Covid-19 and its variants have created a lot of problems for world travelers. Worse, the airline and travel industry as a whole suffered greatly. And in many places, such as Asia, continues to suffer. For a US resident wishing to travel to Hong Kong, there are no options unless you are a diplomat or have managed to finagle some bureaucratic bypass to the restrictions. For many other travelers, the requirements are torturous; amazingly restrictive for a place that is within the forefront of technology.
Needless to say, once prosperous airlines have lost a lot of revenue with no end in sight. With the recent Omicron variant, more contagious, although seemingly less deadly, the Hong Kong government has doubled down on its efforts to reach zero Covid, a statistical impossibility for anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of how viruses operate. Nonetheless, and likely garnered with their disfavor of Americans these days, they have doubled down on the restrictions even more.
You can read the restrictions in the attached image.
As a writer who has traveled to Asia frequently, I began to consider ways that the airline industry could compensate. Unable to travel, many Americans could be open to a new concept in travel, one involving no destination at all.
Consider this. You go to the airport with no luggage. All seats are first class. Your flight will last three or four hours taking you over the ocean. You will be pampered on board, especially since you are in first class. Eventually, you return to your point of destination with a sense of having traveled. Collect your pre-canceled postcard souvenirs and exit happily.
We could call this ultranational flying rather than international flying. It could even be a package with area hotels so you get the complete vacation experience without the hassles it used to present.
Airlines would make money. Hotels would make money. Travelers would feel happy. It’s a win-win for all.
With all the Covid-restrictive politics in play, this mini-vacation could be the least stressful experience available. It could also be a boon for travel writers. For example:
Travel the World Hassle-Free As A First-Class Passenger
Your journey begins with a personalized greeting at check-in. Free of check-in baggage, the ground crew of Fantastic Airways instead, after check-in, snaps a photograph for your personalized identification badge to wear during your flight, ensuring you receive only the best service available.
You are guided to a special non-immigration area, bypassing the immigration lines, and, after passing through a minimal metal detector, proceed to the first-class lounge of the airline where you are greeted by cheery personnel delighted to see you. Offered complimentary champagne and a variety of hot foods, you take your seat awaiting the boarding call.
Your 777 awaits, specially equipped for this voyage. There is only one class of service aboard—first class. All other seats have been removed and luxury booths for seating have been installed, furnished with luxurious paneling, oversized recliner seats, larger media touchscreens for entertainment, and a purple orchard inserted into a delicate glass vase attached to the aircraft wall.
Your cabin crew greet you by name, pamper you, ensure that you are seated comfortably, bringing you another flute of champagne and a gift, a custom gift bag (sponsored, of course) compete with samples of perfume/cologne, and a pair of luxury slippers to wear. There is also a small box of luxury chocolates to enjoy, as well as postcards that you can complete that the crew will mail for you from an international destination of your choice.
Once fully boarded, and the aircraft doors closed, the flight crew offers the obligatory safety message before you are greeted by the captain and first officer welcoming you aboard. They thank you for choosing this ultranational flight, designed to give you the fullest sensation of travel available.
As the jet rolls to the runway and then takes off into the sky, you watch the land fall away, a sense of excitement about your trip. The announcement from the flight deck of clear skies and no turbulence assures you that this will be something to savor.
Meals are served with thick white linens, china plates, and shiny metal silverware. Each course is brought individually; no plastic to be seen. Freshly brewed coffee poured into heavy porcelain cups. Wine from a larger selection poured into spotless stemware.
As you eat you see the ocean beneath you, a sensation of traveling far from home permeates your thoughts; nostalgia and excitement combined for this overseas journey.
As a first-class passenger, you are able to enjoy the lounge, enjoy cocktails with other passengers, before returning to your cabin to watch a movie of your choice, and maybe a short nap.
A few hours pass before you notice the rays of the sun changing their angle of intersection with the aircraft as it gracefully turns back toward home. You feel relaxed, pampered, consider a final cocktail before landing that your crew willingly brings to you. They stop for small talk, asking about you, your family, and in return, you ask how they enjoy working for this airline. They smile politely and tell you that this is far better than a regular overseas flight where they are busy all the time catering to far more people than here, and with a much lower standard of service as a result. They thank you for coming, ask if you need anything else before they scurry back to prepare for the upcoming landing.
And as with all trips, this one ends as the jet touches down, rolling to your gate. Once parked and the doors opened, the crew offer you a round of applause, graciously assisting you out. Your gate is close to the airport entrance, with no busy crowds as you have your own walkway. Before you exit the airport you are again thanked by ground personnel, and you make your way to your car to head home.
Book your flight today and enjoy the luxury of ultranational flights.
What do you think of my idea? Would you take such a trip? I wonder if they would have a travel magazine written by local authors. Hmmmm….
