Another big benefit is that the Platinum card gains you access to the American, Delta and Continental airport lounges.

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Another benefit of business class is the airport lounges, something I wrote about very recently in this column.

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"The bartenders in small airport lounges are more old school, " he said.

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Airline frequent flyer programs, seating, aircraft and computer systems vary widely from airline to airline, which can make redeeming miles or points across programs, or even gaining access to far-flung airport lounges, inconsistent and frustrating.

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He brought back the golden age of air travel and made money on it with his Virgin Atlantic airline, complete with Mad Men-style upstairs bars in the 747s and massages in the airport lounges.

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Special light boxes, or flat lamps that simulate natural white light with a blue tint, are also effective, noted Foster, who has been consulting with Delta on the feasibility of introducing such lights into airport lounges.

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Nokia also said it has signed a partnership with Air China to offer wireless charges for the phone in Beijing Airport VIP lounges.

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Mark Dixon, Regus's boss, likens it to having airport business lounges in city centres, and says that products like this already account for 20% of the firm's revenue, up from almost nothing before the financial crisis.

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