Flirting at 35,000 feet is no mean feat, but the following four airlines facilitate the process by providing services that seem to simplify the art of the in-flight chat up.
Airline: Virgin America
Aircraft type: Across its entire fleet, which consists of A320-family aircraft.
Routes: All routes (the carrier only flies domestically within the US).
Facilitator: The seat-to-seat cocktail delivery service.
How it might play out: As you’re boarding the aircraft you spot an attractive, statuesque fellow business traveller a few paces ahead, but the object of your affection sits down in seat 3A, while you are all the way back in 21C. Half way through the flight however, you notice that the touchscreen in-flight entertainment system “Red” has a function where you can use a digital seat map to order a cocktail, meal or snack for another passenger. So you do just that, and once the other party has finished, they come over to thank you, you exchange contact details – and voila!
Risk: The person happens to detest that particular snack, doesn't eat it and your money is wasted.
Airline: All Nippon Airlines 
Aircraft type: The carrier’s newer aircraft, including the B777s, B787s and B767s.
Routes: Most long haul routes, and some regional, including services to the US, Europe, Singapore, Jakarta, Beijing and Taipei.
Facilitator: The seat-to-seat instant messaging service
How it might play out: This works in much the same way that the snack service, but is suitable for the wordsmiths among us, and is somewhat less intrusive. You can send a poem, song lyrics, or a simple “Hi, how are you?” to the hottie three rows down from you. Then, they can choose whether to ignore, respond, or abuse you in return. For best results, beware of crossing into creep territory, and use something casual and interesting. Alternatively, employ a killer line such as: "Excuse me, but did you board up here?! Because I'm pretty sure you must be an angel. (From Jake in seat 11D).”
Risk: You accidentally send the chat up line to your boss in seat 22A.
Airline: Emirates
Aircraft type: A380
Routes: All routes operated by the A380.
Facilitator: The U-shaped stand-up bar, available to first and business class passengers, which also has two sofas and a 42-inch LCD screen showing the aircraft’s position and the view from the external cameras.
How it might play out: Easy – you casually lean against the bar and order something fancy like a martini (shaken, not stirred) if you’re a man, and a cosmo if you’re a lady. Then, you wait until someone attractive approaches the bar, ask them what they are drinking, and say “the next one’s on me” with a cheeky grin and a wink. Winner.
Risk: Your wait for someone attractive to come along is so long that you end up having consumed one-too-many martinis, and stumble back to your seat.
Airline: KLM 
Aircraft type: All aircraft.
Routes: Available for bookings with one passenger on all flights to and from Amsterdam.
Facilitator: The Meet and Seat service, which is available from 30 and up to one hour before departure on KLM's website.
How it might play out: Before takeoff, you view the other passengers’ Facebook or LinkedIn profiles (which they have allowed KLM to post on their website under the Meet and Seat section) and spot that there is someone who shares your love of Enya, Harry Potter and The Weakest Link. So you carefully select the seat next to theirs, and the day of the flight you place The Very Best of Enya, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and a DVD box set of The Weakest Link in a conspicuous position in your carry on luggage. And the rest is history.
Risk: You find out the target hasn't updated their profiles in many years, their tastes have developed, and you end up looking overly keen and a bit creepy.
Alex Andersson
