I flew business class London to Chicago five years ago. I purchased the upgrade because the "Comfort+" seats en route to London were far too cramped for that long. My friend cried silently as the dude in front of her reclined so far as to nearly be in her lap for the entire flight.
But oh, Business Class! Sitting in the fancy lounge. The delightful tea service by a flight attendant who called me "Love." The blanket and slippers. The space - glorious space - to move and breathe freely. I didn't want to land.
As soon as we disembarked I realized I would no longer be able to fly economy again. I had crossed into a world that didn't belong to me and spoiled myself for anything less
Smokey Robinson was right, "a taste of honey is worse than none at all."
I guess my brain didn't really register the title of this, because when I got to "Club Aspire" I burst out laughing. That is AMAZING. Would love to meet the marketing genius who came up with that one. I do have pedantic note, though--Jeff Bezos is definitely in my Top 5 Least Favorite People, but he was born in '64 and Lauren Sanchez was born in '69. The fact that he cheated on his wife is not surprising at all, but the fact he cheated on her with someone born in the same decade as himself is absolutely shocking, and, imho, the most redeeming thing about him. It's like, hey, this profoundly evil creature didn't choose a 22 year old to debase! How refreshing!
I’ve spent many an hour in Club Aspire. I listened to a lot of your book there, actually. Have you tried being on a TV show again? I feel like they would fly you business at least.
I thought I was doing myself a big favor by springing for a comfort plus seats for my trip from Florida to California. About the only thing I noticed different from sitting in coach was that I was closer to that blue curtain that separates the rest of us from first class. Oh, and the lady next to me demanded a pillow which she was denied because they were out. That’s it.
I was once upgraded [actually my husband was but I begged to trade places] to First Class on a 2-hour flight and felt like minor royalty. My travel life has felt shamefully more disappointing with each coach seat.
It is hard to think of another industry that so cynically uses its monopoly (for international travel and to get anywhere in the continental US faster than driving) to drive its customers into annoyance and outright anger. It’s a prime example of the free market not promoting innovation, but a race to the bottom.
Do you remember when airlines were considering those “standing seats” so they could justify packing in more human meat into the same cylinder? I think that’s when they realized it would cost more to fight the inevitable lawsuits from the the injuries and violence it would incur than any extra profit using such seats would bring in. I have no doubt if they found some type of immunity from legal liability, there would be a section where they could strap you down to a thin metal slab and push you back into dozens of stacks of other people on slabs like a too tightly packed morgue.
I wanna see Elon in a cage match with meta Mark. I wanna see it soon, and hopefully broadcast worldwide for free since, well, the world has made them rich.
The prize should be that the loser never ever shows their face in public, on tv, x or via any other outlet. Like a monk, they will spend the remainder of their days in silence.
I can dream, can’t I? Oh, and if I were to bet on the winner, it’s gonna be Marky. All he does is train. All Musk does is talk.
Time for action, Elon.
This is relevant to your post because they’re rich. And they can get into any airport lounge they want, even if they’re flying private.
I flew business class London to Chicago five years ago. I purchased the upgrade because the "Comfort+" seats en route to London were far too cramped for that long. My friend cried silently as the dude in front of her reclined so far as to nearly be in her lap for the entire flight.
But oh, Business Class! Sitting in the fancy lounge. The delightful tea service by a flight attendant who called me "Love." The blanket and slippers. The space - glorious space - to move and breathe freely. I didn't want to land.
As soon as we disembarked I realized I would no longer be able to fly economy again. I had crossed into a world that didn't belong to me and spoiled myself for anything less
Smokey Robinson was right, "a taste of honey is worse than none at all."
I guess my brain didn't really register the title of this, because when I got to "Club Aspire" I burst out laughing. That is AMAZING. Would love to meet the marketing genius who came up with that one. I do have pedantic note, though--Jeff Bezos is definitely in my Top 5 Least Favorite People, but he was born in '64 and Lauren Sanchez was born in '69. The fact that he cheated on his wife is not surprising at all, but the fact he cheated on her with someone born in the same decade as himself is absolutely shocking, and, imho, the most redeeming thing about him. It's like, hey, this profoundly evil creature didn't choose a 22 year old to debase! How refreshing!
I comfort myself by noticing, as I squeeze through First Class on my way back to steerage, that those people aren’t smiling either.
I’ve spent many an hour in Club Aspire. I listened to a lot of your book there, actually. Have you tried being on a TV show again? I feel like they would fly you business at least.
It's a great idea. Unfortunately, show business is dead and I am dead within show business. So I have to devise a workaround.
Joe Stapleton from Long Island? Hmm.
I thought I was doing myself a big favor by springing for a comfort plus seats for my trip from Florida to California. About the only thing I noticed different from sitting in coach was that I was closer to that blue curtain that separates the rest of us from first class. Oh, and the lady next to me demanded a pillow which she was denied because they were out. That’s it.
Don’t fret. The “lounge” down the hall for real valued customers blows chunks too.
“One lady has been running a whining vacuum cleaner over the same spot of carpet for the twenty minutes I have been in here.” 😂💀
I was once upgraded [actually my husband was but I begged to trade places] to First Class on a 2-hour flight and felt like minor royalty. My travel life has felt shamefully more disappointing with each coach seat.
It is hard to think of another industry that so cynically uses its monopoly (for international travel and to get anywhere in the continental US faster than driving) to drive its customers into annoyance and outright anger. It’s a prime example of the free market not promoting innovation, but a race to the bottom.
Do you remember when airlines were considering those “standing seats” so they could justify packing in more human meat into the same cylinder? I think that’s when they realized it would cost more to fight the inevitable lawsuits from the the injuries and violence it would incur than any extra profit using such seats would bring in. I have no doubt if they found some type of immunity from legal liability, there would be a section where they could strap you down to a thin metal slab and push you back into dozens of stacks of other people on slabs like a too tightly packed morgue.
I'll be totally honest. I could only read 1/2 of this because I was laughing too hard. I'll finish it later.
I hear they're serving Tubes of Flesh in Comfort ++
Noah Wyle has probably been downgraded to Club Aspire too...
Mmm, now I crave Veggie Sticks.
I wanna see Elon in a cage match with meta Mark. I wanna see it soon, and hopefully broadcast worldwide for free since, well, the world has made them rich.
The prize should be that the loser never ever shows their face in public, on tv, x or via any other outlet. Like a monk, they will spend the remainder of their days in silence.
I can dream, can’t I? Oh, and if I were to bet on the winner, it’s gonna be Marky. All he does is train. All Musk does is talk.
Time for action, Elon.
This is relevant to your post because they’re rich. And they can get into any airport lounge they want, even if they’re flying private.
Yes, so true been there & done that. Never to return I’m afraid 😧