Today’s flight marks the beginning of month FIVE of the Sabbatical. So far things are going great. I have been having the time of my life and now it was time to head to Asia until Christmas.
I am a big travel dork and I am super excited!!! In the next two months, I will get to experience SIX LONG HAUL FLIGHTS in the crown jewel of all commercial aviation, International First Class. As most airlines have removed their first class and now only offer business class internationally, a select few continue to offer the top travel experience. In the coming weeks, I will be flying on Emirates, Singapore, and Japan Airlines in their international first..
I collect frequent flyer miles so I can take flights in First and Business class. It’s a hobby. Or maybe an addiction. Twenty years ago, I got a million miles buying Nutrigrain bars. Then I got another million miles buying magazines through ValueMags. My hubby was worried in the beginning but once he was in First on Cathay Pacific drinking their signature drink, a Pacific Sunrise, he accepted my strange hobby.
For my Sabbatical year, I have strategically chosen routes where International first class is still offered. As I sat in my office in San Francisco planning my year long trip, I quickly found a nice 45,000 miles ticket on SQ in Business from South Africa to Phuket via Singapore. This is definitely a bargain. I love SQ Biz and have even gotten their new A350 on this route in the past. I sure wish that they still offered First Class on their African route but that was cut over a decade ago around the same time that CX also stopped flying First there too. Ah the global demise of my favorite way to fly..
As I lamented, I decided to hop on the Emirates site to see if they had First available via Dubai. Yes, this was definitely the long way compared the SQ routing. Well guess what?!? The JNB-DXB-HKT routing was available in Emirates First on the dates I wanted. BUT my greedy friends at Skywards wanted 141,000 miles for the trip. OUCH!! This was a whopping 100K more miles to fly EK First over SQ Biz. I debated it for about a minute and then pressed GO. I think the Frequent Flyer Gods frown on people who choose to fly Business when First Class is available. And the Gods have served me well so I don’t want to upset them. Isn’t life measured in how many International First Class flights one gets to experience?
I originally booked my flight with a nice 20 hour layover. Emirates would put me up in a nice five star hotel for the transit. But then when I was in Torremolinos last summer, EK sent me an email saying my connecting flight DXB - HKT had been canceled. So they moved me to the following flight. But I figured out this would mean two nights of hotel needed. I called to confirm they were covering the second night since this change was their fault. NOPE! In fact they weren’t even going to offer the first night since the transit was over 24 hours! WHAT?!?! This didn’t make any sense. I asked to speak with a supervisor but the script that he was reading from clearly refused to pay for any nights when the longer transit was even caused by EK! This didn’t make any sense to me. But after over an hour on the phone with them, I gave up. If I had sensed any hesitation, I would have pressed harder. But they were resolute from the beginning. It was a firm NO. Emirates Customer service earned a solid FAIL for this.
Luckily my nice Mormon Grandma Marriott took care of me. Her Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Dubai Marina agreed to take in a weary traveler as long as I was willing to compensate her for the troubles. I still think EK should have picked up the tab on this but instead they chose to clearly kick the can my direction.
The benefit of having two nights was that my friend Ismail that I had just met in Egypt was going to fly over and visit me there. It was nice to have a transit layover buddy. I loved that he was enough of an adventurer to decide to join me! He has a great spirit.
FLIGHT #16 OF THE SABBATICAL
Emirates #762, A380-800, FIRST CLASS
DEPARTURE: Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB) 13:25
ARRIVAL: Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB) 23:45
DURATION: 8h20
My nephews and entourage dropped me off at Terminal A at my suggestion. Most of the international check-in desks are there. Well Emirates now operates their check-in from Terminal B. Then after dropping your bags, you have to walk back over to Terminal A for security and passport control. This airport used to be so easy. Maybe it’s the curse after the airport was named for so many years after a white supremist. Damn you Jan Smuts.
International First Class, Baby!
The check-in was super smooth. I had already figured out that I would have to collect my bag in Dubai even though I didn’t need it until Phuket. I just reminded myself that I was going to get to see Ismail again because of this change and it made everything okay.
So I trekked once again back to Terminal A to do security and passport control. I was shocked to find out that Emirates still hadn’t opened up the Emirates Lounge in Johannesburg after COVID! What were they waiting for? Instead they offered the First Class passengers the Menzies Shongololo Lounge. WHAT?!?! This is a low-end Priority Pass lounge that I have been to far too many times. There is absolutely nothing special about the lounge. Their version of “fancy” is hand roll sushi filled with cucumber. How exotic!!
