Health Concerns

For some reason, I immediately believe my life is at risk when something minor happens. Normally I can shake it off, but if it lingers, I'm screwed. When I started flying, my left leg would fall asleep. This was due to how I was sitting and how my legs were configured, but since it was my LEFT side, and that it was happening in the air, I immediately thought blood clot/DVT. Of course it was neither of those.

The week before Thanksgiving went without a hitch, until my flight. I was on the plane in my favorite non-first class seat and ready to go home. About 20 minutes into the flight, I started breathing heavy. It was the onset of a panic attack. I started concentrating on my breathing. If you have ever done this, then you know it sucks. It is better to breathe subconsciously than to think about it, because all you end up doing is breathing deeply, getting dizzy and feeling worse. When I breathe deep, I want to feel it in my lungs so much that it hurts. I just felt as if I could not get enough oxygen.

All I wanted was my inhaler, which was back in my car at the airport. I needed to get my mind off the issue, so I tried to sleep. No luck. My only other option was to try to make the time go by as fast as possible. I took out my headphones, I took out my computer, and I started playing solitaire and Free Cell. It helped time move, but I still felt off while playing. I had a 1/2 of a lorazepam, so I popped that, and it didn't work either. The moment we got to "landing in 30 minutes" I felt fine. I'm not sure what it was, but right then and there, I could breathe normally. While driving home, I took a couple deep puffs of my inhaler just in case. The moment I got home, the inhaler got thrown into my briefcase, which never leaves my side.

The question I ask myself is "could I have made my situation any better even though I didn't have my inhaler? Should I have asked the flight attendant if she could ask around to see if another passenger had an inhaler? Should I have made a fuss?"

I'd like to think that even though my life sucked for the next 90 minutes, I tried to keep calm as best as I could while running through my options. I knew in the back of my mind that I wasn't dying. I also knew that it would pass and that if I could keep my mind off it, I would return to normal.

I think the point of this is to make sure you are prepared for whatever gets thrown your way. I've been flying almost every week for the past 4-5 months now, and I would think that a panic attack would never have happened to me. Apparently I was wrong. I know better now.

My suggestion is to keep a small pharmacy in your bag to get you through any rough patches you may encounter:

• Advil/Tylenol
• Aspirin (people with heart issues)
• Tums or some form of antacid
• Inhaler (even if you have a mild case of Asthma, like me)
• Dramamine (even the strongest stomachs get queasy)
• Chapstick

Notice how all these items are non-liquid. It means you get in and out of security without having to take them out of your bag, which is key.

Safe flying.

Streamline

I have been doing this enough to know how much time I need, how to get perks, and so on. Unfortunately, I have only been upgraded at the hotel once or twice, and that is probably due to it being empty. I will never be upgraded on American due to the amount of travelers with a higher status that I. The only silver lining is getting through security quickly.

I tried out the Admiral's Club lounge, and I must say that I am impressed. I wasn't ready for the breadth of customer that utilizes the lounge as well. People from all walks of life used it. I paid the $50 to get into it just so I could try it out. My flight ended up being delayed, so I got lucky in that the $50 was not a waste. I had 3 vodka tonics for free and they used Smirnoff. I'm not saying Smirnoff is bad, but I'm also saying it isn't a vodka I would normally go out and purchase for myself. However, if it is between a free Smirnoff and $10 for Absolut/Ketel One/Belvedere, I'll go with the free one. There were plenty of places to sit, lots of plugs to recharge laptop/cell phone batteries, nice bathrooms, and apparently showers somewhere.

Going to this lounge has brought me to a crossroads. I was thinking that I should spend the $450 to get into the lounge for a year. Or, I could spend $450 and get the AMEX Platinum card, which would allow me to get into multiple lounges. The only thing is I'm not sure if I will get reimbursed often enough, and therefore would be worried that a lot of money is coming out of my own pocket every month to pay back the Charge Card, since the balance is owed every month. Sure, it evens out in the end, but I'd prefer not to have to pay to work.

The reason I am actually deciding to pull the trigger now is that due to the winter season coming up, I have a feeling my flights have a greater chance of being delayed/cancelled, and I need a place to hang out that isn't the terminal. When I was in the lounge, I didn't feel like I was in an airport, and that is a relaxing feeling.

So here we are today. I have a conference call @ 1, and it would be nice to use the executive center at the lounge, except that I'll be sitting at some bar listening in. Sorry, I'll be a but more responsible than that. I'll wait until after the call to have my standard preflight cocktail. Can a beer be called a cocktail, or would I need to get liquor? I'll ponder that while I daydream about the lounge while listening to some toddler act up as their parents hope that someone else will police their kids.

Sigh

Badges?

11/08/2012

I haven't blogged in so long that there is just so much to tell. How was United? What happened with the interview for GOES? Patience grasshopper.

Speaking of grasshopper, did you know that there is a grasshopper on the weather vane at Faneuil Hall? During the Revolutionary War, if you were suspected of being a British spy, locals would ask you what was on top of the weather vane. If you got it wrong, you were labeled a British spy and arrested.

It' s a shame my timeline of events went United then interview as opposed to vice versa. I paid ungodly amounts to have a better seat on United since I don't have any status with them. It was a good opportunity for them to show me what they have in case American goes the way of the dodo. Lots of travelers are being skeptical of the airline, and United could be where they jump to. Unfortunately they did not impress.

To be fair, if I decided to fly them, I should be able to transfer my status on American to United. It would take a couple weeks/months, but it would work. Let's start with Logan and go from there.

I arrive in plenty of time, and Terminal C looks to be somewhat dead. This was just an assumption, and we all know what happens with assumptions. I must have stood in the security line for close to 45 minutes. It was a bottleneck. There were too many people and not enough security personnel. Technically I cannot blame this glitch on United, but since they are in this terminal, I chose to do so. When I finally got through, I was so out of sorts that I forgot my bag at security. I was halfway to the gate before I realized that I forgot my bag, so I ran back. Lucky for me, it was there. I didn't have any time to get breakfast. The location of the gate was in some ass end corner of the terminal, and there MORE bottlenecks. I understand that those with status get to board first, but it was ridiculous that I was group 5 and there wasn't any overhead space left. While the seats were very comfortable (I paid an extra $35 for them), it wasn't anything special.

Then there was the ride home. The security to get back was perfectly fine. Once again, I didn't have status, so I boarded later than I am used to. Once again I had to stuff my stuff in first class. At the very beginning of boarding, the guy asked if there were any Global people (along with servicemen/women in uniform, etc)....this is what got me. I had my interview the day after. Had I had the Global interview a week prior, I would be able to board first.

The worst part of flying United was being deposited in Terminal A instead of C. Yeah, Hi, I left from Terminal C so my car is in Terminal C. Do you think you can turn the plane around? No? Fine. I'm never flying you again. I think it had to do with Continental and how they are still working out the kinks, but it was pretty ridiculous.

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My interview with the U.S. Customs agent was great. The thing to really acknowledge is that the Global Entry program is run by U.S. Customs. If you have a beef with TSA, join the club. I haven't had that many bad experiences with them, although on one side, I feel for them with the monotonous job, and on the other side, I feel like they could do a much better job as well.  The thing about Global Entry is that it is technically for those traveling internationally more than anything. However, when you get your approval for Global Entry, you get a PASS ID#, which you then put in a specific place for the 4 major airlines (United, Delta, US Airways, American). This gives you the opportunity to do TSA Precheck. I could potentially get through security faster and easier than those in First Class now due to this program. I used it on Monday, and I didn't take off my shoes, watch, wedding band...it was fantastic. I took of my belt because it was bulky. The TSA agents are MUCH nicer in the precheck line as well. It took me all of 2 minutes to go through. This is what security should be.

