You are traveling by plane to that awesome overseas destination. As you sit in your economy class seat, squished next to complete strangers, you catch a glimpse of that curtain. You know the one. Open during takeoff and landing, but closed during the rest of the flight. The one you want to be on the other side of. BUSINESS CLASS! Oh, if only. I have had this same desire, fellow commoner. During my first 13 hour flight to Seoul, and the 10 hour return flight. The free drinks! The better food! The warm towel (which I never understood). But now, ladies and gents, I will wonder no more! Yes, it is as wonderful as you think. I will spare you no details. "How cruel of you!" you must be thinking. And yes, it is. The only negative thing I took away from this experience is I will now forever hate economy class seats. I have had a glimpse behind the curtain, and it has ruined me for life. RUUUUUIIINNNEEED!
This is what Delta’s business class looks like. I didn't feel the need to broadcast my newbie status in this high class bliss by taking a picture while boarding.
Borrowed from http://thepointsguy.com/2014/10/domestic-routes-with-international-business-and-first-class/
Personal pods. YES! When boarding we went through our own door. No having to fraternize with all the economy class commoners. When in actuality, the majority of people who were boarding with me WERE commoners, i.e. those of us who were flying standby.
My windowed pod was equipped with all kinds of cubby holes, a tucked away video screen, and the best tray table ever. Not that dinky folding down one that threatens to dump your itty bitty drink on your lap during any sudden movement by the occupant of the seat in front of you. Best of all was the seat which became...wait for it...a bed! If my neck and back had their own mouths, they would have been giggling with excitement just looking at this little control panel.
Fancy right? I was handed a menu with food options for my four course meal and given the choice of orange juice or champagne. Or both if you wanted to make a mimosa.
Then came the hot towel. Which was quite pleasant and refreshing. I would find out later that it was even more refreshing after 13 hours in the air.
The food was pretty good, for airline food. I went with salmon instead of beef after the flight attendant told me the beef portion was small. The salmon was obviously east coast, and obviously overcooked, but the potato, mushroom, and leek side dish was simply divine. Unfortunately, most options are not lactose intolerant friendly. I ate the goat cheese on the salad because, well, goat cheese. But I did avoid the little cheese plate. I just realized I wrote "cheese plate" when discussing airplane food. Bizarre.
The rest of the flight consisted of me fighting to have internet access (I would recommend foregoing the $40 full access when traveling on an oversea flight; there are many areas you may fly over with no access) and watching free movies. A few American ones, a couple Korean ones. I think I tried my seat in every possible position it could be in, which I managed to do without giggling, and attempted sleep for a few hours. It was fitful, but more than I have gotten on a plane before.
We were awoken about an hour before landing with bright, shocking lights, orders for breakfast, and another hot towel. Recommendation: use the hot towel on your face and the back of your neck, then let it cool down and use it again. A-ma-zing. There were fewer breakfast options, but the quiche was quite tasty and the fruit was refreshing.
The rest of the flight was typical. Packing up, landing, gathering your stuff, and exiting the plane.
It was not my intention to have my first post on my brand new blog be one that might make my readers jealous. Alas, it was necessary since this might be a once in a lifetime experience. I will do my best not to read this in the future while squished between a crying baby and a man who refuses to share the arm rest. Otherwise the flight attendants might become a bit concerned about the loud sobbing coming from the back of economy class. Or maybe that’s something they are used to.