Monday, August 27, 2012

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.

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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.

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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".

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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.

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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.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

Friday, August 10, 2012

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


Thursday, August 9, 2012

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.