AIRLINE NEWS
Travel in luxury on Polaris Class, new flights from Qantas and Air NZ and much more.
MiNDFOOD WAS ON BOARD WITH ...
UNITED AIRLINES
As soon as I sat in my seat on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner – ready to savour United’s Polaris Business Class from LA to Sydney – I knew I was in for a good trip. The mod cons came thick and fast: a larger-than-usual TV screen (my ticket to United’s Private Screen entertainment system and its large array of movies, TV shows and music); spaces for passports, phones and shoes; an easy-to-access USB port; and more. Once I was given PJs and comfy slippers, I was even more comfortable. The lie-flat seat did indeed lie flat, and the bedding, designed by Saks Fifth Avenue, was excellent. My meal of a seared beef short rib was exemplary, paired with a lovely California white. united.com
QANTAS ADDS A BRAND-NEW DESTINATION IN 2020
In April Qantas will introduce a new US destination – Chicago – with direct flights from Brisbane to the lakeside city. This is hot on the heels of the new Brisbane-San Francisco flight that began operating in February 2020. The Brisbane-San Francisco route operates three days a week on a Qantas Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and is the first nonstop service linking these two cities. Passengers on the San Francisco flight will be able to enjoy special retroinspired menu items on board and in lounges. As part of the centenary celebrations, Neil Perry’s team has given a modern twist to some of the vintage dishes served a century ago. qantas.com.au
CHRISTMAS IN NYC WITH AIR NEW ZEALAND
Air New Zealand will kick off its direct flights between Auckland and New York on 29 October 2020, the first non-stop flight between Australasia and the Big Apple. There will be three return services a week between Auckland and Newark on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Passengers can choose between a variety of beds including the new Economy Stretch legroom. The outbound flight departs Auckland at 19:55, giving Australians ample time to fly in on a connecting flight. The return will land in Auckland at 06.45, with good connections back to Australia. airnewzealand.co.nz
ANA SPEAKS YOUR LANGUAGE
All Nippon Airways (ANA) is going high-tech to ensure ground staff can talk to all passengers. The airline has introduced the advanced interactive translator POCKETALK®. Produced by SOURCENEXT®, the device is a portable real-time language translator; it can translate 74 languages including various dialects and commonly used phrases. The device translates instantly, shattering any language barrier. Two hundred of these POCKETALK® devices will be used by ANA across 50 airports in Japan. This is the latest innovation to be introduced by ANA, who have been awarded five stars by Skytrax for the past seven years. ANA flies daily between Sydney and Haneda, and also flies between Perth and Tokyo Narita. Closer to home, ANA and Virgin Australia have announced a codeshare deal, with reciprocal frequent flyer benefits. ana.co.jp
WHERE IS … YIA
Yangon International Airport (YIA) in Myanmar surprises with new international and domestic terminals built to cater for up to 20 million visitors a year. The airport has broken records for passengers for the last few years, with over six million in 2019. The airport services 37 international airlines connecting to 37 destinations in 14 countries. Myanmar is under six hours’ flight from two-thirds of the world’s population. yangonairport.aero
AT HOME IN SHANGRI-LA
Staying in a village that consists of just 22 houses and has been untouched for centuries is what sets the Sunyata Hotel Meili experience apart. Created by revered hotelier Lai Guoping and a member of Design Hotels, this fourstorey property in Wunongding village in Yunnan Province, known as Shangri-La, overlooks the WorldHeritage-listed Meili Snow Mountains. It was designed using the Tibetan principles of architecture, and the Japanese philosophy of ‘wabi-sabi’, which utilises salvaged materials and reveres emptiness. The property has 19 rooms and suites, all with mountain views, with the rooftop lounge the best vantage point. designhotels.com
CONGA INTO MIAMI
Small Luxury Hotels of the World will be adding a swag of luxury hotels to its books in 2020, with Miami, Florida first cab off the rank. February is huge in this lively city, hosting the 54th Super Bowl, and the opening of the Celino South Beach. This property was created by transforming three Art Deco buildings, one of which – the Park Central Hotel – is credited as being where the conga line first shimmied into existence. In a nod to those days, when Bogart and Hayworth were regulars, there are how-to conga guides, drums and cigars in the rooms. Mexico will also boast a new property, with the KASA Hotel Riviera Maya the perfect base from which to explore Mayan ruins, dive in cenotes and commune with sea turtles. slh.com
DIVE INTO MOZAMBIQUE
It may come as a surprise that the African country of Mozambique has spectacular island resorts off its coastline, with the sort of turquoise water that you expect to find in Tahiti, or the Maldives. Azura has two island resorts there: Azura Quilalea Private Island in the Quirimbas Archipelago marine sanctuary, and Azura Benguerra in the Bazaruto Marine National Park. Quilalea has just nine lavish villas, on an island dotted with 58 baobabs, some of which are 2,000 years old, and the house reef means easy snorkelling any time of day. Activities include sunset sailing on a traditional dhow, fishing, snorkel tours, diving, and a helicopter flight to nearby Ibo island, a fascinating place with centuries of seafaring history. A third resort, Azura Marlin Beach, will open on Benguerra Island this July. azura-retreats.com
IN SPACE AT THE KAMEHA GRAND
In the Space Suite at Switzerland’s Kameha Grand Zurich Hotel, guests can lie on the floating ‘zero gravity bed’ and watch a live stream of NASA’s Mission Control and TV channel. Designed by Michael Naijar, a German artist who wants to be the first contemporary artist in space, the suite is designed to replicate what it might be like at the space station. The steam bath features views out over neighbouring stars, there are spotlights inspired by rocket engines, space glove shelving and a library of all things space related. There are also other themed rooms including Workout. kamehagrandzuerich.com