Monday, August 2, 2010

First-Class All the Way


I *heart* our credit card airline bonus miles.

When my husband called me with my flight reservation information, he said he had good news and bad news.  He asked me which I wanted first.

When someone asks you that question, how do you respond?

I always choose to have the bad news first.  My thinking is that hearing the good news last will make you less likely to have a bad taste in your mouth after the conversation is over.  Maybe that is just a glass half-full mentality rather than a glass half-empty mentality.

The bad news: we had to cash in 50,000 frequent flyer miles rather than 25,000 since they didn't have any available seats open for people redeeming their bonus miles.

The good news: I had the option of a seat in first-class or coach.


We flew first-class from Mexico for our honeymoon several years ago.  We had tried to fly out first-class but they overbooked and had to change our reservation after telling us we could upgrade.  Coming home, I was expecting this extravagant experience.  All we got that was different from coach was free alcohol and more leg room.  That was it.  I couldn't justify the extra money we spent.  That was my first and last time flying first-class. I have always been completely content with coach.  I am not a picky person.
 
I was pretty nonchalant about the "good news".

The day I flew out to CA in style, I certainly wasn't complaining especially after a glass or two of wine. 


First-class comes repleat with entertainment. There had been two guys who were chatting up the flight attendant who was regaling them with stories about men who are touchy (complete with gestures).  This was after one of them touched her arm to ask her a question and I heard her say loudly, "don't touch me".  I thought she was going to haul back and slug the man.  That wasn't the case apparently since they were laughing uproarously within minutes.  They bonded over the five or so beers the one man had.  (I should note that I'm not judging.  I thought they were entertaining in all honesty.  I was pretty hard up for something to do since my ipod and the book I had taken just weren't cutting it.)

Normally, when I fly I am seated next to a "Chatty Cathy".  Not this time.  It was as though everyone had an invisible wall erected around them courtesy of their USA Todays and laptops (and designer duds).  The man next to me was busy scribbling in his notebook at a frantic pace.  I was inclined to pull out my little black book and started jotting down ideas for a guest post I was working on.



I will admit though that I was rather thankful for my pasta and white chocolate and macadamia nut cookie (and the wine) in first-class when I saw one of the flight attendants taking a $3 container of ramen noodles to the back of the plane. Those ramen noodles brought back memories of my college days when we lived on bagels, ramen noodles, and pizza. 

Would I fly first-class again?  Probably not.  Not unless it was "good news" again courtesy of our airline bonus miles. 

This week I promise to have more about my trip out west and the fun adventure I had with my husband.

*Photo credit

10 comments:

Michelle @Flying Giggles said...

I have yet to fly first class. I always walk by in complete jealousy...mostly of the leg room. Maybe I should cash in some of those miles on our next trip, who knows when that will be!

I cannot wait to hear more about your trip!

Buckeroomama said...

For short-haul trips, I wouldn't bother flying first or business class, but definitely well worth it for long-haul flights --especially with kids. :)

Anonymous said...

Ahh, the perils of flying. Honestly I don't miss it, it's been years. I'm usually trapped in a minivan with the 3 kids and 18 hours of "are we there yet?" Maybe I should rethink the flying thing...

jmt said...

I must have been the ONLY child to go through college and not eat ramen noodles. Not to say I wasn't poor...I was. But I didn't know about these noodles. I must have lived in a closet or something.

Liz Mays said...

I flew first class to Paris and THAT was worth it!!!! I didn't pay for it, don't worry. Our whole French club got bumped!

Lourie said...

I have never flown first class. I would like too. 44 inches of legs needs the room! You could make a whole SNL skit out of the two beer guys and the flight attendant! hahaha. Welcome back lady.

One Photo said...

I used to fly business class Internationally and always looked forward to it - your choice of movies, glass of champagne, dinner, wine, after dinner coffee and drinks, another movie and then a nice sleep. Like many companies ours cut back on travel budgets and in the latter years we often traveled economy long haul and it was horrendous in comparison. Glad you had a nice flight, food and wine :-)

Joy@TPMG said...

It was really nice (especially the leg room). It was very different from our flight home from Mexico. Is it weird to admit that I felt uncomfortable though boarding the plane first and having to sit there while all the other people boarded and kept glancing at us knowing that I was there only due to my airline bonus miles?

Business class international is really, really nice!

Bibi @ Bibi's Culinary Journey said...

I agree, for short flights the first class is not a big deal, but for long flights overseas it is like heaven sent.

I can't stand airline food and my oldest son loves it. He also loves hospital food,lol. Not sure what's wrong with the boy. I guess too much time spent in hospitals.

Kristi {at} Live and Love...Out Loud said...

I've never flown first class. It's always been coach - me and all four kids! The funny thing is, my kids always drool when we walk through first class. I remember my 7 year old asking "Why can't we sit here? They have bigger seats and more room." lol One of these days, I tell you! One of these days!
Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a great day. :)

Kristi, Live and Love...Out Loud
@TweetingMama

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