Thursday 13 February 2020
Today I am flying
Emirates first class from Dubai to London.
It’s awesome. Some say
it’s the best first class in the world but I wouldn’t know about that. This is
probably the only time in my life I will fly first class on an airline like
this.
The experience starts
with the chauffeur whisking me smoothly to the airport in his S-class Merc. He
drops me off at the separate check-in section without any queues at security,
naturally.
I head to the first class
lounge, a vast oasis of calm in an otherwise heaving airport, where the staff outnumber
the passengers. I elect to have a la carte fine dining: delicious sashimi to
start, veal saltimbocca for main, and a fruit and cheese plate to round it off.
As expected, the wine is also excellent. I don’t bother with the spa or cigar
room, but I do use the sleep area for a while after a glass of 15-year-old
Glenfiddich.
Once on board, the
beaming stewardess hands me a hefty goodie bag. Bulgari amenities, gourmet snacks
galore, pyjamas for the overnight journey, slippers, moleskin notebook and
pen. She offers me a pre-take off drink.
I don’t hesitate in my choice: a glass of Dom Perignon 2008 Champagne.
There’s a fresh orchid
in my compartment. Enough gadgets for a James Bond movie and more bling than,
well, an Emirati 5-star hotel room. A
screen as big as my TV at home, and so the list goes on.
How did I get here?
I’ve done a few
business trips to the Middle East and saved up some miles. It turns out that
that the Emirates loyalty scheme is not very generous. Surprisingly, BA’s Avios are much better for getting reward flights.
With my working days
numbered, and business travel becoming increasingly exhausting, it made sense
to use my Emirates points for an upgrade, rather than wait for a reward flight
that will likely never come.
So I’m making the most
of the absurd luxury while I still can. Things will start changing soon. I will
need to cut back further at work, stop the travel, and retire in two or three
years with a pension pot that will very much put me at the back of the plane, if
indeed I’m on the plane at all.
We will be landing
soon. Whilst I enjoy my scrambled eggs and cup of tea, I reflect on the best bit
of my journey.
Taking a morning
shower at 41,000 feet. Obviously.