LAN A340-300 Premium Business class

Published: 15/09/2009 - Filed under: Tried & Tested » Airlines » Archive » 2009 » November 2009 » Tried & Tested » Tried & Tested » Tried & Tested » Airlines » LAN »

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Background LAN celebrates its 80th birthday this year. The Chilean airline uses Frankfurt and Madrid as its hubs for international flights from Europe and the A340-300 I was taking from Madrid was coming from the German city. LAN has just finished rolling out its new products in business and economy class, after scrapping the five first class seats on its B767s and A340s, increasing the number of business class seats. Business class has a fully-flat bed (the same as South African Airways), and economy class benefits from AVOD (audio-visual on-demand) in-flight entertainment. The roll-out for the 25 Boeing 767-300 aircraft was completed last October, while the five A340s were completed in May this year.

Check-in LAN flies from Madrid Terminal 4. The check-in area is on the second floor and I was directed to section 904 for my 2355 flight to Santiago (LA 705). It was 2130 and the business class desk was not busy. I checked in and was asked if I wanted an aisle or a window seat. I chose a window seat and was allocated 7A.

The lounge LAN’s international flights and some of its European flights depart from the satellite arm of Madrid’s Terminal 4, so I had to get the shuttle train to the RSU gates. This takes about ten minutes. Once off the train, you have to go through passport control. I had a bit of time so I went to Iberia’s business class lounge, which as a Oneworld member, LAN customers can use. The lounge was large and long with views over the runway, and there were plenty of seats and food stations at either end. (I noticed there were salmon filets, packaged sandwiches and salads available.) There was a business centre with free internet access and about a dozen computers, plus a smoking room.

Boarding I left the lounge at about 2325 and walked the short distance to the gate. My seat was in the second cabin of business class, so I turned right when I got on the plane. I settled into my window seat, which was the row in front of economy class. The flight was busy and my cabin (two rows of 2-2-2) only had two empty seats.

The seat The seats recline to a fully-flat bed and are upholstered in blue fabric with dark brown backs. There are privacy screens and four set seat positions controlled by a panel on the armrest, as well as a massage function and the ability to move the footrest in and out. The armrests lower when converting to the bed, giving five inches of extra width. And cozy, down duvets and soft white pillows are provided. The seat has a hardback shell with the one in front displaying a 15.4-inch screen. In-flight entertainment is AVOD (audio-visual on-demand) and there are 44 films, 95 channels of TV series and documentaries, 14 video games and 550 CDs. The remote is slotted under one armrest and the table is inside the other.

There’s a plug, which fitted my three-prong European laptop charger, noise-cancelling headphones, a small cubbyhole with a door at the bottom of the seat in front to store belongings, and an adjustable reading lamp. The amenity kits were inside a fold-out bag with three different sections, containing a toothbrush and paste, a plastic comb, a shoe horn, L’Occitane hand cream, moisturiser and lip balm, and a pocket mirror, eye mask and earplugs. For a seat plan of the A340-300 aircraft, click here.

Which seat to choose? The front cabin is quieter than the one behind. Business class seats are configured 2-2-2, with rows one to five occupying the front cabin, and six and seven in the middle, next to economy. Rows one and six do not have seats in front of them so have the in-flight entertainment on the wall and less storage for belongings, so might be best avoided. Seats in rows two, three and four are the best as they are quieter and don’t suffer from disturbance from a galley or washroom.

The flight The pilot said the flight would take 11 hours and 55 minutes, arriving in Santiago at about 7am local time. We were offered drinks while boarding was finishing and I had a glass of champagne served with peanuts.

We pushed back from the gate and took off on time. I had a look at the menu, which was in a large cork folder, and orders were taken about half an hour after take off. Appetisers were of duck ham with vegetable salad or mushroom soup. Mains were: grilled filet of beef with thyme sauce, roast potatoes and sautéed cherry tomatoes; poached cod with piquillo pepper sauce, steamed potatoes and snowy peas; and a light option of mixed salad leaves with marinated chicken, sliced cucumber and red and yellow cherry tomatoes.

All food came with wine recommended by the sommelier and was served with mixed salad, vegetables, and goat and Murcia cheese, followed by an option of ice cream, tiramisu or fruit. There is also an express menu with one less course for those who want to get to sleep.

I could not get the in-flight entertainment to function as the remote did not respond, so I asked a flight attendant and she immediately reset my screen. After that it worked fine, apart from being a little slow to register what was pressed. I had seen quite a few of the films on offer but soon found one I hadn’t, and put my seat in a more relaxed position.

When dinner was served I moved my seat upright a little and folded out the table on to which a cloth and tray were set down. I found I was a little far away to eat my soup comfortably, but once the tray is down the seat will not adjust, so make sure you are in a good position first. I chose the fish for the main, which was good. After dinner, and a cup of peppermint tea, I settled down in the thick white duvet and put the bed into the sleep position. It was very comfortable and despite a crying baby in economy class, I put in my earplugs and slept well, only waking up at about 1000 after seven hours’ sleep.

I had filled out my breakfast card before I slept, choosing a full breakfast with scrambled eggs, croissants and coffee, and it was served about ten minutes after I had woken. An express breakfast is served 40 minutes before landing. I filled out an arrival card and import declaration form, and worked until landing an hour or so later.

Arrival Because of the possibility of turbulence, the pilot requested everyone keep their seatbelts for the last 30 minutes of the flight. We touched down on time in Santiago, just as the sun was rising over the Andes. My priority bag came out fairly quickly. Santiago airport is about 40 minutes (traffic permitting) from the centre of town.

Verdict A well thought out and comfortable business class product. Service was attentive and friendly.

Contact lan.com

Felicity Cousins