British Airways Dares You To…

…complain about the Business Class experience. The carrier’s Club World (Business Class) ‘Expectations Guaranteed’ campaign, promises a flight that exceeds your expectations. If it doesn’t, then you’ll be upgraded to First Class one-way the next time you make a Business Class booking. You must pre-register at BritishAirways.com. Given the quality of BA’s First Class cabin, this is one promise worth testing. (See July FCF for my review of the new service.)

Virgin America Launches SFO-DC Service

The new carrier launches service to Washington/Dulles on Sept. 26, with one-way First Class fares starting at $449.

The San Francisco-based airline bills itself as the “next generation low-fare carrier,” but offers seats with specs that dwarf some “full-service” carriers. Seats offer a digital entertainment system that features personal television screens; 25 movies on-demand; satellite TV; videogames; 3,000 MP3 music tracks; onboard chat; and the ability to order food and drinks when you want them right from your own seat.

Austrian Airlines Introduces Business BMI’s Business Class seats Jet Service

With the airline’s new service, you can now travel to the most out-of-the way destinations, “no matter whether it’s a far-flung airfield in Russia or a regional airport in the Middle East.” It can also take you from North America or Asia to little-known places anywhere in Europe. After flying Business Class to Vienna, you’ll immediately transfer to a Business Jet that flies you directly to your desired destination, with no waiting time or repeated checking in. The airline will escort you through a separate passport and security control and take you directly to the aircraft.

Silverjet Going to Dubai

Service starts on Nov. 18, and the carrier will be the only all-Business Class airline to fly to the United Arab Emirates from Newark via Luton Airport in the UK. The airline says flights will use the Executive Terminal at Dubai International, usually reserved for royalty and other dignitaries. Fare: $4,396 round-trip. Other airlines like Emirates compare at $6,966, and British Airways, at $7,180. Eastbound flights depart Newark at 9:55 PM, arrive London Luton at 10:05 AM, and depart for Dubai at 9:00 PM, arriving Dubai at 8:30 AM the following day. Westbound flights offer better connection times, departing Dubai at 10:30 AM, arriving in London at 2:45 PM, with the Newark flight departing at 4:45 PM and arriving at 7:45 PM. Reservations: (877) 359-7458 or www.flysilverjet.com.

BMI’s New Long-Haul Cabins

The carrier has completed installing new Business Class seats on flights from Manchester to the Caribbean and the US. Seats are supposed to be up to 26 inches wide and 78 to 80 inches long when fully reclined. Premium Economy seats on flights from Manchester are also being upgraded: They will recline to 50 degrees, be 21 inches wide, and have 49 inches of pitch (or legroom). Flights to the Caribbean and US will have 18 Business Class seats as well as 30 Premium Economy seats. Completion date: mid-October.

Second Chance with AA

American is allowing AAdvantage members to bring back miles that expired on or after Dec. 31, 2002. The price: $50 for every 5,000 miles, plus a $30 processing fee per transaction, per account. There’s no limit on the number of miles that can be brought back from the crypt. Offer expires Dec. 31, 2007.