Plaza Premium expands footprint in UK by taking over Virgin Atlantic’s Gatwick lounge

It might look familiar, but that’s for good reason. Plaza Premium Group has just opened its latest lounge at London Gatwick Airport, taking over the space that was originally a Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse. This take-over reinforces the Group’s strategic presence in the United Kingdom and increases its foothold across the rest of Europe to six…

Read More

British Airways New Economy And Premium Economy Seats Distract Passengers With Bigger IFE Screens

Yes, these sparkly new seats are on British Airways, in fact they are already being rolled out on the carrier’s ‘sunshine routes’ from their hub in Gatwick. Retrofitting their fleet of 777s means they are removing some of their business class cabin to fit a larger World Traveller Plus cabin and even sneak in a…

Read More

Inside Cathay’s New A350 Inaugural Flight From Gatwick

Today saw the launch of Cathay Pacific’s 4-times-a-week service between Hong Kong and Gatwick airport. The airline has rolled out it’s most technologically advanced airframe on the route, the A350-900, which also flies to Dusseldorf from Hong Kong. Being one of the lucky few invited for the inaugural event at Gatwick, TheDesignAir was able to…

Read More

Vietnam Airlines Are One To Watch This Summer

On 14th May Vietnam Airlines celebrated the completion of their 787-9 test flight. This is a big (and final) step in bringing the carrier into the international arena, as their new products on both their Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 will re-ignite interest in the carrier as they go above and beyond in delivering a passenger…

Read More

This Is One Way To Arrive Into London Gatwick

According to Gatwick airport, 20% of travellers arriving into the airport travel on business, so the opening of a new arrivals lounge in the South Terminal makes perfect sense. What makes even more sense, is the new Regus Arrivals Lounge is open to all (at a fee.) The new Regus Express facilities offer convenient access for…

Read More

TRIP REPORT: British Airways Club Europe August 2013

British Airways Business Class Report Flight: BA2666 Aircraft Type: 737-400 Class: Business Class (Club Europe) Route: LGW – RAK Date: 02nd August 2013 Best for: Leisure Travellers who pick up a rash from low cost carriers. Most likely to sit next to: On this flight, most likely business executives using their airmiles to ship themselves and their entire family (including Nanny)…

Read More

Congratulations Competition Winner!

Congratulations to Gail Farmer from Birmingham who successfully won the competition for a pair of champagne experience lounge passes to the No.1 Traveller Lounges. She told thedesignair.net she was going to be using them at the brand new Birmingham lounge. Everyone is a winner! The No.1 Traveller lounges are actually running a great promotion at…

Read More

TRIP REPORT: Virgin Atlantic Upper Class November 2012

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Report Flight: VS023 Aircraft Type: A340-600 Class: Upper Class (Premium Business Class) Route: LHR – LAX Date: 02nd November 2012 Best for: Someone at home on the red-carpet… or an extra from ‘Made in Chelsea’. Most likely to sit next to: Fashion designers, Graphic Designers, Fergie and anyone with a second home in the Hollywood hills. Business…

Read More

COMPETITION TIME: Win Two VIP Champagne Passes To Any No.1 Traveller Lounge

Win Two exclusive lounge passes to start your trip with a bang! Here at Thedesignair we are very pleased to announce our very first of many upcoming competitions. We have partnered up with the fantastic No.1 Traveller group to provide a pair of ‘champagne experience’ lounge passes to use in any of the No.1 Traveller lounges. We…

Read More

TRIP REPORT: Virgin Atlantic Upper Class

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Report Flight: VS043 Aircraft Type: B747-400 Class: Upper Class (Premium Business Class) Route: LGW – LAS Date: 18th September 2012 Best for: Style-conscious gadget-lovers and movie stars. Most likely to sit next to: Someone that either has been in a movie, owns a media company or is equally as cool as…

Read More

REPORT: Yet Again, Long Haul Low Cost Premium Service Fails

Raising the question ‘Will we ever learn?’ Hong Kong Airlines seems to have dropped it’s premium flights between Hong Kong and London Gatwick, only months after starting them. Add this to the recent news that the all-business class Singapore Airlines flights between Singapore and JFK now offer economy seating in them to bolster yields as…

Read More