Business travellers know airports better than most, but what services and facilities are airlines and airports providing to make their lives easier? Nick Easen reports
Airports and airlines realise that minimising the business traveller’s downtime is crucial and that it is important for executives to remain productive on the move.
There are now more dedicated private areas and quiet zones in lounges in British airports, to help executives concentrate, and more dining options too.
BCD Travel industry relations for UK and Ireland Thane Jackson said: “With breakfast and evening meals being served in the lounges this offers an alternative to onboard dining. Therefore, business travellers have more time to work or sleep on their flight.
“However, there are still concerns from the industry at the speed, or lack of it, in which people can make it through the airport and onto the aircraft.”
Fast-track facilities for airport security are now commonplace in British airports. Liverpool John Lennon airport’s recently launched Fastlane system costs passengers £2.
Paperless boarding has already arrived and BMI has taken it one step further. It is one of the first carriers to offer boarding passes through mobile phones. This is greener and since no paper is needed there is nothing to lose in transit. Lufthansa is rolling out a similar system. It already offers the option of check-in and seat selection through mobile phones.
A similar system is also available with Heathrow Express tickets. A barcode that can be scanned on the train can now either be sent by text to the traveller’s mobile phone or they can receive it by email. Travel management companies, including Carlson Wagonlit, are starting to sign up to the technology.
British Airways at Heathrow Terminal 5, Virgin Atlantic at Terminal 3 and Star Alliance at Terminal 1 have recently introduced new or enhanced business lounge facilities for travellers. Terminal 5 even has an Elemis spa.
Hi-tech security scanners designed to cut queues have recently been used at seven major UK airports. These allow laptops to be carried in their bags instead of having to take them out – a bonus for business travellers. Free wireless internet is increasingly available in business lounges too.
If you want to whiz through immigration on the return leg, then sign up to the Iris Recognition Immigration System – also known as the Iris scheme – next time you are at the airport. Iris enrolment stations and gates are available at all five Heathrow terminals, as well as at Birmingham, Manchester and Gatwick airports.
Travellers who sign up walk up to an automated barrier, look into a camera and, if the system recognises them, enter the UK. This allows you to beat the queues in the arrivals hall.
Self-service check-in kiosks are also coming into their own at Heathrow and London City in terms of user-friendliness and speed of processing.
Airlines and new routes
Air France-KLM, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines and US Airways have all launched new Heathrow routes to the US or Europe following the Open Skies agreement. This allows American and European airlines to fly to and from any airport across the Atlantic.
“It means greater competition, resulting in travel management companies being able to offer greater choice and keener prices,” said Bath Business Travel managing director Adam White.
The European Commission predicts that Open Skies could save transatlantic travellers £7.7 billion in the next five years. This month, British Airways’ transatlantic airline OpenSkies will be expanding its premium cabin seats on flights from Paris and Amsterdam to New York.
On the other hand, British Airways is cutting winter capacity by 3% on last year. Flights to Dresden, Germany and Poznan, Poland will disappear from Gatwick and daily frequencies will be cut on Heathrow routes to New York JFK, Los Angeles and Tokyo. So plan accordingly.
Last month BMI launched a service to the capital of Saudi Arabia and Air France began operating a new timetable from London City, so be aware of changes. Meanwhile, Etihad Airways is adding a third daily flight from Abu Dhabi to Heathrow this month.
Virgin Atlantic is capitalising on the failure of Oasis Hong Kong by doubling the frequency of flights to Hong Kong to twice daily from December 4. Turkish Airlines will fly from Birmingham to Istanbul from December 15. The Star Alliance member will run five flights a week.
Buying the Official Airline Guide is still a good idea for business travellers. It is one of the most authoritative sources for global flight information, showing daily updated schedules and information on 1,000 airlines serving 3,000 airports globally and is worth the annual subscription of £99.
On the aircraft
All eyes will be on what Emirates offers business travellers on the A380 on the Heathrow to Dubai leg from December 1. It will have 76 business-class seats, but the details of the services on board are being kept secret.
In the meantime, Swiss International Air Lines has refurbished its European fleet. All seat frames are now made of carbon fibre, making the seat lighter. This allows substantial savings in fuel consumption and more legroom as the frames are thinner.
BMI is in the process of rolling out a new on-demand entertainment system to its fleet, while Cathay Pacific on its Heathrow to Hong Kong route – popular with executives – has installed herringbone-style business cabins on a number of flights.
Air France’s Heathrow-Los Angeles route, which launched earlier this year, has been popular with business travellers and gives out a stylish amenity kit with Clarins moisturisers to rival the one from Elemis on British Airways.
