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
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