Airbus A320

As I sat on one of British Airway's (BA's) new A320 aircrafts down to Heathrow, I couldn't help but coo at the sleek interior - leather seats, rounded back supports and a pocket at the top of the seat.  I don't know if this is because of the heightened awareness I now have of aircrafts, or that I genuinely have learnt to appreciate that I'm not a Ryanair 'sorta gal'; just as I'll get mucky with cycling through every mud drenched puddle in the pouring rain on top of a Scottish hill in low temperatures, but I draw the line at camping!  It's like converting back to being a toddler and jumping into every puddle you can find.  The bigger the splash and mess you can make, the more satisfying it is, but I also like my complimentary luxuries to then be fresh again.  After a workout, who wants to then put up a tent and cook your own food only to sit in your now rain drenched plastic cover (tent) to avoid turning out that way yourself?  So that is how I ended up cooing and running my fingers along the sleek seat in front of me, trying not to look like a driveling crazy person whilst I did it in giddy excitement.

Ok, cheating a little, these are a compliment from a recent
KLM flight, not BA

And the complimentary luxury, free drinks and a snack.  Gone are the days of complimentary meals with each flight, but I guess a drink and snack is better than nothing as even if I was choking from the dry air caused by the circulated air conditioning system, I would still need to pay for that bottle of water from that other airline; true story!  In the last of my abundance of three flights with this airline, in the last flight, I watched in empathy whilst this well build square broad shouldered guy try to settle into his seat, squished in the middle seat beside me.  I felt so sorry for his predicament, though it did put himself in that situation, I moved as far along my seat as possible to help him out, only to still be elbowed every now and then.  He couldn't even put his tray all the way down to flatten it before it reached his, now coming to think of it, well tucked in legs/knees.  I smile at the thought of airspace deregulation which allowed for budget airlines to pop up and making flying abroad for a holiday become more widely accessible.  But at the same time, that someone then chooses to sit like a sardine stuffed in a can.  Progress, in baby steps.  

For me, my holiday starts with the moment I leave the door the morning of the flight, not when I arrive at my destination, therefore the journey of how I get somewhere is also an important part of my experience.  That and I have long since appreciated flying, still sitting on a seat up in the air marvel at the fact that in a two week holiday I can end up passing through six countries.  That I can fly twelve hours and feel cheated that there is only a two hours time difference.  (My trip to South Africa.)  Or sitting on a seat next to the window and curiously wondering how on earth such a simple looking thing as an aircraft wing, with it's sleek shape, can be so complicated in it's construction.  And the fact that it was only one of a pair that is holding us all up above the clouds.  I often look across it over the clouds and blue skies.  This is why I try to not take the cheaper option when able because staring out the window while in a claustrophobic and constrained environment is not exactly a breeding ground for romanticism and gratitude.     

So, as I sadly enjoy the flashbacks I'm still getting on the A320, I continue to read up on Airbus' new design aircrafts...  Only to come across Boeing's new 777x aircraft wing, curved, like an Albatross.  Oooooo~~