Stretch out on way to London

THE RESIDENCE of the British Deputy High Commissioner at Anderson Road here was transformed on Monday night by the British Airways (BA) to announce to the top corporate brass of Chennai, the new luxuries on its London - Chennai bi-weekly service.

BA is offering to let the passengers stretch out on board, in the four class configuration of air travel comfort - refurbished First, Business, New Economy Plus and Economy class services.

Mr.Michael Herridge, who is Britain's top diplomat in the city, his wife, and top officials of the BA had gathered, some of them specially flown in from Dubai, Mumbai, and New Delhi, to make the announcement. The residence was decorated for the occasion with illuminative serial colour lights, and the news of 21st century travel option amazed even the most jaded of travellers.

In the background soft music played and the European Carrier unveiled the shape of things to come. From October 1 to be exact. And the shape is absolutely flat, horizontal, and easy on the back and the mind.

Fully flat bed seats on the first class, a lounge in the sky for the business travellers who would be mixing business with pleasure, a new cabin, World Traveller Plus, and upgraded airport facilities including check-in lounges at the New York JFK airport.

Mr.Terry Daly, Area General Manager for Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and South Asia, Mr.Alan F Briggs, General Manager-South Asia, Mr.Rommel Valles, Manager-South India, and Mr.Alok Sawhney, Country Commercial Manager-India were at hand to unveil the new range of products that would change the way people think of air travel and long flights.

BA has reworked its interior to provide fully flat beds called buddy seats, in the Business Class and totally flat beds in the First Class the latter designed by London based agency ``Design Acumen''. They operate through electronic controls.

And in true airline fashion (get lucky) - a prize draw providing complimentary tickets on the refurbished economy plus and business class to two invitees, one from the travel trade and the other from the hospitality industry.

Next time, with enough support from the Mint, sleep on your way to London - really well, that is.

By T.S. Shankar

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