As I wrote about in a separate post, I just flew Etihad’s Boeing 787 first class from Washington to Abu Dhabi. The flight was excellent, though I can’t help but share what was possibly the most interesting aspect of the experience.
In this post:
An unusual reason for a flight delay
When I booked our Etihad first class flights several days before departure, I noticed that initially we were the only ones booked in the cabin. It stayed that way until a day before departure, when suddenly the cabin showed as full. Hmmm, that filled up quickly! While it’s normal for people to book last minute, in my experience it’s rare that so many people book at once. I didn’t think much of it.
We boarded our flight in Washington, and the first class cabin remained oddly empty, despite still showing as sold out. As departure time approached, I assumed that the other passengers had just no showed, or something… until the captain made his welcome aboard announcement.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re just waiting on a few passengers… um, we’re told they’ll be here in about 30 minutes.” While airlines will sometimes hold a connecting flight for a few minutes if there are several passengers connecting off a flight, it’s not often they hold a plane for 30 minutes for “a few” passengers.
That’s especially true when you consider our flight time was longer than usual, so this would cause us to arrive late, and would potentially lead to passengers missing their connections. Furthermore, keep in mind that most Etihad passengers from Washington are originating there, since Etihad doesn’t have a partnership with United (which is the only airline with a hub at Washington Dulles).
So, who was Etihad holding the flight for?
Sure enough, nearly 30 minutes after our departure time, the first class cabin filled up. An older (I assume) Emirati gentleman took seat 1A, and some kids took the other seats. On top of that, he had quite the entourage in business class.
The man was perfectly pleasant and quiet, and his kids were also very well behaved. The only thing that was disruptive about the experience (other than the delay) was how all the people catering to him kept coming up to first class to check on him, talk to him, etc. (to be clear, this was his entourage, and not Etihad employees). It was constant, and people came up to first class from business class dozens and dozens of times.
The crew of course did everything they could to make the experience great, and this was definitely a situation where there wasn’t anything they could do about it. When we landed in Abu Dhabi, the guy also had quite the welcoming committee in the jet bridge. Everyone in his entourage was let out one entrance (presumably so he didn’t have to go through the standard immigration channels), while everyone else was ushered the standard way.
So, who was the guy? While I don’t know, I would assume he’s part of the royal family of Abu Dhabi, or at least has some connection to them. The family is huge, and they’re all treated like VVIPs when they fly with Etihad (after all, it is “their” airline). I assume he’s not actually that “senior” in the family, or else he probably wouldn’t have been flying commercial, given the fleet of jets that the royal family has. Or maybe the jet he was using in the United States broke down… who knows.
It’s possible I’m totally off here, but that’s my best guess.
Bottom line
Airlines and airport lounges love to throw around the term “VIP” for just about everything. Personally I don’t particularly feel like a VIP when I’m told to get on a waitlist so I can access a Priority Pass lounge and enjoy cubed cheese and boxed wine.
I’ll tell you what I consider to be VIP, though — having a flight delayed for you, without even having to worry whether the plane might leave without you.
That’s what happened on my recent Etihad flight, as there was obviously one very important passenger with quite the entourage. I have to say, this was probably the most interesting crowd I’ve had in first class since nearly 15 years ago, when I flew with Grace “Gucci” Mugabe in Singapore Airlines first class. Suffice it to say that her entourage wasn’t as respectful as this one… and neither was she.
Anyone have any guesses as to who might have been in first class on my flight? Am I on the right track, or…?
Its easy for you to talk positively about this while you can afford to book comfortable first class and be catered to while you wait
Imagine how awful it was for everyone else to have to sit an extra 30 mins at the back of the plane, typically without the air even circulating and very little info on why they are waiting. I bet they didnt find it half as amusing
Bro why u hatin on him
The same thing happened to me in Russia some years ago, we had to wait like one hour in scorching heat on the tarmac for some guy to board the plane.
I find this to be extremely miserable behaviour on the part of airlines. You have a schedule, you stick to it. The VIP can take the next fight if he's late.
Holding up hundreds of people is just stinky, entitled bulls... and a good enough reason for me to avoid Etihad altogether.
I flew first class with LH, FRA-JFK, a number of years ago. It was an A340-600 with 8 first class seats.
I was the VVIP. I was all alone. During the flight, business class pax kept looking around the curtain to see this “sole” passenger up front. The Captain came out at one point to ask, “Is everything ok?”. I said it was.
