My 'first time' in business class on ITA Airways: "it (almost) made me forget to be afraid of flying"
Do you know the Italian theme song of "Will, the Prince of Bel Air"? "...First class but it's a blast! Orange juice [...]
ITA Airways
SkyTeam
JFK
United States of America
Do you know the Italian theme song of "Will, the Prince of Bel Air"? "...First class but it's a blast! Orange juice in crystal glasses...".
In this article:
Although I only got - so to speak - a Business Class I must admit that I felt, and repeatedly during the 8-hour drive from Rome to New York, like young Willie: sparkling eyes, a smile on his face, naive enthusiasm. But also a very distinct feeling of impostor syndrome.
What am I doing here? I who am not a frequent flyer and who am even afraid of the plane., me who keeps confusing the meaning of terms like hatbox and galley, me who doesn't have a bank account up to snuff let alone a portfolio of points, miles and programs under my belt? I who, if Lowest Economy existed would probably choose it to take an extra trip? What am I doing sunk into the leather seat of this 6L seat on Ita Airways' new A330-900neo?
The challenge
Exactly: the 6L seat is not mine. Rather, it belongs to the "bum" whose hand I snatched it from at Rome Fiumicino. To show The Flight Club readers how the "Hey bum, I want your seat" challenge works.. To summarize: if you meet Matthew at the airport, before the gate, and you happen to be on the same flight as him, and also you have in your suitcase one of TFC's signature gadgets, you will have the right to travel in his place. Well, my task was to show the mechanism. And I must say that I have done worse jobs than this.
First time in Business
So here is my first time in business class. Which is not really my first, I had previously experienced an unexpected upgrade on a Turkish Airlines flight between Istanbul and Genoa, but it was a much shorter flight and, due to personal distraction, I had not been able to appreciate that bump to the fullest. This go around, however, I plan to enjoy every single moment of the experience. Starting at the airport.
This is where I realize that a business trip begins long before I take my seat on the plane. That is, in dedicated, queue-free check-in lanes, fast tracks at security checkpoints, access to lounges. Where you can eat and drink, take a shower, sometimes even a massage. Personally, I only needed a comfortable chair and a working Usb port to give me a taste of "luxury" being used to waiting for flights while standing, leaning against a column, since the seats are always all occupied, or curled up in a corner near the only free outlet to charge the smartphone.
Getting on board
On the blue livery of this A330 Ita Airways the name of Lorenzo Bernardi, my favorite volleyball player ever. I greet a flight attendant by showing my 6L boarding pass and exit the flow of "everyone else." "Please to the left." Lo and behold, I am in the business class section. There are 30 seats. At the message of complete boarding I will count 10 people.
The difference I perceive instantly, Compared to my dear old Economy, it is absolute tranquility. Second, I notice the remarkable ratio of flight attendants to passengers. Within seconds everyone is in their seats. Luggage is placed and here I am ready to study the facilities and my surroundings.
My seat is on the right side of the cabin. I have two windows at my disposal. Unfortunately, they are slightly and hopelessly fogged up, and to look out, which I love to do, I will have to contort myself by taking advantage of the few crisp inches. The seat behind mine, empty, has two perfect windows but the aforementioned impostor syndrome will prevent me from asking the crew to change seats.
Space, silence, relaxation
I immediately appreciate the space available and the aesthetics Ita has chosen: I know that this creamy taupe-light gray mix, from the carpet in the hallway, to the chair, to the walls may soon become an indefinite beige-dirt but for now the effect is soothing.
An elegant and relaxing less is more. Even the lights, which will be expertly modulated during the flight, are warm, natural and, again, relaxing. The seat is leather, as is the headrest.
The place has a rather large fixed tabletop and a large pull-out table where the meal will be placed and which I can use to work. With the table open, it is not possible to get up from the chair so if you have to use the toilet, even in Business, plan to do so before the meal. There is also a glove compartment near the headrest and a pocket for magazines and literature under the window. I note that the middle seats also have a side space for small bags or shoes. Mine does not, so I will keep everything "in the middle."
Gadgets & Co, like in a spa
Immediately distracting me from this small feeling of disappointment is the "gadget" department. Diamonds are a girl's best friend, sang Marylin. But beauty products are also our good friends. Ita Airways gives business class passengers a sponge makeup case with creams, shampoo, conditioner, exfoliant and so on inside with the QC Terme branding.
