An Item on the Bucket List
First, I want to take a minute and talk about the line I crossed off my bucket list. This line reads; once before I die I want to fly first class.
I’ve flown a good number of times, all economy, and no complaints, but once I wanted to experience VIP treatment. I did a little research; one, a round trip first class ticket is ridiculously expensive. Two, not all first class accommodations are created equal, with some just giving you a little larger seat and better food. Last, a number of reviewers state executive class is ‘almost’ as good, but a little less expensive. Knowing all this, we stubbornly pushed ahead, booking two first class roundtrip tickets on British Airways. I can sum up my experience in a few words; you can’t make me go back to coach. I won’t do it. I can’t do it!
Flying first class gives you a dedicated security gate, nice in a busy airport and when they call your flight, you board first. British Airways first class lounge at Boston’s Logan airport is small, but very nice. Their first class lounge at Heathrow is outstanding, much more expansive, with room to spread out.
The first perk you should take advantage of after arriving, is sit down to dinner. The executive class and first class passengers share a lounge, the executive class passengers have an open room with a buffet, which looked pretty good, but as first class ticket holder, you are allowed access to more private seating and can order off a menu. The food is exceptional, equal to a top rated restaurant.
The menu gives you a choice of appetizers, salads, a half dozen entree choices, and of course dessert. We took an image of the menu to give you an idea.
As an example, on the way out, my wife had the glazed short ribs with parsnip mashed potatoes and red wine jus and I had the roasted Atlantic cod with asparagus on a bed of mashed potatoes pictured here.
I had the chocolate torte with Chantilly cream for dessert. My wife went with the strawberry rhubarb crumble, pictured above.
On the way back my wife chose a garden salad with the duck, while I went with a Caesar salad and a fabulous roast chicken. Do not be shy, you paid for this, the people waiting on us on both sides of the Atlantic were pleasant and wanted to make us happy.
We decided to celebrate our overseas adventure with champagne on the way out. I’m no expert, but you know when something tastes good, and this was very good. On the way back, we went with wine, the Bordeaux I had was outstanding, some of the best I’ve ever tasted. The lounge’s personal will liberally recharge your glasses.
We flew on a A380 Airbus, when you board you’re directed to your own cubical with a seat which can be adjusted back as far as you want, no worrying about ending up in the lap of the passenger behind you. If you want to sleep, the flight attendant will flatten out the seat completely and make up a bed.
You are given a charcutier of mixed nuts, olives, and biscuits, along with a hot face cloth, when you first seat down.
If traveling over night, as we were on the way out, your are given complimentary pajamas, and a small kit with travel toiletries; deodorant, shave gel, facial exfoliator, lip balm, a collagen moisturizer, a collagen eye cream, shampoo, disposable razor, tooth brush, toothpaste, and comb. This little kit saved me because I forgot my tooth brush. I mean really, who forgets their tooth brush?
If you didn’t eat in the lounge, no worries, your offered a full dinner on the plane. I was still a little peckish on the flight home and choose the salmon appetizer with asparagus pictured below.
A strategic item, to the right is the seating plan for the first class section of a A380 Airbus, it’s a screenshot, so I apologize for the quality. The window seats are always popular, but my wife and I enjoyed two of the middle seats. With the privacy screen lowered, we could chat.
Researching our plans, several people noted to avoid the front row of seats if you can, because people will be queuing up for the restroom. During the flights, I didn’t see this as a deal breaker, but that front section of the plane is more active, especially for the two front window seats, 1A and 1K in this diagram. So if you can choose your seat, try to avoid the front row, but any seat in first class is a good seat. In contrast, some people said the same thing about the last row, which has the kitchen and food stations behind it, but I didn’t find that the case at all. It wasn’t noisy and only the flight attendants passed through to get your food and drink.
I thought this would be a once in a lifetime thing, but if we book another long flight, six hours or longer, I might break open the penny jar again. For international flights, you’re asked to be at the terminal 3 hours before the fight. In the first class lounge you feel like you’re at a favorite gathering place instead of waiting in an airport. The flight itself was so comfortable and we were so pampered, when on the return trip the pilot announced we would be delayed on the tarmac for about 30 minutes, I didn’t mind a bit. I’m glad we did it, it was a lot of fun and made a long trip much easier and more enjoyable.
One last thing, a recommendation. If after having dinner at Heathrow’s first class lounge and you still have time to kill before your flight, find a comfortable chair in the main waiting area, and get yourself an Expresso Martini. If I ever start a list of the best expresso martinis, this will hold the top spot the other challengers will be trying to knock off. Delicious, doesn’t do it justice.