Alright, flights are booked for Shanghai. Strangely enough Apple would not allow Daniele more than one week of vacation, which seems so pointless and weird for a tech company. I joked with Daniele that working in a US campus is only slightly a step up from the sweatshops in Asia. Since they wouldn't even budge and give him 10 days, we decided he'd have to wait until next time for his first foray into the wonders of Asia (not counting Japan since Japan is similar to the rest of Asia as Germany is similar to the rest of Europe). So instead of a month in China, I'll only being spending around 3 weeks.
Our flight to China is through Asiana Airlines and includes an overnight in Seoul. We'll be staying in the tourist center of Myeongdong right in the middle of what many have dubbed "shopper's paradise". Well, if you're female. No joke, there are literally door to door cosmetic shops right around our hotel, Hotel Skypark Myeongdong 1. A quick walk via Google Street View shows more cosmetic shops around our hotel than there are Starbucks in downtown NYC.
In some ways I wish we were taking United just to see how much that route has changed since my last United SFO --> PVG flight in 2006. Surprisingly, that was a time when flights on United were actually quite enjoyable, one of my favorites actually (decent food,friendly flight attendants, seats were more comfortable, and alcohol was free). The only other time I enjoyed a United flight after that was a 2009 flight out of Heathrow(thank you friendly flight attendant who kept bringing me and my seat neighbor free wine from first class), since then their services have been less than lackluster.
Our flight to China is through Asiana Airlines and includes an overnight in Seoul. We'll be staying in the tourist center of Myeongdong right in the middle of what many have dubbed "shopper's paradise". Well, if you're female. No joke, there are literally door to door cosmetic shops right around our hotel, Hotel Skypark Myeongdong 1. A quick walk via Google Street View shows more cosmetic shops around our hotel than there are Starbucks in downtown NYC.
I've never been very girly, but seeing how the South Koreans treat skin care and cosmetics, and seeing the ease in accessing a huge multitude of products, I can see how it can become an obsession. I'm even excited to do some shopping.
It's my first time flying Asiana Airlines and I'm not sure what to expect. I'm hoping they follow the good service I've come to expect from Asian airlines, even some of the low cost airlines in Asia always beat out just about every American airline and most European airlines (with Swiss Air as the only airline where I experienced outright racism). From what I've read Asiana Airlines provides more leg room (yay!), friendly service, decent food, and many service perks that no longer exist on airlines in America. Will they be a contender against my beloved Singapore Airlines(wonderful service aside, people underestimate how much more comfortable Singapore's economy seats are because they have footrests)?
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| Notice The Adjustable Footrest, Lifesaver! |
Regardless of how the airline is, at least it's another airline to add to the list of ones I've flown on.
In some ways I wish we were taking United just to see how much that route has changed since my last United SFO --> PVG flight in 2006. Surprisingly, that was a time when flights on United were actually quite enjoyable, one of my favorites actually (decent food,friendly flight attendants, seats were more comfortable, and alcohol was free). The only other time I enjoyed a United flight after that was a 2009 flight out of Heathrow(thank you friendly flight attendant who kept bringing me and my seat neighbor free wine from first class), since then their services have been less than lackluster.
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