A tale of two flights

I’m not a business or first class flier, but I have flown business class and I can say that the difference between the two classes is worlds apart.

My first business class flight was from Cincinnati, Ohio to London, England on Delta.  I had no idea that there was such a difference.  For us economy class flier, we typically walk through the first and business class sections and notice that the seats are larger and that there is more leg room.  That isn’t even the start of the differences.

When you fly business or first class on international Delta flights, you have access to their business lounges.  This is where the differences start.  The Cincinnati lounge is large, spacious, and quiet … you are completely insulated from the hustle and bustle outside [my apologies to those of you who consider this part of the travel experience; I don't].  There was hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.  The food was not bad either.

With a business or first class ticket, you can board first and then the service starts, including cocktails, a blanket, and a travel kit to include ear plugs and a sleep mask.  During our flight before dinner, the flight attendants served warmed nuts, not in a bag, but a nice serving dish.  Around dinner time, the flight attendant gave us a menu to make our selection.  She then comes back and said let us know when you are ready to eat.  Since this was an overnight international flight, the flight attendant asked if she should wake us for breakfast.

Now, this is service.

I want more than peanuts

Okay, listen up United States airlines, I want more than peanuts or pretzels on my next flight, especially if it is more than one hour thirty minutes.

Are our airlines the only ones that don’t feed us?  European and African airlines feed you, why can’t we.  Even on short flights, such as from Amsterdam to Frankfurt, we got breakfast, I think it was breakfast [a cheese sandwich, fruit, beverages], on our one hour thirty minute or two hour Lufthansa flight.

Perhaps, the most impressive airline [at least in terms of feeding you] is South African Airlines.  This airline feeds you at least on their intra-African flights.  Even on our approximate two hour flight from Livingstone, Zambia to Johannesburg, South Africa, we received a nice box lunch.  Admittedly, we were a little afraid to eat it after being advised by our travel physician to avoid fresh uncooked produce, but, hey, this is an international airline so we thought that we would be okay. 

Even more impressive, on longer South African flights that serve dinner, the airlines give you real eating utensils, not the plastic flatware that always break on the overcooked tough-as-leather meat that they serve.  As an aside, isn’t real flatware a “security” issue.  As far as airline food goes, their food is not bad.

To US carriers, at least, offer me a cheese sandwich on your one hour thirty minute flights.