I’ve always wanted to be one of those lucky people who get called onto to give up their economy seat for a business class seat. I fly an average of 30 flights a year = that’s 30 chances to be bumped! But it never happens to me…that is UNTIL the first time it happened to me on my 15 hour flight from shanghai to newark!

COntinental overbooked and thank god to my US Government purchased $3902 roundtrip economy refundable and changable ticket, I was chosen to be bumped up to first class! I NEVER wANT TO go back to economy! It’s luxury up here guys!

fully reclinable seats, soo much leg room you can’t even reach the leg bar, you don’t even have to touch the skin of the person next to you or wake them up if you need to use the restroom!

I was so excited about being bumped that I couldn’t even fall asleep when I tried. I just kept thinking “omg I’m in first class for the first time on a 15 hour flight- that’s awesome!” I just kept asking for wine, ice cream, and toasted warm nuts! It was so obvious I was one of those people who never fly business class and was trying to make the most of it - I think the attendants were super annoyed that I didn’t fall asleep. I loved most my swivel tv and glass plate and silverware! Here’s the description for one of our appetizers: A demitasse of duck consomme with quenelles accompanied with a savory crab cake and vegetable dumpling with sweet kiwi chili sauce. I don’t even know what half of those words really mean except for duck, vegetable, kiwi and sauce!

it was just a magical day to begin with because when I arrived at the Shanghai airport I ran into my friends Kavi and MAtt in the check-in line! ISn’t THAT CRAZY to run into your friends that you had NO Idea you would see? I knew they were in the country and I had hung out with them 3 weeks earlier in Beijing - but we both didn’t know that each other was going to fly out of Shanghai and into Newark on the same day! Well actually I was supposed to fly out a week later but had to change my ticket cuz of family stuff - so even crazier!

all I can say is that first class is better than my own home. I never wanted to land. I loved being served food and wine every 5min. It was awesome.

WOOHOO I made it past the Beijing Intl Airport H1N1 Flu health checks!
These new checks involved 3 extra steps before you go through customs.
The first was when the health officials entered the plane with forehead temperature zappers. As seen in the picture, they held the zapper 1cm from forehead to test for temperature. When every single person was cleared of a temperature on the plane, we were allowed to exit the plane to Step 2.

Step 2 is when we handed over our health cards stating our self-reported health conditions, itinerary for the next 7 days, emergency contacts and all lodging addresses. After this card was stamped, we were alllowed to go through the 3rd step - which was a temperature check. After these 3 - then we stood in line at customs.

Now these extra 3 health checks may sound really intense, but it was not a long process. It was rather quiet efficient. China is not always known for being efficient, but i belief this could be reflective of a new China. . I can’t even imagine the levels of bureaucracy that would happen if all US airports had to health checks on all international flights ( which the US SHOULD be doing on all departing intl flights with the H1N1 flu being more of a problem in the US than any other country). My entire deplaning time from landing to luggage retrieval took 53 minutes - which is how much time it usually takes without the additional Health and Quarantine check system.
All the lines were short - no more than 7 people in front of me for the longest line. And the most pleasant part - all the health officials were really lovely! Some were even smiling! It felt more pleasant entering into China than crossing into the US from Mexico - sometimes the US immigration officials are rude. So keep up with the lovely presentation China - it’a a great image to keep up!

I am just so happy that not a single person was sick on my plane- because if one person EVEN tested for a high temperature, than we all would’ve been quarantined.

I don’t think I could’ve ever been more excited to see this happy sign RELAX - gonna get your luggage!