Living Large while Flying Commercial
P.S.:
Fly Premium Service with United Airlines
by
Alain Gayot
|
Friendly
crew and happy passenger |
For
air travel, nothing has been quite the same since 9/11.
However, since its 2002 bankruptcy filing, United Airlines
is trying to win back passengers by making the skies
even friendlier. With United’s new Premium Service,
transcontinental passengers can enjoy amenities between
Los
Angeles or San
Francisco and New
York in modified 757’s that rival those in
private jet flights. With a friendly, service-oriented
crew, first class is truly first class, including such
pampering details as lavatories strewn with flower petals.
As
first class passengers sip Bellini cocktails, they can
peruse the distinctive menu and choose from an assortment
of international wines to match their food selections.
Instead of the stale pretzels offered by other airlines,
they indulge in the likes of goat cheese napoleon in
balsamic vinaigrette and chive, and macadamia nut-crusted
chicken with raspberry demi-glace accompanied by ham
and egg fried rice with julienned green and red peppers.
If there’s still room after the cheese selection,
they can make their own sundae for dessert, then finish
off the meal with Gayety’s chocolate
truffles and an after dinner drink.
 |
| Flower
power in the lavatories |
After
all that, if a nap is necessary, the seat can be laid
out perfectly flat. Passengers who prefer to be entertained
by more than sweet dreams can watch their choice of
films on a personal DVD player with a noise-canceling
headset.
Just
like in the good old days of air travel, there is a
true three-class cabin. Business and Economy Plus passengers
enjoy more space and more amenities than they would
on a typical transcontinental flight as well. Every
seat on the plane is equipped with laptop power and
phone access. Because you almost feel as if you're on
a private plane, this is the only commercial transcontinental
flight we look forward to boarding.
 |
The
United First Class Lie-flat seat |
Rates
vary, depending on schedule. For more information, go
to www.unitedps.com
|
