I LEARNED the meaning of the proverbial ‘on cloud nine’ during a recent Gulf Air premium-class flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In my view, the psychological effects of jetlag can begin ahead of any long journey. But Gulf Air proved me wrong with its revamped premium-class. From food and leg room, to entertainment, service and seats, you will not be disappointed. It does seem that the management is sparing no effort to turn the carrier around.
Earlier this year, Gulf Air introduced the Falcon Gold class combining the best elements of first and business class and providing the ultimate luxury and value for money for premium-class passengers.
The comforts and hospitality begin on the ground with premium-class lounges available in Bahrain (pictured), Dubai and London Heathrow.
In Bahrain there is a gracious hostess welcome, panoramic views of aircraft taking off and landing, huge plasma screens providing news and entertainment, a range of hot and cold snacks, state-of-the-art business facilities and much more.
However, it is in midair that the real fun begins. Travelling with me was Karunakaran Srinivasan, Gulf’s communications manager who explained all the new features.
Srinivasan said you could stretch the seat as much as you could stretch your legs and, after some fiddling with the controls, he was proved right, from then onwards my feet didn’t touch the floor.
Honestly speaking, I love airline food. And since we were flying at night, dinner was about to be served by the award winning Sky Chef described by Srinivasan as ‘more than a concept. It is a celebration of food in-flight’.
Indeed it was. Dishes range from a delectable range of appetisers, a choice of European and Middle Eastern dishes combined in a contemporary style. And if the ever-popular Arabic mezze selection doesn’t make your mouth water, nothing will.
With legs stretched and five-star cuisine having sensualised your taste buds, you simply can’t go to sleep without a good movie. Enter Gulf’s Air Cinema, offering various channels and the latest blockbusters.
Now if you are parents travelling with children, especially the small hyperactive types, then be prepared to remain on your toes until the plane has landed. A new father of a pretty baby girl myself, I understand that kids can send you crazy.
But not on Gulf Air…
In 2003, the airline introduced Sky Nannies, the world’s only in-flight nanny service.
After take-off, the sky nanny takes responsibility for the children – helping them with their meals, distributing activity packets, assisting with bassinet set-up and joining in with colouring etc. So popular has the service become that the carrier has now trained a new group of flight attendants, taking the airline’s sky nanny contingent to more than 200.
The return flight offered the same magnificent facilities including a visit to the Plaza Premiere Lounge with which Gulf Air has a tie-up.
All in all I would commend the service and the staff and would highly recommend passengers to experience the Gulf Air premium service for themselves.