Unveiling the Global Airlines Business Class Experience From Manchester to New York [MAN-JFK]

The author was an invited guest of Global Airlines. All opinions are the author’s own, and Global Airlines had no input in any part of this article.

Airline: Global Airlines
Aircraft: Airbus A380
Flight #: HFM382
Date: May 21, 2025
Duration: 6 hours and 37 minutes
Cabin and Layout: Business class, 1-2-1
Seat: 11A

If starting an airline isn’t easy, starting an airline with just a single Airbus A380 could be considered impossible.

James Asquith, CEO of U.K.-based Global Airlines, has decided to do it anyway. His dream is to revolutionize the way we fly by operating an airline with a fleet made up entirely of Airbus A380 aircraft.

This recent flight from Manchester (MAN), England, to New York (JFK) was only the airline’s third-ever flight carrying paying passengers and was dubbed an “experience flight.” In other words, this flight — and the few before it — were operated as charter flights to give passengers an idea of what the experience would be like while waiting to receive the official authorization to operate regularly scheduled flights.

There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started!

Booking This Global Airlines Flight

Booking a flight with Global Airlines was different from what I’m used to. As the airline isn’t yet allowed to operate regularly scheduled flights, its website has no direct booking option.

Instead, to book my ticket for this flight to New York (JFK), I was directed to a third-party website. On this occasion, I had no choice but to go against my rule of only booking directly with airlines.

The site was clunky. When I got to the payment page, I was surprised and disappointed to see there was no option to use an American Express credit card. It didn’t matter this time because I was a guest of the airline, so I used a promotion code they supplied.

Once the flight was confirmed, my inbox was inundated with no fewer than 8 separate confirmation emails. I guess Global was just as excited as I was for the flight.

Should Global get the go-ahead to start regularly scheduled operations, I’d expect the website experience to improve drastically. Global’s website currently displays a message saying, “Our new site is landing soon.” Once it does land, I hope they will have figured out how to accept American Express cards as payment.

Checking in at Manchester International Airport

Manchester Airport (MAN) is the U.K.’s third busiest after London Heathrow and London Gatwick. Despite being the gateway to northern England, it remains underserved by the U.K.’s long-haul carriers British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

I flew in from Brazil the night before the flight and stayed at the new TRIBE Manchester Airport hotel. It was just a few minutes on foot away from Terminal 1, where my Global Airlines flight would depart.

The night before the flight, Global sent an email to passengers clearly stating that check-in would open at 9:45 a.m. at Terminal 1. Those of us who arrived early swapped ideas about what we were expecting from our Global adventure — the excitement was palpable.

Check-in opened on time, and I quickly received my boarding pass. I made my way to an area set up for a celebration and helped myself to a cupcake — no inaugural flight would be complete without one!

The same can be said for a celebratory photo moment.

Lounge Access

Manchester’s Terminal 1 has 4 lounges, including an Emirates Lounge.

I made my way to the Aspire Lounge, where Global had reserved a space for business and first class passengers. Note the confidence in Global’s slogan: “The best way to fly.”

The lounge was buzzing with the excited chatting of fellow aviation and travel content creators — the already brief amount of time I spent there felt like it flew by! It’s unclear at this point whether Global will contract with Aspire to continue using this lounge in the future, but at the very least, I’d expect business and first class passengers to have some sort of lounge access.

Boarding

The airport’s only gate fit to handle an Airbus A380 was vacant, but our aircraft was parked at a remote stand.

Boarding started right on time from a dingy gate on the ground level that I’d never used before in the many times I’ve flown from the airport.

Taking a bus to an aircraft parked at a remote stand isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. However, on this occasion, I think everyone on board the bus appreciated driving up close to Global’s Airbus A380.

We were held a couple of minutes on the ground before being allowed up the stairs to our home for the next 6.5 hours.

On Board the Global Airlines Airbus A380

Turning left at the top of the boarding stairs was even more exciting than usual, given the special occasion. I took a few moments to check out the small first class cabin before making my way upstairs.

Business Class Cabin

Global’s business class is divided into 2 cabins. Seats in both cabins are laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration.

Seats along the sides alternate between being flush with the window and flush with the aisle. Seats A and K are true window seats, whereas passengers in C and H seats are closer to the aisle.

Middle seats are also staggered. Because of their position next to each other, seats in even-numbered rows are best for people traveling together.

