The pointy end of the plane

I know some readers will be eager to hear how it compares with the woeful rating that I gave to United business. Well that just wouldn't be fair. BA is, after all, competently run - at least they make enough money to buy new seats from time to time. So I will try to resist comparison.

The one similarity is that I have further confirmation of my theory that the toilet seat gets murkier the higher the class. Thankfully there were baby wipes (in a polished walnut dispenser) on hand to clean it down. In this case, however, I believe I was the first male user of the toilet (as soon as the seatbelt light went off). I just think it was very poorly cleaned. The rest of the bathroom was similarly not that great. I gave some of the chrome a polish while I was, you know, sitting there. I'm sure it is a generic airport supplied crew who clean all the toilets, but this is supposed to be first. If I was in charge of the cabin I would have someone on my team personally check the first toilets. Oh, and the toilet paper is terrible.

Speaking of attention to detail - why did the steward ask me if I needed an arrival card for Singapore? One look at the flight manifest would have told him that I'm travelling to London - there's only 14 seats in first, it wouldn't have killed him.

But putting aside my anal tendencies, it really is pretty nice. There is a smidgen more legroom than I remember from flying first a few times in the 90s. The cabin size is the same, but the seats are intelligently angled to use some of the available width to make room for a horizontal foot rest. The nibbles (sorry, canapés) were really nice, and the bourbon is good quality (not sure of the brand - I didn't see the bottle) The TV screen is big and I have 3 crystal clear windows :)

The seat is strangly lacking in little pockets to stow all the bits and pieces that you end up with (toilet bag from airline, noise cancelling headphones for in-seat entertainment, my noise cancelling headphones for laptop/ipod, drink glass, dry ginger ale can, ipod, water bottle, book, f1 racing magazine, first class pyjamas (aka. "sleeper suit"), wallet, passports (x2), mobile phone (off), pda... I don't actually have a pda, but you get the picture! I really miss the little vertical storage cabinets you used to get when you are upstairs in business - do they still have them now that there are beds? I didn't get to fly upstairs with United, and my return business flight is currently positioned downstairs - must see if I can change that.

Oh right - you want to know *why* I'm flying to London. Does there have to be a reason? Having seen the Queen once already this week it can't be to visit Her Majesty... I'm actually doing some training for my new work in the exciting world of international banking - in Royal Mint Place no less (see if you can work out the company from that).

Looks like dinner is on it's way - must pack away now. Oh nearly forgot - for those of you who have never travelled first but might some day, look out for the tremendously loud noise when the nose wheel retracts - it's funny seeing the face of those sho have never heard it before!