If you have doubts about TSA Precheck, you should have faith in Global Entry. The program is run by a well known and respected agency of the government, and these guys know what they are doing. If you fly enough with a particular airline, you can get TSA Precheck without the Global Entry piece, but it is just for that airline. I can do TSA Precheck for any of the 4. It is a glorious thing.

Funny thing during my interview with Customs. They take your fingerprints, and they get rated on a scale from 1-20, with 1 being easily readable and 20 being sandpaper. After checking my FBI file (which is empty...I hope!), they take my fingerprints and the guy tells me never to commit a crime. I may be guilty of speeding my fair share of times, but I wouldn't commit a crime anyway. He says that I have all 1s and 2s, and would get identified really easily if I left my fingerprints anywhere. I found that entertaining. He was telling me how some people go in for their interviews and have outstanding warrants against them, so he ends up arresting them.

The Price of Beer

10/11/2012 (not edited for content/spelling/grammar...I'm too lazy)

I have yet to be delayed significantly on my American flights. I know I am crazy to even be speaking like this. Bostonians are a superstitious people. We are kind of like the English and the Olympics. The English, for some reason or another, have high hopes but fully expect them to be dashed in one fell swoop.

I had the best seat on the flight that was not first class on Monday (my humble opinion of course). I was able to secure the same seat on my flight back tonight. I won't have my carry-on today though. I would be making my life a lot easier, except that I am checking my bag. I put a six-pack in there, and I don't think TSA would let me take it with me through security. I've been putting a lot of beer in my suitcase. I'm going to try to procure 1 or 2 more bombers to go along with my sixer, and I will be a happy camper.

I may very well be repeating myself from past posts, but...what else am I going to write about? Beer is good, so we should discuss it ad nauseam. If a six pack costs $12 (which it did), and an airline charges $25 for carry on, you are paying $37 a sixer, or $6.15 a bottle (or something close to that). That doesn't make much sense. However, since I have the free bag, SCORE!

******************************

I have my GOES interview next week. It feels like it took forever. I swear that if I didn't have status with American already, I'd be clawing my way into that interview.

While I was in the security line at Logan on Monday, a really nice TSA agent was looking at our ID/boarding tickets. It as 5:15am and the TSA agent was really an anomaly, although I haven't really had any issues with TSA agents. Anyway, he was telling select people to sign up for TSA Precheck. I don't have enough status with American for them to say "Potsie, we would like you to take a look at the program". Oh well. I'll get there.

*******************************

I am flying United next week. Hold on. I just vomited in my mouth.

American was ridiculously expensive next week. I don't really understand to be honest. All of a sudden, the prices shot up dramatically. The problem is, the plane is substantially bigger, and I needed to make sure I got a decent seat. I ended up paying $75 of my own money for a decent seat on each flight. That was a kick to the nuts.

Terminal C in Logan is a different beast than what I am used to, so I am curious to get back there and see what has changed. My flight is ridiculously early (like all my flights on Mondays), so I think i'll be waking up at 3:45. Hopefully I don't stand in security too long. Next week will be interesting, to say the least. No smuggling of beer for me.

*********************************

The Residence Inn  I am staying at upgraded me to a two bedroom unit, with full kitchen and two full baths. That is great, except that I'm just one person. I didn't need all that.

There is a guy that I talk to who lives in the state of where the hotel is, but his commute warrants him to stay the week. I'm thinking it is at least 2+hours if not more. Anyway, we have been discussing the breakfast that is served in the morning. The coffee stinks, so I either make my own or pick some up on the way. The sausage patties in the morning are almost inedible. He has been lobbying with the hotel for months to be able to get bacon as a "treat" once a week. He lobbied for it when he was staying at a different Residence Inn, and they served it on the weekend. What help does that do the business travelers like himself?

Other staff say "It is against Residence Inn policy", whether it be food safety or whatever. He found out through the corporate office that it is up to each individual franchise to set their own rules on what can and cannot be served. I will be expecting bacon very soon.

Unless it is too expensive. I mean, there is supposed to be a pork shortage, right?

BOLLOCKS!

Calling in Sick = Strike?

SEPTEMBER 20

Anyone else hear about American Airlines pilots calling in sick BY THE DROVES??? I'm flying American today...and the remainder of the project I'm on. I can't be delayed because the pilots and their company can't come to some agreement. I love hockey, but if the NHL is going to lock out the players, it isn't going to affect whether or not I come home on time. That being said, I think the NHL owners are a bunch of hypocrites, and need to be punished severely. I hope lots of fans don't come back after the lockout is over.

Where was I? American. Come on guys!!! I swear that if my flight is delayed or cancelled because a pilot calls in sick, I will be a heated brother.

**********************

I cooked a risotto on Tuesday night, and had the leftovers on Wednesday. Originally I thought my hotel had great cooking utensils. I'm a bit of a food snob, and I like my own stuff, so I have been thinking about going out and grabbing a new chef's knife, and perhaps a decent set of tongs. Most people would be happy getting a lean cuisine, but that just ain't me. I like to eat, and eat well.

I cooked chicken on Monday night, and it created a decent amount of smoke due to the poor pan I was using. I decided to go outside on Tuesday night to grill the chicken I was making to put into my risotto. This guy comes outside that I have seen a couple times. He is staying at the hotel until next week and then is leaving for good. He starts giving me tips on how to cook the chicken. As I said, i'm a snob and relatively good cook, so I know how to cook a piece of chicken. It was a huge piece of chicken breast that was going to get cut up anyway, so I suggested for faster, even cooking, I should cut it. He says "No, you don't want to do that." Not 3 minutes later, he says "You should probably cut it". Thanks Captain Obvious. I swear I had multiple instances of him contradicting himself this past week. He was trying to tell me that he covers a pork tenderloin in brown sugar, puts it on the grill on high heat and cooks it for 25 minutes. I would do that, if I wanted to serve a piece of blackened crud to my worst enemy, sure.

***********************

Me, being the smart person that I am, decided to wear French cuffs today. I'll be cursing my own name at security.

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I spoke about 500 mile upgrades on my last post. The funny thing is, you need to be UBER elite to use them on my flights. I could have X amount of upgrades and try to use them and I still would never see first class because everyone else has higher status than me. I saw a list for upgrades that was 15 people deep. Executive Platinum people were from top to bottom. If you were Platinum, tough luck. Hell, unless you had a  bazillion miles to your name and have been flying for years, you weren't getting an upgrade.

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I was speaking with a woman from Tuscon at the airport last Thursday. She was flying to Europe and back FIRST CLASS the entire way. She is flying through Heathrow on the way home on BA, so I told her to visit the lovely lounges they have there. They are supposed to be some of the best airline lounges around. I think she will be in Munich for Octoberfest. I am pretty jealous. What I was not jealous of was her 8 hour layover at the airport we were at.

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I was watching a movie, and I heard that quote that was pretty interesting. "Kids sharpen their teeth on their parent's bones". My father has been having issues with my grandparent's computer down in Florida. They had to go buy a new one. Then, after installing it, the speakers wouldn't work. So I get the call. The problem is that my grandparents call my dad, and he can be very VERY short, even with them these days. He doesn't want to help them with their computer issues, even though the issue may be relatively simple. However, when he can't figure it out, he gets ahold of me, and I try to assist him, and the cycle continues. He doesn't want to help his parents, and I don't want to help mine.

***********************

ON TO THE TRAVEL!!!!

The TSA-Precheck IS worthwhile. I was standing in my Priority Access line on Monday, and all of a sudden, I see a lone woman in some random line to my left. There are a bunch of TSA agents just standing around in the security area. Next thing I know, she has the whole security area to herself. The TSA agent says: "Have you done TSA precheck before?" at which point I got security envy REAL fast. I have an interview in a couple weeks to get the GOES thing. I was going to write it off since I already have Priority Access, but I think if I can get the GOES thing and have it translated over to TSA-Precheck, I'll be the happiest flyer. I wonder if it works for my family if they travel with me?

