I’ve never turned left on a plane before. I’ve been lucky enough to not always be squidged up in Economy, by going one step up to Premium Economy, which I’ve loved every time for just a bit more space and the fact that you’re allowed an actual glass to drink out of. But I’ve always been jealous of those in the front of the plane; the ones who get to actually lie down when the cabin lights are turned down.
After an extremely shitty month, and two weeks of misery in Jamaica, my brother treated us to upgraded seats on our flight back home to the UK. We needed sleep and a stress-free journey to recalibrate and arrive home in as positive a mindset as possible, and my mood instantly perked up when I saw how much leg room I was going to have for the next nine hours.
Everything was what I knew from British Airways, but amplified. My pillow in Club World wasn’t a flat square but a proper rectangle of fluffy cloud, and my blanket was quilted and cosy. I settled in with a glass of champagne and adjusted my individual foot stool so I could recline in comfort.
Indulging in my standard long haul flight routine, I was full-on delighted by the gorgeous Elemis beauty bag with miniature goodies to help me wind down. I am constantly smothering on moisturiser and hand cream when flying, so this saved me digging out bits from my hand luggage which was neatly tucked away already.
Aside from the sheer amount of space, the big difference in Business Class is the food. No foil lid being pulled back here; I had a menu with wine list to pick from, and three courses to indulge in. My starter was prosciutto with pickled Bosc pear, rocket salad, cracked black pepper and red wine reduction. My main of slow-braised beef with creamy mustard sauce, mashed potatoes and grilled courgette may not look much, but it was delicious, hot and served in actual crockery. Pretty impressive, in my book.
Even my side of crusty roll, real butter, and a fresh salad with vinaigrette showed how everything in this section of the plane was just considered that little bit more. After an extremely comfortable sleep through the night, a chilled fruit juice, a proper mug of coffee and a warm pastry alongside a fruit salad again made me question if I was even on a plane at all.
I’ve always wondered why a Business Class seat is so expensive, but I get it now. It’s about comfort, not necessarily luxury. It’s about arriving at your destination feeling human. And it’s an experience that’s probably ruined every future economy-class, long haul flight for me moving forwards!