Qatar Airways Wins 'Airline Of The Year' At The Prestigious 2017 Air Transport Awards

Recognized for its innovative and leading in-flight experience, Qatar Airways collected the highest award at an elite ceremony held in Greece and hosted by Air Transport News

DOHA, Qatar, March 29th-- Qatar Airways proudly accepted the 'Airline of the Year' award on Saturday March 25, at the 2017 Air Transport Awards, as the airline was recognized for its innovation, service, hospitality and leading product design. The awards ceremony, held at an exclusive and prestigious ceremony at the Latrou Residence in Ekali, Greece, recognized Qatar Airways as the world's leading airline, bestowing it with the highest honor of the evening, at an event attended by the world's leading airline executives.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: "We are deeply honored to have been recognized by the readers of Air Transport News as the 2017 Airline of the Year. We take immense pride in driving our airline to be the best in the industry and to deliver our passengers an unprecedented on-board experience. To receive acknowledgement from the loyal passengers who choose to fly with Qatar Airways is the highest honor for us to achieve and pushes us to work even harder to provide them with the level of commitment, service and attention to detail that they deserve every time they travel."

The Airline of the Year award was bestowed upon Qatar Airways for its continued ambition to ensure the airline's passenger experience is the absolute best in the industry with regards both product and service, an ambition witnessed just earlier this month at an exclusive reveal ceremony at the ITB exhibition in Berlin, at which the airline launched its new Qsuite for Business Class.

QSuite features the industry's first-ever double bed available in Business Class, with privacy panels that stow away, allowing passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room. Adjustable panels and movable TV monitors on the center four seats allow colleagues, friends or families travelling together to transform their space into a private suite, allowing them to work, dine and socialize together.

These new features provide the ultimate customizable travel experience that enables passengers to create an environment that suits their own unique needs and ensures that Qatar Airways continues to lead the airline industry in terms of passenger experience in the skies. Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is celebrating 20 years of Going Places Together with travelers across its more than 150 business and leisure destinations. The world's fastest growing airline will add a number of exciting new destinations to its growing network in 2017, including Chiang Mai, Dublin, Nice, Skopje and many more, flying passengers on board its modern fleet of 195 aircraft.

Chef Yves Camdeborde Signs New Dishes On Air France's Business Class Menu From April 1st To September 2016

From April 1^st to September 2016, Air France invites chef Yves Camdeborde to sign creative gourmet dishes on its Business class menu

Chef Yves Camdeborde is taking over as signature chef for Air France’s Business class menu on board its long-haul flights on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle throughout Air France’s long-haul network, as well as to a number of destinations on its medium-haul network*. This exceptional partnership forms part of the move upmarket of Air France’s products and services.

Yves Camdeborde’s cuisine focuses on simplicity and well-balanced flavours, while providing texture and conviviality in his dishes. The chef personalizes his cuisine with a variety of quality produce.

The chef’s eclectic range of dishes are typical samples of a new trend of cuisine invented by Yves Camdeborde himself - a mix of « bistrot » cuisine and classic gastronomy known as bistronomy.

The chef has created six new dishes for Air France customers. These gourmet creations will be available on the in-flight menu for a period of six months, with each dish renewed every 15 days:

·         Cod and smoked salmon with apple and celery, Parmesan crumble, Sunflower and Espelette pepper;

·         Salmon papillotes with Paris mushrooms and tarragon, vegetable balls, clear lemongrass and ginger broth;

·         Pan-cooked chicken with red onion pickles and grapes, supreme sauce and oven-steamed rice;

·         Slow-cooked beef fondant with Banyuls vinegar, vegetable balls and chestnuts with orange zest**;

·         Confit of veal shank with preserved lemons, artichokes and penne in white sauce**;

·         Tajine-style chicken with turmeric, fine semolina, kumquat and buckwheat.

Yves Camdeborde  –  Portrait of a renowned chef

A native of Béarn, Yves Camdeborde learned his trade in the largest and most prestigious restaurants such as the Ritz, the Tour D’Argent and especially under the leadership of Mr Christian Constant at the Crillon. He opened his first restaurant in 1992, La Régalade in the 14^th district of Paris. For over 10 years, he offered both traditional and reinterpreted regional cuisine.

He then became the owner of the charming 4-star hotel, Le Relais Saint Germain and its restaurant Le Comptoir in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. He offers « Bistrot Brasserie » cuisine, which promotes fresh market produce and tasty dishes to revive the tradition of refined French gourmet cuisine.

Very well known and after having published several cookbooks, Yves Camdeborde was recently on the jury of the famous TV programme «Master Chef» on TF1.

