Business/Pleasure

This is a weird trip (to be differentiated from our oh-so-vanilla trips!).  Bill is going to India for work, and Theresa was able to join.  Although Bill will be working all of next week (toiling and burning the candle at both ends...if anyone from work is reading this!), we will stay a few extra days after next Friday to see a bit of this new country!

AA First Class Dining in JFK.  Great view!

There was a lot of unknowns in how we would get here, but we reduced some of it by going ahead and buying Theresa's ticket (round trip).  We flew to JFK separately, but on to Delhi together Thursday.  Theresa managed to trade up for a real FIRST Class seat!!  Bill...well traveling for work means it's free, but also means any upgrades are only IF there is something available after everyone paying gets what they can.  (Not complaining, just saying...)  But, we had a few hours, so she got us into the First Class lounge, and we had a very nice lunch, with a great view!  After lunch, we booted up the computers and got some work done.  Then enjoyed a few drinks, and finally it was time for boarding.  About 45 minutes before departure, Bill FINALLY got his seat...First Class!  Whoop whoop!!  And actually got the seat right next to Theresa!  We could not have asked for anything more (except maybe to get the seat assignment a LOT earlier).

First Class on a 777-300.  SPACIOUS!!!

And we're off!!

On board, we enjoyed great service, good food, a few movies, a nice little nap, and poof!  15 hours later we were in India!  We flew over the US, Canada, the Atlantic Ocean, England, then kept to the south to avoid Russian airspace, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, the Black Sea, Turkey, then turning a bit north to avoid Iranian airspace, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, crossed a LITTLE corner of Afghanistan, then into Pakistan, and finally into India.

Flight 292 JFK-DEL

Off the plane by 20 feet, Bill quickly spotted someone holding a sign with his name, and we stepped off to the side while he handed over some paperwork (for some later work at the airport), and a woman then escorted us together through the rest of the process.  (She normally escorts super premium passengers (Concierge Key) but I guess they had a little time to take care of us!  Talk about SPOILED!)