As I outlined in the introduction post to the series, I had a very special Emirates Boeing 777 first class flight from Orlando to Dubai... Celebrating Toby's Emirates retirement flight In late May, I flew Emirates’ A380 first class from New York to Milan for a very special reason. One of my best friends, Toby,…
Continue reading: A Final Emirates First Class Farewell!
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
it's a shame you weren't able to take a picture at some point without masks hiding faces. Without seeing faces and expressions the pictures become generic and loose a lot of their interest and meaningfulness.
Love it! The best reports are the ones where you can tell how much fun Lucky was having. Such a special trip.
Wonderful story and obviously written from the heart. I don't know Tony personally, but he comes across as a very special person through this writing. Wishing Tony good health and happiness throughout his future.
When I had my very last flight as a flight attendant on duty for Lufthansa (ORD-FRA), I was so busy at my favourite working position 2LA (Business Galley on B747-400) with full house, that I had no time to realize the fact that this flight is really my last one....
But ..oh shit...after landing in FRA...it was very emotional for me when I left the "Queen of the skies" forever...
This made me so happy. You came back from Europe just to turn around and head to Dubai all to surprise your best friend. Truly amazing how as much as we avgeeks are frequently on the move, we still manage to make meaningful relationships on our travels.
I'd love to read some from Toby, especially an Emirates first flight as a passenger :).
A great read while I sit at LAX waiting for my flight home.
Sorry to say, but this is creepy as hell, like stalking Tony at the airport and beyond.
I don’t think so. Had that been the case Bens friend would have laid low and worked another cabin. He was quite attentive.
We prefer the term “obsessively challenged” here in the psych ward.
I alot of caviar there, hopefully its not from endangered wild sturgeon but farm raised sturgeon
How lovely that you have been able to make such good friends on your travels and to share this experience with Toby! By the way, do you still keep in touch with Wong Chin/Janesis?
Very nice of you (Lucky) to make the special effort to be there for your friend. (I'm sure being able to enjoy multiple rounds of caviar and Dom Perignon during the flight helped make that a super easy decision, lol.)
Toby seems to be entering his middle-age years, so wonder what his next career will be (and where it will take him). Best wishes to Toby as he starts the next chapter of his life.
I know, right? On a U.S. airline 777, they would probably have around 10 (or whatever the FAA mandated minimum is).
It was a beautiful moment and thanks for being good to him also, wishing him the best.
I have always enjoyed my flights on Emirates, it is a great airline and I have enjoyed the crew! Hope Toby enjoys his retirement!
It has vibes of a strip club patron that thinks their favourite stripper is their 'friend' because they provide them with service while getting paid to do so.
Will entire Emirates crew serve as background for a photo of any passenger upon request? Or is this abuse of position by Toby asking everyone to support?
Toby is also lucky and deserves a friend like you...who appreciates one's efforts. Imagine if u weren't on his last flight ,it would be boring I guess.
Toby enjoy ur free time out there.
@ Craig -- Toby is now working full time with Ford as a travel advisor. He was a travel agent before he became cabin crew, so he's staying in travel, but just a different aspect of it.
@ SK -- They have the right to say no, but based on my experience of endless flying with Emirates, they're almost always happy to pose in photos.
@ Bill n DC -- Hah, thanks for asking. We're making progress, but still not living anywhere full-time, sadly.
@ Michael_FFM @ J.Holmes -- Hmm? Y'all understand the concept of a close friend? I don't just see Toby when I'm onboard his flights, as that's not the extent of our friendship. I also take trips with him (not on Emirates), see him when I'm in Dubai, talk to him all the time, etc.
So if you think surprising a friend somewhere for a special occasion is "creepy as hell" then... well, I guess we just have a different view of things, which is also fair enough.
@ JetAway -- Fair. Maybe there are also some pictures without masks, but I also don't want to get anyone in trouble, so...
@ Alpha Golf -- Sounds right. And that's Emirates' small crew, as A380s have (I believe) 23 flight attendants.
Best of luck on Toby in your new ventures! Your friendship is amazing and Light get it! But I am sad with some comments saying that you are a couple. You might or might not be, but first and foremost you are great friends;
Congratulations!
Toby was super, he served me last month and I enjoyed the flight, his hospitality made me to love Emirates more and more
Knowing Emirates well (fllew for them for 10 years), the whole crew'd probably more than happy to pose for Toby's final flight. I bet even they"ll snap some instant photos inflight, sign a card, and bought something from duty free to give as a gift.
That’s so nice of you to be there on your friend’s last flight! Congratulations Toby! Him and I actually joined the same year but I only worked for 5 years for Emirates cause I settled down and moved to the US. Best of luck to your friend!
I still remember my last flight as an EK first class crew and feel nostalgic... living in Dubai and worked in Emirates changed my life ❤
You sound like you have no true friends. What Lucky did was great. I would appreciate a friend doing this if I was a FA.
Congratulations Toby i really loved each and every moment here wish you all the best in your new chapter.
I would love to read some reviews by Toby! Congrats to him! You guys's friendship is so special!
Such nice memories for Toby. Emirates I know is one of the best Airlines.
I was there in Dubai when the Airline 1was in its early stages
Wish Toby all the best.
So should Ford have kept quiet about the Marriott Ultimate Reservation guarantee? As in, if he had stayed quiet and let them move him to the Sheraton, could he then have claimed it after? Or do you have claim it at the time?
I would happily move from a Marriott to a Sheraton for that compensation!
That was sooo Kool ...what is Toby doing now as he looks too young to retire!!?You should think about a flying meet up with your readers!!
Deep and very emotional. Only of many people will appreciate, recognise and reciprocate kindness lime u do, this world will be full of love not hate. You've earned my eternal respect. I wish Toby the very best in his future decisions. Ghazali Mohammed from Nigeria
What a touching story Ben. The world is a better place because of people like you and Toby.
That was a good story.
Just FYI - you can stay airside at MCO after taking the tram (as long as you are staying behind the same checkpoint), but you need to not walk out the side that is closest to the edge of the checkpoint (or take the inner tram), but if you don't realize that (and there are arriving International passengers), it's really easy to get caught in that situation.
Why can’t the rest of the world see what we can. See- what a unique and inspired story.