I rarely fly Delta. In fact, I can't remember the last time it happened. So this is old news, but I'm going to blog about it anyway because I have a weird sense of humor and I thought it was amazing.

I'm talking about Delta's in-flight safety video. Totally, unbelievably, hilarious. I was glued to my seat for the entire safety video. I was sad when it ended.  Safety videos with model flight attendants and the same motions and verbiage (i.e. in most sing-songy voice possible "insert the metal fitting into the buckle and tighten by pulling on the loose end of the strap. To release, just lift the buckle!") are monotonous and boring. I can repeat United's from beginning to end, on cue. So why in the world would I watch the safety video?

Delta nailed why...because when you add ridiculous things like an abacus and a rubber chicken, I not only can't stop watching, I can't stop laughing. You really have to see it for yourself. It's like a spoof on the normal safety video, but better. Better because it adds in ridiculous elements that reflect on the ridiculous state of flying and the ridiculous things that happen on planes.

You can watch it here.

Apparently they have had varying levels of amusing flight safety videos coming out for the last year or so. I don't stalk YouTube (I just saw the honey badger video about six months ago...don't judge), but I might have to change that policy to see what they come up with next. 

My real question--do foreigners (i.e. not from the United States) think this video is just completely crazy? Strike that, I think some of the humor is probably completely lost on Americans, too. I mean, what percentage of citizens do you think could now identify an abacus? More than can correctly name the VP or Secretary of State? Yea....that's what I thought.

So, Delta, here is my suggestion for a flight safety video...(also, how did they cancel Selfie? that show was excellent):

Flight attendant: Please fasten your seatbelt when seated.
Passenger: My seatbelt? I thought you meant everyone elseee's seatbelt.  I mean, I totally have to pee in like five, so can't it wait? I really don't think you mean me, right?  Woahhhhh (turns head)...can I see my reflection in the metal of the buckle? Is that something in my teeth? Why do I need to fasten my seat belt again? I really need to pee.

My United loyalty started when I lived in Wyoming, with a teensy airport that had commuter flights that partnered with United. Back in the day, it was much more difficult to book flights on unconnected airlines, so we ended up flying United.

I stuck with United, more or less, across the years as they consistently had service where I needed to go. Including Wyoming. But as I traveled to Wyoming less and less, I realized my loyalty was habit rather than function. Plus, I'm still feeling the nostalgia for the amazing McDonald's happy meals, complete with awesome airline-themed toys, they used to serve. Those were the days.

The straw that broke the camel's back was the US Air and American merger. Living in DC, and flying frequently out of DCA, we almost always were on US Air, so it's switch from Star Alliance to OneWorld made me really reconsider our Star Alliance loyalty. 

If someone was asked to describe me, I can most definitely bet they would not say I was "cheery" and "optimistic". Nope, I'm pleasant, but definitely more realistic and a bit grumpy.  Why should you care? Well, I feel like being a storm cloud of rain today, so here is my week in travel blahs.

After traveling quite a bit the past month, and getting sick quite a bit in the past month, I'm ready for Christmas carols and cookies and lights. Those things make me happy. 

One of the things I've grown a bit accustomed to over the years is airport lounge access. This all started with my mom, who as a Star Alliance Gold member has access to a lounge in most international airports.  When you get off a 14 hour flight, I really find it relaxing to go sit in a lounge, with wifi and a free beer (though for good ol' motion sick me, it's often ginger ale instead). So when DH and I were heading to Bhutan and Thailand, I made sure we would have lounge access along the way.   I'm really not a lounge snob (I know you are out there) and appreciate whatever is available, particularly internationally. More than anything, I like that lounge bathrooms are typically cleaner than those in the general areas. And the chairs are comfier. And I don't have to pay $8 for some water (I'm looking at you Charles de Gaulle).

While there is more and more information out there about Bhutan, when I was planning I found much of it was out of date as things change quickly. I also had some questions that weren't really answered until we arrived in Bhutan!  So here are some things that would have been helpful to know before our trip.

While Drukair was for many years the only carrier flying to Bhutan, there are now actually two airlines flying to Bhutan, Bhutan Airlines and Drukair. Drukair is the official government carrier. Druk still has service to more cities, but both airlines do serve Bangkok. Additionally, Druk services Singapore, Dhaka, Kathmandu, and Mumbai, among others. 

It seems many visitors wonder whether business class is "worth it" on Druk, so I thought I would give our experience flying to The Land of the Thunder Dragon!

Our Experience from Purchase to Check-In
We decided to splurge for business class seats going to Bhutan. And I use the word "splurge" lightly...they were only $70 more each way ($140 round trip, per person). Tickets to Bhutan were not cheap in the first place, so we went for it. Our itinerary was Bangkok-Paro, with a stop in Guwahati (about 3.5 hours total, with stop).  The return was Paro-Bangkok, with a stop in Bagdogra. I believe the tickets were $846 RT per person.

Apparently we weren't the only ones to think that way--I think all of the tourists on the flight, which was probably a grand total of 8 or 9 on the way to Paro, were in business class. The flight leaves Bangkok at some absolutely ungodly hour, 6:40AM to be exact. And you have to be there two hours in advance per the usual with most international flights. I'd advise getting there a bit earlier, so you can get in line just as the counters open because...