After having gotten
waaaaay too familiar with the bartender(s) and them having convinced me to sample several of their "favorites" it was time to say
c'est la vie and make my way over to Gate 7.
Bye Bye Virgin Clubhouse
Down the elevator and a sharp left later, there she was. The beautiful(!). The intimidating(!!). The A380(!!!). It needs to be experienced; the adrenalin rush one feels when one is about to board the best that commercial aviation has to offer and knows that one will "live" it through the best way possible -
Suites.
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BLR, on Flickr
I walked through the lane labeled "Suites" and started my way over the jet bridge and into the aircraft. Being that the upper level is for Business Class, they have their separate entrance into the aircraft that is just for them. Economy and Suites continue together all the way into the aircraft. Seeing some of the other Suites passengers rather puzzled when they saw Business Class passengers entering on top was quite funny. I guess they didn't feel too having to continue on with cattle class.
Ha! What a small price to pay for what's to come..
So we continued our way downstairs where one of the flight attendants greeted me and another Suites passenger. [She must have seen the "Suites" Boarding Pass sticking out of my passport. And yes, of course I am always running around with that boarding pass to make sure it is clearly visible to all
]
She greeted me and walked me to my seat. 3A. [Just to put this into perspective - if I wasn't already overwhelmed by the check-in, the lounge, the walk up to the plane and the Suites entrance, the seat would have probably given me a heart attack if I was 75 years old with heart problems.]
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BLR, on Flickr
The leather seat, the pillows, the noise canceling headphones, the screen with its IFE system, the Evian water waiting for me, but still - and I want to make this perfectly clear - nothing,
ABSOLUTELY nothing comes close in topping my overall experience then the crew that was on board. What they do is incredible. I don't know how this is on other airlines but what they put out is beyond amazing. The attentiveness, the grace, the subtle nuances and most importantly the attention to detail.
Jennifer - who has now become one of my new favorite people in the world - came by within the first two minutes in her amazing wardrobe [stunning outfits that these ladies wear on SQ] with a perfect smile on her face greeting me by name. Not intrusive, simply introducing herself, making sure I am more then comfortable and settled for the flight and asking me if I'd like to read anything. When she could tell that I didn't have a solid answer to that she quickly motioned not to worry and said she will bring me some magazines to choose from. I kid you not, she showed up 3 minutes later with 25 magazines in front of me. Lol.
Soon EK. When the time is right Ill make my over to you.
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BLR, on Flickr
Moving on - I started making myself comfortable rather fast. Diet Coke and nuts in my hand (I can hear D93 yelling at me for not already having ordered a scotch tasting for myself
), seat reclined and IFE remote control in hand zapping through the movie selection when it was time for Lee to introduce himself to me. "Good evening Mr. Rosenberg. Here is a little thank you from us to thank you for your choice in flying with us today." As he handed me my new - and first(!)- pair of airline pajamas I couldn't wait to jump into the lavatory to change.
Ferragamo amenity kit. Quite nice with some cream and a bottle of cologne. A *sniff sniff* later and I was able to confirm that the smell is nice indeed. 
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BLR, on Flickr
Don't know about the others but couldn't agree more with Chuck with those PJs being amazing!
Back at my seat I was off to my movie. "The Intern". It was OK and an easy watch to go along with my flight.
[One thing I did realize was that seat 2C was constantly occupied by a flight attendant. The gentleman in there must have been some frequent travel // business man as they all seemed to know him and changed up the routine all of us "other people" received. He got dessert within minutes of being in his seat, had his double (!!) bed made 10 minutes later, and kept talking to them about G-d and the world for a good 2 hours during the flight.]
Being treated like G-d
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BLR, on Flickr
They were finally getting ready to setup dinner service when Jennifer came over to let me know that the gentleman from 1A would like to invite me for the evening service. Well that was weird. Very weird! But I figured if there is a time to accept such an invitation it is when flying in First. I mean let's be realistic, it is either a CEO, some self-made millionaire or a mile-geek like myself
I can only win!
Turns out it was a guy that grew up in Malaysia and now runs his own IT company in Perth - where he and his family migrated to - and simply did not want to dine by himself. Not as entertaining as I left the cliffhanger to be but it was still weird and different enough to mention it. Not sure I would have invited a stranger to dine with me in order to not be lonely but hey, turned out to be quite interesting.
When I returned to my Suite the bed was made and I was ready to *plop* into it.
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BLR, on Flickr
I was able to get a good 4.5 hours of sleep and felt great when my doors were opened and Jennifer asked me if I'd like a Cappuccino before breakfast gets served.
#WakeUpSelfie
I got my breakfast served on a nice tray with a table cloth and a special fruit platter that they also prepared for me.
My flight was now starting to come to an end and I really envied the people traveling on to Singapore.
Naaahhhhh I was excited to move on to Vienna.
As I was leaving my Suite to exit the plane the head of the Steward(es) team gave me his card with the names of the people that served me that day and asked for me to send in Feedback - which I will definitely do - if I have a moment.
Quick picture with Jennifer and I was off to Frankfurt Airport...
In the next segment: my stroll to Frankfurt Terminal A, a quick visit to the lounge and how I almost missed my connecting flight..
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