As we all know, letting your PA book your flights is a gruesome process in the beginning. Finding out that you have to cancel your morning run to make it on time for the morning transatlantic flight is bad enough. But not realising until reaching the airport that you are intended to fly Delta is an experience I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy. Sure, everyone has to learn, but that knowledge as elementary as airline quality isn’t taught in schools is nothing less than an insult to modern society. Only a layman chooses airline based on destination.

Nevertheless, to make yet another contribution to society, we hereby present the tier one airlines from the Middle East. Perfect when visiting the next edition of the IDEX Arms Bazaar in Abu Dhabi, stopping by Doha for some caviar at Al Shaheen, or – god forbid – passing through Dubai for a (hopefully) quick transfer.

1. Etihad
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan certainly has an excellent choice in airlines. The Abu Dhabi Sheikh not only hosts specially recruited Food and Beverage Managers for each flight, but the Diamond First Class non-stop to JFK is divine. We’re especially excited about the upcoming A350-1000s which will be a nice addition to this sweet Middle Eastern aviation gem.

2. Qatar Airways
The post-flight nightmare is easily handled by the charming staff at The Premium Terminal at Doha International. As Tyler noted, that new line of 777s is also well awaited. Doha is literally overfull with business men waiting to get a smooth departure to Barcelona, Taipei or Oslo.

3. Emirates
Dubai is an awful mess, but as an international flight hub is performs well. With an impressive route map, Emirates comes in with a strong third position. Our man Tyler Brûlé has another essential life improvement that comes with the service:

“Best time saver: to shower at the airport or not to shower at the airport? This dilemma has now been solved thanks to the shower suites on Emirates’ new A380s. “

For the record, did I fly on Concorde many times? Absolutely.

– Tyler Brûlé, Guardian, 2007

Monocle just opened a small boutique in Brentwood, Los Angeles. To settle the locals´ curiosity, our man decided to do an interview for LAist.com. Although being completely honest and fair in his answers (24 hours is perfectly sufficient for any possible needs in the city), the readers have little understanding of the critique. One reader even goes as far as calling Tyler a “d-bag”, and we assume that he isn’t referring to an upcoming line from Porter.

It is simple. As stated in the interview, what Los Angeles needs is a substantial increase in bikeability. Nothing to get too distressed about.

We can find no better way of starting this publication than by quoting a letter to the Financial Times:

Sir, As a previous correspondent once asked, Is Tyler Brûlé for real? He is editor-in-chief of Monocle, a publication so exclusive I have never seen it advertised, nor on sale.

He seems to spend most of his time flying long distances on business (and in business class) or on holiday, presumably performing many of his editorial duties en route.

He is based in London, but at the same time he also owns an island (complete with house and jetty) in Sweden for summer use and a flat in St Moritz for winters, yet is now looking for further accommodation in the Mediterranean area to enable him to enjoy “true winter sun” (“Great escapes in mind”, House & Home, January 3/4).

Apart from the last, it sounds an enviable lifestyle. How does Tyler Brûlé do it?

Ian Fletcher,
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

A valid question, Mr Fletcher. Is Tyler Brûlé for real? And if so, how does he do it?

It’s questions like these that we will attempt to answer in this publication. See it as a guide – a tribute. And a laugh.