Luckily my AMEX Platinum card gets me into the best lounge at JNB, the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse. We had been there this past January when we flew Lufthansa First Class home after Christmas. It is a lovely lounge with the best food of most lounges around the world. The menu is top notch and the quality of the food is excellent.
I knew that I would be eating a lovely lunch on the plane but I still ordered a Caprese Salad and a Cumin and Coriander Pulled Lamb Flatbread with minted Taztziki. Last time I was here in January, I had an amazing filet of ostrich. I definitely was looking forward to having lunch here today and it didn’t fail to impress.
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at JNB
Soon my flight was boarding and it was time to get to the gate. Luckily I easily walked on our A380 and soon was being shown to my suite. Part of the decision to spend the extra 100K miles was made when I saw that the aircraft to Dubai was their A380. This means that I would get another shower at 39,000 ft. The geeky Flyertalker in me just loves the thrill of this. I wouldn’t really NEED a shower on this flight but I was for sure going to take one.
My plan for the 8 hours up to Dubai was to relax for a while and enjoy the Dom. Then once I was at all hungry, I would begin the meal service which in my mind I was calling “dinner”. Then I would relax and maybe nap. Then shower and have another bite to eat before landing. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon.
The lovely Emirates Suite
I was greeted by a lovely flight attendant who offered me a drink. My question at this point is “Are you serving Dom or not Dom?” She responded with the correct answer, “Dom”. Let the fun begin. Many have written about the EK suite. Let’s just say it’s all bling, the total opposite of the SWISS suite. I am glad to see that their new First on the 777 is toned down a bit. Bling is definitely part of their brand so you understand what you’re getting even before you board.
Five other passengers would be joining me in First for our journey to DXB. With the cabin being less than half full, I expected that service would be touch notch and it was. Once in the air, the crew kept my beautiful flute topped up nicely. As soon as we were taxiing to take off, I threw on my headphones and started a Spotify playlist that I created for moments like this, “Take Off”. It’s a collection of symphonic songs that would fit the soundtrack of my life at that moment. I love to put down my phone and other distractions to just enjoy being in the present. I work for hard moments like this. It’s my passion to travel like this. The first song on my list is the soundtrack from Disney’s California Adventure’s “Soarin’ over California”. Its sweeping melodies are a perfect match to the anticipation of a great flight. By the time the flight attendants are up and offering me something to drink again, I have nestled into my happy place on my way to 39,000 feet. On this flight, I lingered in the moment enjoying the music and the views of South Africa. It had been wonderful to get to spend such a long visit there with everyone.
At some point I got out my iPad and continued watching my own entertainment for a while. During the meal, I still prefer to watch one of the inflight movies to simplify things. I usually try to stick to romcoms or other comedies in flight to keep it light. But today I chose Elvis to keep me company during my meal. I had heard great things about it but the film had eluded me until now.
I finally let the flight attendant know that I was ready to eat. The crew sprung into action and soon I had a beautiful table setting laid out in front of me. I have to say that it is one of the most beautiful in the sky. First I love white tablecloth service in any restaurant of the world. EK First and QR Business both do this exactly right for me. Nothing says you’re going to be eating well more than a crisp, starched white tablecloth laid out in front of you. Japan Airlines uses brown tablecloths in First which I have always found a bit odd. Then seeing the Mother of Pearl caviar spoon definitely indicates that great things are ahead.
This is why I fly!
Today’s meal started with an amuse bouche of a Caprese and pesto salad and a prosciutto wrapped melon slice. Both were a bit uninspired but had good flavors. My bouche was nicely amused.
Next came the traditional caviar served with blinis, lemon, hard boiled egg yolks, raw onion, and chives. They gave me a healthy portion to enjoy. I had read that EK was now offering “All You Can Eat” caviar. Maybe the flight attendant looked at me and just said that she would preempt additional servings by simply offering a serious first helping. Decades ago, I read here on Flyertalk that someone flying CX First would order their morning scrambled eggs with some caviar sprinkled on top. It’s WONDERFUL. I always feel a little sheepish asking for this so I frame the request like “If there is any caviar leftover, I would love some on top of my eggs.” It is always greeted with a smile.
