Originally, I wasn't planning on going out to Utah to see Baby #2 being born. In fact, I tried to tell myself that it was going to be okay (it would) . That we didn't have the money (we didn't). That if I waited long enough, the airline prices would magically go down to a price I could afford (they didn't).
However, when Rebecca gave me an induction date, five days before she was actually due, I felt the pull to go. Again, I told myself that we couldn't afford it. But John knew I wanted to go. So during the night, he checked into airlines miles that we had accrued, and he discovered that he had at least enough to get me a free flight to Salt Lake. We would need to pay for the return flight. I didn't really want to even look into it (mostly because I didn't want to pay for the return flight), but he pushed me into doing it. And yes, I was mad at him for it, because it takes a lot of effort to really work out all that kind of stuff with the airlines.
It must have been inspiration that gave me the idea to look at my own accrued miles also. As it turned out, I had enough miles to pay for the return flight. So instead of paying $871 for a round-trip ticket, I would pay $150 in service fees, and I would be able to fly on the days I wanted at the times I wanted.
"Problem" was, the only seats available were in first class. At least, the cheapest available seats with my points were first class. Yes, there were seats in coach, but they were more expensive in regards to points. So if I wanted to fly to Salt Lake, I would need to fly in FIRST CLASS.
None of us could really believe it. None of us has ever flown first class. I wondered if I would need to wear makeup and heels...
Flying First Class is a revelation, especially for someone like me who gets pretty darn anxious before flying. The actual flying part I am, of course, not nervous about, but it's everything that surrounds the process of flying. Packing my liquids. Finding overhead space for my carry-on. Going through security quickly and efficiently. Bringing food onto the 4+ hour long flight. Dealing with crabby flight attendants. All of that stuff stresses me out.
But flying First Class eliminates almost all of those fears. I board first, and because there are only two seats for an overhead compartment, there's always room. And if there isn't, the flight attendants will find some. There are drinks served before the flight takes off, and every flight includes food. Real food with a protein and fresh fruit, and not just pretzels and cookies. And despite sitting next to someone every flight, it's like they aren't even there. And don't get me started on the flight attendants and how nice they all are. I do believe the cream of the flight attendant crop is used in first class. The flight attendants are smiley and friendly and more than willing to help. In fact, I can tell they feel rather useless when someone isn't asking for a replacement beer (the first one was too warm), or for a blanket (it's cold next to the first class window), or doesn't want to talk to them about their own boring business life. It almost feels like they want to be our friend.
But the best part? The leg room. I'm so used to getting off the plane with swollen ankles and stiff legs, but in first class, I arrive edema free.
It does make me angry that so many of the people sitting in first class act like they belong there. They can hardly give a "thank you" to the flight attendant, and they expect perfection.
And with that, I move over to the socialist way of thinking and wonder why flying isn't this way for everyone. It makes me angry that the majority of us don't have this experience when flying. It's going to be difficult moving back to the cattle car.
However, when Rebecca gave me an induction date, five days before she was actually due, I felt the pull to go. Again, I told myself that we couldn't afford it. But John knew I wanted to go. So during the night, he checked into airlines miles that we had accrued, and he discovered that he had at least enough to get me a free flight to Salt Lake. We would need to pay for the return flight. I didn't really want to even look into it (mostly because I didn't want to pay for the return flight), but he pushed me into doing it. And yes, I was mad at him for it, because it takes a lot of effort to really work out all that kind of stuff with the airlines.
It must have been inspiration that gave me the idea to look at my own accrued miles also. As it turned out, I had enough miles to pay for the return flight. So instead of paying $871 for a round-trip ticket, I would pay $150 in service fees, and I would be able to fly on the days I wanted at the times I wanted.
"Problem" was, the only seats available were in first class. At least, the cheapest available seats with my points were first class. Yes, there were seats in coach, but they were more expensive in regards to points. So if I wanted to fly to Salt Lake, I would need to fly in FIRST CLASS.
None of us could really believe it. None of us has ever flown first class. I wondered if I would need to wear makeup and heels...
Flying First Class is a revelation, especially for someone like me who gets pretty darn anxious before flying. The actual flying part I am, of course, not nervous about, but it's everything that surrounds the process of flying. Packing my liquids. Finding overhead space for my carry-on. Going through security quickly and efficiently. Bringing food onto the 4+ hour long flight. Dealing with crabby flight attendants. All of that stuff stresses me out.
But flying First Class eliminates almost all of those fears. I board first, and because there are only two seats for an overhead compartment, there's always room. And if there isn't, the flight attendants will find some. There are drinks served before the flight takes off, and every flight includes food. Real food with a protein and fresh fruit, and not just pretzels and cookies. And despite sitting next to someone every flight, it's like they aren't even there. And don't get me started on the flight attendants and how nice they all are. I do believe the cream of the flight attendant crop is used in first class. The flight attendants are smiley and friendly and more than willing to help. In fact, I can tell they feel rather useless when someone isn't asking for a replacement beer (the first one was too warm), or for a blanket (it's cold next to the first class window), or doesn't want to talk to them about their own boring business life. It almost feels like they want to be our friend.But the best part? The leg room. I'm so used to getting off the plane with swollen ankles and stiff legs, but in first class, I arrive edema free.
It does make me angry that so many of the people sitting in first class act like they belong there. They can hardly give a "thank you" to the flight attendant, and they expect perfection.
And with that, I move over to the socialist way of thinking and wonder why flying isn't this way for everyone. It makes me angry that the majority of us don't have this experience when flying. It's going to be difficult moving back to the cattle car.
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