Powerrrrrrr-less

9/13/2012

I'm a huge fan of Top Gear UK. I have tried getting into the United States version, and like most shows, the British just do it better. Jeremy Clarkson, who is hilarious on multiple levels, loves to utilize as much power as a vehicle will give him. He gets to drive all sorts of toys, like Ferraris, Mercedes, Lambo-whatevers...but the funny thing is when he is driving a shitbox and is racing, the moment he passes one of the other co-hosts, he yells "POWERRRRRRRR!!!!!!". I swear he must have one of the best jobs in the world.

I, on the other hand, have no POWERRRRR!!!! I got my status, and while I can book all these great seats (if available), I can't seem to ever get myself into a better seat. It's better than what it used to be, but it really sucks right now. I got stuck in the middle seat on Monday. How the fuck did that happen?

Monday was ridiculous in its own right. I get to the airport, and it is bustling a bit, meaning I'll finally get to use my "Priority Access" to bypass the line of peasants. I get in line, and see that the cattle line isn't really that long. As I am standing in line, I see the line to my right which is First Class and airline personnel. That line and my line lead to the same TSA agent, and they get precedence. I'm waiting there and finally that line is empty so my line starts up again. And then a bunch of foreign nationals show up in the line, and I can guarantee that they are not flying first class...I know that might sound a little harsh, but the truth is they were in wheelchairs and that is why they got pushed to the front of the line. Ok, I understand. But I see a young kid, late teens/early twenties, get into the cattle line and zoom right through. I have a conversation with the guy in back of me "Why do I have this if I can't get through? This is a rip off....blah blah blah". Honestly though...People are paying for access that doesn't mean a damn thing. If Priority Access could be split up into "Security Access" and "Board Plane Early Access", I'd probably go for the latter.

I get into my destination, and I forgot to rent a car. I had to have my wife book me a rental, and I ended up getting a Mazda 5. I think to myself "Self, a Mazda 3 ain't so bad, and a Mazda 6 is pretty good. Maybe a 5 will be a great car!!!" I was mistaken. It is a rectangular minivan. I should have had spent McDonald's cups and dirty cleats in my trunk.

******************

I cooked for some coworkers last night. The grill at the hotel is beastly, but not in a great way. It is extremely hot, but while I was searing the steaks, you couldn't really judge how long they should be on there for because the extreme heat was sizzling the outside, and I am positive the inside was still relatively raw.

After dinner, a coworker and I go out to a local bar for a quick beer and conversation. As we come back, she suggests the side door because it is closer to her room. Thank heavens she chose that door, because not 2 seconds after entering the hotel, we see a guy exit his room in his boxers with a hooker in hand. It was fan-fucking-tastic! Sorry. It was inappropriate. No..It was pretty cool. The problem is, my coworker kept purposely blocking my vision so I couldn't see this young lady in her undies. She has SEX for a living!! Let me see this girl's rear end in all its glory. He already paid her for her services I'm sure. She won't care if I sneak a peak.

*******************

My coworker mentioned that every time she gets on the shuttle to and from the airport/car rental building, she gets "evaluated" by the gentlemen on the bus. To be fair, she is an attractive woman, but I find that the nonchalant glances work a lot better than making a woman uncomfortable by staring...which is apparently what guys do to this girl.

Don't stare at girls on the bus. It makes them uneasy. Please, when stalking, do it from a distance. End of Public Service Announcement.

Cheers

********September 6th

This is my second week, albeit shortened, at the Residence Inn. The moment I walked in, they knew my name, but they had a hard time pronouncing it. My last name is quite a clusterfuck of letters, like Coach K from Duke/Men's Olympic Basketball Team although it isn't that bad, nor is it Polish. Anyway, I was really surprised that they knew. The entire time I was there, even when leaving right now, "Goodbye Mr. Potsie." It really is the little things.

I got in on Tuesday and a card was waiting for me. It was my birthday yesterday, and my wife sent me a card from my son of 7 months. It was one of the best welcomes I could have had. I brought it in yesterday and have it displayed at my desk. I guess I'm one of "those guys" now...one of  those situations where you'll never know until you are in that person's shoes. Now that I'm a dad, I find myself looking at online articles where you are supposed to do XYZ in order for your kids to be brought up right, and make sure they don't start drinking too early, and if they don't put their shoes on in the proper order, I'll have raised a serial killer. I suppose I just don't want to fuck up. Yeah...I'm swearing a lot in my blog today. My bad. Shall we talk about posies and tulips? They're fun!

***************

Why is it that birthdays get so mehhh when you get older? My coworker will be turning 33 soon and she is ready to party like it is her 24th. I haven't gotten excited about a birthday in forever. I thought 30 was going to be a big one, but my family was struggling a bit financially, so I put the kibosh on anything big. I did get my son during my 30th year, which is all I wanted, so I suppose it worked out in the end. Who needs a party where we stay up all hours when we can have a perfectly healthy baby boy screaming at all hours keeping us up instead?

****************

I completely forgot to check in! This is a first ladies and gentlemen. I will now be checking into my flight to see what seat assignment I can procure. Let's see how Potsie fares:

Oh well. I have a decent aisle seat in the front of the main cabin. I suppose I can't really complain.


ON TO THE TRAVEL!!!!!

Security is still empty. It better fill up soon so I can point my ever large nose up at people. Or is it down? I don't recall. Either way, you peasants should be thankful to be graced with my presence in the security line at all.

Check this article out about the TSA Pre-Check. I signed up for GOES and I'm supposed to have an interview next month, although since I have status with American, I don't necessarily need it for domestic travel. Even though this chap is on a special list with Delta, AND is square with the GOES program, he still got ushered into the regular line. That sucks pal.

http://overheadbin.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/30/13568373-tsas-precheck-program-reveals-promise-and-problems?lite

I find myself not getting frustrated with TSA, but with other travelers who look like deer in headlights. Security hasn't changed much in the past 10 years. It still sucks but we all have to deal with it. If you have a valid argument, fine...otherwise take off your damn shoes and keep the line moving.

It's interesting to see so many familiar faces week in and week out. I don't recall if I wrote about it, but 5 or 6 weeks back, some dude got picked to have his carry-on looked at by TSA before boarding. I ended up sitting next to him on my flight and chatted him up a bit. I see him on almost every single one of my flights on Mondays. Last Thursday, I sat in the same exact seat that I did 4 weeks back. The same guy that was on my flight 4 weeks ago one seat in front was once again, 1 seat ahead of me. I remember him because he got bumped into first and I stole his seat a month ago. I wasn't as lucky this time around.

The one thing I don't understand about getting bumped to first class on my flight is "why use the 500 mile upgrades?" If I buy a full fare economy, I get bumped into first class for free, if there is a spot. Otherwise, I need to use vouchers to get bumped in. So if the flight is 1200 miles, I need to use 3 500 mile vouchers. The thing is 1200 miles isn't a lot. My current flight is less than that...so why waste it? The flight is so short! I'd rather save my vouchers for a long haul. Sure, maybe i'll only have enough for 1 leg, but 1 leg in first class and 1 leg in economy for a long flight is better than first class on multiple <2.5 hour flights.

That's just my opinion, and I'm sticking to it. I just hope the dude in front is there today and decides to use vouchers again. His gain/loss is my gain.