Upon arrival at JFK, we used the door at L2 to...
I flew first class with LH, FRA-JFK, a number of years ago. It was an A340-600 with 8 first class seats.
I was the VVIP. I was all alone. During the flight, business class pax kept looking around the curtain to see this “sole” passenger up front. The Captain came out at one point to ask, “Is everything ok?”. I said it was.
Upon arrival at JFK, we used the door at L2 to deplane, which meant walking through biz class. However, LH personnel got in-front and behind me to escort me off ahead of everyone else.
I prebooked seats on a emerites flight from London Stanstead to Dubai as i am registered disabled with a bad leg injury my leg will not bend, whilst browsing the seating I noticed the first row with extra leg room was already fully booked, we were shown to our seats and 10 mins after take off the seats were still Empty, I enquired wheather I could move to these seats being 6ft 2 I was...
I prebooked seats on a emerites flight from London Stanstead to Dubai as i am registered disabled with a bad leg injury my leg will not bend, whilst browsing the seating I noticed the first row with extra leg room was already fully booked, we were shown to our seats and 10 mins after take off the seats were still Empty, I enquired wheather I could move to these seats being 6ft 2 I was told icould not sit there as you had to pay extra I had already forked out an additional £125.00 to garentee I had a seat next to my wife.
Customer Service at its best.
Thanks for nothing Emerites.
My son and I flew J class on SQ from HongKong to Singapore a few years ago. Lee Hsein Loong (Prime Minister) and Ho Ching (his wife and head of Temasek) sat across the aisle from us. Madam Ho had a couple of weeks earlier given a talk at my son’s high school so we used that as an opportunity to say hello. She was very gracious. We didn’t address the PM. If one didn’t know who they were their presence on the flight would have gone unnoticed.
No encounters that I'm aware of anyway. Although Etihad once moved my A380 AUH-MEL business seat. I asked them why and they straight up told me that Dannii Minogue had requested that particular seat on this flight! I suppose at least they were honest?!
If he was a VVIP, he would be flying private. A Gulfstream 800 can fly +8000nm without needing to stop. I am guess he is not part of the billionare class.
A Gulfstream 800 can sest about 18 passengers... This guy's entourage filled 1st class and most of business class on an A380. Which, by my count, would include 9 1st class seats and 64 Business class seats for a total of 73 seats. But let assume it was hin and 69 memebers of entourage (total of 70), he would have needed 3.888 Gulfstream 800s...
Back in ‘87 Flew back on a PanAm 74 out of Nice with Paul Newman.
We both had the single seats
What a down to earth charming gentleman
This has happened plenty of times for me on the last cdg jfk flight if there are first class people who have delayed connecting flights.
Their Gulfstream must have broken down, lol.
from experience, even low ranking royalty fly private. this is either a member of a business family or a government official.
Opportunity to tell a long funny story! I’ve had 2 “VIP” travel encounters, both in LH F. FRA-LAX I sat across from Naomi Campbell and she was horrendous. Wouldn’t get off her phone call during taxi and stuck her finger in the face of one of the FA’s multiple times when she asked her to get off, and treated the rest of them like garbage for the whole flight. 2nd time a flight from BUD...
Opportunity to tell a long funny story! I’ve had 2 “VIP” travel encounters, both in LH F. FRA-LAX I sat across from Naomi Campbell and she was horrendous. Wouldn’t get off her phone call during taxi and stuck her finger in the face of one of the FA’s multiple times when she asked her to get off, and treated the rest of them like garbage for the whole flight. 2nd time a flight from BUD parked at a remote stand in FRA and we got the Cayenne ride to the terminal and Anthony Mackie was in the car. The funny story is after the driver parked they opened up the big auxiliary power panel in the ground that they plug the plane into when it’s parked and plugged in the plane. Somehow the driver missed it and after we got in, he drove right into it. Pretty good hit, messed up the bumper and Mr. Mackie got thrown forward into the back of the drivers seat. He was a great sport about it and couldn’t have been nicer chatting for the rest of the drive and in the lounge. Great guy.
Sounds like they were diplomats. Since the flight originated in DC, I expect His Excellency the Ambassador or the deputy Ambassador may have been on the flight. My parents are retired diplomats and this is generally the treatment received, especially when returning home.