Air France and the art of French cuisine

Innovation and surprise are the two watch words characterizing Air France’s ambition to offer a French gastronomic experience. The ambition to constantly innovate, to match the new expectations of our demanding customers in their constant quest to discover new tastes. For Air France, the element of surprise also illustrated by its many partnerships with talented and skilful chefs, as well as an expression of the quintessence of French haute cuisine with quality dishes.

In an aim to offer a choice of refined dishes on board throughout the year, Air France’s airline catering subsidiary, Servair, offers its expertise and know-how to satisfy the Company’s customers. Servair’s chefs thus adapt the starred chefs’ recipes to the constraints of airline catering, while maintaining the full spirit of the original recipes. Servair chefs also provide cabin crews with their expertise and know-how in an aim to highlight the value of the dishes on offer.

*Dishes available on medium-haul flights on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Algiers, Amman, Athens, Bucharest, Casablanca, Istanbul, Kiev, Moscow, Rabat, Saint-Petersburg, Sofia, Stockholm, Tel Aviv, Tunis and Yerevan.

**Dishes exclusively available on long-haul flights.

About Air France

Air France, a global airline of French inspiration, with high standards and a caring attitude, turns the flight into a moment of real pleasure on all its daily operations in France, Europe and worldwide.

Since 2004, Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have formed a global air transport giant with a strong European base. The Group also offers cargo transport and aeronautical maintenance solutions.

Air France-KLM is the leading Group in terms of international traffic on departure from Europe. In 2015, it offers its customers access to a network covering 316 destinations in 115 countries thanks to its four brands Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Transavia and HOP! Air France. With a fleet of 546 aircraft in operation and 87.4 million passengers carried in 2014, Air France-KLM operates up to 2,200 daily flights from its hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol.

Its Flying Blue frequent flyer programme is one of the leaders in Europe with over 25 million members.

Air France-KLM and its partners Delta Air Lines and Alitalia operate the biggest trans-Atlantic joint-venture with over 250 daily flights.

Air France-KLM is also a member of the SkyTeam alliance which has 20 member airlines, offering customers access to a global network of over 16,320 daily flights to 1,052 destinations in 177 countries.

How To book A $3441 Etihad Business Class Flight For $220

So I need to book a one way flight from Manchester to Dubai, what’s my best option?

Or, how I flew Etihad Business Class for a 94% discount.

Emirates would normally be my preferred choice, but their Skywards program only allows one-way award flights (where Skywards Miles can be redeemed for flights or upgrades) at Flex level, not Saver. As Flex Miles redemptions cost approximately 74% Miles than Saver, this is clearly not a sensible option.

So, who next? Etihad of course – especially as Business Class flights provide chauffeur service from Dubai (usually a nice Audi A6) to Abu Dhabi Airport and to Manchester Airport (usually a nice Mercedes E Class) included in the fare.

Another reason for choosing Etihad is they fly their new Boeing A330 Business Class product on the early AUH to MAN flight, which I’ve flown before and is lovely.

Etihad Business Class AUH MAN_seat

On checking the Etihad website, they are looking for £2413.84 (Pounds Sterling) – approx $3441 or 12,639 AED – but who wants to pay money when they can avoid it?

Eithad Business Class MAN AUH 04 Feb 16_cash

Enter Etihad Guest – the airline loyalty program of Etihad – and checking that, it shows it will cost 71,026 Etihad Guest Miles + £224.84 ($320.51 or 1,177 AED). But, who wants to pay that many miles when they can avoid it?

Eithad Business Class MAN AUH 04 Feb 16_Miles

Enter American Airlines AAdvantage – as their miles are much better value than Etihad. I know I can get Business Class MAN – AUH for 30,000 and I also flew their First Class Apartment for only 40,000 AAdvantage miles last year.

HOW TO BOOK ETIHAD BUSINESS CLASS AWARD TRAVEL WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES

Unfortunately, neither the American Airlines AAdvantage or Etihad Guest websites allow you to book award travel on Etihad with AAdvantage miles, instead you need to call the American Airlines contact centre.

I’d recommend using the UK Contact Centre on +44 20 7660 2300 even if overseas, as the competence is higher and the staff seem more friendlier and pleasant. The UAE numbers are perfectly adequate, but I find I get a quicker service – especially if checking availability or comparision of other options for award travel redemptions – ringing the UK. The increased call costs are worth it, trust me.

One tip for calling Contact Centres to book award travel – the more vague your query is, the more time you will spend on the phone. If you can check availability beforehand, it is better to direct the call agent on which specific flight (carrier, time etc. you are looking for).

In this case, I know there are seats available that AAdvantage Miles can be used for – the column ‘GuestSeat’ means Etihad allows it’s partner airlines like American Airlines to sell/redeem seats.

I spoke with the lovely Louise from Fiji – it’s always a top tip to be nice, charming and friendly with your agent – and she offered me the same flights for 30,000 AAdvantage Miles and only £154.80 ($220 USD or 811 AED).

