When Barbie came to my seat, she put down a piping hot coffee with real cream—all in ceramic containers. Frau Blucher looked like she’d be running a garden hose down the aisle asking people if they’d like a swallow.

Once we were airborne, Barbie came by with a luxury basket of breakfast goodies—muffins, biscuits and strawberries so fresh they still had the little green fig leaf on top. Behind the curtain in coach, I could only imagine Frau Blucher firing muffins out of one of those air cannons they use to launch t-shirts into the stands at Marlins games.

When we landed, I grabbed my jacket from the overhead bin, did an about face, and was walking down the jet way after a winsome “goodbye” smile from Delta Barbie. I think we were opening Christmas presents when the last of the peasants finally exited the Tube with Wings.

In the Golden Age of Air Travel (when airlines like Eastern and Pan Am were still around) they flew around us radio folks for free—and always in 1st, asking nothing except some positive PR. I don’t think I sat in coach once during the Golden Age—and stupidly took it for granted assuming it would last forever.
Then came the tough times when I couldn’t afford the lowest coach ticket and didn’t need one because I had nowhere to go and no one who wanted me to fly in and see them anyway.

You see, when you’ve had it all and lost it all and got it back and lost it again and are managing to rebuild one final time, it’s not just expectations that change. Your attitude makes an adjustment too. Thanks Delta!


Greg Budell is a 25 year veteran of South Florida radio and has currently joined the BBC (Bluewater Broadcasting Corp.) and works for a group of radio stations in Montgomery, Alabama, Monday-Friday. He commutes back to SoFla on weekends to see his daughter, Janelle, & “son,” Zeus. You can reach him at: info@lifepubs.com.