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BA new Aviation Gin
British Airways and Aviation American Gin are announcing a new partnership; with the gin launching on board. Customers flying across the pond and all other long-haul routes will be offered it from the in-flight menu and short-haul customers will be able to buy it from the on-board Speedbird café for £6 for 40ml.
The partnership builds on the opening of a brand-new area – the Aviation Gin bar in the airline’s Club Lounge in JFK airport in October 2021.
Aviation American Gin was founded in Portland in 2006 and is ranked as the world’s highest-rated gin with 97 points, Wine Enthusiast. The gin is infused with a blend of botanicals – cardamom, coriander, French lavender, anise seed, sarsaparilla, juniper, and two kinds of orange peel to create a smoother, softer, more refined take on gin. I’m actually a lover of Aviation Gin and not just for the name! Now of course Aviation is also well known because of its rather dashing co-founder, Ryan Reynolds. If you are a fan you may want to watch his amusing sketch of a BA safety video to celebrate the partnership.
British Airways will be launching its new route to Portland, Oregon on 3 June. Flights will operate 5 times a week – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. As well as being a vibrant city to visit, this route will open up a whole variety of connections for its customers to explore all of the West coast of America.
Tom Stevens, British Airways’ Director of Brand and Customer Experience said: “Offering our customers a premium experience throughout their journey is important to us. Partnering with Aviation American Gin is another great addition to our on-board service.
BA mask debacle sorted
After triumphantly announcing they would remove masks on flights, BA yesterday did an embarrassing u-turn and asked crew to stick to the old mandatory mask policy. Yet their social media posts advising that masks were no longer required remained up. Onboard policies varied with some handed masks at the gate and others allowed to board maskless. Finally, today BA announced that the compliance issues causing the confusion had been resolved and they were back to no masks on most routes except those legally requiring a mask. However, there is no list of routes where you need a mask. BA will advise you at the airport. I predict a lot of confusion!
So the best thing to do is have a couple of masks with you and ask at check-in. The US is definitely a destination that requires masks until at least 18 April. I’m also aware that Italy, Germany, Scotland, and Austria require masks but there may be more.
BA’s Comair allowed to fly again
Earlier this week I reported that BA’s South African franchise Comair had been grounded indefinitely due to safety concerns. today the issues with the regulator have been resolved and Comair had their Air Operator Certificate (AOC) reinstated. Flights restarted on Thursday.
New luxury Qatar Airways amenity kit
Qatar Airways has launched exclusive new amenity kits and gift boxes from iconic French Perfumer Diptyque. These bespoke products will be initially available for First and Business Class passengers on routes across the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand, in addition to A380 flights to London and Paris.
The new amenity range consists of Diptyque branded bags as well as gift boxes featuring Diptyque’s signature oval branding; customised for male and female passengers. Diptyque is an exclusive luxury Frenc perfume brand most well known for its candles.
Each Qatar Airways amenity kit and gift box provides specially selected Diptyque products including:
- Nourishing Lip Balm – enriched with roses and violets to soothe and soften the lips
- Fresh Lotion for the Body – infused with the scent of orange blossoms, to refresh sleepy skin for all skin types
- Essential Face Cream – nourishing and replenishing, with prickly pear extract to boost radiance
- Diptyque fragrance – ‘Eau Rose’ Eau de Toilette – an infusion of the finest damascena and centifolia roses, or the brand’s signature ‘34 Boulevard Saint Germain’ Eau de Toilette with notes of amber, patchouli, cinnamon and rose.
In line with Qatar Airways’ focus on sustainability, the Diptyque bags are made from vegan leather while the eyeshade and socks are made from RPET.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are the world’s best airline due to our constant innovation in elevating passenger’s experience. We are constantly looking at new ways to enhance our customer’s journey and surpass their expectations. Our customers will be delighted to discover a generous number of items inside the amenity kits, including a choice of Diptyque’s signature fragrances for women and men. Through this exclusive partnership with Diptyque, we have further elevated premium travel, having raised the bar for all other airlines.
Qatar Airways first entered its exclusive partnership with the French Perfumer, ‘Diptyque’ in March 2021, offering its washroom products on board and in its Premium lounges at Hamad International Airport (HIA). The range consists of Essential Face Cream, Infused Facial Water, Velvet Hand Lotion, hand wash, shower gel, shampoo & conditioner, Fresh Body Lotion and Hand Wash Gel Rinse-Free.
18 comments
Just a quick personal update on masks. Travelled to Dubai on Wednesday and check in staff in the First wing weren’t sure whether masks were required on board. Announcement was made at gate that they were required and they seemed to be enforcing that on board. All Heathrow signs still saying masks were mandatory but very few people wearing them. Guess they just hadn’t changed Signs.
Thanks. Surprised Heathrow weren’t more organised.
I’d expect it to be a day or two before everything gets updated now BA have reversed the u-turn. Hopefully for my return flight at the weekend they should have it all sorted.
Ah, the premium experience!
I tried Mr Lyan’s much vaunted Barton cocktail in the Boston BA lounge. Despite the hype, and pictures of mixologists carefully curating hand-crafted cocktails, it was made from a dose of pre-mixed syrup, topped up with a squirt from the ubiquitous soda gun hose.
Obviously no British brands. Most other countries rave about their home grown offerings. BA should be more like Qantas
That is a good point. Although it is a good gin. But it’s interesting since BA has always tried to champion British brands before.
To Dublin yesterday evening, all had to wear masks. Fully enforced with several announcements. Not many seen around the terminal tho.
I did a short trip to Venice last week and Italy requires FFP2 masks, not the basic ‘surgical’ or cloth ones on inward and outward flights and in any public buildings. BA were offering FFP2 masks on boarding.
That’s good they provide them as not many would think to bring them.
Forget the mask wearing controversies… Aviation Gin!
Winner!
???????? it’s a good one!
I flew JER-LHR last night. Some ppl not wearing masks and weren’t challenged by BA staff. Although there were still announcements on board that masks had to be worn. So yes, quite confusing. I suppose reflective of the confused messaging around Covid measures that have abounded in the UK during the pandemic.
Flew LHR to Glasgow yesterday (17th March). No announcement re masks was made, all reference to wearing them removed from the onboard PAs and crew were unmasked.
Aberdeen lounge had the Aviation gin on Sunday when I visited.
Nice!
Forget click bait gin. Get food and beverage sorted BA. Really playing catch up imho
Flight to Athens yesterday (18th), masks were required on the flight. At Athens airport officials were enforcing this rule as it’s a way of life here still. Also some were randomly selected for PCR tests. Going one step further a few businesses require you to show proof of Covid status before letting you browse in their shops
It’s interesting that Qatar Airways are only now announcing this.
These Diptyque amenity kits – both bags and gift-boxes – have been in place for a while. Not sure how long,… I took four Qatar Airways flights in January and were given these on all four flights, with the gift-box on two A380 flights to & from London and the bag on the other two.
The socks are really high quality, perfect for overnight flights – they’re snug and stay on your feet for the duration of the flight.
I guess it may have been down to getting enough to be consistent on all flights before they announce it.
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