I have been on many flights to/from Africa that made an extra stop before take off or after landing (on the African side) to pick up such people. It's actually very common in other parts of the world.
Another article where you show your ignorance. There are many country officials that fly commercial. For many countries that do not maintain their own fleet of official planes the government officials fly commercial and other dignitaries as people have commented about. And so this happened to you....What's the big deal about it. You say a lot about nothing in this article.
Why are you upset? He’s giving us his experience. Don’t like it then move on
Wow, who hurt you?
Calm down dear, you'll do yourself a mischief....
A polite tug on the robe of an underling and an even more polite Arabic greeting and well wishes and a quiry of whodat? Then we all would have had a conclusion to this story.
Fortunate that his goats and camel missed the flight.
Fortunate that your guns don't travel with you
Back in the early/mid 2000's (I think it was 2004/5), my wife and I flew first class (using miles of course) on BA from London to Muscat.
We were the only people in the cabin as the plane was pushed back from the gate. Then it stopped.
I looked out of the window, and saw steps being brought to the plane, and then three S-Class Mercedes pulled up. The occupants of the cars walked up...
Back in the early/mid 2000's (I think it was 2004/5), my wife and I flew first class (using miles of course) on BA from London to Muscat.
We were the only people in the cabin as the plane was pushed back from the gate. Then it stopped.
I looked out of the window, and saw steps being brought to the plane, and then three S-Class Mercedes pulled up. The occupants of the cars walked up the stairs to the plane door, and all of a sudden the cabin was full.
I was convinced I had seen the old gentleman who sat in the seat behind me before, but couldn't quite place him.
On arrival at Muscat, the reverse happens. The plane stops before the terminal, steps are pulled up, cars turn up, and this group leave the plane. We then continue the taxiing to the gate.
It was only when we arrived at the hotel, and I saw a painting of the gentleman who was sat behind me on the plane, on the wall behind reception. I pointed to the painting and exclaimed to my wife - "that's the guy who was sat behind me!". She agreed that yup, indeed it was.
I asked the receptionist who it was, and she said - "why, that's Sultan Qaboos of course!". When I said to her that he was on my plane and sat behind me, she didn't believe a word of it - "Not possible - he would never fly commercial!"
Private charters are so cheap now. What's someone with that kind of cash doing on a commercial flight?
If they were royals they'd be flying a private jet I think.
During early 80s I remember accompanying my father, then a 2 star Major General in the Malaysia Army to Kota Baru, Kelantan, a state in Malaysia. While most historians would recall the Malayan Emergency from 1948 to 1960, not many know that a second Communist Insurrection occurred in the early 70s until the peace treaty between the Communist Party of Malaya and the Malaysian Government in 1989. It was in this context that my father...
During early 80s I remember accompanying my father, then a 2 star Major General in the Malaysia Army to Kota Baru, Kelantan, a state in Malaysia. While most historians would recall the Malayan Emergency from 1948 to 1960, not many know that a second Communist Insurrection occurred in the early 70s until the peace treaty between the Communist Party of Malaya and the Malaysian Government in 1989. It was in this context that my father flew to Kelantan, as he was doing a field visit to the various Army jungle outposts that dotted the Malaysian Thailan border, the CPM forces then using the southern Thai border states as staging ground for operations in Malaysia.
Accompanying my Dad was myself as it was the school holidays, and my Mum. We obviously didn't go to the frontlines, but being an Army wife, my mom had other duties with the other Army wives based there, such as preparing goody bags for those soldiers who were medevaced due to injuries or sickness. So while we waited in Kota Baru, my father went off to the various jungle locations for a few days. We were supposed to be reunited in KB the afternoon before we were to depart back home, but he was delayed and would only meet us at the airport to depart back home on Malaysia Airlines.
When it came time for boarding however, he was nowhere to be found. We sat on our seats, still waiting until the Captain came on the intercom informing the passengers that we would depart late due to the late arrival of some guests. No guesses who were the late guests were and by the writers defintion, just having a flight for him made my Dad a VIP! Well, what was even cooler, and more VIP-ish was that he finally turned up. along with his officers in an Air Force Sea King which proceeded to land right next to the MAS plane. From there, my dad, complete with camo fatigues, and his officers boaded the plane, and we subsequently took off. For an 8 year old army brat, my Dads "coolness" just went off the charts! One of my very cherished memories of my late Dad, may he find peace after decades of serving our country.
