Airlines are continuing to evolve their business cabins and adding ever increasing levels of decadence such as private suites and even full bathrooms and showers. Once you fly up front it becomes very difficult to go back. There are still ways to turn left when boarding without paying crazy prices. We have learned a few tricks along the way and will share with you how to arrive at your destination feeling fresh, pampered and positively radiant after your next transatlantic flight…

  

First rule of getting that upgrade without paying ANYTHING is to look the part. Do you honestly think that rocking up to the gate in worn out track bottoms and a scruffy top is going to get you that free upgrade? 

Never ignore airline mail shots and newsletters. Don’t discard them as junk. Register for all airline newsletters. Open and check every one for deals and seat sales and be quick to act upon them. There may only be a handful of heavily discounted business seats on offer so act quick and scrutinize everything. We recently got business class to America return for £600 each. A fraction of what they would have cost. 

Be flexible. Your fully flat dream ticket may be half price the following week or two weeks prior to when you are planning so always check at least 3-4 weeks either way and ideally 6 months plus in advance. 

  
Your check in staff are the gate keepers to those elusive free upgrades on check in. Be nice to them!

Arrive early at check in. Airlines including Virgin will sell off their spare business and first class seats at the gate so ask about their availability. These can be bought at the gate from as little as three or four hundred pounds. Saving you literally thousands. 

Airlines offer great loyalty schemes and you can quickly build miles if you travel regularly. These miles can then be used to upgrade your cabin. United airlines have one of the most rewarding schemes currently on offer. Click here to learn more. 

Let us know what has worked for you! Happy flying ????✈️ 

Norway and Oslo have always been high on our list of must see destinations. There is no better place to stay when in town than the luxurious and fabulously chic Thief Hotel. It is perfectly set on the edge of one of the many waterways and canals, with views out to the fjords and over the port of Oslo. A member of the design hotels collection, The Thief Hotel is a relative newcomer to the ever increasing uber chic collection of design hotels worldwide, yet rests amongst the selected few with distinction. Located in the city district of Tjuvholmen, once an area renowned for shady dealings and criminals, it is now a stylish, affluent area which houses high end restaurants, apartments and museums and the center for contemporary art.  It is also the only hotel in Oslo to have direct access to the canals. 

   
    
On entering the lobby on arrival, you cannot help but be impressed by the sights that consumes you on every corner. On check in, your eye is quickly drawn through to the magnificent Thief Bar and cocktail lounge. The seemingly endless beverage options that are on offer behind the floor to ceiling glass cabinets cause the mind to boggle. The modern decadent furnishings dazzle and don’t get me started on the award winning cocktail list. You really could spend all evening sipping some of the best cocktails available, crafted by Norway’s finest mixologists. ?

   
    
Try the gin tea cups for two, highly recommended!

 
The Thief Hotel has some of the best fine dining on offer in all of Norway. Our Saturday evening was spent in Fru K. The hotels fabulously stylish restaurant. An evening of fine dining that will remain with us for a very long time. We opted for the seven course menu and it was accompanied by perfectly selected wine from their vast cellars. We sampled veal Tartare, ribeye of Reindeer on a bed of mushroom infused puréed potato with fried curly kale and beetroot. We devoured locally reared pork, along with fresh baked rolls accompanied by local sea salt, whipped Norwegian organic butter and the finest Scillian olive oil. Many other culinary treats enticed us, too many of which to go into greater detail. An example of the head chefs attention to detail was our third course. Served to us in locally hand crafted bowls. Not just any bowls. The head chef Johan Laursen, previously of Maaemo, Oslo, approached the local jail and asked for prisoners to craft culinary flatwear to be used in the Thief’s restaurant. Such attention to detail! Claire Mariottini was our maître d’ and sommelier  for the evening. With a track record from several international Michelin Starred restaurants, she was perfection personified throughout our culinary journey. A credit to not only herself in her presentation and knowledge but to the hotel. Her enthusiasm and obvious love for the works of art she served throughout our three hour taste excursion, made it all the more prefect. Thank you Claire. 

   
   
A visit to the luxurious five star Thief Hotel would not be complete without experiencing their Scandinavian spa and it delivers it in typically snappy fashion. Accessing it is by the lift at the end of your hallway, and via an ever changing colored tunnel. We sampled the facilities on several occasions throughout the weekend and they were thankfully never busy. The spa consists of large saunas, steam rooms, a fully equipped gym and stylish stainless steel pool. Afterwards take time to chill out on the loungers where you are sure to be offered fresh fruit plates and drinks by the ever attentive staff. We never did get round to sampling the many treatments on offer but will partake next time for sure! 

        

Note – The Astrup Fearnley Museet, next door to The Thief, currently has a Damien Hirst exhibition including the jaw dropping crystal skull on show. Access is free when you show your Thief Hotel room card.  

For more info on this fabulous hotel click here 

For more info on Design Hotels click here