“And here is your pass for the Sky Lounge Sir”
“Pardon?”
“The business class lounge”
“Oh, I thought I was flying economy” I replied.
“No, it’s a business class ticket, sir”
That’s odd, I thought, but I did book it all at the last minute and in a slight panic. Oh well, I’ll take it.
“Thank you”
I made my way through security and immigration before heading for the Sky Lounge to await the departure at 21:30.
I’d deliberately delayed my arrival at the airport in Bandar Seri Begawan because it’s very small, it’s never crowded and there’s nothing much at the departure gates to amuse passengers anyway.
It’s not Dubai.
This meant that by the time I’d entered the sky lounge, found a plush lounge chair, surveyed the assorted cakes, sandwiches and biscuits and logged onto the free wifi, it was time to board the plane. So, I scoffed down a cake and saved one for later before popping over to the gate.
I happened to run into some acquaintances at the gate who were also heading to KK (local parlance for Kota Kinabalu), but we had merely enough time to express our mutual surprise before we were being herded onto the plane.
I stopped at the pointy end of the plane and enjoyed a free orange juice before take-off, while my friends headed to economy.
My satisfaction was short lived, however, because at the very moment that I was about to recline my seat for a power nap and pity my friends crammed into cattle class, I was reminded that it was only a 40 minute flight.
“…please return your seats to the upright position and stow your tray tables in preparation for landing…”
That was a waste of a business class ticket.
kieranblakewriter 