Wednesday 3 September 2008

Transatlantic Travels

So I’m back in NYC and getting back into the swing of work after a brief and packed last minute trip to London for some client run training. The trip went well despite the fact that I didn't receive confirmation that I'd actually be going until Wednesday morning of last week, the very same Wednesday I was supposed to be catching an overnight flight to London. I had to pack my bag, bring it to the office and hope for the best.

Anyway of course I did go and fortunately I was lucky enough to get a standby spot in business class. I've only flown business class once before and oooooh it was so nice. I'm not sure I can go back to economy. When I get on my Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong in a couple of months there could well be a kerfuffle with the flight attendants as I attempt to turn left into business instead of right into coach. The seats recline into beds people!!! Beds!!! Not that having a bed helped on the sleep thing, but still...beds!!! S’marvellous. I was chuffed to bits. Of course I didn't give away my excitement to my fellow business class travellers, but instead gave an impressive display of feigned nonchalance prior to take off when all the privacy screens were down, my demeanour clearly proclaiming "I travel business class all the time don't you know." Admittedly I may have given myself away by involuntarily emitting a squeak of excitement once the privacy screens were up and I was free to play around with my seat controls. Whoo hoo!!!

Checking in for the return flight on standby the nice woman at the assistance desk apologised because there weren’t any seats available upstairs.

Upstairs????

Isn’t that first class?


Phew, can you imagine? I think it’s just as well there were no seats available; my heart wouldn’t have been able to stand the extreme levels of excitement had I been given a seat upstairs. Even just the thought of flying first class gives me palpitations. Besides, it wouldn’t exactly been in the style of a trans-atlantic jetsetter to have sauntered into First class clutching a carrier bag from Boots would it. True, jetsetters do need toothpaste and deodorant, but they probably have some minion buy it for them eh. For the record I had to stock up on my spray deodorant – you can only get roll-ons in NYC. They don’t sell coloured loo paper over here either - and stand up pump action toothpaste. You can get bubble gum flavour stand up toothpaste for kids, but I don't think I would like that flavour as much as whitening fresh mint you can buy everywhere in England. These things matter when your bathroom is the size of a shoebox. I don't need lazy lying down toothpaste cluttering up the place. No sireeee!!

Anyway the biz travel was generally good and since it was a bank holiday for Labor Day in the US I got to stay the weekend, catch up with Miles and B and visit my family in Yorkshire. Good ol’ England was reliably overcast as usual, but everyone kept telling me how warm it was as I crunched through fallen leaves and clutched my lightweight raincoat around myself to keep out the chill, although to be honest I'm bursting for a bit of autumnal weather to arrive in New York. It's frigging 88F here and humid as hell. The only bit I wasn't so keen on the part where I got off the overnight flight, freshened up in the ladies loos - although quite frankly it was a lipstick on a pig situation since no amount of make-up was going to make me look good after minimal sleep and no bathing beyond a rub down with a wet wipe and a squirt of deodorant, consumed a very large coffee – Costa Coffee are beating the Americans at their own supersizing game with their humungous cappuccino that arrives in a cup with 2 handles. TWO!!! I was anticipating a European version of large not something I needed two hands to pick up – and went straight to my training course. I was dosed up on coffee for much of the day, but was still swaying with jet lag come the afternoon UK time when I would find myself having moments of staring vacantly at the instructor. However at least I had an excuse unlike some of the London based folk who I noted were also having trouble keeping their eyes open beyond 3pm, although to be fair there's a limit to how much SQL you can take in one day.

24 comments:

Kitty said...

lol! lipstick on a pig!!!
I was wondering what was up with you, but there you go, jet setting around. Mhmmmm.

What a cool treat, especially to get on home? lucky you!

fishwithoutbicycle said...

