COME UP AND SEE ME

The Boeing 747 caught the headlines with its unique upstairs lounge, presented as an exclusive domain for First passengers. It was accessed via an elegant spiral staircase on early model 747s used by BA, Lufthansa and Alitalia, and presented as a super cool haven of blue and white tranquillity by Air France. Air India’s Maharajah Lounge was positioned as ‘your palace in the sky’ with female crew in silk saris and jewellery. Other carriers had themes: the nautical Captain Cook’s Lounge on Qantas and Iran Air’s Persian Tea Room dressed with beautiful Persian carpets. JAL offered The Tea House in the Sky, and American Airlines introduced a Piano Bar. Continental Airlines had The Pub Lounge on its 747s and DC-10s, and Pacific Southwest had a downstairs lounge on its Tristars. Gulf Air had a boutique plus gold and leather seating on its

Tristars.