Thank you for sharing this story! Hopefully our children will also have cherished memories of us.
Lovely memory.
My father worked for the Malaysian government as well and spent many nights over the years for as long as I can remember when I was young in the army outposts of the jungle collecting information and intelligence of the CPM in the villages. Worrying time for my mum but my memory of him was that of him being picked up by the army Land Rover at dinner time a few times...
Lovely memory.
My father worked for the Malaysian government as well and spent many nights over the years for as long as I can remember when I was young in the army outposts of the jungle collecting information and intelligence of the CPM in the villages. Worrying time for my mum but my memory of him was that of him being picked up by the army Land Rover at dinner time a few times a week and knowing that he will be dropped back at 4 or 5am the next morning. Not quite as glamorous as your memory but a very fond one nevertheless. Thanks for sharing your story and bringing back some lovely memories of my childhood.
As a Malaysian, thank you for your father's service to the country.
You'd be surprised how many VIPs fly. Where I am VIPs fly on Commercial all the time, though very low profile but they do have an entourage the size of a small school class.
And yes sometimes they are late and hey... What are we to do? Offload a VIP? Haha.
Loved reading your experience.
I flew with princess Anne and the other week and bar stopping general boarding for a few mins so she could board via a side door on the jetty, there’s was very little disruption. You could see her security detail and team, but they largely seemed to leave her in peace during the flight
I flew with princess and the other week and bar stopping general boarding for a few mins so she could board via a side door on the jetty, there’s was very little disruption. You could see her security detail and team, but they largely seemed to leave her in peace during the flight
The only famous passenger I've met during flying was Tip O'Neil way back in the day. Flying to NYC for Model UN, and he was flying in coach (at the front). When he found that a bunch of Political Science geek kids were on the plane he stopped and talked with us for a few minutes before we offboarded. Super unexpected, and he was incredibly gracious.
I flew Auckland to Dunedin once on ANZ and had a Secret Service looking person across the aisle from me (complete with earphone connection) and a smart looking man in a suit by the window. During the flight he spend his time signing photos of himself (I guess I should have asked for one). As we got to the gate, I told them to go first - I figured anything they were doing was much...
I flew Auckland to Dunedin once on ANZ and had a Secret Service looking person across the aisle from me (complete with earphone connection) and a smart looking man in a suit by the window. During the flight he spend his time signing photos of himself (I guess I should have asked for one). As we got to the gate, I told them to go first - I figured anything they were doing was much more important than my itinerary. In line on the plane, I quietly said to the guy next to me " I think that person's a politician" - he responded, "You're kidding right? That's our Prime Minister!". Apologies to my fellow countrymen for propagating the "stupid American" stereotype (in this case entirely justified).
OK, now I'm going to make it a point to google the photos of the prime minister/president/etc of each country I visit...!
Similar episode happened a few years ago in Qatar, Plane stopped on the Runway for 25 minutes and here come 2 limos one with Families another with Filipino servants,Door opened and the entourage boarded. Plane started to Take Off, The servants were busy walking around feeding the children,FA did not have the Balls to ask them to sit down or to put the seatbelts on.
I know you said you didn’t think they could do anything, but I thought allowing passengers to move “up” to a higher cabin to visit someone else was essentially always banned. Presumably they could have just enforced the policy? I wonder what the flight attendants would have said if you’d asked if they could enforce it.
Maybe they would have said, "That is prince so-and-so, and he owns half the airline."
I would have reported Etihad to the FAA, it's that's even possible.
Here's another Dalai Lama encounter: mine was from FRA to IAD on Lufthansa in 2014. I was connecting on a business award flight from BKK and during transit check in FRA they asked me where I was headed. When I told them Washington, I was subject to extra screening. Didn't think much of it (no SSSS or anything). I was seated in upper deck J of 747-8 and saw an entourage of Buddhist monks board...
Here's another Dalai Lama encounter: mine was from FRA to IAD on Lufthansa in 2014. I was connecting on a business award flight from BKK and during transit check in FRA they asked me where I was headed. When I told them Washington, I was subject to extra screening. Didn't think much of it (no SSSS or anything). I was seated in upper deck J of 747-8 and saw an entourage of Buddhist monks board last onto lower business deck. Upon landing in IAD, we were held for about 20 minutes b4 deplaning . I knew they were VIP but didn't make out who was actually on the flight until I saw him meet President Obama on TV the next day.