My appetizer was a nice grilled shrimp. If not overcooked, spicy shrimp are a choice for airline food. Next was a lovely pea and leek soup. For the main, I had the Beef Wellington. As soon as it arrived I realized that I had it many times before on EK. The meat is lovely but the crust just doesn’t do well in their ovens. So once again, I just ended up eating around the semi cooked dough and the meat was lovely. With each course, I was working my way through their wine list. By the time I was at the cheese course, I had finally ordered my first glass of Hennessy Paradis. In my normal life I can’t afford such pleasures so it is one that I enjoyed uniquely on EK First.
One of my favorite first class stories ever was once my dear friend Tom and I were on the 15 hour journey from SFO to Dubai in EK First. At check-in we were informed that we were the only passengers that night. BINGO. Let’s just say, he and I had a great time. We have had several memorable flights together but this was the best ever. After the meal service, I introduced Tommy to the pleasures of Paradis. After enjoying our snifters a bit, we decided to walk back to the Business Class bar to be social. After we had been there for ten minutes, one of the First Class flight attendants arrived with the bottle of Hennessy Paradis discreetly wrapped in a white dinner napkin. She informed the bartender that he was to serve this to the two gentlemen visiting from First Class. The fact that a bottle of Paradis was following us around the airplane shows the kind of service they offer.
EK First Class Lunch
In true tradition, I made my way back to the back of the bus bar which was very lively since it was a day flight to DXB. I love that I was photobombed in my bar pic. I had been chatting with his group and he was a fun character, direct from Central Casting of an American coming home from a safari.
Slumming at the Business Class bar with photobomber
Soon it was time for my afternoon nap. The FA made up the opposite middle seat as my sleeping suite. By this point, the cabin was dark and the stars had come out to help me sleep. I enjoyed a perfect little siesta for an hour and half.
A bed under the fake stars
Once I woke, it was time for the big event, the latest episode of Showering at 39,000 feet. My first shower happened 12 years ago. I made a fun little video about it and posted it on YouTube. About three months later, it somehow went viral and I got 300,000 hits in no time. This was my fifteen minutes of fame.
Then several years later, Jennifer Aniston did a fun commercial for Emirates First. CNN did a short story on her making the commercial and being afraid of flying. They ended up using footage from my YouTube video including some of me standing there almost naked with messy hair. I found out about it because a friend in Hong Kong texted me immediately saying he just saw me on CNN! WHAT?!? It was evening and I had to go to bed. I would do some research in the morning. Then a friend in Singapore texted. And India. Finally Europe was awake and I received two messages from friends there. I searched online but couldn’t find it on their website! The story finally started to run on CNN in the States and I saw it! It was really funny to see me giving the thumbs up with the lower third headline, “HIGH-FLYING LUXURY AIMED AT THE U.S. MARKET”.
Olafman on CNN
Many inflight showers later, there is still something exciting about getting fully undressed on a plane and feeling the heated floor with your bare feet. I was giddy. Then stepping into the warm stream of water is a pleasure unlike any other. It’s still my favorite experiences in the sky. If I had flown on the SQ routing, the highlight would have been some nice satay. There is no comparison.
All showered and ready to go!
An hour before landing, I wasn’t very hungry but decided I needed to top my stomach off. I had a nice bagel with smoked salmon and a chicken salad. I debated more caviar but my mood was more into some comfort food. It hit the spot.
Lox bagel and shrimp salad
We landed in DXB and were soon at T3. The flight was as good as it gets. This was so worth an extra 100K miles and it was just half over! Emirates sure knows what they are doing. Unfortunately with what happened next, I won’t be flying back to Dubai anytime in the near future.
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
I was first off the plane and soon was passing through passport control. I am always surprised how serious the men who work there are. This is all business. They are all dressed in the traditional dishdasha which immediately lets you know that “Dorothy, we’re not in Kansas anymore.” I got my stamp and then next got my carryon bags scanned. I got flagged. They confirmed that I was the owner of the bag. Yes, that’s mine. He informed me that I was entering their country with prohibited items. Oh, dear. My “weapon” chef knife was in my checked bags so what had they found this time?
