Gulf Air drops First Class in favour of single cabin at business class price

The new cabin will be called Falcon Gold will be launched on March 1.

Chief executive  Samer Majali said: “The launch of Falcon Gold forms part of our new strategic direction to create a consistent and enhanced travel experience across our entire wide and narrow body fleet.  More importantly, it heralds a new era in travel with Gulf Air.  In what is our 60th Anniversary year, we are creating an airline for the next 60 years and beyond - an airline that offers excellence in quality and service as well as excellent value.   With the introduction of Falcon Gold everyone wins.  Our traditional Business Class customers receive a superior, more consistent product and our esteemed First Class passengers continue to enjoy all the elements of the service to which they have become accustomed, at better value.”
Falcon Gold fares will be on a par with traditional Gulf Air Business Class fares with a simple choice of pricing options linked directly to the flexibility of the ticket.
In the air, Gulf Air’s multi award winning Sky Chef service, previously exclusive to First Class passengers, will be enjoyed throughout the new single premium cabin.  In addition, luxury pillows and blankets as well as overnight amenity packs will be rolled out to further enhance customer comfort onboard.  
As part of its substantial fleet and product upgrade programme, from the end of 2011 Gulf Air will introduce a new state-of-the-art flat bed throughout the Falcon Gold cabins on long haul flights operating on routes over 4.5 hours.  

In the interim, customers travelling on a fully flexible Falcon Gold ticket will be priority pre-seated in the airline’s fully flat Sleeper Seats, positioned at the front of the aircraft, when available.

Passengers taking advantage of the excellent value, less flexible Falcon Gold fares will continue to enjoy Gulf Air’s lounge bed style Sleeper Seats, available on the airline’s A330-300 and A340-200 aircraft which operate on Gulf Air’s long haul routes including, London, Frankfurt, Paris, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and a number of regional routes on ad-hoc basis.  

Gulf Air will also be refurbishing the entire Falcon Gold cabin interior to create a comfortable and consistent feel to the newly defined premium space.  This will be completed by April 2010.   
On Gulf Air’s short haul operations significant improvements to seat comfort, onboard services and other product enhancements will be rolled out for Falcon Gold customers to enjoy.  
On the ground Falcon Gold passengers will enjoy priority check-in, lounge access, a generous 40kg baggage allowance.  Gulf Air Frequent flyer programme members will earn double miles when travelling on the most flexible Falcon Gold ticket and close to 1.5 times more miles when travelling on a restricted Falcon Gold Fare.   
Gulf Air’s flagship lounge at Bahrain International Airport will undergo a refurbishment to include ‘The Dining Room’, a new restaurant concept for Falcon Gold passengers wishing to dine before they fly leaving the flight free to work or rest.  
Gulf Air Chief Commercial Officer Kyle Haywood said : “In the short-term, the fully flat Sleeper Seat option is available on approximately 80% of our wide body aircraft fleet, serving both long haul and Middle East routes.”