On flying first class
(You still get delayed just like everybody else.) Leg room and lots of room to recline, a big armrest, and a blankie for every traveler. Hey, Dad! They served us cashews, warm, in a ceramic dish. (Also pistacios, pecans, and almonds.) I felt like a princess--cashews!
In the same day--nay, in the same flight--I've had cashews, kalamata olives, and feta cheese. This is high living.
On entering the plane to England, it was so large as to be bewildering. It did not immediately look like a plane. Instead, it was spacious and lit. It looked like there were hallways, rooms, "back theres," and "around the bends." I was relieved there was an attendant to direct me to my seat; I needed it.
Between my seat and the row ahead, there's enough room for two to walk abreast. Comfortably. My seat has a footrest. I have to unfasten my seatbelt and get up to reach my carry-on bag stowed under the seat in front. I can't reach my reading light; I think it's controlled by remote.
This is making it very difficult to contemplate ever flying coach again. I mean, dude, I'm sitting with my legs crossed--at the knee.
From Austin to Chicago, I sat next to a man from Scotland. Very business-like, well dressed and neat, always with an mp3 player screwed into his ear and a PowerPoint deck on his laptop. But dinner afforded an undeniable opportunity to talk. (He couldn't understand the flight attendant -- "Foccacia or wheat roll?" "Whut?" -- and she couldn't understand him -- "Oh, the knobbly one." "What?" -- so I translated/repeated, and then just kept chatting.) Mostly he was reticent, but there were two topics that inspired animated conversation: how big and clunky the Dell batteries and power adapters are, and, as he is a Freescale engineer, what a semi-conductor is and how it works. When discussing technology, his eyes lit with a reverent fire.
It was fun to practice my all-about-you conversation skills, as I've also been with my traveling companion (my Bangalore Buddy), Bill, notorious curmudgeon and world-weary traveler. In actual fact, Bill's pretty fun to talk with. I think business trips strengthen the relationships of the teammates who travel together, not just the ones you go to visit.
Now I'm going to kick off my shoes, put on my complimentary Bose noise-canceling headphones, and rummage through this goody bag while contemplating which entree I want for second-dinner.
In the same day--nay, in the same flight--I've had cashews, kalamata olives, and feta cheese. This is high living.
On entering the plane to England, it was so large as to be bewildering. It did not immediately look like a plane. Instead, it was spacious and lit. It looked like there were hallways, rooms, "back theres," and "around the bends." I was relieved there was an attendant to direct me to my seat; I needed it.
Between my seat and the row ahead, there's enough room for two to walk abreast. Comfortably. My seat has a footrest. I have to unfasten my seatbelt and get up to reach my carry-on bag stowed under the seat in front. I can't reach my reading light; I think it's controlled by remote.
This is making it very difficult to contemplate ever flying coach again. I mean, dude, I'm sitting with my legs crossed--at the knee.
From Austin to Chicago, I sat next to a man from Scotland. Very business-like, well dressed and neat, always with an mp3 player screwed into his ear and a PowerPoint deck on his laptop. But dinner afforded an undeniable opportunity to talk. (He couldn't understand the flight attendant -- "Foccacia or wheat roll?" "Whut?" -- and she couldn't understand him -- "Oh, the knobbly one." "What?" -- so I translated/repeated, and then just kept chatting.) Mostly he was reticent, but there were two topics that inspired animated conversation: how big and clunky the Dell batteries and power adapters are, and, as he is a Freescale engineer, what a semi-conductor is and how it works. When discussing technology, his eyes lit with a reverent fire.
It was fun to practice my all-about-you conversation skills, as I've also been with my traveling companion (my Bangalore Buddy), Bill, notorious curmudgeon and world-weary traveler. In actual fact, Bill's pretty fun to talk with. I think business trips strengthen the relationships of the teammates who travel together, not just the ones you go to visit.
Now I'm going to kick off my shoes, put on my complimentary Bose noise-canceling headphones, and rummage through this goody bag while contemplating which entree I want for second-dinner.