so, the most amazing thing happened when I sat down on my emirates flight from dubai to copenhagen.
I had chosen an isle seat down the back of the plane for this part of my trip. I can’t decide if sitting by the window and being undisturbed is more enticing than being up to get up easily and walk around without climbing over two other passengers who are probably angry and or half asleep. as it turns out, I was sitting next to a mother and her young son was seated next to the window. I said hi and told them if they need to get up, just wake me if I fall asleep. she emailed and responded with ‘tak’ – danish for thanks. I had my ipad it, ready to read some books, and my ear plugs, to drown out the inevitable engine noise that always interrupts a decent rest.
just as I mad myself comfortable, and as other passengers were still boarding, a very danish looking man (tanned, blonde hair, very blue eyes) made a beeline straight for me, and when he reached me, asked if my name was miss johnson. um yes, I replied but my voice was so hoarse I had to clear my throat and repeat myself. damn being sick. he then says, “I don’t mean to interrupt you, howeve you are sitting by my family for this flight and I wonder if you would consider changing seats with me?” I told him of course I don’t mind, it was unfair he was separated from his family so I would definitely swap. then, he drops the bombshell and tells me it would be very worth my while as his seat is in business class. I think I squeaked as my jaw hit the floor. I may have said, are you serious, a few times, and then I asked if that was even allowed. he told me he’d already cleared it with the head of the cabin crew – that’s how he knew my name, he’d asked the name of the passenger sitting next to his family. insane, this shit never happens. he carried my bag for me up to the front of the plane, introduced me to the staff (I reckon he was either a seriously frequent flyer or maybe some sort of famous viking) and then showed me to my seat. I felt like a member of the bloody royal family being escorted through the aircraft until I landed in my ‘throne’ right at the front of the plane. never in my life have I been more pleased to at least have been dressed as though I semi-belonged to sit in that class. I had changed into jeans before I left kenya, thankfully I decided not to wear my crutch-as-low-as-the-floor african pants and a grotty tshirt that I only washed once.
then came the giggles. I was giggling to myself like a little school girl; when they handed me a menu and a wine list, when they brought around drinks as I sat down, when I put the noise cancellation headphones on, when I made my seat recline into a bed and avoided getting a DVT, when I went to the toilet and dried my hands on an actual towel – not a paper towel, when it was time to eat and they set up my table with a tablecloth… basically the whole 8 and a bit hours I was chuckling and smiling to myself like a freak.
so, as it turns out, I flew to copenhagen in business class, seat 1F on a boeing 777-300. like a fucking queen. I drank veuve cliquot champagne and red wine from bordeaux and ate food so tasty, you’d never imagine it came from a plane kitchenette.
what an incredible start to a very luxurious two weeks I have ahead. I think I’m permanently ruined for economy now.
travelling alone 