Vietnam Airlines joined the SkyTeam alliance earlier this month, the latest airline to join one of the three loose confederations that dominate the aviation industry.

For most passengers, the membership lists of SkyTeam, OneWorld and Star Alliance are of little concern, as they make very little noticeable difference to the day-to-day services offered by the airlines.

But alliances are an important factor in travel and knowing who is who can often save travelers time and money, as well as increasing the comfort of the journey.

Alliance agreements almost always involve the creation of so-called “codeshare” routes, where airlines can sell space on board a flight operated by another alliance member as if it were their own.

US carrier Delta is to buck the airline trend of shrinking premium cabins by increasing first class capacity on its domestic flights, perhaps hinting that a recovery in luxury travel may be on the cards.

The airline announced last week that from this fall it is to offer first class on all internal US flights longer than two and a half hours, an increase of some 50 routes from the current first class availability.

Dubai-based Emirates Airline is to fly a total of 90 Airbus A380 “superjumbos” by the end of 2017 after a shock announcement that it is to buy a further 32, the largest single order in commercial aviation history.

The airline stunned its rivals with the $11.5 billion purchase on the first day of the ILA Berlin Air Show, with one aviation leader stating that “one must assume that this is not an investment for the UAE, but it is an investment for the world.”

Germany’s largest airline, Lufthansa, has lately received its first Airbus A380 jetliner, and they claim its cabin to be the “world’s quietest first class.”

The First-Class bathroom features wide vertical mirrors and a five-star hotel-style vanity area. The bathroom is fitted with separate wash, changing and toilet areas.

“There’s a leather banquette seat in the changing area, for heaven’s sake,” travel website, Jaunted, said in a review.

A Ryanair passenger who became enraged when he was told he could not claim a scratchcard prize on his flight ate his winning ticket.

The man was flying from Poland to the East Midlands on a Ryanair flight when he won 10,000 euros on a scratchcard he had purchased on board.

Ryanair confirmed he ate his ticket on 26 February after cabin staff refused to pay him the winnings immediately.

There has been a severe drop in the number of people flying premium, business or first, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), prompting some to ask whether the days of champagne and free toiletries are behind us.

For most travelers, reclining into a leather seat and sipping champagne at 35,000 ft is the epitome of frequent flyer sophistication.

From the introduction of “premium economy”, to the advent of the fully flat bed, to the new Emirates on board shower, it seems that there’s something we just can’t resist about luxury in the skies.