We are in Sydney after long but exceedingly pleasant flight from Vancouver. Eighteen hours on the plane but happily at the boarding gate in Vancouver we were finally upgraded to Executive First Class! Booked our flights through points with Aeroplan but they would not confirm seats in Exec Class despite our being forced to use the necessary points for Exec Class (ahh, the joys of dealing with Aeroplan and Air Canada). Tried to upgrade for 3 months through Aeroplan and then Helen politely harassed them at Vancouver airport. Success is so sweet!
As we sat on the runway toasting each other with good French Champagne we took our boots off, stretched out on the huge comfy seats and put our slippers on. "Wasn't it Marie who tried to slip into First Class in Germany?" I asked Helen...appalling what some people will try to do... think they based a Seinfeld episode on it 😊
Really the only way to travel - choice of several appetizers, mains and desserts from menu plus all the French Champagne we could quaff prior to choosing our dinner. Only 24 people in Exec 1st but 3 flight attendants devoted to us. On flight leg to Honolulu we ate Indian food, drank cold beer and then moved on to the California Cabernet Sauvignon and a large Late Vintage Port before putting seat down flat for a nap. The one onerous requirement was to lock seatbelt over our duvets so that our attendants would not have to wake us to check if seatbelts locked if turbulence encountered.
The one hour layover in Honolulu delightful as we were whisked into the Japan Airlines lounge with clean fully equipped washrooms, comfy wingback chairs and wide selection of drinks and snacks. Once we received personal notification of the boarding call we walked to a cramped and humid departure area overflowing with the proletariat from our flight - pity, but not nearly enough chairs for everyone so we were forced to step over people lying on the floor while others had jammed themselves onto window ledges or had to stand. Really shocking the conditions that some people will put up with.
We breezed through the sticky lounge and pre-boarded to discover fresh new duvet, pillow and toiletry kit on our seats. A few minutes later the sweaty masses began boarding the plane, filing in a grumpy fashion through our section to their cramped area in the rear of the plane. I was a little startled at the envious and spiteful glances fired our way by so many unhappy faces. However, the fact that Helen was stretched out doing back exercises on the floor space between our two seats and the row several feet in front of us may have been a little much for the poor bast**** in cattle class.
Well, not much more to say. Flight was another 10 hours to Sydney and we slept for about half the time. Amazed myself as I have never slept on a plane before but it was so comfortable plus the VSOP cognac helped nudge me into dreamland. Sydney Airport a zoo but happily all Exec 1st class passengers provided with "priority access" cards that allowed us to be whisked through immigration in two special lanes prior to picking up luggage and being waved through a special line at Customs. From touchdown to catching our taxi took no more than 10-15 minutes. Quite a relief and such a pleasant way to end our journey!
first classery we got bumped up to First class on our Vancouver to San Fran leg, and became sadly adjusted to the luxury life in that 2 hour span. Needless to say that the San Fran to Sydney leg in cattle class was less than desirable. Plus United didn't even have individual TV's in the back of each seat. We sat in row one right directly in front of the massive screen that serviced half the cabin!
Heather
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first classery
we got bumped up to First class on our Vancouver to San Fran leg, and became sadly adjusted to the luxury life in that 2 hour span. Needless to say that the San Fran to Sydney leg in cattle class was less than desirable. Plus United didn't even have individual TV's in the back of each seat. We sat in row one right directly in front of the massive screen that serviced half the cabin!