Airlines everywhere are pampering their passengers, turning that first class seat into a private theatre, mobile office and telephone booth, all conjured up at the press of a button. Starting late in 2007, OnAir (a joint venture between Airbus and technology company SITA) will allow people to use their Blackberry-type devices and mobile phones to send and receive emails, text messages, and calls. OnAir will also provide internet, email and instant messaging access to passengers, starting in 2008. ?OnAir will be making an announcement this week about an Indian customer that will be the first Indian airline to enable its passengers to access the Internet, email, instant messaging and to use their BlackBerrys and mobile phones during flights. The service is expected to start in 2008,? says OnAir CEO Benoit Debains. So check that out next time you are flying.

As of now, using the aircraft?s communication system, you can send SMS and emails anywhere in the world. Virgin Atlantic Airways? V port system offers air-to-ground SMS text messaging to mobile phones and email addresses as well as seat-to-seat message facility, says Neha Lidder, marketing manager, Virgin Atlantic Airways. On Emirates Airline, seat-to-seat in-flight telephone service is possible, says Orhan Abbas, vice president, India and Nepal, Emirates Airline.

Today, video and audio on demand is fairly common on most long-haul flights. Passengers can select when and what they want to watch. Agrees Lidder, ?Having such varied entertainment enables passengers to have an enjoyable time, whether that?s multiplayer computer games or watching a film.?

If you are planning to catch up on some work as you cross time zones, help is at hand. On Singapore Airlines? Krisworld inflight entertainment system, customers can access documents in their thumb drives simply by plugging them into the USB ports available at every seat. ?For those who want to have their finger on the pulse while crossing different time zones, Live Text News produces an invaluable link to news happening on the ground,? says Singapore Airlines? general manager-India, CW Foo.

?Long-haul travel can range from 15-22 hours of travel, and the average resting period of a person is roughly eight hours. This leaves nearly 7-12 hours of idle time for the passenger; this is the time that the traveller feels the need for entertainment. Thus, in-flight entertainment has become a very important factor in deciding which carrier to opt for,? says Air India?s executive director, northern region, DS Kohli.

SHOPPING FROM A TRAY

It?s been a long day. A series of meetings at the first class lounge and changing flights twice haven?t left you any time to check out the duty-free shops at the airport. No time even to pick up your favourite brand of cigar, leave aside a necklace for your wife. Your last lifeline is the jazzy inflight shopping brochure.

With your travel and work schedule getting tighter by the day, and airlines coming forward to help, inflight shopping is the way you will shop in the days to come. An established trend globally with international fliers bringing discounted luxury products to you on a tray, there is no point in checking the innumerable shelves at Chiang Mai or Heathrow.

For Suman Dhaulta, a frequent flier and a manager at a cargo company, in-flight purchases are less due to discounts, and more for the comfort of it. ?The products displayed in the brochure are unique. Right from jewellery to electronics, they have already shortlisted the products for you. The varied payment options too make it easy. And, who minds some spoon-fed shopping on a long day?? she asks.

Today the amazing array of merchandise available is tempting passengers to go for inflight purchases. The on-board shop of the French airliner, La Boutique is available on all long-haul flights, including flights to and from India. The range (a selection of exclusive products by renowned brands like Baccarat and Guerlain) varies from cosmetics, jewellery, electronics, perfumes, to accessories like writing instruments, watches, sunglasses and leather goods. ?Passengers may also purchase select Air France memorabilia like airport playsets and French products like Fauchon delicacies onboard our flights,? says Warner Rootliep, general manager, Air France, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka & Maldives.

And Indian airliners are also not far behind. While Air India has tied up with Concessionaire Skylark for its international flights, Deccan and GoAir have brought in AVA Merchandising to cater to inflight shoppers. On sale are products from Hewlett Packard, LG, Parker, Giromy Samoni, Reebok, Foce, Roche, Mattel Toys, Demonte, etc, says Anil Sharma, managing director, AVA Merchandising.

GOURMET MEALS

?The meals on Indian air carriers are getting better,? says Lallan Kwatra, a frequent flier. Her choicest meal on an Indian carrier? ?I would still root for the now defunct East West Airlines meals. They were good. I like Kingfisher Airlines meals now. Even low-cost carriers like Air India Express serve good food,? she says.

Air India Express, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air India, changes its menu twice ? summer and winter. Even though most low-cost carriers do not serve any meals, AI Express offers complimentary snack boxes. Says PP Singh, COO, Air India Express, ?We lift nutritious food in a food grate box and each time it is wrapped in poly bags. The menu is planned in such a manner that it suits senior citizens and children.?

If you fly international carriers, you could be spoilt for choices. Emirates Airline changes its menu on international long-haul flights every three months and for short-haul Gulf routes, it is changed weekly. A wide variety of special meals including high fibre, low calorie, low fat / cholesterol, low protein, diabetic meal and low sodium are served. Says Abbas, ?Even the fussiest of eaters will be delighted with dessert items like rice pudding and chocolate mousse!?

Cathay Pacific offers over 20 varieties of inflight meals ? vegetarian, non-vegetarian, religious meals, medical meals and children?s meals. Besides, on regional flights, Asian dishes are extensively offered.

Singapore Airlines? International Culinary Panel comprising nine world-renowned chefs is responsible for developing the inflight menu on its carriers. Says Foo, ?We believe in customising our product to meet the needs of customers on specific routes. Our inflight menus and wine lists are increasingly route-specific to meet the different palates of travellers across our global network.? Like Kyo Kaiseki ? a unique Japanese dining custom in first class on Japanese routes, and Shi Quan Shi Mei ? where 10 exquisitely designed Chinese dishes are offered to first class passengers on flights connecting Singapore with Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taipei. Now, does that tempt you?