Pulse Nigeria takes Atlanta!

One sunny day in June, I'm at my desk in the Pulse Nigeria newsroom taking stock of my articles when our Editor-in-Chief, Osagie Alonge walks up to me asking if I have an American visa. I impatiently glance up at him while trying to figure out where this could possibly be leading.

“Delta Air is organising a media trip and Rich thinks since you're the Travel Editor, you should go” he explains.

You see, in the weeks leading up to that day, I had been seriously considering applying for an American visa in the hopes of going for a vacation later in the year. But just a few days before this conversation, I decided to put it off till next year and now here I was being offered the chance to go on an all-expense paid trip courtesy Delta Air...go figure!

“So would you like to go?” Osagie asks.

Fast forward some eight weeks later, I'm dining with colleagues from other media houses and Mr Tope Ogbeni-Awe of TopComm at the Oasis Lounge while waiting to board our flight to Atlanta, which is the Delta Air hub.

Earlier on, we had been led through the check-in and immigration process by a Delta Protocol Service officer, making the usually tedious process completely hassle-free.

They say time flies when you're having a good time and soon enough, we hear the call to board. Once we step out of the lounge, a golf cart arrives to take us to the checkpoint before boarding, no long walks for Business Class passengers, y'see.

Once aboard the plane, I quickly find that the Delta Air Business Class cabin is top-notch in comfort and service. As we settle in, an air hostess approaches us with glasses of champagne and juice, while I stretch out my legs in front of me - leg room is not a problem in the Delta One cabin, there's plenty of it.

After all the necessary checks and safety procedure, we sail smoothly into the Lagos skyline. Time-check: 10.30pm prompt as stated on the ticket. I would learn in the days to come that Delta prides itself on being prompt and holds a record for this.

Back to the flight, I scan the in-flight entertainment and settle for 'Taken 3' which I never got round to watching back home. Once I decide, I recline my seat slightly and nibble on the first course which an air hostess had earlier placed on my table. “I could get used to this”, I think.

After a while, with my eyelids beginning to droop I decide to put the famous Delta One cabin chair-bed to test. I recline my seat all the way to the end and sure enough, my chair is now a comfy bed. I snuggle in and think of the adventure ahead....

The adventure only just got started, watch this space for the exciting updates to come.