Up in the air
I heard the once familiar chime reminding us that seat belts could now be removed. We could walk about the cabin. Currently in the air, somewhere high above the vast expanse of Western Australia, we are in something called an airplane. If you are not familiar with such a contraption, they are jet propelled machines that convey people across the skies, across large distances.
Today we are being conveyed from Perth to the tourist destination of Broome, some 2,224 kilometres away. 22 hours had we chosen to drive. A more palatable 2 hours 50 minutes by the magic of airplane. Originally a pearling town, Broome has made itself into a tourist mecca, and pearls are never far away, judging by the number of tourists I saw wearing them.
Destination Broome
Broome is not the only thing to have changed a lot. Air travel is almost unrecognisable since we last experienced it over 12 months ago. Airports bereft of excited travellers, and children charging ahead of tired parents. People mindlessly spending money on sunglasses they probably don’t need. Another bottle of perfume to add to the dozen or so that hide below the bathroom sink in cupboards that haven’t been opened since your last holiday.
Terminal 1 at Perth Domestic Airport offered no such temptation today. Most stores were closed. No last minute electronics, or bottles of single malt whisky for me. Even visiting the business class lounge made me feel that I was at the tail end of some apocalypse. Shelves stripped bare of magazines. A scarce selection of pre-prepared food served behind barriers only accessible to the lounge staff, who must be glad of having something to do. The lounge was no longer a place that encouraged lounging.
And so we found ourselves masking up and boarding an aeroplane for the first time in 12 months. The first time where masks in both the airport, and on the planes, are mandatory. We were going to spend the short flight in business class. Not nearly as impressive as it sounds. Things have changed. Oh haven’t they just.
Business Class without the class
No sparkling wine. What is business class without that first glass of bubbles? Somehow harking back to a more glamorous era, it is almost worth the cost of the upgrade. Sitting and relaxing with a glass of bubbles, smugly watching everyone else file past on the way to their economy class seats. But not today. Our choice was a simple one. Red or white wine. Served in a plastic cup. Horror of horrors. Quite different to our last business class adventure.
Talking of horrors, then there was the food. Or, there wasn’t. The in flight meal has been replaced with a snack box. Literally, a snack. In a box. A tiny, dinky, little cardboard box. I do wonder how airlines can keep enticing customers to pay the often exorbitant cost of flying business class when the points of differentiation from economy are so reduced.
The “luxury” of boarding first, and a slightly bigger seat may no longer cut the mustard. Slabs of processed cheese in little, hard to open, plastic wrappers certainly won’t. I will watch with interest, as vaccines start to roll out across the world, and confidence regarding travel increases, as to how the business class offering evolves. Or doesn’t.
Economising
On the return flight we opted to fly economy, fully expecting to get the same cardboard box and a plastic cup of wine. We were to be surprised. And not in a good way. Somehow, COVID has resulted in alcohol no longer being offered in economy. Something that truly baffles me. Where is the increased risk just because you are sitting beyond the first four rows in the airplane? Can COVID not breach business class?
And Virgin has always offered a meal option on domestic flights. Today this meal comprised either a sweet or savoury snack. That was it. That was the “meal”. I opted for savoury, my mouth watering in anticipation of the meat pie I expected to receive. Would they have tomato ketchup, I wondered.
As the wheels of the trolley arrived at our seat, and I was handed my savoury snack, I was immensely disappointed to note that it was a bag of chickpeas. Chickpeas! Served with a plastic cup of apple juice. I kid you not. People in prisons get larger meals. Not that I am comparing flying Virgin with being in prison but the whole experience was very underwhelming.
The Popularity of Travel
And despite the inconveniences of mandatory mask wearing. Having to drink out of plastic cups. And no extra pair of sunglasses to gather dust in your drawers. People still want to travel. Our flight was almost full, both heading up to Broome, and coming home.
Despite a lot of what I read, confidence in air travel remains high. I remain convinced that the air industry is going to bounce back stronger than ever. As more people across the globe get vaccinated, as more countries start opening up their borders for overseas tourists, I believe that the “holiday at home” mantra will become a relic of the past, hopefully along with those pesky little snack boxes.
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