The wonders of wifely nudging can accomplish a lot. Lately, what I've been able to accomplish by my nudging is getting Eli to start a blog. He constantly comes home with hilarious stories and I just love his child-like humor on certain subjects. So without further ado, here is Eli's blog.
I hope you enjoy it.
Remove Before Flight
Showing posts with label adventures in airline travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adventures in airline travel. Show all posts
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Monday, May 19, 2008
chronicles of non-revenue travel
It is now 8:06pm PST and I am on a train from San Jose to San
Francisco. I bet you are asking yourself why a train? Well, here is
the reason why? However, first should explain how my husband and I travel.
Since he works for an airline, we have the luxury of receiving airline benefits. We can hop on any of his company's flights that is our heart's desire. The
key component of this benefit is that, there must be space available
for us non-paying passengers. As it should, preference is given to
paying or "revenue" passengers.
Our day started at 6am EST. We headed to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, GA.
We were in Atlanta this weekend visiting my parents. Which was so much fun and so desperately needed.
For some reason, we were unable to print my security document at my parent's house, so once we arrived to the airport, we stood in the long ticket counter line. Eli and I split off to see which line would go the fastest. Surely, I thought the line to the kiosk that was just check in only, no baggage, would go the fastest. I was wrong. This wouldn't be the first time today that I would guess wrong. Eli made it to the kiosk/baggage check in before I did so I joined him at the counter to pick up my pass.
We then headed to the security line that wrapped around the ticketing
area twice! One would think this line would take forever, but it
didn't. Just a mere 30 minutes to get through security. Easy Money!!
The start of this trip seemed to go smoothly, we have our security documents, made it through security with no problem and we got on the 8am flight to Dallas with ease, well almost. Immedialy upon receiving our seat assignments we were told we needed to check our luggage since all the overhead bin space was taken.
As a non-revenue passenger, you learn to pack lightly so that you can keep your luggage with you at ll times. the airlines lose the luggage and you are SOL. It is quite the panic when you have to give up your bag. I seriously think we stood there for 10 minutes staring at our suitcases wondering if we should leave them. We finally mustered up the confidence to say goodbye to our bags and headed on the plane.
After 20 minutes of sitting at the gate, the pilot comes on with a PA
stating that the plane was having lavatory problems and it would be
another 20 minute wait. Now, normally this wouldn't bother me or Eli but
because we knew we would have problems in Dallas connecting onto SFO, we needed to get there as soon as possible. We gathered our things and rushed to the
845am flight to Dallas. We got on the flight to Dallas and with our
luggage en route to SFO, we figured things would be okay. We were
more then wrong....
Landed in Dallas, rushed to the monitors to see what gate the SFO
flight would be departing out of. Much to our luck, it was in the same terminal. Much to our bad luck the flight was completely oversold. We
instantly rolled over the next SFO flight non rev stand by list. We
then put our heads together and figured out that there was an oakland
flight from dallas. The chances didn't look great but they looked
better then the flights to SFO.
We head to the ticket counter, I for some reason,was filled with
optimisim in thinking we would make this flight. I even started to
plan out the rest of my afternoon. How quickly reality bopped me upside
the head. Everyone, I mean EVERYONE showed up for that flight. No
space. at. all.
We moved on to the next SFO flight. No love. Next thought, San Jose.
No love. At this point, we needed to get out of Dallas. We were 0-5
and we needed to head west. The further west we could get the better
off we would be. At this point, we did contemplate heading to mexico
for a few days. the hell with work right? But I forgot to bring my
passport with me. Boo....
We looked at Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, SLC, We finally settled on
San Diego. At least we would be in California!!! During this flight,
we finally were able to get some alcohol in us. The lovely flight
attendant kept us well fed of adult beverages. This definiely helped
ease our pain...a bit. We made it San Diego but missed our connection
to LA because the airline pushed the plane 20 minutes early. DOH! I almost lost it. I had to walk away from the ticket counter because another responsibility of being a non-rev traveler is that you have to be nice!!!! Plus it would look so bad on E if I had a major breakdown.
Both of us at our wits end at this point, we finally settled on another flight to San Jose. By this time, we picked up two travel buddies who were having a similar experience with their non-rev travel as we were. We had crossed paths with them in Dallas and had traveled the similar flight legs.
The four of us discussed what we were going to do once we landed in SJ. Luckily, the wife of the pair had experience with cal train so we decided split a cab to the train station. We arrived at the train station and not a minute later, the train arrived. All four of us were jumping for joy! We boarded the train and quickly realized we were going the wrong way. Double Doh and much laughter between the four of us. We jumped off at the next stop and caught the train heading in the correct direction. As we passed the train station we originally boarded, I then saw the sign we were standing in front of directing us to the appropriate track to catch the train to San Francisco. I tried so hard to take a picture but of course my camera died right then and there.
We arrived at the correct station an hour later, where the four of us split off. Eli and I had another hour and 10 minute train ride home on BART.
