It was a step back in time in more ways than one as I boarded the beautiful white whale of a plane. In my (much) younger years, I would dream about climbing those mystic stairs to the upper deck, once the echelon of the champagne set of the 1970s.
The Boeing 747 jumbo jet had pretty much been removed from fleets, so I jumped at the chance to fly Lufthansa when they reintroduced the plane to the flight from Vancouver to Frankfurt. Business class seats were offered in the upper deck, and I scored what I consider a prime seat. 84A.
Now, there was a time when two of me could fit into the wide body seat. Thanks to childbearing, menopause and a love of wine and wings, my physique is also classified as a wide body now, but there was still ample room to stretch out. And I mean REALLY stretch out. I was ruined for life. How would I be able to downgrade to economy again?
Bubbly? Yes, please. A travel kit? Lay it on me! OMG! I have three windows all to myself?
Okay, I admit it. I was like a kid just gifted with the latest toy. I had to test out everything and happily accepted everything offered. Did I mention the remote control in the center console? Not that I knew how to use it but pressing every button quickly got me on board. There was no acting cool on my part. I was loving it and every other traveler on that upper deck knew it. Especially the woman who thought I should give up my three windows to her kid. Not.
Dear reader – we cannot all afford to fly business or first class. But we all should spoil ourselves on occasion, especially when it involves a dream. I will have a lot of economy, worse seat on the plane flights ahead of me. And I am okay with that. I am traveling. But every once in a while, when points saved and low fares align, I will book business class again. Maybe even first class … someday.
Ladies! Live the dream!