{"id":3258,"date":"2016-04-25T00:16:54","date_gmt":"2016-04-25T00:16:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.diningtraveler.com\/?p=3258"},"modified":"2016-04-26T23:58:30","modified_gmt":"2016-04-26T23:58:30","slug":"travel-eats-business-class-dining-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diningtraveler.com\/2016\/04\/travel-eats-business-class-dining-experience.html","title":{"rendered":"Travel Eats: First & Business Class Dining"},"content":{"rendered":"
The first time I flew on Business Class it changed my life\u2026 and ruined my expectations about air travel altogether. I remember it like it was yesterday: ten years ago, I was flying from Honolulu to Bangkok via United for work.\u00a0 I had upgraded with my miles and the experience was pretty glorious, especially when you have two long flight segments.\u00a0 This was the golden age of mileage travel, when you could easily upgrade your ticket with miles – without the ridiculous mile and cash expectations imposed on the airlines these days.\u00a0 Thankfully, it was the beginning of many First and Business Class<\/a> travel experiences, for which I am very grateful.\u00a0 When I look back at those experiences (besides the\u00a0amenities, the leg space, and the comfort), there\u2019s definitely a highlight that is missing on coach: good food.\u00a0 I asked around to my veteran luxury travel friends to get their feedback on some of their favorite First or Business Class dining experiences.\u00a0 This is what they had to say:<\/p>\n Nancy from Luxe Travel Family Blog<\/a>: “After pre-flight champagne and macadamia nuts, guests in the spacious Lufthansa First Class cabin are offered a choice of appetizers, including caviar with traditional garnishes. I rarely eat caviar but find it difficult to resist in the Lufthansa First Class cabin! A soup course, entree, salad buffet, and selection of cheese and dessert complete the attentive, and often exceptional, Lufthansa First Class dining experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Martin van Dop, editorial contributor at Dining Traveler: \u201cWith my height (6\u20199\u201d) I am always very grateful when I do have the chance to fly Business Class, especially on long flights. One such long flight was from Amsterdam to Melbourne, Australia. Usually, I would have chosen to spend a night or two in Asia to acclimatize a little and enjoy great food there, but this time I was on a bit of a tight schedule. Not to worry – as I was pampered on Emirates Airlines\u2019 A380 Business Class.\u00a0 Firstly, it is quite relaxing to change up the sitting routine (although the seats have a pulsating massage mode that stimulates your blood circulation and keeps your back happy) by taking a stroll to their bar area where they will prepare you a mean gin and tonic or any other cocktail of your choosing. Quite surreal to be lounging at a bar at 30,000 ft.\u00a0 As to food; I actually remember replicating this dish after I came home (who can say that about an airline meal): an appetizer of lightly seared tuna strips on a bed of Japanese button mushrooms and seaweed salad with a drizzle of balsamico. The sweetness of the seaweed salad, the tart vinegar with the tuna and mushrooms: divine! The glass of perfectly chilled sauvignon made this appetizer extremely memorable.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael L, a seasoned Business Class traveler based in New York City: \u201cAboard Cathay Pacific\u2019s First Class experience, it provides ample comfort and space as you fall into your luxurious seat for the next 14 hours.\u00a0 As you wait to take off, enjoy a refreshing glass of Krug and salmon tartare as this amuse bouche sets the tone for what\u2019s to come.\u00a0 Meal service is set up with meticulous detail, comparable to 5-star dining. Begin your meal with champagne wishes and caviar dreams. Whether you desire perfectly cooked tenderloin steak or stir-fry lobster, dining options offer both Western and Chinese style meals to best suit your palate preferences.\u201d<\/p>\n As for me, my favorite Business Class dining experience was flying from Beijing to Seoul on Asiana.\u00a0 I must say, Asian airlines set the example for the rest of the airline industry when it comes to great service and food.\u00a0 Although a short flight, we were treated to a beautiful lunch and had the choice between a western or Asian selection.\u00a0 I opted for a noodle dish that did not disappoint, it was paired with champagne, of course!<\/p>\n Given that the golden age of mileage First and Business Class travel is over, there are other means of getting the best deal when it comes to purchasing first or business class travel tickets.\u00a0 That\u2019s where Ultimate Class Airfares<\/a> comes in. Their service is so personalized that you put in a request via their website and then a representative contacts you within 24 hours to discuss your First and Business Class travel plans. \u00a0As I\u2019m sure many of you know, sometimes it\u2019s tricky to find a good deal on premium seats. Well, they make it not only easy – but personal.<\/p>\n What\u2019s your most memorable First or Business Class dining experience? Share it in the comments!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The first time I flew on Business Class it changed my life\u2026 and ruined my expectations about air travel altogether. I remember it like it was yesterday: ten years ago, I was flying from Honolulu to Bangkok via United for work.\u00a0 I had upgraded with my miles and the experience was pretty glorious, especially when […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":3264,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,403,2,56],"tags":[228,506,292],"class_list":{"0":"post-3258","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-food","8":"category-luxury-travel","9":"category-travel","10":"category-travel-tip","11":"tag-air-travel","12":"tag-first-and-business-class-dining","13":"tag-luxury-travel"},"yoast_head":"\n<\/a>
Photo credit: Luxe Travel Family Blog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFrom Caviar to Champagne: First and Business Class Dining Stories:\u00a0<\/em><\/h2>\n
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Photo Credit: Emirates Airlines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/a>
Photo Credit: Cathay Pacific<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/a>
Photo Credit: Cathay Pacific<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/a>
Photo Retrieved from:\u00a0UltimateClassAirfares<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDisclaimer: this post was sponsored by Ultimate Class Airfares.\u00a0 As always, opinions are my own\u2026<\/em><\/h4>\n