This is the first trip in my life on which I’m not flying steerage: I am, courtesy of my hosts, flying Business Class. That is a great mitzvah on a 14-hour flight, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store. Though I rarely drink on flights, so the free booze will not be an amenity to me, the noms must surely be good—and Indian.
So far I have been waved into a special TSA security line, and, although I went through normal procedures, they didn’t goose me. And the best part: my business-class status gives me a 3-hour wait (I got here early) in the Air France Lounge, which is loaded with good noms. There are all manner of sandwiches (I have had an apple-and-brie sandwich on raisin bread with a mozarella and tomato salad), chips, muffins, yogurt, fruit, juices, sodas, and a full bar (again, wasted on me). And free wi-fi and lots of magazines!
And they’ll call me when my flight is ready to board. This is also the first time in my life I’ve been in one of those fancy airport lounges, and boy, is this one good. I guess I had to do this once in my life, and it’s nice that it’s gratis. I have photos, too, just to prove that, for one brief shining moment, I got to see Camelot at the Airport.
Jerry you might want to look into joining the TSA precheck or global traveler programs. Precheck gets you the special security line at US airports. Global traveler gets you that plus the special line for passport check when you come back into the US. It costs money (precheck is $15/year bought in 5 year increments, I don’t know what global traveler is), but it gets you into the special line every time. No need to remove shoes, or computers from bags, and you most likely won’t get goosed. Also, in some cases (but no guarantees), the special line is shorter/quicker than the regular ones.
Full disclosure: I recently signed up for precheck and traveled with it twice. I would recommend it, but only to people who fly several times a year or more. Otherwise its probably not worth the money.
Global Entry is $20/year ($100 for 5 years)
But in addition to TSA Pre you use the kiosk for entry back to the US and usually (airport dependent) quick exit from customs when there is a line.
I expect all of Al Quaeda’s operatives are signed up to it by now…
cr
Getting it involves a background/records check. Which by no means makes it perfect, but if you’ve spend the last 2 months in a training camp in Yemen or Afghanistan, no you’re not likely to be approved to be in the program.
I assumed there was some sort of background check. I also assume it’s as effective at detecting dodgy backgrounds as the TSA is at keeping knives off planes… umm what was the question again?
“No need to remove shoes, or computers from bags,”
So all this security theatre is absolutely essential – except for people who have paid extra then it isn’t. Pardon my cynicism.
cr
You can signup for TSA pre for all your flights. I get it with the Global entry program. But you seem to fly enough that the TSA pre would be good all the time.
Normally the TSA pre is just drop you bags on the belt and go. I learned I could leave my computer bag right on the handle of my carry on – so I don’t have to even put that back together on the other side.
Shoes on, stuff in pockets, jacket on, don’t pull the laptop of liquids or gels, etc. Make TSA pre a breeze.
My only complaint is there too many people getting TSA pre now – there is actually a line.
As for BC, yep that is the only way to travel.
Sounds like you are experiencing just a bit of the 1 percent, at least the lower end of the upper crust who still, sadly, must fly commercial.
I flew business class once, on LOT, the Polish airline. It was not long after the fall of the Soviet Union. All the jets were new. The food and service were great.
Somehow I always assumed you would fly business class when on book tours for your publisher or for speaking engagement payed for by the organizer. At least, I think that’s how it should be. It’s nice that you have finally had the opportunity to see how the 0.1% fly. I’m looking forward to pics. If it happened to me I’d start sipping wine and I’d probably fall asleep and miss my flight. Better I stay with steerage.
No no, the 0.1% don’t fly Business Class or even 1st Class any more. They use their own jets or private charters. I used to fly BC or 1st some years ago on business trips and it was great. Now, with a few exceptions, there is not much difference in the class types.
Oh, I disagree. Business is a big jump over even premium economy. As jay says (below) you get a “proper” bed and the quality of the foot and the service is far better.
My firm (the firm that I work for!) gives me business class for flights over 8 hours, so it’s really our clients who are paying for it!
I got the opportunity to fly first class with BA to Vegas last year, which is better than their business class, but it wasn’t significantly better than American’s business class on the new Boeings.
Paying for my self, I’m happy in premium economy for a flight over a few hours… economy doesn’t give me enough legroom.
Make the most of it, Jerry.
/@
PS. On Virgin Atlantic Upper Class (business class +) you used to get a massage in flight …
* Jay, food
The best thing about international business class is the seats that recline to fully flat. For me, this means I can get nearly a full nights sleep on the plane (with a little help from Zolpidem) and arrive in Europe almost jet-lag free.
This is a major help (I’ve experienced one time). However, for someone like me (almost 2m tall) I can’t actually lay flat — it’s just too short for me to hit any really comfortable position. Still, it was much better than sitting up.
Best news I’ve read all morning! Good for you!
(Bus./first class is verry nice… had the pleasure of traveling that way with the whole family.)
In the good old days (1970/80s) when Pan Am and Northwest had control of most of the Pacific routes they would always upgrade us to business class if they had openings. Then it stopped and flying was such a pain in the — you know.
Tuchus!
/@
You are being spoiled. You won’t want to fly economy again.
What’s this aversion to drinking while traveling? I find it takes the edge off the stress. Plus, I only drink when I’m by myself… or with somebody.
“Somebody” includes Harvey, the invisible rabbit?
More than a few belt notches accounted for by the AF/KLM lounge at CDG.
Pooka!
/@
Harvey never argues when I’m making a point. 🙂
He does tend to rabbit on, though.
/@
Business class is good. Major perk.
Sub
I used to spend a fair bit of time travelling on Her Majesty’s business, and at the British taxpayer’s expense, and going business class (over 4 hours) was the best perk of the job. It really does make a difference being able to lie down and get some kip, plus the extra legroom, lounge access, etc.
British Airways occasionally offered a deal under which people flying business return could upgrade one leg to 1st at no extra cost. I once managed to do this from Hong Kong to Heathrow. As far as I can remember I did it full justice.
When I flew from Auckland to Paris (via Sydney and Abu Dhabi) a couple of years ago, the food on the Tasman leg (Air NZ) was the usual slightly nasty airline food, Etihad Airlines food on the next leg was really nice, and Air France on the last leg outdid them. And all this was in Cattle Class. So I hope Air France can do something really good for you.
Just once, on a flight back from Rarotonga, they had overbooked Economy Class and I was moved up into First Class (this was before Business Class existed). The hostess said “please don’t tell anyone”. But as it happened I ended up sitting next to someone I knew, who naturally wondered what cheapskate me was doing there. So I explained and he was outraged. He’d had to go to Raro on short notice for business and all Economy was booked out so he had to fly First. I found his indignation quite bizarre since he hadn’t paid for his ticket at all, his company had, and they undoubtedly claimed it back off tax as a business expense. Some people are weird.
cr
My best ‘upgrade’ was to non-ambulant status caused by a ferocious attack of gout that meant I simply couldn’t walk.
Loaded first onto the front of the plane by elevator and eventually whisked past immigration and customs in some sort of cart. I don’t know what was in the injections and I was told to retain the original packaging on the pills in case I was checked (all in Greek, so I don’t know). Most of the flight passed in a sort of warm haze. I don’t really recommend it though, gout is a b*gger.
I’ve had gout in my big toe and that was terribly painful.
If it was bad enough that you couldn’t walk, It must have been agonising.
Definitely a poor trade.
/@
I once flew back to the UK from Colorado Springs while suffering a bad attack of gout. I could barely walk with the help of crutches. This, I realised, gets you a window seat halfway between two emergency exits, and they take away your crutches until you disembark.
Thank Ceiling Cat for allopurinol.