Just My Luck

Drafted on 8/30. I am a lazy SOB

I was at the airport on Monday, and after printing out my boarding pass, I walked over to security. I was in for a shock. I paid $140 to do the AA challenge. I attained Gold status to get through security, to get on the plane faster and possibly check bags for free (which I don't intend to do often). Security was empty. For the past 7 weeks, it has been a zoo. I'm away for one week, and the place became a ghost town. I didn't need any status to get through security fast. I have to keep reminding myself that it'll still work out for seats, bags and speed. But why try to attain an elitist status when it doesn't mean anything? Yeah...I'm an elitist prick.

*******************

This week I stayed at a Residence Inn by Marriott. This is my fourth hotel in 6 weeks of being on site. This should be it though. I'm not bouncing to anymore hotels. I left a bag at this one, meaning I'll be back next week, and the week after...maybe the week after that. Since I have stayed at so many hotels recently, I'd like to think I am somewhat of a pro when it comes to hotels. Let's start at the beginning:

My first job had me stay at Hampton Inns. This was when I was single and traveling to implement software. I didn't travel as often as I'd like, but it still scratched that itch. I really wanted to stay at hotels where they had bars, where I would meet women who are also on the road, and potentially turn conversation into some sort of tryst. Sorry, this is an adult blog, isn't it? I'm just telling the truth. I was in my early 20s and didn't get out of Massachusetts enough. It never happened though. Hampton Inns do not have bars. So instead, my coworkers and I would hit the hot tub with a 12 pack of bud lights, and talk about who is/is not attractive at the company we worked for. THE LONG OF THE SHORT OF IT, is that if I had to choose a business hotel that served breakfast, the Hampton Inn would definitely be my choice. Nice facilities; nice rooms; decent breakfast; cheap, for those who would be footing my bill.

I have stayed at a couple Courtyard Marriotts, and while in the same class as a Hampton Inn (in my opinion anyway), they just don't match up to the Hampton. Sure, I had a real crummy experience the last time I stayed there 7 weeks ago, but the people going at it in the next room definitely made it interesting. They did have a bar downstairs, so maybe they fulfilled my dream? The pillows stink. I need a fluffy, yet firm pillow. I can't sleep otherwise. This place just did not cut it.

The Hyatt Place is next on the list. It has great TV, comfortable beds, decent breakfast, bar, and a few other odds and ends. It really wasn't a bad hotel, but I had just stayed at the Hyatt House, and I kept longing for it instead. If I was just staying for 1 or 2 weeks, then I would definitely do the Hyatt Place. They had the cheapest rate for the company I am consulting for, which is a bonus. Overall, not a bad place if you haven't stayed at their sister hotel.

I stayed at the Hyatt House for 3 straight weeks. It was glorious, except the handicap room I stayed in. I wasn't a big fan of that particular room. It has all the amenities that the Hyatt Place has, and more. Breakfast wasn't bad, but the big thing is that they have an early evening social. They serve food and beer/wine. I'm a bit of a beer snob, but I will not turn down free Miller Genuine Draft. They also have to beastly Weber grills outside, where I cooked a couple steaks. The first steak I cooked was too thin and the second was the beautiful choice NY Strip that was excellent. They also have a full kitchen in every suite, which is great. Unfortunately the Hyatt Place had a better rate and I hate to leave the House to go to the Place.

Which leads me to the Residence Inn. The company was able to get a matching rate from the Residence Inn, so I basically get all the amenities of a Hyatt House, at the Hyatt Place price. The room isn't as nice, but I think that is because I got a studio instead of a 1 bedroom. The 1 bedroom truly costs more, so maybe after staying there long enough, I'll get an upgrade. Status, Status, Status.

If I really wanted to be nit-picky, I'd ask my wife where she wanted to go. Then, I would have figured out which airline flies there. Then, I would have booked solely on that airline (based on price). Then I would have researched what nice hotels are in the area. Then, which brand are they affiliated with. An example would be the Waldorf-Astoria. When I watched Coming to America with Eddie Murphy, I thought that it was a one off hotel. It was only a few years ago that I realized it was part the Hilton brand. When I went to Paris for my anniversary, we stayed at Le Meridien, which was part of Starwood. Normally you can find one of those really nice hotels whenever you go to a decent city, but you always have the option of being scrupulous.

I suppose it doesn't matter right now. The chances of me going on vacation are ZERO. My sister is getting married, and there was a chance of going to Israel for it, but that got nixed. I was hoping to fly BA, hang out in one of their posh lounges, maybe even take a couple of days in England, stay at The Dorchester, have a couple decent pints of Fullers London Pride and call it day. Oh well. I'll just stick with Massachusetts for now.

BTW, I would NEVER stay at The Dorchester, and not because of the price. I'd rather stay at The Savoy.

Fidgety

I was reading that people who constantly move their legs, especially if they are sitting/laying down/relaxing, have some sort of health issue. Unfortunately I don't remember what it is called, and since my legs were fidgety, I got up to take a walk and forgot all about searching for that article. Ooops.

*****

I'm in a Fantasy English Premier League League. I tried not to write League twice, but I had to. I root for West Ham United, and I have one of their players on my team. My father likes Liverpool and has a couple of them on his team. My sister's boyfriend is a Manchester United fan, which, in my humble opinion, is like rooting for the Yankees. My main problem with this dude is that he is from Minnesota, and instead of his main team being the Twins, Timberwolves, Wild (or Dallas Stars I suppose) or the Vikings, the team he follows the most is Man U. I write Man U because most Man U fans hate it when you refer to their team as Man U. It's either Man United or United. So, my father and I decided that it doesn't matter which one of us wins, as long as our team beats his.

Just so I don't sound like a hypocrite, the team I follow more than any other is the Boston Bruins, and not because they won the cup in 2011. I have been a serious follower for 30+ years. It goes Bruins, West Ham/Patriots, Red Sox/Celtics, Whoever plays the Yankees/Man U/Chelsea FC.

*****

I don't know what it is, but I love seeing back to school stuff at Target, Staples, etc. I never liked going back to school, but I loved getting all the crap I would end up using. I still get that feeling of nostalgia, but I don't buy anything anymore. No need. I have a feeling my wife is going to go nuts on our joint account the moment "he who does not sleep at night" is old enough to go to school. Hell, she refers to daycare as "school".

*****

Octoberfest is almost upon us. I'd like to go to Munich once in my lifetime for the party, but I hear it is an absolute shitshow. So instead, I'll just cook lots of brats and drink lots of Oktoberfestbier. I had my first Sam October the other day. It was very good. I normally like to buy 5-8 different types and do a blind taste test to see which one made the best that year. 3 years ago, it was Spaten. 2 years ago, Paulaner. Last year, surprisingly, I thought it was Sam Adams.

*****

On to the TRAVEL!!!

Jet Blue was delayed, like most flights last Thursday (16th). Due to them being delayed, we got free movies, which was nice. I watched Wrath of the Titans, which was very "ehh". My jet was a lot smaller than I wanted. 2 seats on each side. Right as we took off, it seemed very wobbly.

There was an article about how the added a la carte fees benefit those that pay for them, but seriously hurt the ones that don't. Here is the scenario:

Two people pay for the same flight on Jet Blue. Remember: the first bag is free, they have free entertainment, free food. But, they still charge for early boarding and faster security lines.

Person A pays $30 per flight to get through security faster, get onto the plane faster and gets more legroom.

Person B does not pay the extra money for any of those a la carte items.

The flight leaves Boston @ 7:30 on Monday morning. They both get to the airport 2 hours prior to departure. Person A gets into the "Even More Speed" in Terminal 3 at Logan. Person B gets into the regular line.

Person A is through security in <15 minutes due to the line being so short. Person B stands in line easily for 45 min+. It is a good thing they are there early. I'm not lying about the length of that line. It was ridiculously long last week Monday. I have to assume it is always like that. So while Person A is figuring out what he/she wants to do about breakfast since they have time to spare, Person B is still waiting in line longer. Person A COULD HAVE slept 30 min longer, shown up and gotten through security before Person B.

