This Aviation Lifestyle
Boeing 777…it’s like I’ve gone to heaven!
I used to think that there was hardly anything better than flying off on an international flight. That was until I experienced flying off on such a flight in the Boeing 777’s business class cabin. Wow! What a treat that was this spring to experience such a seat, if one can call it a “seat”, and such service as well. My recent travels to Australia and back last month found me enjoying the startling revelation that I can indeed fall completely asleep for hours in an airplane seat.
This was no mean feat. To fall into deep sleep while on an airplane, well, this has been something which has eluded me during almost four decades of flying around the globe. Until my most recent international flights on the Triple 7, I have been unable to go to sleep for any amount of depth no matter how long the flight. This was my third trip to Australia and the first one that found me emerging from customs all spry and energetic. My brother and sister-in-law were quite surprised while my young nephew was just so excited that Aunt Lac had all this energy her first day back in Australia. It was no trouble at all to fall right on into their time zone and schedule. I didn’t need a nap that afternoon and wasn’t trying to cover up yawn after yawn during dinner as well. This truly is the way to fly long distances if one can do so.
I’m not sure what pleased me more within this new experience: the fact that my seat smoothed on down into a flat bed, the privacy of the pod-shaped seat area, the food and drink selections or the stellar service. It was all such a remarkable in-flight experience that I hardly remember drifting away to sleep and waking up almost eight hours later. It was truly such a shock to actually fall asleep at all that once I woke up, I kept checking my watch to see if the time on it was indeed the correct time. For years and years, I have lightly dozed in airplanes during overseas treks to the United Kingdom, Iceland, Europe and Australia but have never slept the deep sleep of a bed-like atmosphere until now. I am much too aware of others sitting near me whenever I’m flying. I am terrified of falling asleep to the point where I could lean against them, kick out with a leg or heavens forbid, drool or be snoring away. Usually I sort of cat nap with my eyes closed but my ears still listening and my arms and legs very contained. To actually lie down and relax without any worry of disturbing anyone else in my near vicinity was probably the most luxurious thing about my seats on the triple seven.
Earlier this spring I had flown business class to Paris and then back from Amsterdam which was a treat as well of course. However, those seats were more like tricked-out luxury seats than this personal pod. In my personal pod, I had a foot rest, arm rest/counter spots, very cushy seat with vibrating back massage, pull out tray table, pull out screen and a nice wall expanse for privacy. The small reading light placed near my head area was a great extra touch. I am short enough that, when put down into its completely lowered position, the seat bed’s length fit me perfectly. Best yet, I could turn onto either side and curl up within this space as well. After a nice serving of drinks and then the meal, once the lights were dimmed, it wasn’t any time at all until I was snoozing away. The quilted comforter and pillow were so cozy. I had put on the eye shade and chosen sleep music to listen to but when I awoke, both the shade and earphones were askew. I had really, truly slept on an airplane for the first time in my life- amazing! I hopped off the plane after landing in Australia feeling terrific and likewise, felt the same when arriving back into the Los Angeles Airport. I never quite know what kind of seat I’ll get whenever I fly. I’m always grateful for making it on a flight whatever seat is available. However, I’ll always be especially grateful for experiencing these recent flights in business class on the Boeing 777 during my third journeying to Australia.
Funny enough, on my very first flight overseas, I can’t even remember my seat experience. There I was, all of 15 years old flying over to England with our high school orchestra to do a concert tour. It was always fun within our particular gaggle of teenagers but add in two boys soccer teams also traveling in the back of that 747 and well… Seats, what seats? This was back in the early 1980’s and we kids were all over the place chatting, teasing and goofing off. We weren’t too rowdy but we also weren’t sitting very still either. I played soccer as well as played the viola and so found myself chatting away with some of the team members most of that overnight flight into Heathrow. Other flights as an exchange student, as a collegian and as an adult traveling, I’ve also basically remained awake-but-resting or nodding off just briefly. The time that my late mother and I flew over to travel around England and Scotland, we were so excited to be doing this, we talked the whole way there. Not surprisingly, we also talked the whole way back as well. Mother had wanted to visit England her whole life. It was so great to be there seeing her experiencing this longtime dream’s realization. Neither of us had ever been to Scotland so that was such a thrill to cross over the border together. And of course it was neat to be in a country where no one looked the slightest surprised at hearing my name since Lachlan is a commonly known Scottish name, albeit a man’s name.
My mother passed away long before these personal seat pods were put into service however, I know she would have absolutely loved them. We couldn’t have chatted much over their walls so we would have been a lot more energetic our first day in England together that’s for sure. But though we were bleary eyed, we were so very happy to be there and after all, happy landings is what it’s all about whatever seat we’re flying in.
by Lachlan Ivy