Where's First Class?

The new 777 is Continental’s new flagship with enough room for first class that we all queued as if it were economy. As I entered the stewardess directed me that my seat would be on the right side and on the aisle. I took 1K but felt something was amiss. In first class, even the window seat is usually over a foot from the window and from its partner seat; frequently they swivel so groups can socialize over a small cocktail table. These were big, but bunched up in a gray drab cabin more reminiscent of Aeroflot. Soon someone arrived with a ticket for my seat and informed me that I should have been up front. Of course, this must be business-class. I walked forward and swept aside the curtain between the compartments only to discover myself in the galley. First class proven without a further doubt, I seated myself in the bulkhead seat.

The statutory preflight cocktail, champagne in a plastic tumbler, was offered and I eased myself in for a first class 2005 experience. The pilot announced that we would be holding at the gate for someone arriving on a connecting flight. One hour passed without any offer of additional beverages.

Frank had ached with envy over the fabulous dinner I was to enjoy; we discussed what kind of caviar that might be served. Perhaps now it would just be sprinkled on some of the tempting appetizers wheeled through the cabin. Instead, cashews, in china, not the little peanut baggie, were followed by a choice of “half a lobster” on lettuce or smoked chicken. The two morsels of lobster were tasty, not enough to make up for missing the Albertson’s Father’s Day special. The chicken consisted of two slices of cold cuts attractively garnished. Four main courses all would have beat the cafeteria, but I’ll pass on the recipe for any of them. The chicken entrée ran out almost immediately. My shrimp were tough but tasty. The cheeses and fruit were wonderful. And only in the USA, would dessert consist of cobbler with ice cream, or vanilla ice cream with toppings. Actually no one discussed the dinner, or anything else, as the movie started with the first course. Who needs conversation when you can enjoy a TV dinner with your favorite sitcom? An instructional movie and guide provide seat control training. The remote control when freed from its slot remains tethered with a wire; I thank the stewardess for subtly restoring it to its housing when I left my seat having slept on it all night. With three preset position options that could be modified with 12 customizing buttons, it was a true joystick of traveling comfort. Night was short. The flight only takes six hours and with losing 5 hours to the time difference, the cabin was awash with light by 1:30 am. The fruit reappeared for breakfast and it was soon time to tackle London.