1. Smoother Skies Ahead for Frustrated Travelers - but higher airfares and less-frequent flights are the trade-offs for a decline in delays. Really, I think I have a shot at a career as a visionary. This is exactly what I've been predicting. I can only hope that the resulting consequence that I foresaw comes true as well: that this move will cut down on the hoards of people traveling with squawking babies and maniac toddlers. Please God. My next prediction is that the airlines will cry poverty and abandon frequent flier programs as too expensive to continue. In that case, everyone will abandon their regular airlines and head straight for Virgin America.
2. Luxury Takes To The Skies in Singapore A380. Superjumbo! I knew it was the biggest commercial airplane - I didn't know it was the most luxurious. First class is replaced by cabin class: separate seat and bed - replete with designer quilt. Very good for rap stars and their shorties, or -in the event that Singapore runs into a rap star shortage - CEOs and Saudi princes.
designer quilt not pictured
3. Airline Meals.net Takes The Guesswork Out of In-Flight Food Service Unless you are going international, you don't need to know too much about airline food, if there is any food at all. Continental is one of the few left that still serves a hot meal. Most often its a twee little roll with turkey on it, a small bag of Fritos corn chips and a mini Twix bar. The reduced profit from those fewer flights mentioned in the first item here will knock out even this. for posterity, I record here the bet airplane meal I ever had: Continental Newark to Los Angels March 2007:
- heated mixed nuts (no peanuts)
- mushroom bisque with sherry
- cold crab meat and shrimp on a bed of frizee and arugula
- parmesan encrusted strip steak with haricot verts and Duchess potatoes
- some kind of dessert - can't remember
That was one of the choices - there was a printed menu on heavy card stock from which we chose our preferred meal and recommended wines.
I'm making myself sick because I won't make Platinum Elite this year and my first-class presence will be sharply reduced next year, so I doubt that I'll ever have a meal like that again but for that one time, it was a humdinger.
UPDATE: Well, put me in a bathtub and call me Mary - check out the sleeping pods.
It still looks claustrophobic to me. Think 15+ hour flights. As for your privacy for "monkey business" theory, think of that old song, "Making love in my Subaru".
Posted by: dave | October 16, 2007 at 08:02 AM
Heated nuts and sleeping pods. If I weren't so sick I'm sure my brain could make a connection there somehow... ;)
Posted by: pam | October 16, 2007 at 10:15 AM