Web check-in is available between 24 hours and 90 minutes before the flight is scheduled to depart from several airports including London Heathrow. Seats can be selected during this and a boarding pass printed from the traveller's home. Web Check-in Baggage drop counters are at airports.

Passengers flying from Bahrain may use Early Check In, available up to 24 hours before departure. Members of the Falcon Gold frequent-flyer programme enjoy dedicated check-in facilities at Bahrain and at Abu Dhabi passengers may check-in at the First Class check-in area or at the City Terminal Check-in (close to Abu Dhabi Mall).

At Heathrow, check-in opens four hours prior to the scheduled departure and closes 60 minutes prior to take-off.

Hand luggage: Economy-Class passengers are allowed to carry on one bag up to 6kg. Falcon Gold passengers are allowed one bag up to 9kg. Infants are permitted to carry on one bag, up to 3kg.

Checked: Economy Class passengers - 30kg, Falcon Gold passengers: 40kg. Gold members get an extra 20kg and Silver members 15kg. Children have the same checked baggage allowance as adults, 30kg, within that, a stroller or car seat is included. Infants have a baggage allowance of 10kg. Rates vary according if flying on a code share airline such as American Airlines or BMI.

Excess: excess rates are by kilogramme depending on the "zone" of travel. An Economy-Class traveller checking-in a bag weighing 35kg for a flight from London (Zone 4) to Bahrain (Zone 1) would pay $100 (USD) in excess charges ($20 USD per kg). Travellers holding Gulf Air Frequent Flyer miles may pay for excess baggage in those miles in multiples of 5kg. This would be 6,000 miles for a flight from Heathrow to Bahrain. A very handy tool on the website calculates the excess rates immediately.

Seat pitch depends on the aircraft. On the Airbus 330-200 (333), Economy Class travellers have a seat pitch of 81-84cm (32-33in) while those in Falcon Gold Class may have a lie-flat seat. On the Airbus 340 it's between 79 and 84cm (31-33in) for Economy Class and Sleeper Seats or Lie-Flat Seats. On an Embraer E-70 the pitch is 79cm (31in) with Falcon Gold Class flyers having 91cm (36in).

Passengers can select seats at the time of booking or during online check- in.

Changes depend on the fare class. The lowest fares - Economy Promo Plus for a flight from London to Bahrain - has restricted tickets. Upgrading to Economy Freedom tickets gives complimentary tickets and refundable tickets (no penalty).

Lap infants - babies under two years sitting on an adult's lap - are charged 10 per cent of the adult fare. Child fares are available for 2-11 year-olds at about 75 per cent of the adult fare.

Gulf Air does not offer discounts for older travellers.

Pets may not travel in the cabin with their owner or go as checked baggage on any Gulf Air flight. They must be transported by Gulf Air Cargo.

Musical instruments may be transported as part of a flyer's free baggage allowance. Instruments should not be heavier than 32kg or exceed 190 x 75 x 65cm (79 x 29.5 x 25.5in).

Four-course meals and complimentary drinks (including wine, beer and spirits) are served in Economy Class, which gives you some indication of how good Gulf Air's in-flight offerings are. In Business and First Class, the meals are even more extravagant. Passengers can order anything from the menu at any time during the flight.

Gulf Air Frequent-flyer miles

Read reviews and see photographs of Gulf Air meals taken by fellow flyers at AirlineMeals.net.

Gulf Life is published monthly and can be read online.

Gulf Air is not a member of any of the major airline alliances, but it has codeshare agreements with several leading airlines such as American Airlines, bmi, KLM, Malaysia Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Thai Airways International and unusually SNCF, the French state-owned railway company which allows Gulf Air to pre-book train tickets to 20 cities in France when travelling to or from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.