It's not a handout unless you're in coach. Then you must 'pay for what you use'

Clients traveling Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic flights are being offered wine tasting at the airline's Heathrow Terminal 3 Clubhouse this summer.

The airline has teamed up with I Love New York, the New York State division of tourism, to sample six wines from the state's wine regions during July and August. The regions include The Finger Lakes, Long Island, Niagara Escarpment and the Hudson Valley.

"It is our aim to offer our Upper Class passengers an ever-changing and stimulating experience in the Heathrow Clubhouse," said Paul Dickinson, director of sales and marketing for Virgin Atlantic. "This will give passengers the opportunity to experience wines from one of the wine regions which is less well known here in the UK. We're absolutely certain that it is going to be an educational and enjoyable experience."

VS.

US Airways will become the first major U.S. airline in August to charge domestic coach passengers for soft drinks, juices, coffee and bottled water as part of a shift to what it calls a "pay-for-what-you-use" business model.
The $2-a-pop beverage charge is the latest in a raft of new charges airlines have been imposing to help pay for record fuel costs.

Free nonalcoholic beverages have been one of the last freebies handed out by domestic airlines, which already charge for alcoholic beverages and - except for Continental - for meals and even snacks on domestic flights.

From: http://www.luxurytravelmagazine.co.uk/article/828038/virgin-offers-wine-tasting-upper-class-clients/

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.drinks13jun13,0,2294921.story

I love the look of that king crab

"Safeway opens a posh downtown Bellevue store Friday designed to cater to an affluent crowd with extras such as a nut bar, wine cellar, fireplace, sushi bar and -- of course -- a Starbucks.

'In the Seattle division, this is our first elite-lifestyle store,' store Manager Patti Kennedy said Thursday, standing next to the gelato bar while employees readied the place for customers.



A baby grand piano has been set up near the cash registers to play live music through Sunday.



Up to 40 percent of the produce is organic, the pharmacy in the back is outfitted with cherry wood and looks like a doctor's office and the wine cellar is temperature controlled, encased in glass and features bottles that cost up to $550. A wine steward will be on hand each day to help luxury condominium dwellers choose the perfect bottle.

Among other upscale features, the seafood bar has doubled in size and features whole octopus, shark steaks and Chilean sea bass. [...] Safeway has brought in a chef from Chateau Ste. Michelle to prepare crab leg samples.

An entire king crab was on display Thursday.

'I love the look of that king crab,' Wampler said. 'They flew that in from Alaska a couple of days ago.'"





From: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/368597_safeway27.html