Friday, October 5, 2007

MAAS - or, I Heart Technology

First, "MAAS" is the logo printed on this green button they gave me when I asked for wheelchair service at Cathay Pacific. Having twisted my ankle over six weeks ago, and still not healed, I figure I legitimately qualify as handicapped. I have no idea what MAAS stands for (May Ask for Assistance Soberly?), but it must be pretty sweet, because it affords you priority seating (even before the kiddies!) and gate to gate service.

It also earned me a lot of quizzical looks, probably because everyone else using this service was at least 70 years old. I wore my big-girl ankle brace and rolled up my jeans to make it even more obvious. At any rate I was glad for it, because I would otherwise have been hobbling the immense distances between gates very soberly indeed.

That said, I am so totally in love with technology, particularly Asia's brand of technology. Not only am I updating my blog using * free * airport wifi (never mind the exorbitant fees they charge in American airports), but I watched FOUR full movies on my personal video screen on the flight over to HK from SFO. If you're curious, they were:
  • License to Wed (I couldn't help it. My former bosses produced this movie and I had to see how it turned out)
  • Live Free or Die Hard (yippie ki-yay [mother father]!)
  • 50 First Dates
  • Mulan (one of the few Disney selections they had, and I figured I'd get myself in a right mindset for my final destination. Who'da thunk I'd get all weepy when she prepared to leave her home to defend her family's honor! How embarrassing.)
View of the space-age-looking seats on the plane:

1 comment:

. said...

Hey! I took the ride on Cathay Pacific CX880 from LAX to HKG and during my vacation, I got very sick. I couldn't even walk without having to stop and rest, take a breather, then walk again. My dad had to piggy-back ride me to the airport. Anyways, my dad asked for the wheelchair service and they were glad to give it to me. The button is green and MAAS stands for "Meet And Assist". Everyone gave me questionable stares too. Not to mention it saved my father the hassle of finding which gate we're suppose to be at. He's the kind of guy that gets impatient if he can't really find anything. [:

Then on my way home, I took the CX882 from HKG to LAX. When I arrived at my destination, I still got wheel chair service even though my name wasn't on the list but I had signed up for wheelchair service on the day I was leaving. Enough of my story, but I have to say... I loved the individual televisions, but honestly I hate having to ride 15 hours on an airplane even if there is entertainment 24/7.