73. fly first-class

i've actually done this twice!  and i didn't pay for first class on either occasion!

the first time was when i was a cadet.  i had gone home for the holiday break and was on my way back to colorado.  at the time, freshmen were required to fly in service dress uniform.  i happened to arrive at the airport a little late (not my fault!) and missed my flight.  i was on the verge of tears because i didn't want to return late and suffer the wrath of the (at the time) quite intimidating upperclassmen.  i think it was a combination of me being a young girl, in uniform, with a tiny tear in her eye and no crazy/stringent security issues (it was long before 2001) that made the very kind flight agent take pity on me.  she did a little searching and found another flight arriving to my connecting city at about the same time and she put me in first class!

it was lovely.  i enjoyed a delicious breakfast of croissants with yogurt and fresh fruit.  And the bonus was watching Babe - Pig in the City.  i hadn't seen it yet and it was actually on my list.  and i may be short but it's still nice to be able to really stretch out without bumping your neighbor.

the second time i experienced the luxury was on a flight back to hawaii last christmas.  we flew from san diego to phoenix and we were supposed to catch a flight from phoenix to san fran before heading across the ocean.  there was a little confusion in arizona (this time i may have been a little at fault), and we ended up missing our connection to san fran.  the flight agent was sooo nice.  it was the holiday season and flights were packed but she managed to get us on a flight to LA right away.  after that she said it would be a little trickier.  see, phoenix to LA was easy but LA to honolulu we'd be standby.  did i mention it was christmas?  but then she pulled a few strings and made it look like the airline was at fault for our missed flight so we were bumped up the standby list.

still, it was a nail-biting hour long wait as we watched the monitor for our names.  we were 7 and 8 of 55 standby passengers and the list was barely moving.  then, we get called up to desk and a very friendly agent in an elf hat wishes us a merry christmas as he hands us boarding passes.  i look down and MELE KALIKIMAKA! they are for seats 1 and 2!  of all of the flights to catch that break on, you couldn't ask for much better than a 5+ hour one...

this time was even better than before.  he enjoyed our complimentary alcohol (i was pregnant and couldn't partake) and we ate our "gourmet" meal like civilized people with real silverware.  we refreshed ourselves with the hot towel service and after stretching out in our seats and playing a few rounds of cribbage, we were served milk and melty warm chocolate chip cookies!  it was amazing.  it really made me not want to fly in coach again.  *sigh*

maybe one day i'll be able to afford the splurge and actually pay for first-class seats!  anyone else have any good first-class flying stories?