An entire article about someone you didn’t recognize. Top notch journalism.
It's a blog.
Being judgemental without knowledge is embarrassing ...
lol
I have flown commercial First several times and I imagine it must be a spectacle for the plebes.
Not sure this counts but Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman via Frankfurt to Delhi LH 1st class was across aisle. Someone on that side of the 747-8 snored and farted loud the whole time. What was also real impressive was the big military delegation meeting her & her staff at gate upon arrival. Also sat next to john Oates of hall and Oates Kauai to Cali to Aspen.
Kinda a pointless article with click bait headline.
You know nothing about the vip, so it’s not even good gossip.
But if I was in first class and I had all these people visiting another passenger I would ask the attendant to intervene. I am paying for my peace and quiet, they are not allowed in that cabin.
At which point, your request would promptly be ignored.
No, no... because Mike is clearly a VIP, far more important than everyone else. So important, in fact, he doesn't understand that in countries other than his own, his 'rights' mean sweet FA...
Last year we flew Emirates from BKK to Dubai and had several members of the royal family in first class with us.
I had the pleasure of sitting across from Mohamed Ali - special conversation. Parkinson’s was starting to get the best of him. I also rode with America’s Cup which had its own first class seat in front of me.
This is common on this flight to AUH for F to be pretty empty - but it is filled up with upgrades or paid upgrades from J.
When we had a group of 6 in F - two women who had expected to get upgraded - were a little snippy in the lounge since we took over the cabin.
Some other passengers in first were lucky and fortunate to have me in the cabin with them on Qantas. Err... the point of this article is ...???
I’m frankly surprised you didn’t ask a crew member or one of the entourage who this man was.
In 2008 we flew on a BA flight to London. Our prime minister (of an EU country) was on board on his way to meet Theresa May. The PM sat 2 rows in front of us with just a couple of his ministers. Several young people came forward from economy class to have a selfie with him, and he always happily complied. We are not young, but we also had a photo with him.
I got Roberto Kriete, the one of the heads of Avianca at the time, as a seat mate on an Avianca BOG-SAL flight. Didn’t know who he was besides recognizing that all the crew was being very differential and friendly to him. Ended up chatting with him for the entire flight - he was genuinely just as interested and engaging in my life and career as I was about his as an airline executive. Had...
I got Roberto Kriete, the one of the heads of Avianca at the time, as a seat mate on an Avianca BOG-SAL flight. Didn’t know who he was besides recognizing that all the crew was being very differential and friendly to him. Ended up chatting with him for the entire flight - he was genuinely just as interested and engaging in my life and career as I was about his as an airline executive. Had a wonderful flight with him.
The guy across the aisle from us clearly knew who he was and desperately wanted to talk to him, but much like who gets to control the window shade, I had the controlling seat and hogged the conversation to myself.
My father used to work for an airline and the Dallas Cowboys were one of their clients. As long as you're under 18 family members got a discount so you paid that $15 for a first class ticket.
My brother was in high school and came to visit me when I was in Texas. On the plane ride back, it was fairly full but it was because the Dallas cowboy cheerleaders we're in all the seats around him. Made a 16 year old boy very happy.
Nice story. I just add that Roberto Kriete is at the moment the Chairman of Avianca´s Board, though
I flew Juneyao airlines biz class with their chairman. The plane was originally an A321 but switched to their flagship 789 one 3 days prior. It turns out the chairman of the airline was flying to Phuket for vacation with his family. I didn't know who he was, but when I found the lavatories were occupied and decided to wait outside, he told me to use the one next to cockpit. Only later when he...
I flew Juneyao airlines biz class with their chairman. The plane was originally an A321 but switched to their flagship 789 one 3 days prior. It turns out the chairman of the airline was flying to Phuket for vacation with his family. I didn't know who he was, but when I found the lavatories were occupied and decided to wait outside, he told me to use the one next to cockpit. Only later when he gave a short speech to the passengers did I know he was the chairman. Nothing too special but still a fun story
It wasn't on a flight but I met Anne Hathaway and her friend who I didn't recognise last June in the BA F lounge at Heathrow. I was surprised she'd fly commercial and not sure whether she'd just arrived or was leaving. We talked for a few minutes and she saved me a bench sofa to lie down (7 hour flight from ORD and I hadn't slept a wink).
My grandfather flew next to the Pope once... and when he got off, people said "Who was that VIP next to the dude in the funky hat?"
