Emirates Part 1

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times or so my over-dramatic mind wants to put it for this summers trip back home using Emirates Airlines.  A trip that started so promising, and ended a little flatter than I’d like.

        It started back in May of this year when I needed to book my ticket home.  While Emirates was about $100 cheaper than all other carriers for my flight during peak travel season in China (July and August), the one stop-over flight plan stopping once in Dubai after an 8 hour flight, then continuing onto Houston for 15 hours (after a 5 hour layover) seemed like a plan for raging jet-lag.   However;  after hearing rave reviews and realizing that being able to say I’ve technically made a circle across the globe (because I came from the west last time) would be a cool “bucket list” item.  i decided to Fly Emirates.

      Going:

        I can’t remember much about that first leg from Shanghai to Dubai, except that I listened to Jerry Seinfelds best of stand up routine, and that I slept pretty well in my bulkhead seat.  For the non-flyers out there, bulkhead are the seats in front of the cabin, but not first class.  The leg room is usually just a little bit more, slightly more suitable for my 6′5″ (195 cm)/240 lbs (110 kg) frame.

       What I do remember from going home was the heaven granted to me by what I guess must have been computer lottery: While checking into my flight from Dubai to Houston, my ticket was scanned and a piece of paper came out.  The checker congratulated me on being upgraded to business class.  I didn’t realize it then, but for the next 15 hours, I experienced what Heaven surely resembled Heaven with wings.  

1. For food and drink we had: champange at the start, 4 choices of food which usually were choices from the All-Stars of Asian food, and chocolate, always tons of chocolate.
2. For seating we had a seat that turned into a bed and fit 95% of me with width and length-a record for airplane seating.
3. All kinds of ac and usb outlets along with days of movies, and music on their monitor.

I tried not to feel entitled, but as a big guy who when sitting in mere mortals seats feels more trapped than a hand deep inside a pringles can, I deserved at least #2.  While in America, I preached Emirates like it was the gospel.   I was looking forward to the possibilities on return.