(no subject)
Well, I'm back home! If I saw you in the States, it was wonderful to see you, and if I didn't, I missed you very much.
-=-
I was going to write about my flight over since it was such a singular experience, but my flight back completely trumped it, so I'll write about that instead.
But first some background! I loved flying, I just adored it. My first pleasant experience came on Japan Airlines when I was about ten or so. The flight attendants in their hawt uniforms gave me toys and cooed over me when my ears hurt, so I was completely sold on flying, ha ha.
With that memory in mind, I'd always looked forward to flying, but in the last few years, especially on international flights, and especially on flights not on Japan Airlines, I've been disappointed. My absolute worst experience was when I was seated right behind the emergency exit and that gigantic bump that comes out the bottom of the exit left me even less legroom than a typical economy seat.
So I had soured towards flying, but this trip I flew on Japan Airlines and I was hoping things would be better this time around. I had no idea!
-=-
So I went to check in my luggage and get my boarding pass at SFO and things were going fine, but towards the end, the staff member actually came around the counter to whisper something to me.
"You have a reservation for an Economy seat, but Economy is filled up," she said, and visions of me sleeping on benches while on layover materialized, but she continued.
"Premium Economy is filled as well, so we're going to put you in Executive. Enjoy your flight! By the way, you're not allowed to use the Executive Lounge."
Well well well! I was enjoying my flight and I wasn't even on it yet! I put my golden ticket in my pocket and skipped to my gate. I was suddenly conscious that the advice of "You should dress for travel as if it were still a privilege" applied doubly for me this time (since it very much would be a privilege), so I tucked in my tuxedo shirt, put on my dorky fake glasses, and acted like I thought I was better than everyone else.
When it came time to board, I of course got to be one of those bastards that gets on first, along with the first class folks and the folks with babies. I really don't see why anyone needs to get on before anyone else since the seats are decided and the plane won't leave without anyone, but oh well. I noticed that everyone else on first class and executive class were either post-middle age couples or post-middle age businessmen; I was definitely the only one under thirty.
So we all got on the plane and I'm sure you've all seen the seats on the way to Economy, they're big and spaced out, but it's the little things you can't see that make the seats a better experience. For example, customizable lumber support! I'm a big stickler for back support, especially during a long flight, so this was nice. Another great thing about the seat was an electrical outlet that I could plug my computer in so I wouldn't have to worry about running out of juice halfway through.
The thing that beat all, however, was the service! The flight attendants called me by name and introduced their own names. Later, I went to the restroom to wash my hands for lunch, and when I got back, my little tray table had a little table cloth and a glass of champagne! Holy cow, I've heard of complimentary champagne, but never mandatory champagne. Anyways, so as not to offend anyone, I drank it down and got happy.
-=-
Besides foie gras for lunch (my first time!), the rest of the flight was very nice, but unremarkable. So that ends the account of my flight and now I am spoiled as a traveler forever! Perhaps from now on I will actually come up with the cash to get out of Economy, but we'll see.
Thanks for reading.
-=-
I was going to write about my flight over since it was such a singular experience, but my flight back completely trumped it, so I'll write about that instead.
But first some background! I loved flying, I just adored it. My first pleasant experience came on Japan Airlines when I was about ten or so. The flight attendants in their hawt uniforms gave me toys and cooed over me when my ears hurt, so I was completely sold on flying, ha ha.
With that memory in mind, I'd always looked forward to flying, but in the last few years, especially on international flights, and especially on flights not on Japan Airlines, I've been disappointed. My absolute worst experience was when I was seated right behind the emergency exit and that gigantic bump that comes out the bottom of the exit left me even less legroom than a typical economy seat.
So I had soured towards flying, but this trip I flew on Japan Airlines and I was hoping things would be better this time around. I had no idea!
-=-
So I went to check in my luggage and get my boarding pass at SFO and things were going fine, but towards the end, the staff member actually came around the counter to whisper something to me.
"You have a reservation for an Economy seat, but Economy is filled up," she said, and visions of me sleeping on benches while on layover materialized, but she continued.
"Premium Economy is filled as well, so we're going to put you in Executive. Enjoy your flight! By the way, you're not allowed to use the Executive Lounge."
Well well well! I was enjoying my flight and I wasn't even on it yet! I put my golden ticket in my pocket and skipped to my gate. I was suddenly conscious that the advice of "You should dress for travel as if it were still a privilege" applied doubly for me this time (since it very much would be a privilege), so I tucked in my tuxedo shirt, put on my dorky fake glasses, and acted like I thought I was better than everyone else.
When it came time to board, I of course got to be one of those bastards that gets on first, along with the first class folks and the folks with babies. I really don't see why anyone needs to get on before anyone else since the seats are decided and the plane won't leave without anyone, but oh well. I noticed that everyone else on first class and executive class were either post-middle age couples or post-middle age businessmen; I was definitely the only one under thirty.
So we all got on the plane and I'm sure you've all seen the seats on the way to Economy, they're big and spaced out, but it's the little things you can't see that make the seats a better experience. For example, customizable lumber support! I'm a big stickler for back support, especially during a long flight, so this was nice. Another great thing about the seat was an electrical outlet that I could plug my computer in so I wouldn't have to worry about running out of juice halfway through.
The thing that beat all, however, was the service! The flight attendants called me by name and introduced their own names. Later, I went to the restroom to wash my hands for lunch, and when I got back, my little tray table had a little table cloth and a glass of champagne! Holy cow, I've heard of complimentary champagne, but never mandatory champagne. Anyways, so as not to offend anyone, I drank it down and got happy.
-=-
Besides foie gras for lunch (my first time!), the rest of the flight was very nice, but unremarkable. So that ends the account of my flight and now I am spoiled as a traveler forever! Perhaps from now on I will actually come up with the cash to get out of Economy, but we'll see.
Thanks for reading.