Funny thing is... he was in coach and talked his way to sit by il papa.
I remember him fondly. I'm sure the pope is cool too.
While I never flew with any celebrity, one day I flew next to Eskimo! Now ladies and gentlemen.. WHO CAN TOP THAT??
When you're taking over the whole First Class cabin but not enough to own a 747 like the cousins.
#RichVIPproblems
I would like to have been on the American Airlines flight the day before Christmas 1970 when Elvis Presley decided to run out of the house and hop on a commercial flight all by himself for the first time in his life. The pilot gave special permission to have him carry 3 loaded handguns.
I had twice the chance to fly with royals. Once with Prince (now King) Charles on BA from ZRH to LHR. Nothing special, he worked on the short flight and we even had to circle at Biggen Hill for quite a while, despite HRH on board. The other experience was with Princess Noor (of Jordan) from MAD to AMM. Again nothing special, I only realized she was part of the royal family upon arrival to AMM.
I flew 1st class with the Dali Lama and crew, he was gracious and turned around snd bowed smiling acknowledging us as he was let first to leave the plane,
Big hitter, the Lama.
Hopefully he didn't ask to kiss any little boys on that flight, he's got a tendency to do that.
No chance to get a photo?
Reminds me of EWR to MXP years ago... Didn't know it until we arrived but I heard the unmistakable voice of Bruce a few yards behind me thanking the flight crew for a smooth ride. The security detail attending to his arrival swallowed him up right quick to separate him from we in economy but I thought his gesture to the staff was classy.
Bruce who?
Only Bruce I usually hear referred to by first name only is Bruce Springsteen!
Add two and two together:
There is ONLY one Bruce in EWR.
Aka the boss!
Springsteen, of course! :-)
It's really bad form to take a photo like that. Not only is it rude as hell in general, but on a nationalist airline like that it could easily get you blacklisted if caught or publicized and he has the level of pull with the airline to delay a flight. Either way, don't do this and don't normalize expecting pictures of possible? celebrities out in public.
I know in the modern age of cell...
It's really bad form to take a photo like that. Not only is it rude as hell in general, but on a nationalist airline like that it could easily get you blacklisted if caught or publicized and he has the level of pull with the airline to delay a flight. Either way, don't do this and don't normalize expecting pictures of possible? celebrities out in public.
I know in the modern age of cell phones and surveillance it's become normal to forget these basic manners, but come on.
You sure it wasn't Rick Springfield?
I've never encountered royalty or other VIPs (that I was aware of) on a flight, but one of my favorite stories from FlyerTalk years ago was from someone who was in United F on a TPAC flight with Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter. The former president made a point of going to each F passenger to introduce himself and shake their hands. The person who posted about this took that as an attempt to put everyone at ease, which fits perfectly with President Carter's personality.
My wife flew with Delta from EWR to TXL with Mr. Carter on board back in 2010 and he shook hands of the entire aircraft. A once in a lifetime moment for my wife.
In July 2019, was booked on Qatar Airways Business Class from Islamabad, Pakistan (ISB) to Doha and onward to JFK. About a week before departure, I got a call from QR saying that Business Class was overbooked and that they could reschedule me onto a later flight, but I would have a 21hr layover in Doha. I wanted to visit the country, so I took it, but I wondered why Business Class was oversold. That...
In July 2019, was booked on Qatar Airways Business Class from Islamabad, Pakistan (ISB) to Doha and onward to JFK. About a week before departure, I got a call from QR saying that Business Class was overbooked and that they could reschedule me onto a later flight, but I would have a 21hr layover in Doha. I wanted to visit the country, so I took it, but I wondered why Business Class was oversold. That never happens on that route (less than half the J seats sold is normal), and J is often filled with op-ups from Y if ever full.
Well, turns out the then-Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and his entourage were on that flight, connecting to IAD for a meeting with Trump. Wish I could have seen that!
I've also seen some government officials traveling on QR Qsuites from JFK to DOH when the UN assembly in New York ended last year. One of them connected into my ISB flight and sat next to me (I was an op-up, otherwise the seat was blocked for him). He was nice, but quiet the entire flight and didn't do anything (no IFE, stayed awake).
This is just so pathetic (not to mention another word)! Those 'guys' have just like us two legs and two arms. (Surely less brains). Why they just don't fly private instead of annoying people, wether in Economy, Business or First or whatever. They sure didn't pay their tickets.
