Unfiltered Story #314783

Some years ago, my business partner and I were invited by an Australian company to visit their site for a couple of weeks to do some work. The company paid our 1st Class airfare both ways, along with some other amenities. Long trip there, but quite comfortable.

During the planning for our trip, our wives convinced us they deserved a “vacation” down under as well. They agreed to fly coach, rather than 1st class, and leave a week later, on a different airplane. Both wives are fairly short, and were not too uncomfortable on the way to Australia.

The way back, however was different. Wives convinced us that they wanted us to all enjoy each other’s company on the return trip, and business partner and I should travel with wives, in coach. We made the appropriate refund to the Australian company, and flew coach. We are both taller than wives … and business partner is quite tall.

The return trip seemed MUCH longer than the way out. Total flight time (one way is nearly 20 hours). Wives commented on the lack of leg room in coach, but happily chatted a lot with each other. I was uncomfortable. Business partner appeared to be in agony. His wife wondered why he grunted a lot during the return trip.

Lesson learned: There is a reason coach is called “cattle class”, particularly on long flights.