I look at the trousse and decide that part of my trip will be devoted to testing creams and lotions. Without the privacy afforded by the business chair I doubt I would launch into public skin-care practices. Other gadgets come in a beige case with Ita's logo: a padded eye mask, a pair of disposable earplugs, blue wool socks, a toothpaste and toothbrush set (made of natural bamboo), and a sort of defatiguing mask contained in a capsule. Also included is a rather high pillow with cotton pillowcase and a quilted cover. Then the board slippers and headphones. These are not earphones but actual headphones though not particularly high-performance.
LED screen
Then again, the entertainment system can be bluetooth connected to your personal headphones. For the rest, I can't help but notice the size of the touch screen. I measure it in two and a half palms of mine that is 17.3 inches (in Economy it is 13.3). The content is the same as in other classes: lots of old and new movies (a tear drops at the sight of The Gremlins), random episodes of random TV series (why?), music and podcasts. Then a few dozen games (I try a couple of them, the responsivity of the screen is good but not great) and the interactive flight map.
Eating and Drinking in Business, the Great Beauty
The plane has not yet taken off that a stewardess offers me a glass of bubbly. It will be the first in what could be a long series but I will get my act together.
Some time ago I read a comment on a TFC article where the reader asked, "But what is this craze of drinking bubbles aboard an airplane?" I swear I didn't understand the question.
I am still pondering whether and how to handle the alcohol offering when I am handed the proverbial hot diaper, a prelude to the main meal. So I open the menu, hard copy, and think for a moment about me ordering a packed burritos on an Easyjet to Berlin.
I think it is not even worth making comparisons between a low-cost, economy flight and one where the offerings bear the signature of Gian Piero Vivalda, 2 Michelin stars at Antica Corona Reale. There are two proposals for each dish, and I will choose, even on the advice of the flight attendant, all the signature dish. As I write this article, my mouth is watering thinking, in particular, about the Veal Garretto with apples and port and Raviolo del plin with Mantuan pumpkin, mustard and amaretto. The meal is served on real plates, on a real tablecloth, with real cutlery. I mean: china, cotton, metal. Not plastic, plastic, plastic.
I forgot: before the meal there was an aperitif. To be chosen through a beverage menu that offered, in addition to beers, wines, sparkling wines and non-alcoholic drinks, various types of spritzes and the possibility of composing your own favorite cocktail. Checked. Also on the beverage menu are wines for the meal, cafeteria and, this I did not expect, "coffee killers."
When it is a little more than an hour before arrival, an additional snack will also arrive, with a bowl of olives, a mini-margherita bufala and dates, and fresh fruit: at that point I will have no idea of the time but, when in doubt, to accompany, more bubbly.
Also to keep company with The Flyer, who suddenly appeared in Business to make sure everything was going well. "Yeah, all right bum."
Sleeping in Business Class
My Rome Fiumicino - New York Jfk was basically a daytime flight. Departed at 4:20 p.m., arrived (early) at 6 p.m. local time, late evening in Italy. I therefore only tested the Business Class seat-bed for a few minutes and did not really sleep on the plane.
The other disclaimer Is relative to my size: minimal. So I must say that the chair, which reclines to become a bed, was abundantly long and wide for me. I could even decide whether to lie supine, prone or on my side. Of course, for more structured physiques the possibility of movement is definitely more limited. I also believe that sleeping caps are necessary: the chair cannot be isolated from the rest of the cabin by, for example, a partition and, unbelievable but true, in Business some people snore as much as in the dormitory of a mountain lodge.
Working in Business Class
The tranquility and comfort of my 6L seat "snatched from the bum" allowed me to begin writing this article in an environment where concentration is not impossible. The many sockets for charging, the headphones where to look for white noise, the directional lights, the spaces-everything contributes to making the most of my time.
In my ignorance, however, I would have expected more extensive wireless network use than the 30 minutes offered for free to be included in the Business Class ticket price to all classes. I suppose those who can pay for business travel don't mind spending a few euros to get Internet. So be it.
Servant's accounts: is it worth it?
My round-trip ticket in business class cost (not me) 1,800 euros. And we flew in the very low season, just after the Christmas season. So I won't tell you if it's worth it but, to quote David Foster Wallace, this trip might be "a fun thing I'll never do again." Or maybe the other way around, who knows, maybe learning how to make the most of card and program opportunities. We shall see.
This trip "flew"
At some point in the journey, when it was about 5 hours until arrival (and it had been less than 3 hours since departure) I thought, "Man, it's only 5 hours until arrival." The same sentence in Economy would have been, "Gee, it's still five hours until we arrive."
No doubt the quality of travel alters, for the better, the perception of time. And I have to admit it: traveling surrounded by pampering and attention, relaxation and tranquility - but maybe the glasses of Brut also had an influence - has (almost) made me forget to be afraid of flying.
