Traveling To India

Just observations (not terribly interesting)



Logan via bus, red line to silver line 6:30 am Wed.

Begin adventure into upscale life - using points to travel business class for first time

Admirals Lounge at Logan: 

glassed area a far end is a quiet room

kids room at Logan Admirals club.  Think I would rather have play space.



Boston to JFK or what goes on behind that curtain in First class.  (on points:)  Put away visions of pampering.  the crew member took our coats and then stood in the door eating a bagel.  Once in the air we were offered the usual beverages and from a basket we could pick the small packages of chips, pretzels, cookies.  We did not have at seat entertainment.  So I check my only First Class experience off the bucket list

The overhead "Entertainment System " in First Class

Complimentary drink and snack



5 hour layover at JFK spent in Admirals Lounge - there was complimentary coffee, tea,  sugar covered pretzels.   Showers,  wifi, comfortable chairs .  More comfortable than general waiting area but felt like one more of the kind of barriers that exist so that privileged don't have to see or interact with those less affluent.

Admirals Lounge at JFK

Norbert looking at one of the Galaxy Tabs that were scattered around



JFK to Helsinki.   Greeted as we entered business class with choice of orange juice, water, or champagne. Fully reclining seats were very much appreciated.  It was a 7 hour flight and the first 2 hours were spent serving drinks and a 4 course dinner.  1, a toothpick with a mushroom and a shrimp.

2. A plate with thin slices of meat with garnish.  3.  a pasta course with side dishes.  4. a small Hagan daz store container of ice cream with 2 chocolates.  We were offered cognac etc but declined in favor of sleep.  Between  the 2 hours for diner and waking us over an hour before landing for breakfast, we got less than 4 hours sleep.

Norbert studying the dinner menu

2windows at my seat.  Seats recline like wall hugger recliners. Wish they would do that with economy seats where you have to recline into others space.

We did accept the champagne this time.

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This was the second course.  Empty plate was for roll I declined.



Helsinki was dark and snow covered and looked beautiful landing.  It was around 1:30 am NY time and 6:30 am in Helsinki.  We went to an airport hotel for several hours but neither of us slept.  We watched very interesting international news  and enjoyed the peanut butter sandwiches we had packed.

Late afternoon we returned to the airport for the flight to Delhi. 

Finnair Lounge, Helsinki

                             Kids room at Finnair Lounge, Helsinki .  That's more like it!

5 hours and same coat and drinks service, greeting from very friendly crew.  Indian food didn't sit well with brains scrambled by time and lack of sleep.  This plane did not have fully reclining seats in Business class.  They were more like a low seesaw .  The seats were narrow so you had to sleep on your side and try not to slide down.. 

I love these maps that show where we are.  We also flew over places in the news, Moscow. Kabul,  Islamabad, and over the Himalayas.   These places all seem so close together from 35000 feet



 

Delhi was closed in with fog but our hotel had sent a taxi and the driver was careful.  Today has been spent sleeping and organizing.  Our room has no windows (good for sleeping) so except for some early morning sights of Gov and military buildings,  and people who slept in their improvised covers along the street we have seen little of Delhi.

 A mystery:  I had no liquids in my suitcase but when I opened it here in Delhi all papers in the inside lid compartment were soaked and the top layer of clothes were wet.   The outside of the suitcase was dry.   I no longer lock my suitcase as I have had mine opened twice before at Logan and the locks cut off in spite of  them being TSA approved. 

 I am grateful we had better sleeping conditions than economy but am once again aware of  how many ways the rich are protected from the experiences of most.