Business Class: The Upside

Lines in checking counters are shorter.  You have bigger and more luggage weight and luggage count allowance.  In the US, the security check queue is different for Business Class passengers, and of course the lines are shorter.

Not really nice-looking when you look at it.  But I guess the 3x fare decides if you go left (front of the plane) or right (middle to rear side of the plane)

Aside from Juice/Champagne and Evian water after you sit, you get a really wide and better food selection.

as in Michelle Bernstein-level meals

Here is Delta's Japanese selection on their Tokyo/Nagoya-Manila leg.  Some are really really good, some I was not able to eat =(

Salmon is the center piece of the Japanese entree.

The Japanese meal selection could be tough to get.  I tried 3x in the past and did not get it. If you don't you still have other good selection, like this Veal number below.

This is Breakfast from the Tokyo-Detroit Leg.  French Toast with Eggs.

And this is the Boeing 747 seat layout.  Still, very relaxing that you are able to assume an almost flat sleeping position.  The seats in 767 recline comlpetely and transforms into a comfy bed.

For this Manila-Chicago trip the ticket said almost 5,000 US $.  I mean, the company paid for it not me of course.  But still a lot of money to get all these.  Worth it? 

Best Airline at Best Airport

Happy thoughts tungkol sa airplane.

Eto ang personal na listahan ng mga pinaka-OK na airlines at airport.  Kasama na ang mga experiences sa airplane at airport.

1.  Favorite Airlines
(Economy Class) Singapore Airlines.  Ang ganda kasi ng eroplano nila e.  Merong TV sa bawat upuan at puwede kang maglaro ng videogames.   Maluwag ang legroom.  OK ang food. 

(Business Class) Emirates.  1990's pa lang, meron ng on-demand video sa Emirates.  At nung early 2000 sila ang unang nag-introduce ng upuan na talagang nakahiga ka na, so mas masarap matulog. 

On-Time - Lufthansa.  Mga 3 beses lang akong nag-Lufthansa pero never silang na-delay.  OK din ang Singapore Airlines never pa nila ako dinelay sa flight.  Sa local naman, for me PAL is the best.  Marami nagsasabi na PAL = plane always late.  Pero in my experience, once pa lang nila ako dinelay.  Tingin ko sila pa rin ang most reliable airline sa Pinas.

Service - Favorite ko ang Philippine Airlines, iyong sa loob na ng eroplano ha.  (Ibang usapan sa check-in at baggage counter).  Ang babait kasi ng stewards at stewardesses.  Sobrang bait nila sa mga senior citizens.  Grabe din ang service ng Philippine Airlines sa Business Class.  What they lack in terms of amenities they make up in terms of service. 

Airline Food - Cathay Pacific Business Class, especially their US to Asia leg.  Wow!  para kang kumain sa isang gourmet restaurant.  Kung Business Class actually OK rin ang Air France (grabe ang kanilang wine at cheese selection).  Pag economy, gusto ko ang PAL lalo na kung galing kang ibang bansa for a long time  tapos kakain ka ng Bangus o kaya longganisa, sarap!

2.  Interesting Airlines
TAM - nag-fly ako ng Sao Paulo, Brazil papuntang Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Economy lang ang flight namin, tapos binasa ko yung emergency guide namin.  Eto ang sabi:  "in the event of an emergency, your seat acts as flotation device".  Ayos!  Ibig sabihin pag may emergency, tumayo ka kunin ang upuan mo at yakapin ito.  hahaha.  Ang matindi dyan may picture pa sila.  On the way back, business class ako.  Aha!  Meron na silang lifevests - grabe nga naman ang service merong pang-mayaman at pangmahirap.

3.  Celebrity Sightings
First flight ko pa lang sa US, kasabay na namin si Gary Valenciano. May concert sya nun sa US.  Mabait naman siya at nagpapa-picture sa amin

Nakasabay din namin si Moira Kelly sa isang domestic US flight.  Nakita rin namin sa airport sa Leonardo di Caprio (nung di pa sya sobrang sikat), si Tom Hanks.  Nakasabay din namin sa plane si Gustavo Kuerten sa Brazil at si Adriana Lima yung model.

Last flight ko sa Cebu, kahilera namin si Marvin Agustin.  Iyong cliente ko pa nga ang nakapansin, "Darwin, is that guy a celebrity?".  Maporma kasi.

4.  Favorite Airport
Dubai International Airport.  Grabe naman kasi sa laki.  Parang Megamall sa laki.  At grabe ang shoppingan.  Puwede ka ring bumili ng ginto na tinitimbang.  Meron ding shower room at sleeping rooms. Tapos ang mga restaurants, puro Pinoy.  So ang babait nila at dala ng dala ng pagkain.  Kaso 2003 pa ko last andun, di ko alam kung nagbago, sana hindi pa.

OK rin ang Schiphol Airport sa Amsterdam, Netherlands.  Maraming magagawa at may casino pa =)