SAA introduces cabin changes across all classes
South African Airways has introduced its premium lie flat bed on all its long haul routes, with the airline also introducing a range of various improvements in all classes.
Khaya Ngqula, SAA CEO said,” We understand that flying our Premium Class is an experience to be coveted and we have listened to the needs of our customers and introduced flat bed seats for their comfort and ease on all our long haul flights.”
Awarded as the most comfortable Premium Class flat bed seat in the world twice in a row by Skytrax, the international aviation survey analysts, with Skytrax saying that the SAA bed provides a better all-round comfort level than the flat bed offered by other carriers and the seat remaining the number one ranked business class seat in the world across the current 2006 Skytrax world airline rankings.
Features of the seat include: –
A combination of leather and fabric;
73 inch pitch;
Airbus 2-2-2 seat configuration means easy access to the aisle with no customer in the middle seat;
Articulating armrest offers 24 inch width in flat bed position;
Personal reading light with four variable settings;
Ultra-modern shell, with privacy screen;
Lumbar massage;
Three automatic settings of upright, bed and cradle with variable settings for leg rest, seat height, lumbar support and back rest
Large, one piece tray table and individual cocktail tables
Coat hook;
110v AC PC power plug that interfaces with a normal European 2-pin power plug so no adapter is required;
A large 10.4 inch touch screen;
In Premium Class SAA also offers comfortable duvets and big pillows and amenity kits are being redesigned for more variety and a stronger African look and feel;
Meals offering a choice of gourmet South African and international cuisine are served restaurant style, with the table set with white linen, fashionable crockery and cutlery and served with the best South African wines and French Champagne;
Menus have been improved to incorporate the creations of foremost South African chefs, with a selection to satisfy the taste buds of the most discerning palate; and
In-flight entertainment offers a selection of block buster movies, documentaries, comedies, PC Games and music compilations, with a newly designed in-flight entertainment guide indicating which programmes have a South African content or home grown talent and includes an easy to read content reference.
In economy, SAA has also made various improvements following demand from customers SAA resulting in refitting the seats in economy class on the new Airbus A340s to between 33 and 34 inches for increased comfort and the selection of the meals offered on domestic routes has been refreshed following tasting sessions for customers at Johannesburg International Airport.
First Class passengers do not miss out with the following services being introduced: –
A chauffeur service at Johannesburg International airport and London, from home or the office to or from the airport;
Check-in and seating that can be done well before departure;
Wrapping of baggage in plastic for domestic and international flights departing from Johannesburg International airport;
The First Class seat is designed to accentuate comfort and functionality, with at the touch of a button, the sophisticated technology allowing the seat to move in any position, individual in-seat power supply, to reading in comfort and the First cabin accommodating a maximum of 11 passengers;
In some instances an in-seat telephone is available;
Specially trained cabin staff to deliver menus of which signature dishes are created by South African celebrity chefs;
Grand marque champagne such as Moet & Chandon will be introduced;
The First Class Lounge is styled with the comforts of home and equipped with Wi-fi connectivity, luxurious showers and a reading room; and
Complemented by SAA’s Skytrax award-winning First Class concierge team SAA has further streamlined the check-in process.
Report by The Mole from way back near the toliets at the back in seat 79K!!
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