Person A and Person B have carry-on luggage. Person A gets on the plane because the money paid for "Even More Speed", which is for security and access to the plane. Person B wanted to be in the front of the plane, but didn't want to pay for the extras, so they got an aisle in row 7. After people from Person A's group get on, they start boarding the plane starting with the last row moving forward. Person B doesn't get onto the plane until rows 5 through the back of the plane get called, ergo the last people to board. Person B doesn't get any overhead space because everyone has boarded first, and therefore must check.

NOTE: Even though the first bag is free on Jet Blue, if you already checked a bag and there wasn't any room for an overhead compartment, Jet Blue won't charge you for the extra bag. Nice job Jet Blue.

Person A and Person B are both around 5' 11". Person A paid the extra money for "Even More Space", so they are able to get more legroom. This legroom is at the expense of Person B. Person B took the aisle seat because it would allow him/her to stretch their legs into the aisle, except that there is a constant flow of people/flight attendants. Person B would like to recoup the rest they lost since coming to the airport early to stand in the security line. However, due to the lack of legroom and constant bumping into fellow travelers, this is not going to happen.

So $30 gets you through security faster, onto the plane faster and more legroom, which is all at the expense of the travelers that do not pay for it. And while Jet Blue touts that there aren't typical "classes", they have created a system that is quite similar.

My co-worker pays the $60 round trip for these extras. I'm on American, and now have status, so I get all these perks for free. I think that loyalty should be rewarded. I also think that if you pay more, you should get more, but not necessarily at the expense of others. Faster security? Sure. Faster boarding? Ok. More legroom at the expense of others? No. Sorry.

I am flying American for the perks that I built up through loyalty. If I flew Jet Blue every week, while a nice experience when in flight, the pre-flight crap would probably drive me nuts. I'm not spending $60 out of my own pocket every week. I don't want to have to pay to work.

Ok. I'm off my soapbox.

I found my sock!

NOTE: THIS WAS WRITTEN ON THE 16th. I AM FINDING MYSELF A WEEK BEHIND.

I went out with a bunch of co-workers last night. There is an unwritten rule about fraternization with the client, but this was perfect because it was a bunch of consultants like myself. It was definitely a much needed deviation from the normal GET BACK TO ROOM, CHANGE, GO GRAB SOMETHING TO EAT, DRINK A BEER, WATCH TV, GO TO BED routine.
***********
As I was pseudo packing on Tuesday, just to get stuff a bit organized, I realized that I lost my sock. It had to be in the room somewhere. I looked everywhere for it, and it was not to be found. As I put on my pants this morning, I felt something odd in the leg, so there you go. Little bugger.
***********
I'm not sure if I mentioned this, but I had this beer a couple weeks ago that was fantastic and I can't find it anywhere. Trust me when I say I have looked everywhere. I must have spend 2-3 hours driving to places looking for it. I wanted to smuggle it back to MA so that my friend could try it at his bachelor party a week from Saturday. I am thinking about making a last ditch effort before I go to the airport but I dunno.

And yes, that means that I will have to check a bag if I try to transport liquids.
***********

ONTO THE TRAVEL!!!

I signed up for this thing called GOES, which is an official government website that lets you be expedited through security/customs/whatever. My reasoning to make the government check my background more than I normally would like it to equates to TSA-PRECHECK. I was sick and tired of waiting in the security line. Monday mornings on American in Boston are pretty tough. Coming back is worse. The only way you can get TSA-PRECHECK is if the airline asks you, or if you go through this program (I think).

Here is the funny thing. The moment I got GOLD status for my flight last Thursday, I was allowed to go through the fast security lane. Shit. There goes $100. Well, better you know from my mistake than make the same one.

The flight last Thursday was the worst one I've had yet. It was a little choppy on the take-off, but the real problem was my ears. They kept popping and blowing my nose while closing off the passages did not clear my head at all. That was truly brutal. My flight on Monday wasn't nearly eventful. I'm hoping for the same uneventful flight today.

I flew Jet Blue this week due to pricing. American went down dramatically, but since I didn't know I was going to be on-site until last minute, there weren't any decent flights available. When checking in on Sunday, there weren't any seats available, so I coughed up the $30 to get "Even More Space" and "Even More Speed". It was nice to get on and off the aircraft faster than the others, but the real kicker was the security. Terminal C in Boston is a nightmare. Even though I had "More Speed", there were plenty of donkeys in line. Thank g-d I wasn't in with the rest of the cattle though. That line must have been an hour long. I'm hoping that security isn't as bad today, since I didn't pay for the extra room/speed.

I wish I could talk about the AMEX Platinum, but I don't think I'm going to end up getting it. $450 is a lot for just HAVING the card, nevermind purchases. If I find myself getting stuck at the airport, I'll reevaluate. I dunno. It could be on of those circumstances where I end up getting it and then start kicking myself for not doing so. I suppose it just scares me a bit since it is a "charge card" as opposed to credit card. If I don't get reimbursed in a timely fashion, I can only image the penalties associated.

I'm remote next week, which is a nice thing...so no travel. I'll pick back up at the end of August, right before Labor Day.

That time already?

UPDATE: I meant to post this on August 2nd. I must have forget to hit PUBLISH. My bad...and I definitely did not blog about AMEX PLATINUM OR TSA PRECHECK like I said I would

I was having a couple Stellas out on the patio of the my hotel last night when I realized that I hadn't printed out my boarding pass. It hadn't occurred to me. This meant two things: 1, I was finally settling. 2, I was going to get a crappy seat. I finally logged in late last night and I got 6th or 7th row economy middle seat...middle seats coming AND going this week. Not my best showing.

I'm also a little groggy. I didn't drink a ton of beer last night, but the local stuff is potent. I definitely felt off this morning. I still feel off. I'm hoping this cappuccino is going to get me back on track. I have been going through Advil like it's my job this week.

And most importantly, I found an Indian restaurant that can do a real decent Chicken Tikka Masala and still have a somewhat spicy gravy. I can handle spicier,  but that isn't the idea with a Tikka Masala.

ON TO THE TRAVEL!!!

I signed up for the American Airlines Challenge. It cost me $140, and if I get 5000 points within 3 months, I'll get automatic Gold Status. If I did 10000, it would cost me $280 and I would have to get 10000 points. After 5 flights, I have 3500 points. After this week, I'll be close. After next week, I will have hit my mark. Booyah! The only question is, was it worth it? Only time will tell.

Just in case you didn't click on the link, points do not necessarily equal miles. If you buy a ticket, they have letter codes on the ticket/purchase. So, if you buy a ticket that is 500 miles, and the ticket is, say an L or H, then you get 1 point per mile...meaning 500 miles = 500 points. But, if the little letter is an S, you only get 1/2 point per mile, so 500 miles = 250 points. Get it? Other tickets are 1 1/2 points, so 500 miles = 750 points.

As I said, it may not even be worth it. If I had longer flights, I may have signed up for the platinum.

While outside last night, I got to talking to a salesmen from Vegas. Besides the fact that he is about to buy a 3800 sq ft home with 6 bedrooms, 4 baths, in-ground pool for less than $300k, he mentioned that he has the American Express Platinum card. It seems like that card is coming up more and more for business travelers. He got his family members gift cards for the holidays, and they were numerous. It was all gift cards bought on points. Granted he spends 2-3 times more per week than I do, but I still think the card may be worth it for travel. He prefers to fly Alaska Airlines, which I haven't been on yet, but he swears by it.

