Economy Class & Beyond

Can you buy the Japan Rail Pass WHILST in Japan? On trial basis… YES!

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The Japan Rail Pass if used right can be a real money saver when travelling on routes operates by JR Group companies. However, to get one - normally you needed to buy an exchange order outside Japan to get one, and then exchange it for a rail pass JR Rail Pass, Exchange Order and a letter from JTB - Image, Economy Class and Beyond However, it seems the JR Group have … [Read more...]

Medium Haul Rail Travel done right – The Chiltern Mainline Silver Train

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Trains can be much of a muchness in the UK, with train operators moving away from the ideas of comfort to the point where they  densifying them to a point where an airline executive would thin "Maybe that's a touch tight". Recent express and long haul stock have done not a lot to change this impression. Chiltern Railways some time ago tried to change their game with some … [Read more...]

ATR and Geven to introduce a new seat… and its a major improvement

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ATR have been working with Geven seating (their current major supplier) to introduce a new seat for the ATR42-600 and ATR72-600. And it's an important seat. Why? Let's look at current seat - this is pitched at 30" (although carriers do pitch it lower). This was introduced by Geven in 2011 - a long time ago in seating terms. The current ATR Seat by Geven ATR … [Read more...]

Re-examining the Stelia Aerospace Celeste seat – who’s buying it?

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A couple of years ago, I looked at a seat that was impressive in its space - the Stelia Aerospace Celeste seat. But no-one had touched it in terms of orders. And that has been a shame as it is an interesting premium seat. Until now it seems. Stelia Aerospace has refocused its plans, and have redesigned the Celeste seat it to be a regional business class seat for narrow … [Read more...]

British Airways and Iberia go for the slimline Recaro SL3510

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Last week at Aircraft Interiors Expo, a representative of Recaro revealed that they had landed an order from a big legacy airline for their SL3510. Sadly, they did not disclose it to me directly. Recaro SL3510 seats at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2016 - Image, Economy Class and Beyond In a press release, Recaro confirm that the next customers for the slimline SL3510 … [Read more...]

#ToFlyToMeh – Has British Airways Club Europe meal service sunk to new lows?

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Last week, I flew British Airways short-haul in Club Europe. And normally, you know what you're going to get on a short flight between the UK and Germany – something that is comical and small. However, there had been a change in the catering recently. And I think we need to step back a minute and work out what's going on with this airline - because I'm struggling to see any … [Read more...]

Air New Zealand select Acro Series 6 seating for A320neo

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Air New Zealand have selected Acro seating to provide seats for their upcoming Airbus A320neo family aircraft Here's the press picture: Acro Series 6 Seating for Air New Zealand - Image, Acro And one with the seat and an Air New Zealand flight attendant. Acro Series 6 - Image, Economy Class and Beyond Air New Zealand will be deploying the Acro 6 in its … [Read more...]

Haeco and Airbus announce a way to increase overhead bin space

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At Economy Class and Beyond, we're slightly obsessed about overhead bins. When I say slightly - see my piece last year about the Airbus vs Boeing overhead bin I wrote last year at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2016. But why? It's a big passenger experience thing. It allows people to stow their items without worrying about their safety too much. Of course there's a problem along … [Read more...]

Airbus proposes how to fit 80 extra seats in its A380

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At Aircraft Interiors Expo, Airbus today revealed how it could put 80 extra seats in space that currently isn't being utilised well in the cabin. A380 model before the changes - Image, Economy Class and Beyond So where are the extra seats? New forward staircase - Airbus would move the current existing staircase - increasing more room at the nose on the lower deck … [Read more...]