Hi Kitty, yeah I've been gadding about recently, so I've been missing out on everyone's blogs :-)

Lady Di Tn said...

hi y'all
I saw your name and comments on Kitty blog so I came over to visit. Lol at your descriptions. I had to smile at yours and the blog I read from Cananda, humid was mentioned in both. LOL, you have not had "the air you wear" until you visit South. TN is not as bad as MS and AL. Peace

Amel said...

Oh hohhhh...quite an experience, eh? I couldn't help smiling when reading your fun-filled post he he he...

Never went on a business class before. Would love to try, though HE HE HE...With my petite size, I think business class would feel like first class already HI HI HI...

Glad to hear you managed to meet family and friends! ;-D

fishwithoutbicycle said...

Hi Lady Di, thanks for stopping by :-) I have visited the south and it's true the humidity doesn't compare, the problem I have in NYC is that because we have to walk so much more than most cities we are out in the humidity so much as opposed to traveling about in air conditioned cars ;-)

Hi Amel, I think you would love business class. I am only 5ft 1 so I was able to fully stretch out in the bed. It was lovely. It ruins economy for you ;-)

Anonymous said...

You'll be pleased/disappointed to know that it's business class upstairs too. I've only been up there once, but it's very nice...feels a bit like you're on a private jet!

fishwithoutbicycle said...

Hi Dylan, hmmmm, I'm a bit disillusioned that it's not first upstairs. I was hoping that hob nobbing with Brangelina might be in my future ;-)

Anonymous said...

Pleasure and pain, eh? I love flying but at 6'3" economy kills.
Sql...oof.
Tom

fishwithoutbicycle said...

Hey Tom, y'see there are times when being 5ft 1 and on the petite side are a distinct advantage. I have leg room and can fit my whole body inside an economy seat with room to spare. However I do get extremely protective of my space when some big bugger tries to usurp ;-)

Blur Ting said...

That's such an entertaining read! Oh, you lucky girl. You get to travel in style! But really, it must be hard having to go for training right after that. It's hard to stay awake after a long flight, let alone concentrate in class!

fishwithoutbicycle said...

Thanks Blur Ting, it was nice to travel in style, but the training was tough on no sleep. I drank a lot of coffee :-)

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you had a lovely trip - and to fly Business Class, what a dream! Welcome home!

fishwithoutbicycle said...

Thanks Spandrel :-)

Sister Sassy said...

Sounds taxing, I would have fallen asleep, snored and drooled all over the place in that class.

Heather said...

so much i love about this post.

right at the top of the list are the words:

kerfluffle

and

chuffed

I've never flown anything other than economy.

I imagine if the time ever comes for me to move into the grown up seats, I'll be embarrassingly uncouth about it...

fishwithoutbicycle said...

Hi Sassy, the nice thing is that we had privacy screens so I was in my own little cocoon. No-one would have noticed any drooling.

Hi Heather, unfortunately business class just ruins coach for you, you know the people up front have it so much better. I'll keep my fingers crossed you get upgraded :-)

Bangs and a Bun said...

Suddenly, my Air Transat charter flight back to England for Crimbo just got much less exciting.

fishwithoutbicycle said...

Hi Bangs, I'm back in coach for crimbo too :-)

Agnes Mildew said...

You lucky person, you! The only time I got an upgrade was when relocating to Oman and carting a three month old baby along. Who didn't appreciate the fineries and fripperies like I wanted to. At least the alcohol flowed like tap water. There had to be some consolation! Glad you enjoyed the UK and caught up with friends and family!

fishwithoutbicycle said...

Thanks Agnes :-)

Kitty said...

Hey fish, you must be way busy? and I hope not stressed!

fishwithoutbicycle said...

Thanks Kitty, you are such a sweetie to check in. It's madly hectic at work at the moment :-(

Unknown said...

LOL oh I would've been just the same if upgraded. My mum always shells out for BC, but no way can I afford it!

fishwithoutbicycle said...

Hi Sarah, how lucky is your mum being able to shell out for business class. She travels in style :-)