On the scanner, I could easily identify the two items they were upset about. Let’s just say they were personal, intimate items. He opened my bags and confirmed what they were. He informed me that they would be destroyed. Jesus. He asked me to follow him. I began to get a bit nervous. Were they going to let me in? Were they going to fine me? The higher humidity of Dubai didn’t help matters. I was beginning to sweat. A lot.
I was asked to sit in a waiting room with others. It felt like we were were all waiting outside the middle school principal’s office for using our cell phones during class. After about thirty minutes, I was called up and had to give lots of information. Then I had to sign a report giving consent that they could destroy the prohibited properties. Finally I was told I could go. That was it. It had taken about an hour to get processed. It’s not an hour I ever wish to repeat ever again.
The interesting thing is that I have searched on the UAE government websites and have yet to find anything about this type of prohibited item. It was a good reminder that when we travel, we do not have the same rights nor liberties that we enjoy in our home countries. In the end, I lost $100 worth of property which I will replace during my short visit back to San Francisco at Christmas. Whether I choose to enter the country of UAE in the future is uncertain and even unlikely. Life is a constant exercise in risk assessment, the ONLY thing that Dubai has going for it is the airline, Emirates. Other than that, I don’t need to return for the Dubai city experience. I have always said that Dubai is like Las Vegas, but without the charm. And Vegas has NO charm. Dubai somehow has even less.
In the car on my way to the hotel, I tried to take some deep breaths and do a reset. I wasn’t in the mood to do a gratitude list. But I was about to spend two days with my friend Ismail from Egypt. Then I have the EK First Class lounge visit and another First Class flight. Life is good. And the bonus was that I wasn’t in a UAE prison! Yay!
Check-in was super fast at Grandma Marriott’s Grosvenor House hotel. My suite was in the opposite tower and soon Ismail was greeting me at the door to our room. His big, friendly smile was a welcome sight. A local work friend had picked him up at the airport and brought him to the hotel. The friend also came up to the room and Ismail was a bit shocked when he saw how large it was. I hadn’t said anything to Ismail that I had gotten us a “nice” suite. Ismail wasn’t out to his work friend and didn’t quite know how to explain how he was staying in this huge suite. The moral of the story is don’t bring work friends up to your room when on a clandestine rendezvous. It was super late so we hit the hay and set an alarm to catch the end of breakfast.
The next morning we decided to eat downstairs in the main restaurant instead of the Executive lounge. They offered a wonderful buffet with lots of options. And like with the “Dom or not Dom” pre departure drink test. The Grosvenor House passed the “Smoked salmon or no smoked salmon” breakfast buffet test. As I am 75% Scandahovian, pickled or smoked fish at breakfast is an important start to the day. We have that in common with the Japanese. We lingered at breakfast and enjoyed catching up on our lives from the past month.
One of the benefits of staying at the hotel is that you get to use the beach at the Le Meridian Hotel Royal Club. We decided to walk over but walking in Dubai is fruitless. They seem to really discourage pedestrians. There are few sidewalks. And the drivers seem to aim for the pedestrians. There was a shuttle provided by our hotel but after a sedentary morning, I thought a 15 walk would do us good. Let’s just say we almost died. Several times.
It turned out that the journey was worth it and soon we were nestled underneath our beach umbrella on two comfy lounge chairs. It was a lovely setting on this warm day in the Middle East. We walked across the sand into the ocean. The sand was so hot that we had to wear flip flops to the water. We had lots of fun in the salty water and enjoyed watching the skydivers land nearby.
Breakfast seemed hours ago so we soon ordered lunch under our umbrella. I had an excellent shrimp salad and Ismail ate a club sandwich. We both really enjoyed the moment together.
Lunch with Ismail on the beach in Dubai
Since it had been a late night, we took a much needed nap. We woke just as the sun was setting and Rihanna accompanied us as we enjoyed this special moment. Soon we were dressed and headed to the Executive lounge for some evening drinks and nibbles. The lounge was almost all Americans and they sure aren’t the quietest bunch of travelers.
Finally we ubered over to the Burj Khalifa to see the water fountain show and have some dinner. I always love a fountain show whether at the Bellagio or in front of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. The show at the Burj was also wonderful especially with the light show on the building itself.
Sushi on a warm Dubai evening
We ate nearby at a sushi restaurant. Ismail and I both love sushi so it was an easy decision. We over ordered but almost finished the huge platter and appetizers. We went back to the hotel after and hung out with full bellies.
