Trying to
upgrade our flight to Oakland during online check-in 24 hours before our flight
hasn't always been successful; we usually only get lucky on our return flight.
Honolulu to Oakland
But for some
reason, there were six empty first-class seats when I checked into our most
recent Honolulu to Oakland flight to visit our grandson. Grab grab, click
click, and voila! We were in first class.
The two best
things about flying first class are (1) the big, wide and comfy padded seats,
and (2) the food. Ah yes, the food. On this trip, we were served another
inflight meal created by Chef Chai Chaowasaree of the fine-dining Pacifica
Restaurant in Honolulu.
The wife took
the curry chicken; I took the cheese. Then we swapped halfway through. Both
were great starters.
Unfortunately,
the salmon was over cooked and a bit on the dry side, making it hard for the
wife to swallow. So I gave her half of my eggplant plate and ate about half of
her salmon. She loved the eggplant because it was like having eggplant
parmigiana – soft and Italiano. It was very tasty and frankly, I hated to give
it up. But what the heck – a happy wife means a happy life.
Dessert was
excellent – Pineapple Mousse Cake with Shredded Coconut, with Coffee, Tea or
Liqueur. We both had hot tea: Black English breakfast tea for me, green tea for
her.
They passed
out iPads loaded with movies, along with noise-canceling earphones, but we
opted for sleep instead in our wide, reclining, foot-rest provided, first class
seats.
Oakland to Honolulu
Normally, the
Oakland to Honolulu return flight is easier to upgrade. Unfortunately, when I
did a web check-in the morning before, there were no first-class seats
available. So, somewhat disappointed, we settled for our booked economy class
seats – in row 34, way the heck in the back of the plane.
Then, lo and
behold, when we checked our bags in at Oakland Airport, I offhandedly and
jokingly asked the ticket agent if, perchance, maybe, perhaps, a couple of
first-class seats became available.
"Yes,"
she said, she had two, did I want them? Oh hell, yes! I guess the original
occupants cancelled their first-class seats when a wife decided she could spend
the upgrade fee on something she really wanted, and "convinced" her
husband to cancel them and get a refund.
We had two
seats across the aisle from each other, but the nice lady sitting next to the
wife asked if I wanted to switch with her. How nice of her! I happily accepted
her offer and she and I moved. Then, when the person sitting in the window seat
next to my original aisle seat arrived, she asked the lady if they could switch
seats. "Of course," the lady replied, and slid over to the window
seat.
What an
extraordinarily thoughtful and accommodating lady. I've got to pay this forward
soon.
(By the
way, the flight attendant assigned to us is named ... Typhoney, pronounced
"Tiffany." She said passengers are always mentioning that it's an
unusual name.)
Okay, so the
food (breakfast this time):
Finally, as we
got close to Hawaii, they gave us Hawaiian Potato Chips with Koloa Breeze Rum
Punch. Being non-alcohol drinkers, we passed on the punch, but took home a bag
of chips each for munching while watching television.
I know ...
spoiled.
2 comments:
What a great upgrade!!
Wonderful looking food and it sounds as delicious as it looks.
Unusual spelling of the attendants name, but I guessed it immediately.
Looks as though it was a wonderful flight.
It was, Carolyn. We should always be so lucky!
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