside Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class clubhouse Dec 15th, 2009 at 11:00AM: Any traveler who has come within a stone's throw of a major American airport has heard of the Virgin airlines. Among other brands, they've got Virgin America operating service between a handfull of fortunate, domestic cites, V Australia bouncing between Los Angeles and Australia and the granddaddy, Virgin Atlantic, serving the United Kingdom and beyond. Throughout the years, the airline has ...

First class is better than being CEO

First class is better than being CEO Dec 2nd, 2009 at 1:00PM: Singapore Airlines has its priorities in order. Chew Choon Seng, the CEO, just saw his salary fall by 20 percent. And, the carrier has had to keep some planes on the ground. The decline in the travel market is taking a toll on everyone ... except the passengers in the first class cabin. The airline left intact the $8 million committed to offering Dom Perignon champagne to its best ...

Airlines: why it always has to come down to price

Airlines: why it always has to come down to price Nov 24th, 2009 at 8:00AM: Imagine what would be pretty much a perfect world, at least for airline CEOs. You're running a reasonable profit – let's say 10 percent, enough to keep the shareholders off their backs. And, they're growing annually at a low double-digit rate, as well. Again, the shareholders are seeing an upside, so there's no pressure on the airline's management. Since the numbers being posted are healthy, ...

New Zealander auctions off Paris Hilton's boarding pass

New Zealander auctions off Paris Hilton's boarding pass Sep 2nd, 2009 at 10:00AM: A man flying from New Zealand to Fiji on August 12th found a little surprise at his business class seat. Slipped between the pages of his in-flight magazine was the boarding pass of celebutant Paris Hilton, who had traveled to Fiji a few days prior. Rather than toss the pass, the man decided to put it up for sale on a New Zealand auction site. Despite his claim that is "certainly has no other ...

Owner books entire business class cabin for scared pooch

Owner books entire business class cabin for scared pooch Aug 6th, 2009 at 3:00PM: Buying more than one seat for yourself on your flight is nothing special - some people are even forced to do it. But to book an entire cabin just for yourself and your pooch - that is one I'd never heard of before. That is exactly how a lady dealt with her scared dog last week. Apparently her boxer is scared of flying, and fellow passengers freak the little four legged friend out a bit - so his ...

American Airlines: open your wallet

American Airlines: open your wallet Jul 25th, 2009 at 12:00PM: When you have to combat a brutal economic downturn, there are few choices. The airlines are cutting costs, cutting seats and looking for new sources of revenue. But, none of this compares to doubling down on the old revenue streams they've already devised! Why work so hard trying to come up with new ideas, when you already have old ones? So, get ready for bag-checking to get more expensive on ...

The fall of OpenSkies?

The fall of OpenSkies? Jun 23rd, 2009 at 4:30PM: OpenSkies, the all-business-class subsidiary of British Airways has always been fighting an uphill battle. At only one year old, the airline has always struggled to earn and maintain a customer base. Now with demand on the wane and airlines cutting back, OpenSkies might soon be on the chopping block. The model, it seemed, was valid. A smaller plane with all business and first class seats could ...

Business travelers: five pre-flight rituals

Business travelers: five pre-flight rituals Jun 19th, 2009 at 9:00AM: When you take that early Monday morning flight, you know you're kicking off a marathon. If you're a business traveler, you'll have five days of meetings, late nights and team dinners that deprive you of sleep, push your personal relationships to the periphery and generally dominate every ounce of your life. This is the path the business traveler has chosen. So, any measures that reduce anxiety and ...

Gadling Features

Categories

Become our Fan on Facebook!

Featured Galleries (view all)

The Volvo Ocean Race onboard Team Abu Dhabi
Virgin Galactic's Gateway to Space
Breakfasts around the world
FoodFlags
Outrageous State Fair Foods
The world's ten most uninhabited countries
Yellowstone in pictures: 2011
Most crowded islands on earth
Burj Khalifa: The tallest building on the planet

Our Writers

Grant Martin

Editor-in-chief

RSS Feed

Don George

Features Editor

RSS Feed

View more Writers