I’ve used this trick previouslyin November 2015 when I booked a flight that was going on Kayak for $3,875 for 30,000 AAdvantage Miles and £14.30 ($21) and $75.

Etihad Business Class AUH MAN_bp

All that is left is to finalise the booking, then look forward to putting my feet up, having a beer with my steak and watching James Bond movies.

Etihad Business Class AUH MAN_meal

TIPS FOR REDEEMING MILES ON ETIHAD BUSINESS CLASS AWARD FLIGHTS FOR EVEN LESS

There’s several ways to keep costs down when redeeming Miles for award flights, such as:-

1. Fly from somewhere that has minimal taxes, e.g. flying from Abu Dhabi only cost £14.30 because ex-UK flights bring higher taxes and charges (e.g. Air Passenger Duty)
2. Book well in advance – I was charged $75 on the November Business Class Etihad flight only because I booked at short notice, as AA charges $75 for less than 21 days notice on some routes.

HOW DO I GET IN ON THE PARTY? I WANT TO START EARNING AMERICAN AIRLINES AADVANTAGE MILES!

First of all, as the saying goes – nothing in life is truly free – BUT there are many ways to earn Miles and Points relatively simply.

Future articles will show the best ways to rapidly accumulate AAdvantage Miles, so keep reading the blog or subscribe to the Eat Drink Stay Dubai RSS feed for updates.

However, if you are really in a rush to learn, or even better, have someone to give you a personal consultation to achieve your travel goals, why not consider our Coaching and Consulting offer?

Have you redeemed any Miles or Points for luxury flights? What were your experiences? Please let us know by adding your comments below.

Source: 

Eat Drink Stay Dubai

@EatDrinkStayDXB 

Air France and KLM Launch Business Sale On Trips For Two From March 18th-24th

From March 18, 2016, through March 24, 2016, Air France and KLM are offering travelers a discount in Air France’s Business class and KLM’s World Business Class on trips for two. Air France fares are available from New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Detroit and Atlanta. KLM fares are available from New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

Passengers traveling in groups of 2-9 people on the same reservation can take advantage of the following fares:

From New York

·         to Barcelona starting from $2,939 (Air France and KLM)

·         to Frankfurt starting from $2,939 (Air France and KLM)

·         to Malaga starting from $2,939 (Air France and KLM)

From Los Angeles

·         to Rome starting from $3,509 (Air France and KLM)

·         to Venice from $3,538 (Air France only)

·         to Venice from $3,509 (KLM only)

From Boston

·         to Paris from $2,939 (Air France only)

From Detroit

·         to Barcelona from $3,269 (Air France only)

·         to Munich from $3,269 (Air France only)

From Atlanta

·         to Barcelona from $3,269 (Air France and KLM)

·         to Frankfurt from $3,269 (Air France and KLM)

·         to Munich from $3,269 (Air France and KLM)

Tickets must be purchased on or before March 24, 2016. The travel period is between June 1, 2016 and August 30, 2016. Fares are valid in the Business Class cabin on Air France and KLM and certain codeshare partner flights only. Travelers must stay a minimum of seven days. Terms and conditions apply.

About Air France’s Business Class Experience

Business class passengers enjoy Air France’s exclusive services upon arrival at the airport and have the opportunity to take advantage of the relaxing atmosphere of Air France’s lounges equipped to meet every need. On board, they discover a high-end cabin designed to provide maximum comfort. On all flights, Air France serves carefully prepared meals.

Travelers can go to Air France’s website to book tickets: http://www.airfrance.us/US/en/local/resainfovol/meilleuresoffres/business-fares.htm

About KLM’s Business Class Experience

KLM’s World Business Class is designed for both elegance and sustainability. Calming colors create comfort at any altitude, while meals by leading chefs are prepared with as many seasonal ingredients as possible. Passengers can “float” to their destination in full-flat seats that provide individual space – conducive for work, play or relaxation. All Business passengers are welcomed on board with a complimentary glass of champagne or fruit juice.

Travelers can go to KLM’s website to book tickets:

https://www.klm.com/travel/us_en/plan_and_book/special_offers/business_class/promo.htm

Air France Launches Business Class Sale Through September 3rd

From now until September 3, 2015 Air France is having a Business Class Sale to Amsterdam, London, Paris and Rome.

Book a trip to Amsterdam or London from New York, Boston, Detroit, Seattle and Atlanta with special offers starting from $3,129. Hop over to Paris from New York, Detroit, Atlanta and Seattle with fares starting from $2,848 or Rome from New York and Atlanta starting from $2,350.

These fares are valid for travel November 1, 2015 through January 4, 2016, blackouts may apply.

Travelers can go to Air France’s website to book tickets:http://www.airfrance.us/US/en/local/resainfovol/meilleuresoffres/cycle_campaign_business.htm