An overnight flight is a blessing only if flying business. So taking an airberlin flight from Abu Dhabi to Berlin meant a good night’s sleep was an absolute necessity ahead of a full day of work.
Happily the pampering started even before boarding as airberlin business class passengers have access to Etihad Airways’ business lounge — thanks to Etihad’s 29 per cent ownership in the German carrier.
It meant heading to the plane later on was hassle-free as a lounge assistant escorted the business class passengers directly to the flight.
On board, we were greeted with beverages and nuts. Then it was time to settle in the chair, the “star” of the journey. Not many business class seats turn into flat beds, but this one did. The seat also offered two types of lights for reading: a spotlight and a stand light. And for those who feel numb after sitting in one position for several hours, the chair featured two styles of massage: “the wave”, which massages the upper back, then gradually moves to the lower parts of the body and “the spot”, which focused on the body’s stress areas.
The drawer at foot level was big enough only to take a pair of shoes or boots, but there was room on the side of the seat to store big shopping bags and a laptop. There was also a hook to hang winter coats or jackets ready to put on after touchdown in chilly Germany.
Once I was settled in, I focused on the in-flight entertainment. There was a wide range of movies and music that included classics such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I watched Woody Allen’s latest movie Blue Jasmine, after weeks of searching for it online and at some DVD stores. Another pleasant surprise was finding an early ‘90s song by the Egyptian pop singer Amr Diab. The feeling of nostalgia was overwhelming. The high-quality headsets made the sound sharp and clear.
After six-and-a-half hours in flight, I arrived feeling refreshed for the business day ahead. One point to deduct, though, is for privacy; it was easy to see what the person beside me was doing, including the movies they were watching.
selgazzar@thenational.ae
