Let's swim back to the surface and take a breath from dissertation despair... it's spring break after all.
This morning, a message in my inbox says "Marco Polo Club Account Statement". And I look again. It's not an Asia Miles statement? No, it's certainly not. Apparently, my frequent flights to Manila have finally paid off. I am a now a proud silver tier member of the Marco Polo Club, Cathay Pacific Airlines' frequent flyer program.
What's the big deal? As I understand it, membership in the club gives me, an economy class flyer, benefits that you would certainly appreciate on journey that lasts nearly 24 hours. The benefits are a considerable amount of excess baggage allowance (we Pinoys know we need this), priority boarding, and best of all, access to the Business Lounge (man, they have croissants and quiches... and wine! in here), to name a few. These are benefits that I, a graduate student who is so poor that the US government refunds almost all of the income taxes I paid, can only dream of.
And speaking of the Business Lounge. I've never written about my Business Class experience when I was going home for my dad's funeral. It's two days after I learned what happened and I'm waiting at the check in counter.
"You're gonna love me for this...," he informs me happily that I have been upgraded to the business class. And, oh, did I ever! I was so surprised that I didn't know what to tell him except that he was the nicest person... EVER (a la Clueless)! I didn't even ask for an upgrade but fate would have it that I would have my own cubicle to privately break down if I wanted to. I'm only sorry that I wasn't able to thank that steward properly. He didn't know what he did for me that day. My only advice to you girls is take those five seconds to put a little lipgloss on when you travel.
If you haven't read Brian's blog (http://brianbelen.blogspot.com/) on Cathay Pacific's business class, I'll write a little about it here.
You have your own cube. From your seat (or your bed, however you prefer it), you won't see anything but the feet of the person beside you if s/he puts it up. The flight attendant knows your name and offers you cocktails with names such as Cloud Nine. The snacks actually merit their own menu with stuff like crab dumplings which are actually pretty tasty. Definitely a lot of steps higher than the Nissin cup noodles that you have to beg for in coach. But if you just wanted biscuits or a piece of chocolate, just walk into the kitchen and take what you want. You eat with actual cutlery. You get a little bag of designer cosmetics and you sleep with a down comforter.
Yes, the guy that gave me that upgrade is probably going to be staying a year less in purgatory. I'm just glad to have experienced business class in my lifetime. Now I know to just ask for an upgrade everytime.
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