 I am exhausted, and the lines between home and here are starting to blur a little. My company said not to go "Native", meaning don't become best friends with the client, less it interferes with your job, which I actually have seen before. I agree with the whole not going "Native" part, except that I don't live in Massachusetts anymore, do I? In 18 days, I've been on site for 14 of them. How am I not part of local society yet?So while I am not supposed to be getting too cozy, I find myself not having the pre-flight jitters on Sunday/Monday, navigating traffic like a local (a fast local...people here do not know how to drive), befriending bartenders and utilizing the features this community has that normal tourists wouldn't be privy to.

I will say that I am excited to see the family. Let's hope that security is good today. I was supposed to have a meeting with my site supervisor, and it got moved until Monday. The problem is, I maneuvered my clothing so that I had my nicest shirt with french cuffs for today. French cuffs = cufflinks. Cufflinks are going to be a pain at the security checkpoint, not to mention the fact that it was all for naught. Maybe I'll show up Monday with jean shorts, a UMass hoodie and socks with sandals.

Next week:

American Express Platinum
TSA Precheck/GOES

Can't you get out of my mind

There's tons to talk about. The local from  Massachusetts, Aly Raisman, getting a bronze and a gold medal for individual talent. Misty May and what's her name getting their third straight Olympic golds; me getting sick the day before travel and coughing up a lung last night; attaining gold status and the perks that are supposed to go along with it...

Unfortunately, all I can think about are travelers that don't have a clue. I almost feel sorry for them. I say almost because they should know better. My 86 year old grandfather can move faster through security than a lot of knuckleheads that I've seen. But security isn't the only reason I feel sorry for the average traveler.

What if I were to book a flight with my wife and we didn't have any status...would I get to sit next to her? I tried to book the same flights I am always on, only 6 weeks in advance. There should be enough lead time to be able to select decent seats. I was wrong. The only seats I could book were middle seats in the back of the plane. The only way I was going to sit next to my travel companion was if I were to shell out the extra fee to have the better seat. This is where I start feeling bad for those who don't have a clue. They don't know the system. They don't know how to work it in their favor. Sure, they may think that since it is once in a blue moon, they'll fork over the dough. I'm a bit disappointed. Travel companions should be able to sit next to each other, regardless of whether it is a regular seat, preferred or preferred plus. Let them sit together in the back of the plane at least for the normal price of the ticket. They probably checked luggage, so you are at least getting $25 each way for 1 piece of luggage, maybe $50 if they decide to bring tons of shoes. 

I attained gold status after flying on Monday, so I should be able to select any seat I damn well please. I got over 5000 Qualifying Points. I logged in on Tuesday to make sure it reflected online, which it did not. Of course I had to call and speak to someone to make sure I crossed the threshold, which I did. Within a few minutes, next to my name was the word "GOLD" in a golden box. LOVELY. After that, I thought I should take a look to see if I can get myself into a better seat without having to check in. All of a sudden, I see the blue normal seats (in the middle of course), the green seats (preferred, cost anywhere from $14-$24), and then I saw purple seats (preferred plus). None of these seats cost me anything now. Nor do my first 2 checked bags. I was pumped. The only problem was every time I tried to secure one of those seats, it said there was something wrong with my itinerary and couldn't book me those seats. Odd. After trying to figure out the system, I said screw it, checked in yesterday, and I'm in a middle seat at the front of the plane. Whatever. I'll try to get another seat later.


ONTO THE TRAVEL!!!!

I know. I have been speaking about travel already, but let's talk about my personal travel, ok? If you didn't realize, it's all about me.

I'm waiting in line early on Monday morning, and some donkey is acting like he has never flown before. There is only 1 aisle for people to go through the metal detector. There wasn't one of those controversial full body scanners up and running. 2 aisles for bags, 1 aisle for people. It was a cluster. To top it off, this donkey walks through the detector, and it beeps. Did you forget that you had a belt on? Oops. He walks through again. BEEP. Oh, I have to take everything out of my pockets too? I wanted to strangle this man. One thing I will say is that the TSA Agents that I have been in contact with so far have been extremely pleasant. One TSA agent was advocating for people waiting in line because another TSA agent was not acting efficiently. Bravo to you ma'am.

I didn't get any sleep Sunday into Monday, flew Monday morning, worked all day, went to Target to pick up soup because I felt miserable, checked into my hotel, had the shakes all night, didn't eat anything, passed out at 7pm. Traveling while sick is the worst. Plus, you can't drink any of the local stuff. I mean, you can, but just expect to stay sick longer.

I look forward to writing this blog next Thursday. I will have flown 1X on American as a Gold member. I'll let you know if I get through security faster, get on the plane faster, and whether it was truly worth the investment for the AA challenge.

Also, I was planning on being remote next week, but I need to be on site. The prices for American shot through the roof being so close to the departure date, so I'm flying Jet Blue next week. I'll let you know how that is, although I'm sure the 1 or 2 people that actually read this blog have already flown on it, and therefore could teach me a thing or two.

Going for GOLD!

On last week's "Quest", our hero learned a lot from just 1 flight. We pick up at the Atlanta Bread Co, 1 week later...

I looked pretty pimp today. Seriously. I bought a nice shirt and tie, and with the facial scruff I am sporting  (I shaved everything underneath my chin), I look professional yet rugged. Alright...I know. I'm from Boston. How rugged can I be? It isn't like I live in Montana.

I wish the Atlanta Bread Co. didn't put so much damn foam in the cappuccino. I get a medium, err Tall, and I normally have to take a big sip of foam before I can take another sip to actually get at the espresso. When I fly my wife/kid out here for a weekend, I'm definitely going to search for a true coffee shop where the microfoam is exquisite.

As for the past few flights, they worked out ok. Most importantly, I did not have to check my carry-on. I think it would have fit in the contraption since I moved my stuff around. I actually ended up sitting next to the in-laws of a retired hockey player from the Boston area, so we had lots to talk about.

On Monday, I did show up early enough to grab coffee, however it was useless. I ended up at McDonalds and got their sausage+egg+cheese McMuffin. It was garbage. The homefries were ok, and the coffee was barely drinkable. It may be my fault though. It was so early and I felt dehydrated so I only felt like a water. We will give Mickey D's a pass on this one.

I stayed at a Hyatt House this week as opposed to last week's Courtyard Marriott. They had a decent FREE breakfast spread, along with a FREE M-Th Happy Hour that served hot food (Wednesday night they grilled), and free MGD or Miller Lite on draft (or red/white wine if you prefer vino).

I cooked steak on the grill on Monday, which was excellent, and cooked a Celeste in the microwave on Tuesday. Queue Bananarama, A-Ha, Tears for Fears. While at the supermarket, I couldn't pass up the novelty of coke in a glass bottle, so I bought a couple of those as well. They are much sweeter here than they are at home. Either that or my tastes are changing dramatically. Chicken Tikka Masala for Wednesday, and leftovers on Thursday night. Not the best I've had, but it did the job. I followed it up with The Dark Knight Rises on Wednesday. Definitely a solid day.

On to the TRAVEL!

My co-worker leaves 2 bags at the hotel. 2!!!! I was going to let my guest blogger talk about this, but since she is grounded at the moment (not flying due to lack of being assigned an engagement), she hasn't had much to say. Sorry pal.

One thing I have never heard of that makes total sense is leaving a bag at the hotel. What would one leave in said bag? The following is a list of things that may make your life a hell of a lot easier because A)You wouldn't have to deal with some of the lovely features the TSA has brought to your regularly scheduled flying program; B)It reduces the amount of stuff to the point where you may not have to check a bag if you normally would; and C)The hotel leaves the bag in your room, so it is there waiting for you, like a dog awaiting it's master.

