The devil is in the details

Leavin' on a jet plane (with the boss)

First of all, greetings from the airport in Amsterdam. :)

After a crazy day in the lab, the boss and I finally got into a cab to the airport at about 3:50 pm. It was a little ridiculous since I had to practically drag him out the door, but we got there. In the cab on the way to the airport, he reminded me that the Northwest maintenance workers were on strike, so who knew what would happen with maintenance of our plane. Such happy thoughts to arrive at the airport with.

We checked in rather uneventfully and headed to security. Once we were through security, the boss started talking about heading to the Northwest Lounge place. I was a little confused...I am not a member of any sort of frequent flyer program so I've never used the lounge before. I quickly learned that with a business class ticket I also get the priviledge of hanging out in the business lounges with free food and internet access (where I wrote the previous post and updated the one before it) and nice comfy chairs and an overall excellent atmosphere. So that was certainly perk #1. Boss wanted to use my laptop to download a paper that he needed to review (he was going to make me review it) but he couldn't figure out how to get in without his direct personal connection, so I dodged that bullet. Then it was time to get on the plane, which we boarded directly from the lounge.

And we learned that I am dumb. Well, not so much dumb as ignorant. I think that I mentioned before that I was flying business class and that Iceland had mentioned that it was like first class on domestic. I took that to mean that business class on an international flight was equally good as first class on domestic and that there was another, even higher, first class. And I would be wrong. (I guess I can't be 100% certain. I didn't see another cabin in front of us and frankly I can't imagine how another class could have been nicer, but I suppose it is formally possible that there were other people in front of us. I think that would have required them to sit with the pilot, though.) So yes, I learned that business class is just another word for first class. Yay. So...my seat was gigantic, there was so much head room that it was impossible for me at with my giant stature to reach the overheard compartment. There was enough room for me to lay down on the floor and stretch out entirely. They gave us champagne right away, as I had been told by cute lab guy they would. I had to smile when I sipped the champagne because just then someone walked by wearing Obsession for Men, the cologne that he wears, so I thought of him twice. But enough about that, I'm in Europe. (You know, if you ever get sick of hearing about that, just tell me and I will take it under advisement. Maybe.) I was pretty excited, but as the boss reminded me "There is more to do in Copenhagen than in business class", so I tried to get some sleep.

However, before there was sleep, there was dinner. They bought around a menu with a variety of meal choices and we got a three-course dinner (Some fishy appetizer, salad and then I chose the beef). And lots of red wine. And Cherry Garcia in a chocolate bowl for dessert. :) :) I tried to turn on the TV and watch movies, but I couldn't figure out how to make them work (it was too early and they hadn't started yet.) I only had the choices of a map or people demonstrating plane exercises. The boss looked over at the people doing plane exercise and said "Are they on drugs? They look like they took too many downers." It was pretty funny.

Travelling with the boss is certainly an interesting experience. First of all, I rarely have any travel companions, so that part is odd. It is a little difficult to concentrate. (He was certainly very aware of my excitement and distraction-induced fidgety-ness, though I couldn't tell if he was annoyed. Probably not.) It was also, of course, very different than it would have been had I been alone. First of all, I wouldn't have realized that I could use the lounge, which I am enjoying a lot. Second of all, I probably would have loitered a little more in both Logan and now here. Thirdly, I would have probably pursued different plane activities. I felt a little funny about reading frivolous fashion magazines in front of him, so I didn't bring any, though I really enjoy that sort of mindless entertainment on airplanes. And lastly, I wouldn't have had anyone to tell me to take of my shoes and turn off my light before going to sleep (which was more than slightly annoying). In the end, I slept for 3-4 hours out of the 6 hours total. I'll probably sleep the whole time on our next flight.

Unexpectedly we had to get our passports stamped here and then we've been hanging out at the lounge ever since (boss is sleeping after stealing my laptop to get Red Sox scores.) After getting a little less greasy (how did my hair get to look like that after being on a plane? :( ), I've been doing internet stuff. I'm having a little problem in that I can't get my adaptor to allow me to plug in my laptop so I'm a little low on battery right now. I may need to buy a new adaptor if my not-mechanically inclined self can't figure it out. Oops.

posted by Immunegirl @ 2:43 AM