Business Class is My Friend

8 months ago, I flew to the UK in Delta's Business Class Elite Cabin. I've only flown business class twice, thanks to the airline's business zeal by overbooking the flight.

Seats>Bodies --> + Bodies --> other flights --> Happy Bodies in Business Class

OK, so that was a fail at math. But my point is, NEVER pass up the chance to volunteer for a different flight if there's a need. The airline is usually more than happy to compensate flexible fliers because that means it doesn't have to deal with as many frantic/pissy people clawing for any seat (maybe even 2 to a seat).

The first time I sat in business class (first class? Is that the same? If it's even better, then I can imagine those folks get an entire bottle of champagne instead of a glass) resulted from much persistent persuasion by my dad. Not towards the airline, but to me. Initially, all I wanted to do was fly home at an earlier and eat ramen. Thus foregoing the first (business) class-treatment and two additional ticket vouchers. My naive and overly-stubborn 17-year-old self didn't realize the sheer AWESOMENESS of rows 1-8 until I was sipping ginger ale from a wine glass and eating steak and haricot verts from china plates, better than our plates at home.

This time, the upgrade to business class (BC) was totally unexpected since I waited 6 more hours at the Atlanta airport and an extra layover in Manchester just for the flight voucher. I didn't discover this until I walked to the gate entrance with my new boarding pass. I guess being careless does have its advantages. I didn't read what it said on my ticket and handed it to the counter attendant. She scanned it and said "... Business class... enjoy your flight!" Alrighty then!

Without sounding pretentious, there is a tiny downside. All the detailed service brings a lot of unnecessary extras - Bose-esque headphones, toiletries/manicure set, thermal blanket, all the extra food (a cheese tray too) sitting in individual china plates, and trays espousing from unseen orifices of the chair. Yup, I'm easily amused and a total BC newb.

Thanks Delta for overbooking your flights so that thrifty college students like me can cross the Atlantic in comfort, style and with extended legroom I wanted to share with a tall, handsome gentleman in coach.