Things you could include in said bag:

• Toiletries
• Gym Clothes
• Bulky ANYTHING
• Standard cooking stuff (if you are staying at a Hyatt House, Residence Inn, etc.)

This is a small list, but look at what I have single-handedly taken out of your carry-on bag:

Toiletries: No more zip locked bags that need to come out. AND, it'll be nice to have a full size deodorant, won't it?

Gym Clothes: This is a given. First, you have a gym bag staying there, so it'll only smell up whatever is in the gym bag, which is more gym stuff. Sneakers are huge, because they take up so much damn room in the suitcase.

Bulky ANYTHING: Toiletry bag for one (we all have one); Jackets; Pillow from home because the ones that the hotel just aren't the same. A pair of jeans? You get the idea.

Standard Cooking stuff: I bought  a sea salt and pepper grinder and gave it to my co-worker; How about a decent knife? Sure, they supply them, but how good are they really? Any number of specific spices you like to use; Leftover non-perishable food stuffs that you were not able to use; The list could go on forever.

Please bear in mind that a lot of this would be bought while on the road. No one is going to let you on the plane with a 10" chef's knife. I'd rather buy a new pair of sneakers and leave them then have to shuttle them back and forth. 

On a separate note, I may have done something a little rash. I log in the day before a flight to secure a seat. Two days ago, I scheduled my flights for the beginning of August. I got lucky on pricing, however one of my flights does not have me in a specific seat. Sure, I'll change it the day before I fly, but I still like knowing that I have a seat when booking. Since I am impatient on getting my status which may/may not prevent situations like this from happening, and due to the opening ceremonies for the Olympics starting today, I have decided I am going to go for Gold. Status, that is.

Last night I called American Airlines (the carrier I am going to try to stick with), and shelled out $140 to do their Gold Challenge. I need to accumulate 5000 points (not miles) in 3 months (mid October) and I will automatically become a gold member without having to fly 25,0000 miles to get gain the same status. I was thinking about doing the Platinum ($280, 10000 points), but I may have some remote work ahead of me, meaning I won't fly every week. If my flights were longer, I would go for the Platinum status.

I know...you think I am cheating. I'm not. I am just trying to play the system like everyone else. Besides, who better to tell you whether Gold status is worth a damn than I? I'll tell you straight if it gets me anything, like, a better seat, or how long it took me to get an upgrade...those types of things. 

It's getting late (7:20am), and I want to get my hours in at the office, so I'm outta here. 

On next week's episode of "QUEST"

1. What is the American Airlines challenge? How does it work? Can anyone do it? What is the difference between miles and points?
2. What types of travel apps are out there?
3. Does your hero cook anything that actually tastes good, and not frozen pizza?

1 Week Down...Many to go

As I sit in the Atlanta Bread Company's dining room, sipping on my Cappuccino @ 7am, I have thoughts about what I've accomplished this week. I know, it is about to get a little sappy, so I will have a fun tidbit at the end. Things that I have accomplished that I truly haven't done before include going out exploring by myself, and striking up conversations with almost anyone. Being a Bostonian, #1 seems normal but speaking to just about anyone is a serious deviation from the norm. I have realized that I am a bit homesick, especially on the first day while skyping with my wife and 6 month old son. But, I think it is always tough in the beginning, which means that I should be fine in the long run.

The tidbit is that around 930, I heard some serious adult like sounds coming from the room adjoining to mine. At first I thought it might have been a loud discussion or argument, but when I started paying attention, I came to understand the activity that was occurring. Apparently a Courtyard Marriott isn't enough to dissuade someone from entering the throes of passion.

On to the TRAVEL!

It was not one of the best starts out of the gate, by any means. The good news is that I was able to change my seat from the back of the plane (middle seat) to a back of the plane (window). That was definitely a positive. The Hertz Gold program is excellent. I took the shuttle to the rental area, saw my name on the board with the lot where my car was located, threw my luggage in and away I went. They also have the transponders attached to the windshield, which I wasn't expecting. Of course, me being an idiot, I paid the first toll out of pocket before I said screw it and slid out the transponder. It'll all get billed out anyway. Now, the bad stuff:

My flight left the airport a little after 6am Monday. I got there at 4:50. I checked in online so I was able to jump right into security. The line was really really long. I hope it isn't like that next Monday. I barely had enough time to get to the gate, which started boarding 5 minutes after showing up. I agree with showing up early so you don't have to worry about security, but Monday was a little on the ridiculous side.


My ticket said I was Group 2. That means families, the disabled, first class and preferred members go first. 30-50 people went onto the plane before my group got called. All of a sudden Group 2 became Group 7. I got lucky enough not to be randomly selected for a check, but the thing that hurt the most was about to transpire. As I am about to board, I hear "We need to measure that bag". Ok. Sure. No problem except that I forgot that my Bose headphones were in the front pocket, and my bag was not slim enough to fit into their contraption. They checked the fucker. I was HEATED. I didn't have to pay for it, which is nice...although it would have been covered under necessary expenses through my company. 

If I have learned anything, it is to make sure your bag can fit in the damn contraption. I moved my clothes around, so hopefully I should be ok. And, I will remember to take my headphones out. The case they are in is solid, so that is why it couldn't be maneuvered.

I'm just about done sipping on my cappuccino. I must say, Atlanta Bread Company is better than Starbucks, HANDS DOWN. 4 hours of work and then I am off to the airport. I checked in yesterday, and while I had already spent $24 to get a better seat, I was able to procure and even better seat: 7C, which is the first row behind first class, and is an aisle seat. I'll be one of the first to get off. BOOYAH!

Tips for the day:

1) If you are going to carry-on, make sure your luggage is thin enough to fit into the agent's stupid metal box thing. If you are doing personal travel, and you know it won't fit but would like to try to bypass the dumb $25 checked bag fee, go ahead and bring it with you, knowing they will check it at the gate. You won't have to pay a thing. If you do want to carry-on, MAKE SURE IT'S THIN!

2) Check in as early as you can. If you aren't near a printer, have the airline email you the boarding pass and print it when you get to a printer. Or, do the phone boarding pass application. I still prefer a paper pass. Normally, I like checking in at the little kiosk, so checking in online (for airlines other than Southwest) is new to me. I can only do one new thing at a time. After I try this online check-in process a few more times, I'll start utilizing my phone for the boarding pass. Save the trees right?

3) If at all possible, get yourself into a hotel that has a lobby and does breakfast. I don't do inns, like a Days Inn. I prefer a place that has a lobby. That being said, my hotel had a bistro. Sure, it's good that I can go down and grab a beer, but I don't want to have to pay for breakfast. I prefer it to be included in the price. If it is included in the price, then your per diem (or however your company does food expenses) can be used for lunch and dinner and you don't have to worry so much on how much you are spending.

On next week's episode of "Quest"

Did the stupid gate agent check your hero's luggage on the flight back to Boston?
Does your hero show up early enough to actually grab a cup of coffee before leaving  Boston on Monday?

AND

Our blogger stays at a hotel where he can cook for himself. Did he cook a perfect beef bourguignon, or did he burn the place down?

STAY TUNED!

Carry-On My Good Man

I suppose that as part of this blog, I should talk about necessary accessories that will make a traveler's life easier/more difficult. After I received my job offer in the mail and turned in my resignation at my prior job, I went a little nuts in the travel department and bought a bunch of things I would need for travel. Let's discuss the absolute basic requirement.

#1 on the list for anyone and everyone that is in this line of work should be a decent carry-on bag. If you watched Up in the Air, you would know that you lose an average of X amount of minutes per flight just on luggage. Multiply that by x amount of flights that you took during the year. Divide that number by 60 to get the amount of hours, and then divide again by 24, and you have the amount of days you have lost just by waiting for your luggage. It adds up quick. If that doesn't dissuade you from checking luggage, then maybe the $25 fee per bag will. If not that, then maybe the thought of the airline losing your luggage will. You don't lose luggage when it is by your side at all times. US Airways has lost my luggage. TWICE. I just got lucky that happened when on my return leg. One of the times, I got a call from UPS who stated that my bag was underneath my deck in the back (because it was raining).

