Last week, I commented on some of the reasons why I love to fly and briefly mentioned my visit to Boeing. Two weeks ago, I had the privilege to enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of Boeing. I saw where airplanes are manufactured and turned from pieces of metal into amazing flying machines. I had the pleasure of seeing some private areas of the facilities, but the factories are open to the public for tours. I strongly recommend the trip and tour for anyone passing through Seattle. I was taken to two centers normally only reserved for clients buying $200-million aircrafts. The first was the Dreamliner Gallery‘ the other was the Customer Experience Center (CEC). The CEC features a full-scale mock-up of different aircraft. I saw the mock-up of the new, beautiful 747-8s and the gorgeous 787 Dreamliner. The Dreamliner Gallery is a separate facility that is used for client specifications. Here, clients can choose how to outfit their aircraft on every detail down to the coffeemaker in the galley. There was a separate room for choosing seats and determining seat pitch. Clients can choose what wallpaper to use and how to configure the galley and the lavatory. Additionally, the technology throughout this facility was quite remarkable! I certainly found it fascinating. GT readers spend many hours on planes, and I guarantee you would all find this extremely interesting as well. Think about every time you board a plane. Do you notice every detail and whether or not you like it? Thousands of hours of thought went into every last detail. It is at the Dreamliner Gallery where the decisions are being made for new aircraft. Boeing plans to install LED lighting systems in the Dreamliners, with future plans for installation on other aircraft. The new lighting system allows airlines to choose colors that are welcoming to passengers. One highlight is the sunrise and sunset element, which will ease you in and out of sleep on long-haul flights — a function I believe long-haul travelers will find invaluable. After having a sneak peak at the Dreamliner and the other options available from Boeing, I can safely say commercial airlines and their passengers are in for a treat! -Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher