Johannesburg, South Africa

Arrived at the airport early to ensure a hassle-free check-in. Apparently it was too early, Emirates only allows check-in to start some three hours before the flight. Once checked-in and through Customs and Immigration, we proceeded to the Diners lounge, presented the Diners card, and waited with bated breath to see whether we would be allowed in. Why is that you would ask ? Well, Diners have changed their rules since beginning 2013 whereby you have to spend a certain amount on your card during the previous quarter in order to qualify for lounge access, unless of course you want to pay the visitor’s fee to enter as a guest. I apparently spent enough money on my card and was granted access. I trust Diner’s will re-look this requirement as the amount to spend is far too high. Also, it states that you have to spend this amount in the quarter that you travel. So if you travel, say, in the fourth quarter starting October, and your travel date is 1 October, you would hardly have had time to spend that ridiculous amount of money. We settled down with a beer, wine, some snacks and a newspaper, readying ourselves for the trip ahead. We were seated across from a couple, with the woman talking loudly, almost as if she wanted everyone to listen to her conversation, i.e. about a previous trip they took and all the places they had seen. Immediately we thought that she’s not really used to much traveling, but let it rest. Soon enough they were quietly joined by their two daughters, with the mother still in fine vocal form. So, great was our surprise as we boarded on our way to our cattle class seats, when we passed them in first class, enjoying their, no doubt, Dom Perignon. So you might think that sometimes looks can be deceiving ? That’s what I thought at that moment until we sat down with the cattle and noticed that the two daughters of the Dom Perignon first class breed were sitting right behind us. What parent would fly first class and let their kids fly cattle ? Not sure what to make of that. The Emirates flight was perfectly comfortable, as always, and we settled down for a relaxing flight, good supper, a movie, and a good rest, i.e. as good a rest as is possible on a long haul flight.