TravelStories Episode 55: Airline Products We Wish Would Make a Return Flight
Mar 28, 2025
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Dive into the world of bygone airline luxuries, from Thai Airways' pampering spa massages to memorable first-class experiences with Lufthansa and Etihad. Explore the nostalgic charm of exclusive lounges and the extravagant services that have vanished post-COVID. Discover unique private jet adventures and reminisce about carrier amenities, like prized amenity kits that evoked special memories. It's a heartfelt reflection on what air travel once was, sprinkled with humor and longing for the golden age of flying!
The decline of luxurious airline offerings reflects changing passenger expectations and significant impacts from COVID-19, altering the high-end travel landscape.
The unique Thai Airways first class lounge experience showcases exceptional wellness amenities, including full spa-caliber massages and exclusive access transportation.
Nostalgic airline innovations, like private car transfers and luxury amenity kits, highlight cherished memories from an era focused on passenger experience.
Deep dives
Luxury Spa Experience in Thai Airways First Class Lounge
The Thai Airways first class lounge in Bangkok offers an exceptional wellness experience, featuring full spa-caliber massages. Patrons are provided with mesh underwear and indulge in authentic Thai oil massages, creating a relaxing oasis. The lounge also includes luxurious amenities such as private showers, a la carte dining, and plush seating. This unique treatment is complemented by exclusive access to a dedicated first class area at the airport, enhancing the overall luxury experience.
Innovative Transport Experience
A distinct feature of the Thai Airways first class experience is the unique transportation method from the lounge to the aircraft. Passengers are whisked away in a special buggy, likened to a 'Popemobile', that traverses through the business class lounge en route to the first class lounge. This quirky transportation method enhances the feeling of exclusivity, showcasing the levels of comfort and luxury that the airline provides to its first class passengers. This memorable transit experience serves as a remarkable prelude to the already lavish first class service.
The Decline of Premium Airline Offerings
The discussion reveals a notable trend in air travel regarding the decline of premium airline offerings in recent years. Many once-luxurious services and amenities have dwindled, largely attributed to changing passenger expectations and the impacts of COVID-19. First class cabins have seen reductions in perks, which were once defining features of luxury travel, like dedicated staff and exclusive ground services. As airlines strive to cut costs, the loss of these memorable experiences has left a gap in the market for high-end travelers.
The Unique Ride Experience with Private Car Services
Airlines like Etihad and Lufthansa once provided an exclusive private car transfer service to their first class passengers, adding to the luxury experience. These services allowed travelers to arrive in style and comfort, bypassing the long queues typically found in commercial travel. The discussion highlights fond memories of such transfers, with luxurious sedans providing seamless transport from airport to hotel. As these amenities began to fade away, they became cherished memories of an era that prioritized passenger experience above simply getting from point A to point B.
Lost Airline Innovations and Memorable Amenities
The podcast addresses the concept of nostalgic airline innovations, such as the exceptional first class experience from airlines that no longer operate or have restructured significantly. The detailed reminiscences include airlines like TAM and their unique seating setups, which provided unparalleled comfort and exclusivity. Additionally, the conversation emphasizes the rarity and desirability of airline amenity kits from luxury brands like Rimowa, which added to the overall experience. As first class travel continues to evolve, it is evident that many of the comforting innovations once offered by airlines are now just memories.
From COVID to cutbacks, there were a lot of reasons why airlines let go of some of their more luxurious offerings. Today, we dig into the airline products that no longer exist and reflect on the standout examples we loved, missed, or otherwise knew about. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and discuss everything from exceptional service to the most comfortable sleep we’ve had up in the air! We describe our top first class experiences with Thai and Lufthansa, noteworthy changes at Doha, Qatar’s international airports, and our most memorable trips using JetSmarter, the Uber for private jets. You’ll also hear about our unique experience with Etihad Airways, the true premium cabin experience we both missed out on, our favorite economy products that no longer exist, and the amenity kits we prize above all others. Discover the joy of a massage at the Thai Royal First Lounge in Bangkok, the most exceptional ground services we’ve come across, and what services we miss the most!
Key Points From This Episode:
[00:37] Today’s topic: Past airline products that we loved, missed, or knew about.
[01:32] Why airlines have let go of some of their more luxurious offerings.
[02:06] What the Thai First Class and Bangkok Lounge experience used to be like.
[06:34] A breakdown of the Thai First Class spa massage offerings.
[09:14] Transport and escort perks in the heyday of Thai First Class.
[11:45] Flying Lufthansa First Class and their unique wide-body experience.
[16:51] The best ground service we had with Lufthansa (and why they should bring it back).
[20:05] Takeaways from Hamad International Airport and how it has changed.
[25:47] Past experiences with JetSmarter and the current jet-sharing economy.
[33:39] The story of our unique travel experiences with Etihad First.
[36:42] How we missed out on the true premium cabin experience with TAM Airways, now LATAM Airlines.
[41:30] Our favorite economy products that no longer exist.
[45:19] The amenity kits we love most, especially from Rimowa.
Quotes:
“We're talking about Thai Airways’ first class lounge, offering a full spa-caliber massage. – You have this oasis among air world, where for an hour you were just in the lap of luxury like no other.” — @tmount[06:48]
“The overall experience [at Hamad International], I thought, was really exclusive, almost more exclusive than the current experience. But I think the current experience is more luxurious.” — @tmount[23:16]
“JetSmarter was all about ‘How do we monetize all these dead legs, all these private aviation flights that they do just to position these planes to where they actually need to be.” — @TktweetsKim[27:04]
“I'm still going to go give LATAM another shot. And if they announce a new business class product, I will be right in line to fly them again.” — @tmount[41:02]
“If I was having to fly over the Atlantic in economy, I would not mind doing it on an A380 in Air France economy.” — @TktweetsKim[43:48]
