The first time.

There is a frist time for everything here in life, and flying is one of them. Flying with different airlines another. Today such a first time experience is going to happen yet again, but this time it has a certain aura about it.
I am no longer the youngest person on earth. When I was a young lad in the seventies, Europe was divided. In fact not only Europe but the whole world, and the sound of the name Aeroflot, was synonymously with the former soviet union and airplanes like Tupolev, Ilyushin and Sukhoi -just to name a few- was what came up in then mind. Not only that, but also cheap transportation of people and not always the safest and bla bla. Part of all the fuss and bad publicity was maybe western propaganda, on the other hand there could be something about it.
searching for flights online is easy nowadays, and depending on the destination you always get a list of airlines and prices. By reputation one normally avoid certain airlines. Back when this Christmas trip back to the old country was booked, the name Aeoroflot came up as the cheapest and best fitting for our plans.
At wife's face there was a clear expression of; what to call it, distaste maybe. Anyway, it wasn't enthusiasm, and as soon she was on the phone to sis back home and could announce that the flight was booked with Aeoroflot, the reaction fitted the bill. "Oh".
For me the aspect of flying with Aeoroflot was maybe a bit romantic as I clearly visualised us on board one of those old iconic Tupolev's or Ilyushin's and a fully manual operated cockpit and a captain with and old leather hard hat, like the one known from pilots in the second world war.
Booking online also provides you with not only the price, airline and departure time, it as well informs you what kind of airplane will be used, and in this case my romantic hopes was amputated in a rush. No Ilyushin or Tupolev but an Airbus 300/300.
So here I am, looking out of the window at the airport, and what I see is not a first timer.
Maybe the inflight entertainment and catering will be different then, movies dipped in russian and blinis and kaviar?

Sent with Writer.


I am one of those guys who like to show that an e-mail is Sent from my iPad.