The next morning we both had flights around 10 am and Egyptair wanted Ismail three hours earlier. I didn’t mind since I had a great lounge to experience. So we returned to the airport and said goodbye at the curb. It had been a wonderful 36 hours together. I am so glad it worked out.
FLIGHT #17 OF THE SABBATICAL
Emirates #762, B777-300, FIRST CLASS
DEPARTURE: Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB) 10:25
ARRIVAL: Phuket, Thailand (HKT) 19:30
DURATION: 6h05
The First Class desks were empty as usual and I was quickly checked in and through security. My flight today was from the C gates but I stopped off at the B gates lounge as it is bigger and nicer.
The Emirates First Class Lounge is truly impressive. I am not sure but I think it’s bigger than the Qatar First Lounge. Offering lots of seating areas, you are never close to any other passengers. Often, you have an entire section to yourself save the waiters waiting for you to motion them over. I had eaten barely anything at the hotel lounge with Ismail, so Mama was hungry.
The Emirates buffet earned a thumbs up because they offered gravlax cured salmon. Its subtle flavor was just perfect. My main was Eggs Benedict served over turkey bacon and toasted bread instead of an English Muffin. It felt a little rustic for a fancy First Class lounge. Normally I order a non-breakfast item as the quality tends to be much higher in this lounge. Today’s choice just confirmed this was a better thing to do. But it was perfectly fine. As a home chef, I make great Eggs Benedict. So when I go out, I want something better that I make at home. This wasn’t quite that.
Emirates First Class Lounge at the B-gates
As the EK lounges are open to the terminal, they tend to be very noisy especially when a gate below is boarding. CX’s Wing has exactly the same problem so I much prefer The CX Pier which is beautifully enclosed and quiet. So I decided to pop into the EK’s quiet room which has loungers lined up with thin fabric hanging between. It really doesn’t feel very First Class or private. But the room was empty, so I enjoyed a peaceful 30 mins. I could have gotten a complementary 15 minute massage or spa treatment but I was headed to the land of massages. And I prefer to be fully naked for a massage instead of keeping a t-shirt on.
I left time to explore the C Gates First Class lounge so I began the 20 minute trek south. The EK ground experience is lacking in many areas. I feel bad for any passengers, especially the elderly that have to walk long distances at airports. There are many better solutions available.
I arrived at the C Gate lounge and was surprised how small it was. Also it was on two floors which I believe should also be avoided since we all have rollie bags these days. There were probably two other passengers in the whole lounge and an army of lovely servers. When one approached to take my drink order, I debated ordering just some hydrating water. But I feared angering the Frequent Flyer gods, when one is at an EK First Class Lounge, one must drink champers. So I compromised and had both.
Ismail texted me at some point that he was safely at his EgyptAir gate with no problems. We had an amazing time together. It was a little bit like a fantasy because it was a super short time together and we don’t know when we will see each other again. He is dating a guy in Berlin. And I am married. Even with all those factors, he and I have an amazing connection and will be friends in the future.
Boarding was in the gate opposite the lounge so I meandered over at the boarding time. Another Emirates First Class flight was about to happen!! Little did I know it was going to be extra special!
As I arrived at the door, I was greeted by name even before showing my ticket. I love when this happens. My friends at the Mandarin Oriental do a very good job of this too and it makes me feel very special. Today’s flight has eight seats in First and to be greeted by name at the door is amazing. I felt very welcome. The Purser introduced herself to me and let me know that I was their only passenger tonight. I LOVE WHEN THIS HAPPENS! Okay, so it’s a little less impressive now that they knew my name at the door but it was still nice! I asked if I could store my rollie bag in the suite across from mine and she said, “Of course! The whole First Class is yours!!” I like how she thinks.
The moment I actually sat down after arranging all my things, a new flight attendant came and introduced herself as Sara from Brazil. She and Natalie from South Africa would be taking good care of me today. I promised to help them not be too bored. She asked what I wanted to drink and already knew that I didn’t even have to ask “Dom or not Dom” at EK’s home base. I knew it would be P2, or for the uninitiated that’s Dom Pérignon Plénitude 2. After close to 15 years of slow maturation in the cellars, Dom Pérignon describes Plénitude 2 as ‘wider, deeper, longer, more intense - and gifted further with an extended longevity.’ I am not all that fancy but all I know is that it’s a nice glass of champagne. Skål.
