While many of us are used to paying less than £100 for a return RyanAir flight, for some of the wealthiest in the world, their air travel experience is a widely different affair. There are normal flights, then there are flights you tell stories about. One ticket above all others claims the crown of luxury in the skies, a ticket so extravagant it makes even business class look basic.
Imagine having your own apartment thousands of feet in the air: a private living room, a separate bedroom, a shower to freshen up mid-flight, and a personal butler on call. Add in some bespoke fine dining — think steak rather than a microwaved curry — access to a lounge before take-off, and even Armani pyjamas to change into once you’re ready for sleep.
The prices would make most of us gasp. If you want to fly like the ultra-elite, you’re going to pay much more than for a window seat with extra leg-room.
You’ll have to fork out up to £50,000 for “The Residence” experience on board one of the Etihad Airways A380.
The Residence is no ordinary cabin. It’s a three-room, 125-square-foot suite designed to feel more like a private luxury apartment than an aircraft seat, described by Etihad as a “bespoke journey above the clouds”.
The service is just as extravagant. Each guest has a personal butler, trained at the Savoy Butler Academy in London, to handle everything from meals to unpacking bags to topping up your champagne.
While the high-brow service isn’t available on every service, The Residence is available for flights out of the UK, mainly on trips to New York or Abu Dhabi.
The exclusive travel experience begins long before you step onboard, with a personalised welcome at the airport and a personal escort to ensure a seamless airport experience.
When many of the passengers turn their phones onto aeroplane mode, people travelling in The Residence can enjoy complimentary onboard Wi-Fi with unlimited data.
The second room of your apartment in the sky is the bedroom, complete with a spacious double bed to ensure you arrive at your destination well-rested. Cabin Ccew will even ensure you’re fed whenever you like, even if that means a special breakfast in bed set up.
Taking one of the flights from London to Abu Dhabi, travel vlogger Walk With Me Tim summarised his experience on YouTube. He said: “Wow, what an experience from start to finish.
“The service is impeccable. The food, I cannot fault. They walked me to where I got my case, and then escorted me to where I got my car.
“They took my case the whole way there. I didn’t even have to get it off the belt. That bedroom, though, as something else, the whole thing was an experience, I don’t think I’ll ever forget.”