Just almost like Ben I fly an average of 4 to 600k miles a year for business purposes and I remember once I was denied boarding...
This is just so pathetic (not to mention another word)! Those 'guys' have just like us two legs and two arms. (Surely less brains). Why they just don't fly private instead of annoying people, wether in Economy, Business or First or whatever. They sure didn't pay their tickets.
Just almost like Ben I fly an average of 4 to 600k miles a year for business purposes and I remember once I was denied boarding because I was late (due to "security") but still, the airplane was there without moving and doors open. I got a flight 4hrs later which didn't cause me problems but they didn't know that.
That's one of the reasons I realy hate those carriers. No, I'm not racist but why do they think they are more than others??
There are lots of reasons they didn’t fly private. Could be because the vast majority of private jets can’t fly that nonstop. Could also be because they’re not a high enough status of the royal family that they have access to jets that can. Could be that one wasn’t available and in position that take the trip.
I’m not sure where the idea that every member of every middle eastern royal family has unlimited access...
There are lots of reasons they didn’t fly private. Could be because the vast majority of private jets can’t fly that nonstop. Could also be because they’re not a high enough status of the royal family that they have access to jets that can. Could be that one wasn’t available and in position that take the trip.
I’m not sure where the idea that every member of every middle eastern royal family has unlimited access to resources came from. Royal families are big. Status in them is stratified. Even if you’re high in the royal family, sometime things aren’t available when you need them.
I flew Emirates A380 F a few years back, DXB-JFK. It was only me, George Clooney and his then-fiancee Amal! They were apparently coming back from a safari in Tanzania, and thought they were going to be the only ones in F, but I made a last minute upgrade using AS miles to surprise them!
I'm sure they were thrilled!
I recently flew ANA from HND to IAD and there was a large group of government officials of some kind on the flight. I think there was a big IMF or World Bank meeting in DC so I presume might have been the finance minister. Boarding was delayed while they all gathered behind the gate area and were boarded before the rest of us.
What interesting experiences you provide your parents, good "on" you!
Recent ATH-AMM flight on A3 there was a guy and his (friend?) in the narrow body Euro-“business” class row next to me. 8-10 people stopped for selfies and others waved or stared.
Not until after the flight did I learn it was Ragheb Alama, apparently a famous Lebanese singer. He and his companion got special greeting and immigration, but no more.
I had something similar happen years ago on a Cathay LAX-HKG flight. Everyone boarded and then we waited for some VIPs to get on in business class. It was Charles and Diana and their entourage!
Plot twist: this took place in 2013 and it was their ghosts.
Something very similar happened to me although they didn’t make us depart late - on my way back to New York from the Maldives flying on Qatar via Doha. I had booked the two seats together 12 months before and was excited to try q-suites. We connect in Doha only to find out that are seats had been given away to a family, I was very annoyed. I try to get them to change them...
Something very similar happened to me although they didn’t make us depart late - on my way back to New York from the Maldives flying on Qatar via Doha. I had booked the two seats together 12 months before and was excited to try q-suites. We connect in Doha only to find out that are seats had been given away to a family, I was very annoyed. I try to get them to change them back but they won’t. Ended up getting assigned two different seats next to each other just before we boarded. As I’m boarding the plane walking the other direction is Akbar Al Baker (CEO of Qatar Airways) our flight was very early in the morning I was shocked. And who is sitting in our original seats all 4 q-suite seats together ? Some 4 women/princesses from the Qatari royal family! Akbar comes back on the plane after they settle in to check on them and got the chance to say hello. Normal flight other than that (except that my seat ended up being broken) and then when we landed in NYC there were an entourage of people to collect them.
I had this happen on air France cdg-lax. Flight was delayed about 30 for 2 men who were driven to the plane in a car. But they were in biz with us, not la premiere (maybe it was full?) They seemed to have close relationship with several of the flight attendants, lots of chatting. And they were let off the plane before everybody else.
Reminds of the times I’ve encountered the royal family for Royal Brunei Airlines flights. Leave the gate, park on the tarmac, open the doors for a whole entourage to come in. This after a whole plane swap on Singapore Airlines to ensure the availability of first class…
Any red carpet on the remote gate as well?
Maybe distant family? The Sultan owns his own aircraft (747-8?) and I don't think you'd see him or his immediate family on a commercial flight.