Needless to say, 19 hours, 4 airports and two trains later. I am home and Eli is out playing poker with his friends. I wrote most of this post on the train and am now posting it.
Eli finished up his IOE training last week and will be starting reserve this week. He leaves again for a 5 day trip. I think I am going to stay put for awhile.
Francisco. I bet you are asking yourself why a train? Well, here is
the reason why? However, first should explain how my husband and I travel.
Since he works for an airline, we have the luxury of receiving airline benefits. We can hop on any of his company's flights that is our heart's desire. The
key component of this benefit is that, there must be space available
for us non-paying passengers. As it should, preference is given to
paying or "revenue" passengers.
Our day started at 6am EST. We headed to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, GA.
We were in Atlanta this weekend visiting my parents. Which was so much fun and so desperately needed.
For some reason, we were unable to print my security document at my parent's house, so once we arrived to the airport, we stood in the long ticket counter line. Eli and I split off to see which line would go the fastest. Surely, I thought the line to the kiosk that was just check in only, no baggage, would go the fastest. I was wrong. This wouldn't be the first time today that I would guess wrong. Eli made it to the kiosk/baggage check in before I did so I joined him at the counter to pick up my pass.
We then headed to the security line that wrapped around the ticketing
area twice! One would think this line would take forever, but it
didn't. Just a mere 30 minutes to get through security. Easy Money!!
The start of this trip seemed to go smoothly, we have our security documents, made it through security with no problem and we got on the 8am flight to Dallas with ease, well almost. Immedialy upon receiving our seat assignments we were told we needed to check our luggage since all the overhead bin space was taken.
As a non-revenue passenger, you learn to pack lightly so that you can keep your luggage with you at ll times. the airlines lose the luggage and you are SOL. It is quite the panic when you have to give up your bag. I seriously think we stood there for 10 minutes staring at our suitcases wondering if we should leave them. We finally mustered up the confidence to say goodbye to our bags and headed on the plane.
After 20 minutes of sitting at the gate, the pilot comes on with a PA
stating that the plane was having lavatory problems and it would be
another 20 minute wait. Now, normally this wouldn't bother me or Eli but
because we knew we would have problems in Dallas connecting onto SFO, we needed to get there as soon as possible. We gathered our things and rushed to the
845am flight to Dallas. We got on the flight to Dallas and with our
luggage en route to SFO, we figured things would be okay. We were
more then wrong....
Landed in Dallas, rushed to the monitors to see what gate the SFO
flight would be departing out of. Much to our luck, it was in the same terminal. Much to our bad luck the flight was completely oversold. We
instantly rolled over the next SFO flight non rev stand by list. We
then put our heads together and figured out that there was an oakland
flight from dallas. The chances didn't look great but they looked
better then the flights to SFO.
We head to the ticket counter, I for some reason,was filled with
optimisim in thinking we would make this flight. I even started to
plan out the rest of my afternoon. How quickly reality bopped me upside
the head. Everyone, I mean EVERYONE showed up for that flight. No
space. at. all.
We moved on to the next SFO flight. No love. Next thought, San Jose.
No love. At this point, we needed to get out of Dallas. We were 0-5
and we needed to head west. The further west we could get the better
off we would be. At this point, we did contemplate heading to mexico
for a few days. the hell with work right? But I forgot to bring my
passport with me. Boo....
We looked at Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, SLC, We finally settled on
San Diego. At least we would be in California!!! During this flight,
we finally were able to get some alcohol in us. The lovely flight
attendant kept us well fed of adult beverages. This definiely helped
ease our pain...a bit. We made it San Diego but missed our connection
to LA because the airline pushed the plane 20 minutes early. DOH! I almost lost it. I had to walk away from the ticket counter because another responsibility of being a non-rev traveler is that you have to be nice!!!! Plus it would look so bad on E if I had a major breakdown.
Both of us at our wits end at this point, we finally settled on another flight to San Jose. By this time, we picked up two travel buddies who were having a similar experience with their non-rev travel as we were. We had crossed paths with them in Dallas and had traveled the similar flight legs.
The four of us discussed what we were going to do once we landed in SJ. Luckily, the wife of the pair had experience with cal train so we decided split a cab to the train station. We arrived at the train station and not a minute later, the train arrived. All four of us were jumping for joy! We boarded the train and quickly realized we were going the wrong way. Double Doh and much laughter between the four of us. We jumped off at the next stop and caught the train heading in the correct direction. As we passed the train station we originally boarded, I then saw the sign we were standing in front of directing us to the appropriate track to catch the train to San Francisco. I tried so hard to take a picture but of course my camera died right then and there.
We arrived at the correct station an hour later, where the four of us split off. Eli and I had another hour and 10 minute train ride home on BART.
Needless to say, 19 hours, 4 airports and two trains later. I am home and Eli is out playing poker with his friends. I wrote most of this post on the train and am now posting it.
Eli finished up his IOE training last week and will be starting reserve this week. He leaves again for a 5 day trip. I think I am going to stay put for awhile.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)