This is the back of the smaller business class cabin, where you’ll find some Global Airlines branding. I was told the stickers are temporary.

Given the lack of a divider between these seats, passengers seated here shouldn’t expect much in the way of privacy.

On the other hand, the seats in the middle of the odd-numbered rows are very far apart.

I thought the velvet red curtains used as a partition between the larger business class cabin and the upper deck economy cabin added a nice pop of color.

I was assigned seat 11A at the very front of the upper deck.

A bunch of amenities and memorabilia were waiting for me at my seat.

As I was inspecting my new surroundings, a member of the crew offered a welcome drink choice of Laurent-Perrier Champagne, orange juice, or water. With a long flight of writing and filming ahead, I started with water.

As soon as the “boarding is complete” announcement was made, the crew took their stations to perform a manual safety briefing. Due to ongoing technical issues, Global’s IFE system wasn’t functional, hence the manual demonstration.

We pushed back a little later than our scheduled departure time of 12:25 p.m. After a short taxi, at 1:03 p.m., our historic journey to New York got underway as the aircraft’s 4 massive engines kicked in and we rolled down the runway. I had forgotten how quiet A380s are on takeoff!

Business Class Seat

While the red curtains were a nice pop of color, I can’t say I’m a fan of the bright-red carpet fitted throughout the entire aircraft and on the footrest. That being said, I appreciate having a usable footrest when the seat is upright.

This aircraft used to fly for China Southern. Global did a minor refurbishment in the cabin, like replacing China Southern’s drab, gray surfaces with wood-effect paneling. Still, it didn’t do a complete stem-to-stern retrofit, evident in the lack of bells and whistles at the aging seats.

Gadgets were limited to a reading light above my shoulder and a touch-activated gold lamp. The single universal power outlet (the black square hidden behind the menu) seemed insufficient in today’s world of multiple USB-A and USB-C ports.

The seat was controlled with just 3 buttons, which were far enough from my elbow so I didn’t accidentally brush them and unwittingly give my seat a jolt.

The release for the bifold tray table was located underneath the seat buttons. I found it to be a little clunky.

When reclining the seat into (almost lie-flat) bed mode, the position depicted on the buttons didn’t quite match the movements that followed.

As for the bedding, I would have liked a larger, plumper pillow. The duvet, on the other hand, was thick and felt like it was made from quality materials. As a hot sleeper, especially on planes, I fashioned the duvet into a very comfortable mattress topper instead of wrapping myself up in it.

The curvature of the Airbus A380 affords an abundance of storage space by way of enormous storage units that can easily fit a purse or small backpack.

You won’t find any privacy doors here. That didn’t matter to me as I couldn’t see a single other passenger from my seat.

Once the crew was able to get into action, a curtain was pulled across for added privacy.

I couldn’t finish this section without pointing out the general wear and tear of the seats and cabins.

It was apparent that the seats and cabins were old — I noticed plenty of scratches, scuffs, cracks, and dents. However, I think Global has done a pretty good job of modernizing the look and feel of these seats as much as possible without ripping them out and starting from scratch.

Food and Beverage

Just 20 minutes after takeoff, a crew member was at my seat to offer the first drink and snack service.

As tempting as the Laurent-Perrier was, jetlag from my overnight flight from Brazil the previous day was starting to hit. In an attempt to keep hydrated and focused, I went for water instead.

Global surprised me by offering a selection of proper snacks with the first drink service. I appreciated this bag of Proper Corn more than the simple bowl of mixed nuts that most airlines serve with the first drink.

Meal orders were taken along with the first drink service. I had my choice of 4 starters, 3 mains, and 3 desserts:

Starters:

• Rova Caviar with traditional accoutrement
• Chicken and heritage carrot terrine
• Caprese salad
• Whipped Ashlyn goat’s cheese

Main Course:

• Grilled filet of beef
• Pan-seared stone bass
• Butternut squash tortellini

Desserts:

• Citrus tart
• Chocolate crémeux
• New York-style cheesecake

I chose the chicken terrine for the starter, the pan-seared stone bass for the main course, and the chocolate dessert to finish.

As someone who’s never fully understood the hype around caviar, I didn’t even think to order it. Thankfully, Ines reminded me it was on the menu and was happy to serve it in addition to the chicken terrine.

Fitting both starters on the tray was a bit of a squeeze.

The flavourful chicken terrine was beautifully presented, and the vegetables were perfectly cooked. We were off to a great start.

This would be only my second time ever eating caviar. The first bite of a blini piled high with caviar failed to wow me once again. Determined to enjoy it, I added some of the crème fraîche for my second bite — it made all the difference.

However, I enjoyed the chicken terrine more, and I still wouldn’t call myself a caviar fan.

Rather than asking if I was finished with the caviar, my main course was squeezed onto the same tray.

The portion size of the main dish of pan-seared seabass was about the same as my starter. After starting so strongly, I was disappointed to bite into the fish and find it cold. The same could be said for the accompanying broccoli and sauce.

I didn’t eat much of the main course, which could explain why it took a while to be cleared. This is when I realized getting out of my seat with the tray table extended was nearly impossible.

Service continued around 30 minutes after it was eventually cleared. I was offered a drink top-up, the choice of tea or coffee, and my dessert finally arrived.

Any love lost was redeemed with this chocolate crèmeux. The first bite of this chocolatey heaven completely obliterated any willpower I had to have just a little try.

At this point, I decided to have a tipple. The menu simply read “fine wines,” so I had no idea what was on offer until a crewmember happily poured me a heavy sample of the 3 white wines on offer.

I preferred the Italian pinot grigio over the chardonnay and sauvignon blanc.

The 3 choices for the second meal service were a classic afternoon tea, a vegetarian afternoon tea, and a smoked salmon high tea. I liked how Global offers the second meal as an on-demand service rather than being set to a fixed schedule.

I was still pretty full from the first meal, but from the few bites I could manage, I can confirm this was an excellent afternoon tea.

As a lover of only the finest alcohol, Asquith wanted his airline to serve the best to its passengers. Business class passengers could enjoy Laurent-Perrier Champagne, both La Cuvée and Cuvée Rosé.

Business and first class passengers can also head to the Sky Pub to order from a top-shelf selection of spirits, cocktails, and more.

Amenities and IFE

Business class passengers had the option of 2 amenity kits from Bric’s. The dark blue version contained elements geared more towards men, while the contents of the mauve option might be more useful for women.

An eye mask, earplugs, a dental kit, a pen, and creams are items you’d expect to find in any half-decent amenity kit. In addition to these basics, my Global amenity kit also included a shoe horn (handy as I nearly always change into flip-flops when flying), a miniature mirror, and a miniature Murdock cologne sample. If Global succeeds in scheduling regular commercial flights, these business class amenity kits could compete with the likes of Emirates.

As I mentioned, all of the IFE screens on Global’s Airbus A380 were out of service during my flight. Instead, passengers could connect to a temporary IFE system via a QR code.

On a relatively short flight like this, where I spent most of my time working, I didn’t miss having a screen in front of me. In fact, more than ever these days, I notice people in business class preferring to use their personal devices rather than watching the IFE.

Plus, connecting to the IFE was quick and easy. The modest selection of 44 films included releases from the last few years (2023 was the most recent) and classics such as “When Harry Met Sally.”

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Global had even included a moving map within the temporary IFE system. Bravo!

The airline impressed with its premium amenities, including branded pajamas and slippers. The color wasn’t particularly interesting, but I appreciated the effort that was made with the style and fit. The tapered trousers and a zip-up hood were welcome touches.

Lavatory

The biggest and best bathrooms in the sky can be found on board Airbus A380s with airlines like Emirates and Qatar Airways, though Global’s lavatory at the front of the business class cabin did not disappoint when it came to its size.

While you won’t find showers here, it’s clear an effort has been made to bring premium touches to the space thanks to these products by luxury U.K. beauty brand Margaret Dabbs.

Real roses finished the space off with an additional touch of class.

Three more bathrooms are located towards the rear between the larger business class cabin and the small economy cabin on the upper deck.

First Class Cabin and Seats

Located at the very front of the aircraft on the lower deck, the first class cabin comprises just 8 fully-enclosed suites.

Even without the working IFE screens and the age of these seats, they’re more exclusive and private than anything else offered on any airline flying between the U.S. and the U.K.

Transatlantic flying is a premium-heavy market in which Global genuinely has an opportunity. If it can corner the market of flyers who can afford to pay for flights outright rather than using points or miles, offering a true first class product on lucrative U.S.-U.K. routes could convince enough people to divert from their usual travel habits.

However, that is still a tall order without partnerships with any other carrier or even a loyalty program of its own (at this point).