There is news that a lot of airlines are now charging for carry-on luggage. $25. I know that people would rather pay $25 and have the airline actually provide a service (i.e. take bag, stow bag, deliver bag at final destination), but I think if I had to pay, I'd rather have the bag with me...just in case. Besides, if you are flying on business, the $25 will get reimbursed anyway.

Tangent: While with my last job, I was sent to Dallas for a conference on principles that make the workplace more efficient, dealing with difficult associates, and smoking decent brisket. Ok, I lied about the brisket. I got picked up by a co-worker who lived right down the street from me, and we flew from Boston to Dallas on American (the airline is a non-factor in this story). The day before the flight, I say to my co-worker "Let's carry-on our luggage. It'll save the company money, and we won't have to wait when we get back to Boston. We can just go home". He agreed. Fast forward to the second night into our trip, and he meets up with his cousin who lives in Dallas. Next thing I know, he is checking a bag full of fake Prada and Gucci purses. So not only is he peddling illegal wares, he is also causing us to do exactly what I said we shouldn't do, and added another 20-30 minutes to the time we touched down to my bed hitting the pillow. What a donkey. I should have just driven myself.

My suggestion is to carry-on. If you are traveling for less than 1 week, carry-on. If you have time to spare such as being on vacation and you have money to burn, then check. Otherwise, carry-on. And when you do check, look at what you are bringing. Fill up your suitcase as you normally would, and then discard 1/3rd of your stuff. It'll make your suitcase lighter, and you won't end up needing any of the stuff you tossed. Besides, the last thing you want is to have your suitcase weigh more than the allotted 45lbs and you pay more than the initial bag fee. Ouch.

As part of this blog, I said I would give some names where I deemed relevant. I went to the Tumi store in the Wrentham Outlets and bought myself a Tumi 22 inch wheeled suitcase with suiter. I know I didn't have to spend that much on a carry-on, but I wanted something with style that will also last a long time. I hear great things about the Eagle Creek packing system. My mother swears by 4 wheels and having them be able to turn 360 degrees. If you have money to spend, see if you can buy a set that has the briefcase/small bag attach to the larger wheeled carry-on. It'll make life easier when breezing through the terminal. I've never owned a hard-shelled suitcase, so I can't say as to whether or not they are worthwhile. If you feel more secure in a hard-shelled suitcase, then by all means. I guess it comes down to your budget, your comfort level and your style. I wanted something a little more professional looking, so I went with the Tumi. I could have easily gone with Briggs and Riley, but I preferred the Tumi. Samsonite and TravelPro didn't have anything that truly piqued my interest. Their prices were better, but you can tell that the quality isn't the same as the Briggs or Tumi. I have a TravelPro bag that I utilize for checked luggage, and that has lasted over 6 years, but like lots of things, when you get older, you need to upgrade. So I did. Now if I can get my hands on a Calatrava, I will have truly upgraded. Anyone want to loan me $20-25k?

I mentioned US Airways losing my luggage twice. It's true. They did. They also found my luggage and sent it back to me, albeit being underneath my deck. However, I like US Airways. I was hoping to continue with them, but they don't have a direct flight out of Boston to my destination. I traveled with them constantly while working at my first job and except for a few hiccups, they really were pretty decent in the grand scheme of things. So while it may seem as if I am trying to CYA a little bit by not completely ripping the airline a new one, I am being honest when I say I would definitely fly them again (unless they routed me through the Philadelphia airport. That place should be condemned. It reminds me of that stretch of highway in Jersey that is littered with factories that claim they are 95-98% cleaner, yet it smells like, well, Jersey).

Backstory

As I sit here with my personal laptop and my work laptop, AND smart phone, I realize that things must have been easier for the forefathers of my current quest. There was free sex, cheap drugs and nips of alcohol didn't cost $5 while cruising at 30k feet. Flights had multiple course meals that had delicious food from Michelin starred chefs. Did the chefs have stars back then? Let's just assume "YES".

What do we have now? Long security lines; X-rays where people in far off and distant lands (people not in the current purview of the flyer being scanned) can you see parts you wouldn't show until at least the 3rd date; a la carte food options; rude airline employees and fees to choose an aisle seat. It's nuts. It's crazy. It's today's flying norm. Flying used to be half the fun of the trip, but it is becoming more and more of a bus ride, if anything. There must be something an average joe like myself can do in order to make this experience more rewarding...right?

I decided to become a consultant. I'm no George Clooney though. I mean, I am, but I'm not. Right? Right? Did I just lose everyone? If it was David Schwimmer in "Up in the Air", I would have hit that joke to a T. Oh well. Let's just say that instead of flying place to place to place like Georgey, I am going to fly to the same place almost every single week for the next 8-10 months. And then, I'll be put onto a different project and start the whole cycle over.

While discussing this new job with my wife (with whom I have a 6 month old son, and YES, we weighed the options: in this economy, we need as much money as we can get ahold of in order to put ourselves into a better situation....wait, why am i explaining this to you? I shouldn't have to give you my reasoning, should I? Shit. Maybe I do. Sorry. My apologies. Where was I?) While discussing this new job with my wife, I thought to myself "Self, you will get status eventually, but when you start traveling, you should be good for at least a window/aisle seat in the middle of the plane most of the time". I was wrong. Dead wrong. But more on that when we get to my "motive".

I got the go ahead from the PM of my company stating that I can start booking flights and other required travel arrangements. Here are the variables:

*I can only book up to 4 weeks in advance
*I can only book flights for the cheapest airfare available
*I can stick with an airline if, and only if, it is within a reasonable amount of money to a cheaper carrier
*Hotels are through a client rate (there are ways to get better hotels through bartering, or so I am told)
*Hertz Gold through my company
*X amount of dollars per day for food

Fast forward, errr, rewind to when I was told I could book 2 weeks in advance. I know I said I could book up to 4 weeks, but I need to visit with the client to discuss a schedule before I can truly start booking. I was hoping to keep airlines, hotels, etc anonymous, but I'll try to be reasonable without giving too much away.

*I am flying out of Boston [insert another person from Boston sigh here]
*I will be traveling less than 1k miles, but more than 700 miles per segment
*I will be traveling to the same place for 8-10 months until my next work engagement
*I will be doing the standard 3-4-5 (3 overnights, 4 days on site, 5th day remote)

My goal is to attain status at 1 hotel and 1 airline as fast as possible. During this process, I will be:
*documenting how credit cards can help gain miles/points
*researching how some mileage cards may in fact be useless
*trying to gain access to airline lounges and scoffing at their costs
*talking about Frequent Flyer Challenges, and whether other airlines do them along with American
*gauging how my individual airline is doing in terms of customer service
*debating as to whether or not I need to change airlines and start over

Motive:
Remember when I said I was "DEAD WRONG"? I was wrong because I booked 2 round-trips back to back and got middle seats in the ass back of the plane for 3 out of the 4 flights. I ponied up $24 just to get a window seat on a return segment because I wasn't given an option to even a crappy seat. There is a potential to change seats when I get to the airport/check-in at home, but I'm balking at extra fees if they are required for me to migrate.

So there's my story. Now you are caught up to speed. My first flight isn't until next Monday, so stay tuned in case something changes. It won't though. I'll probably fly out on Monday and forget to update on how things went and it won't be until 3 weeks from now when I remember that I wrote this blog. But hey!!! Here's hoping!