I have to travel to Washington often due to my project requirements. I am a . lets say
not that important yet to the company that they would spend a huge Moolah to send me there.
With the amount my company was ready to pay, I could afford an economy class on American
Airlines and British Airlines. KLM proved a little on the expensive end which was rationed
for emergency purposes.
Generally I used to blindly go for the American Airlines without giving much thought to why
and where since my company was paying my bills. The flight from New Delhi to Chicago which
was a straight 16 hrs flight which was followed by a 5 hr stoppage at the Chicago airport
whereafter I had to commence my journey to Washington Dulles airport on Ameican Eagle which
was the local version of American Airlines and took around 2.5 hours.
The food on American Airlines( AA) is just fine. But the major problem I faced was with the
leg room. I must confess I am not the tallest of men, a normal Indian height, of 5’10",
no big rush, but still had troubles adjusting. Well maybe I am used to more leg room and
comfort but that was always something which got me sad. Moreover if the gentleman/lady in front
decided to lean back the chair, I was doomed.
Hospitality was good enough though, no concerns there but most of the air hostesses were easily
in their late 40s and on every flight my hopes of feasting my eyes on some american beauty went down the
drain. Though I know of the old saying, " Beauty lies in the hands of the Beerholder", but I wasnt
even holding the beer as they would cost me extra on American Airlines.:-D
This time when I decided to go for the British Airways. Right from the time I entered the Airbus,
did I start to realise the differences between the two. British Airways(BA) is much more spacious
than AA. The seats were much more comfortable. It had much more leg room and even if the person in
front decided to lean down the seat over to your end, you would have enough at your disposal.
The food is good enough. Even the hospitality is very good. Hey, you get free complimentary drinks
on the flight, not that you need those to see the beauty of the air hostesses here. You can never forget those fresh beautiful Brit faces so eager to help you out.
I even found the flight of BA much more smooth than AA. Now I dont know if that was the absence of Air Turbulance this one time during my BA flight or the presence of it during all my AA flights.
But the best part of it was that it suited my cause in a much more efficient manner than AA. Even more so as instead of taking a 16 hr flight then waiting 5 hours and then another 2.5 hrs flight to Washington from Delhi as in the case of AA, I could take an 8 hrs flight to Heathrow airport, London, then wait 2 hours and then take another 8 hours flight to Washington.
So next time I have to go to Washington from New Delhi, its British Airways for me!