One of my favorite moments of a first class flight is once I am settled and enjoying those first sips of the champers, I love opening the menu and discovering my culinary journey for the next few hours. Emirates presents their menu and wine list in an impressive leather folder similar to a fine dining restaurant. Today’s flight was only six hours and I was sad that I would be able to eat my way through the menu that way that I have done in the past on the 15 hour flight from San Francisco to Dubai. I for sure would not be leaving the plane hungry.
I told the crew that I would like lunch about an hour into the flight to give me time to enjoy the P2. The sky for today’s flight was amazing. I am still enough of a kid to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the views out the window regardless of what class I am flying. It offers a sense of tranquility and helps put all the world’s problems into perspective.
During the main meal, my light movie was “All My Friends Hate Me”. I often understand that these might not be Oscar worthy performances but wow! My meal was SO much better than this movie. Luckily as the flight attendants came by throughout, there was no need to pause the movie fearing I might miss some key dialogue or plot point. It was pure fluff. Rotten Tomatoes gave it an 89! But the box office was only $80,405 which I think is a better indicator. So they are making their money selling the movie to tipsy folks in Emirates First Class.
Luckily my meal was outstanding and made up for it all. The amuse bouche was another melon and prosciutto served with a diced tomato salad. On these last two flights, the amuse bouches could have been a bit more amusing. It’s a wonderful opportunity to offer a delightful surprise to welcome the diner. Instead these felt obligatory and uninspired. The rest of the meal did much better.
My portion of caviar on this flight was also hefty and I enjoyed each tiny egg. P2 and caviar is a treat that I normally don’t get in my life. I savored each bite. Next I had a nice tomato soup. I would have loved to dip each piece of delicious bread into it but I knew that lots of food was ahead. A journey on EK wouldn’t be complete without at least an Arabic mezze at one meal. They do a beautiful presentation of Arabic flavors and textures. My main was lamb chops with Chinese broccoli. I was pleased to see them cooked a nice medium rare which is hard to do at 39,000 feet. Finally I ended my meal with their cheese plate which I always really enjoy. I made my way through the wine list as I enjoyed each course and by the end it was time for a little walk. On the A380 this means a trip back to the back Business Class bar. But on the 777 this means, a walk through business and economy. I am still SHOCKED every time that EK still offers 2-3-2 seating on ANY plane in Business class. This is totally UNACCEPTABLE for a world class airline! I am grateful that I have had many opportunities to fly EK in First over the years. But I have never flown their Business or economy class. I can only imagine the look on Business Class passengers’ faces when they realized that they have a middle seat on a $6000 ticket!
An excellent lunch on Emirates First Class
Back safely in my private cabin, my equilibrium was restored and I had a snifter of Hennessy Paradis. It’s another requirement of the Frequent Flyer gods when flying EK. Sara and Natalie had made up the adjacent suite into a bed and soon I was tucking myself in. The other benefit of being the only passenger is that I can request a more comfortable temperature of 20º. As I have mentioned in the past, there is nothing worse that boiling in BA or JAL First Class. They are the worst offenders of keeping the cabin super warm. It drives me crazy. So today’s nap was a perfect temperature allowing me a deep siesta.
The dawn of a new day at 39,000 ft
I was awakened with the news that we would be landing soon. I hadn’t expected to sleep so much. I was looking forward to a small second meal but hadn’t asked the FAs to wake me. So they let me sleep until the last moment. It was probably for the best. I am always behind on my rest.
At the end of the flight as soon as we landed, Natalia walked me through some rows of Business class so that I would be first off at Door 2L. Pole position #1 is always the goal. And it was thoughtful of her to initiate this.
This was a great flight. EK has a top notch hard and soft product in First Class. The ground services are far below other carriers like LH and LX with their First Class passengers. But after my run in with the customs authorities in Dubai, I am not sure I will be going back. I really didn’t enjoy that experience. As I journey this year during The Sabbatical, I am trying to stay healthy, not break my hip, or get thrown in jail. The whole thing has left a sour taste in my mouth. As my friends at American Airlines used to say, “We realize that you have a choice when you travel, and we appreciate you choosing us today”. Yes, I have a choice and think I’ll be choosing other connecting cities in the future when possible.