Well, I can tell you now. You get your
wallet out of your pocket, pull the little plastic card outside, take a deep
breath and slide the card smoothly towards the bride smiling employee of Jet
Airways. Not as spectacular as one wishes right? It is just one month ago when I had my long flight from Frankfurt to
Delhi when the thought caught me ‘Man, dude, you would deserve travel business
class’. All the well-dressed people around in unnecessary suits and dresses squeezed
in an airplane for hours overnight. The advantage
of getting drinks and food first and most important of all, the 10cm more space
in your seat. I mean those 10cm are a real boost for the ego. You are
officially at least 10cm better than the domestic dudes behind the curtain
which one keeps you away from experience the normality of everyday life people.
Now, when I am about to fly business class I would have done a lot to
avoid this from happening. But, the universe and Karma are not my friends for
today. Tomorrow again, but for sure not today.
But lets, replay. I spent a beautiful and
exhausting weekend in Hyderabad and saw some of my old friends from three years
back. We had beers, laughter, and great
conversations. Who would have known; Hyderabad has several beer breweries now.
So, the sure thing we needed to try some
of the beers. Within our research, if
Indians are actually able to produce tasty beer we caught this nice sunset over
Hyderabad.
And yes, if you're wondering. Indians are able to do brew beer. Kingfisher is
just not the best example, only the most famous one.
Also,
I made my way back to the organization I was working for. Man, next shocker,
who would have known that kids grow that fast in three years? I mean growing
ok, but that much? The girls can easily spit on my head now and I have to say I
enjoyed the fact before, that it was the other way around. Four of them attend college now. That was
indeed one of the best news I got. It is expensive to send kids to college in
India and the organization manage to
enable the girls to attend higher education. Moreover, I listened to the big
plans of my manager and I have to say I was a bit speechless. He has big ass
plans to enlarge the capacity of the organization hugely. Through donations, he managed to buy a new land outside
the chaotic city of Hyderabad near schools and plans to construct a building
for about 200 children in need. Included in this building will be separated
sleeping dorms, kitchen, an office, learning rooms, and separate rooms for the
volunteers. After all, he wants to create a safe
place for more children in need than he can offer today. And just for that, he has my full respect.
However, back to the business class thing.
After the beautiful weekend full of refreshed
memories, me and my friend, finally start
to travel. First destination Nepal, Kathmandu. Me, in my excitement, decided to
arrive at the airport early. My friend's flight was earlier and I decided to
chill at the airport and just follow
after some time. I mean, solely with the plan nothing was wrong, theoretically.
Practically, my first plane to Delhi was three hours delayed. So it was pretty
clear I cannot make my connecting flight to Kathmandu.
In stress, I found a really helpful airline employee who run with me across the
whole airport to cancel my flight, re-book a new one, get my luggage (which was
already checked-in) and get the shit refunded. So far, so good. That guy,
firstly, was the hero of the day. Entering
my first flight I knew this will be ending with me running through Delhi
airport to catch my second flight. But back in Hyderabad people seemed
optimistic. Metro system is good so I can change terminals easily. I mean, when
I look back I was fast. Jumping out of the plane, getting the luggage, and into
the cab (metro was not the option anymore) took around 30 minutes. When the
taxi driver told me he will need at least 20 minutes
to the other terminal I told him very clearly that he can make it in 10.
Completely sweated through I entered the
check-in, well aware that the gate is already
closed. But since I am in India I thought come one, never say never, give it a
chance. Well, I gave it a chance, not so the flight assistant...
Close to my first tiny, tiny nervous breakdown, I booked online another fight just
to find out that they need 24 hours to process my booking. Since my flight
wanted to take-off in 14 hours that was not the option to wait for so long. So
next thing to do, crush the counter of the responsible airline and explain this let's
say, ‘unique situation. In the end, I came out of this conversation with a new flight, in business class, because no other
seats were left. I do not want to talk about money here again, but let me point
out, that I have four flights booked and I will actually experience two of them. One of them in business class for amazingly one and a half
hours. I do not know what the business class has to offer, but I will make use
of everything twice. But to get to the point of being in the business class, until
I reach the 10cm bigger seat I keep my standards low and sleep at the airport.
 |
| I keep it classy. 26h at the airport...Done |
Welcome to the business class Johanna
Good night and bis bald.
