JET AIRWAYS DELIVERS GOLD

Back in the USA, I clicked off the 40 days of chalai kalan (the coldest part of winter in India) in south Florida pursuing a single goal: a return to Kashmir with complimentary tickets from Jet Airways.

The final day of January marks the end of chalai kalan; it also stood as my deadline date for obtaining the return tickets from the airline. As the month passed in Florida, I made polite phone calls, wrote detailed emails, all the while missing freezing weather and water shortages in Gulmarg.

Finally, on the 29th January, within days of the deadline, I struck gold: The customer service division of Jet Airways, in a gesture of goodwill, offered an open-jawed, round-trip ticket from JFK-SXR, with an upgrade to First Class (subject to availability). The timing was excellent - I had no alternate plan, and had rented out my home in Vermont for the entire ski season.

My experience with First Class was mainly limited to barging their check-in line at terminals, and poaching drinks in their lounges. There was one time, though, when I flew First Class after being bumped from a flight, and it truly is different. Not just more comfortable, and with better service, but also because all the buttons and controls are in different locations than in coach. You know you're an amateur when you can't figure out how to turn on the TV or recline your seat. (I copied everything the businessman next to me did).

So, I'm off to India Monday, and if there is anything notable about First Class travel I will tell you all about it, but right now I just hope I make the flight.

Special thanks to Mr. Deepak O., Mr. Arun V., & Ms. Richa T. at Jet Airways, and Ms. Joyce F. at Expedia for their assistance.
Photo credit: MHIP