Maiden Voyage/A380

Imagine a cruise ship that flies. A huge wing span. A spacious interior that lets you stand up straight. Wide aisles. Modern everything! But what is truly amazing about the A380 Airbus flight I experienced this morning was the smooth, unbelievably quiet ride. It glided into the air without a ripple or hiccup. There was so much room, people gathered in groups in the aisles of all three classes. The day was perfect to fly because it was so clear and sunny. Some guests were conducting video interviews, others stared at the giant wings, and some tested every possible angle of their seat. One of the funniest moments was seeing a videographer lying flat on his back in a first class seat. The minute we boarded, cameras came out of suit pockets and handbags. Everyone had a look of surprise and delight on their faces, because this was real excitement. A little piece of history in the making. But what I'll never forget was the taxi back to hangar as we passed baggage handlers, security, port authority workers, police. For a minute, they stopped what they were doing to look at this new bird. They waved. They took pictures. And I realized no one is immune to the thrill of seeing something incredible for the first time!