Whenever the idea of a family trip comes up, I immediately imagine myself in first class, being pampered and doted on. There are international carriers now with entire suites in first class -- not just chairs that fold into beds and have really snazzy TVs. But actual suites -- as in close the door and enjoy the quiet bliss of being fabulously wealthy.
In these imaginings, my wife and 2-year-old daughter are somewhere in the nether-regions of coach -- or "back there somewhere," as I imagine telling a friendly steward while using the appropriate hand motions that convey both direction and disinterest. And so you can probably see why I'm always a little annoyed when my wife awakens me from the daydream and I settle back into the reality of traveling somewhere very far away, on a very long flight, while the three of us battle for elbow room and sanity somewhere back there in the nether-regions of middle class.
But what if, I always wonder. What if we get to the gate and the flight attendant says there's just one seat available in first class? Who would get it? Me? My wife? Surely not our daughter -- she's not old enough to truly enjoy the wonder of the cheese course. Eventually reality sets in and I come to understand that my wife would be working on her second glass of complimentary champagne at the precise moment I finally manage to strap in our daughter.
So it thrilled me to read this story from writer Beth Spotswood, who recently spotted a mother wrangling her luggage and children on the way through security. All alone, the woman managed to board with a million bags and just as many children. Later, on the flight, it was discovered that the woman wasn't traveling alone. Her husband was with her. In first class.
Sure, not helping out before settling himself into first class was truly the move of a top-notch ass -- and is also grounds for immediate divorce -- but still, clearly he was living the dream.
I can't be the only one who day dreams about a family trip filled with endless movies instead of moping, caviar instead of carrying-on. If you there was only one seat available in first class, who would get it in your family? Or would you do something really silly like pass it up out of solidarity?
