Mar 14, 2012 1
Flying first class
I just got back from california, and the trip was relatively more enjoyable for being able to sit at the front of the cabin. I don’t often fly up there, but it’s nice when it happens. In this case I was using a mileage ticket, but they didn’t have any saver economy awards (25,000 miles for a domestic round trip), and the standard awards are 50k. But the saver first class awards are also 50k (or business class in a 3-cabin aircraft), so frequent flier tip of the day: if you are going to have to fork over the higher amount anyway, always check to see if you can fly first for the same rate! [This all also applies to each half of the trip separately; sometime you can get a saver award in one direction only, but mixing and matching works fine.]
One of my father’s favorite stories from flying first class back in the day (which he used to do regularly when he worked at the world bank) is that they once gave out a free bottle of champagne to anyone who had a hole in their socks… which naturally he did. But I now have a great story from my LAX-ORD flight today. I was boarding near the beginning, but after most of first class. My seat was 5E, which is an aisle (AB_EF was the configuration). There was an older balding man just in front of me, who was putting his things in 6B. Another man wearing a vest was just in front of him and was rather desperately looking around.
As I enter the scene, I hear Vest say to the flight attendant that he’s willing to pay for that (whatever that is). She tells him to at least start by asking and then we can see. It slowly becomes clear that Vest is supposed to be in 6A but wants an aisle seat instead. He tries to verbally offer $200 to Baldy for 6B, who makes a noncommittal response. The flight attendant presses, asking Baldy if he’s willing to give up his seat, but Baldy says he wants an aisle. Not clear if Baldy didn’t understand the offer, or didn’t believe it, or just wasn’t interested.
I helpfully say that I’m happy to give up 5E for 6A, and I am indeed happy to do so. Vest is very pleased and accepts immediately. He offers me the $200. I say it’s really fine, no thanks (and I’m being sincere). He says it would only be fair, given that that was the offer on the table to Baldy. I think he also says something at some point about being willing to pay $1000 but only having $200 on him at the moment. I hesitate, admitting that it would make a pretty good story. He takes a money clip out of his pocket and peels off two hundreds. I ask if he’s sure. Yes. Is he truly positive? Yes, he can afford it. Okay then. I take the cash and slip it in my pocket, settling in to 6A. Only in first class?
Additional random thoughts: the flight attendant claimed that she arranged the deal and should get a cut, although I’m not convinced. She seemed to be mostly joking but not entirely. I think Vest offered her $50 but neither knew how seriously to take the endeavor and nothing happened. It occurs to me that Vest thinks almost nothing of $200; I’m quite pleased with $200 in the circumstances but frankly it doesn’t change my expected lifetime wealth too much, and I’m not liquidity constrained,…
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