Economy Class Cabin and Seats

Economy Seat and Amenities

Upstairs at the back of the upper deck, seats are laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration. This is great for couples traveling together. Downstairs, where the aircraft is wider, the layout is 3-4-3.

I found the legroom plentiful, though I only sat in this seat for about 10 minutes.

Amenities for economy class passengers aren’t limited to just a pillow and blanket.

Each passenger was also given a sleek Bric’s amenity kit. Its contents were better than some of what I’ve received in premium economy and included a dental kit, earplugs, an eye mask, socks, a pen, and sample products from Murdock Barbers of London and Margaret Dabbs.

Considering amenity kits aren’t even a standard offering in premium economy, it’s incredible to receive a high-end kit such as this in regular old coach — and a nod to the airline’s desire to make flying better for everyone.

Food and Beverage

Asquith’s goal is to make flying better for everyone, not just passengers with deeper pockets enjoying lie-flat beds and fine dining.

A key element of that plan includes an elevated meal service in economy. I missed the first meal service as I was tucking into my business class meal. However, I popped back into economy to order the afternoon tea. The quality of the second meal service, which is also offered on demand in coach, was as good as what I enjoyed in business class. Well done, Global.

Service

A mixture of crew members from Global Airlines and Hi Fly, a widebody aircraft wet lease specialist, were working this flight.

When it comes to personability and professionalism, I’d give this crew an 8 out of 10. It could have been a solid 10, but I deducted points after hearing a conversation between crew members in the galley that passengers probably shouldn’t be privy to.

Alex from Madrid was stationed at the Sky Pub right in front of my seat, so I got to know him the most. He lapped the cabin countless times to ensure no glass of Laurent-Perrier could even get close to empty.

I’m reliably informed that Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle — a class of Champagne usually reserved for first class — was available to business class passengers during meal service. Unfortunately, I missed that memo.

I also noticed a lack of consistency with drink services. Different glasses were used for water, I was served a glass of white wine in a Champagne glass, and a serving tray was only used about half the time.

While missing these details doesn’t bother me, these are the service elements the world’s top airlines get right every time. For an airline that wants to be the “best way to fly,” these details make all the difference to some flyers.

Additionally, the fact that my (cold) main course was served before my starter was cleared, followed by a wait of 30 to 45 minutes for my dessert to arrive, shows plenty of room for improvement.

It was a pleasure getting to know a few crew members on this short flight. However, the food service missed the mark on a flight where they had every opportunity to knock it out of the park.

Arrival at JFK

Sitting on the left-hand side of the aircraft, I was surprised to see Manhattan’s skyline on approach. After a quick moment of disorientation, I realized we were landing on JFK’s runway 4R. I’m so used to landing on 22L that this was an unexpected treat.

The skies might have been grey and gloomy, but the atmosphere on the ground was electric.

It was a pretty cool experience deplaning via a jetbridge at JFK for the first time.

It’s hard to believe she flies when you’re up close and personal with this beast.

Thanks to my Global Entry membership, I breezed through Terminal 4’s passport control. I was surprised to find my suitcase already waiting for me on the belt.

Hopefully, this won’t be the last time that Global Airlines appears on the arrivals board at JFK.

I took my usual route of the AirTrain to Jamaica, followed by the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to Manhattan. Even with some dallying in the terminal and waiting 10 minutes for the next LIRR, I still made it to Grand Central in fewer than 90 minutes after stepping off the plane.

Final Thoughts

I went into this experience with an open mind, with neither a positive nor a negative narrative. Global Airlines has a mammoth challenge ahead if it wants to compete with some of the world’s biggest airlines.

Speaking strictly about business class, the hard product (seat and cabin), the seat was comfy, spacious, and had a ton of storage. However, the functionality, technology, and privacy of the seat would need a complete overhaul to compete with current products. That said, this is far from the worst business class seat I’ve ever flown.

Aside from the mishaps with the cold main course and other teething problems, Global’s catering was as good as some of the best business class meals I’ve eaten in the sky. Maybe next time I’ll appreciate the caviar without the crème fraîche.

Factoring in the high-quality amenity kits and pajamas for every business class passenger, the soft product overall is very impressive.

Regarding finances and regulations, I don’t have the knowledge or insight to comment on whether Global Airlines will succeed or fail. However, the start-up has shown plenty of potential, and I wish its team every success. For more insights, check out my exclusive interview with Global Airlines’ CEO as he discusses next steps and new planes for the unconventional airline.