Travel Benies

I figure I should maybe start posting my trips since the year is half way over. Wouldn't be good to get through the year and not have anything up here, would it?

Trip #1 of the year was an expiramentation with my new Travel Benefits. I had no idea how to work the system except what I had heard from fellow coworkers. So...after scanning a calendar at the dead of winter (January is damn cold in Minnesota), I decided a trip down to Florida to visit my wonderful friend Jenny would be the perfect excuse to get out of the cold and to try out the benies.

Sitting in the airport I patiently tried not to freak out. My name still hadn't cleared the wait list, so I had no idea if I was even going to make the flight. I was 6 months new to the company...I had no senority so there was a couple of people who easily were going to get on the plane. I sat and played solitaire on my new ipod touch (bought just for flying i would now be doing) and willed myself not to stare at the wait list or the gate attendant. And finally my name was called. I was the last one to make it on the flight. Success - Florida here I come!

Florida in January isn't the warmest of places...but at 50 degrees compared to Minnesota's -20, I was ready to throw on the bikini. However there was a cool breeze in the air and at some points throughout the weekend, my poor little toes were a little chilly in my flip flops I had dragged out of the back of my closet.

The weekend was for the most part uneventful. I had told Jenny that since it was such a random trip, that we should just hang out, not really plan anything, and just do what she would normally do on any other weekend. Friday night included a trip to the mall, some chinese and a movie back at her place. Saturday we slept in and that night, we went to a little house party, where I got to meet with some friends of hers...and I actually had a lot of fun. Sunday, we hit up a flea market with a coworker of hers...it was the equivelant of a large garage sale at a large outdoor location. I didn't buy anything, but, no lie, did think about buying a fake coach purse. Eating at a favorite restaurant of Jenny's, sharing massive amounts of fried seafood and fries, and ending the weekend at a sports bar to watch the nfl playoffs is how we ended the weekend. I was bummed to go back to her place and pack, but Monday morning I was planning on catching an early flight home.

Jenny dropped me off at the airport Monday morning. After good byes, I went in, armed with my ticket code. Checking in, the attendant at check in made a comment about "if I get on the plane" laced with attitude. Suddenly, my stomach went into knots. I always knew with the travel benefits that there was a possibility of not making it onto the flight. But what all happens if I don't? Walking down to the gate, I kept my hopes high...and as they started boarding the plane, any hope I had went out the window...they called and cleared others on the list and I tried to patiently wait for my name to be called...and then they closed the gate. I was told that the gate attendant would be able to help me schedule a new flight, so with tears brimming in my eyes (i tear up in the weirdest situations...for no reason at all), i approached the gate attendant. She turned out to be such a rude woman. She gave me attitude, she gave me no sympathy, and didn't do much to help me find a new flight. I was on my own...and I was stuck in Florida.

I had been told I could call my coworkers and they would check the computers to find me a new flight...however, they weren't at work yet...it was too early in the morning. So, running over to the flight schedule screens, borrow a pen from the rude (ok, well, she did borrow me a pen) gate attendant, I started writing down departures and times to major hubs. The first flight I was hoping to catch was a non stop back home...and the only one offered for that day. The only hope I had now was a connecting flight.

With my list of possibilities to major hubs, and after a tearful call to my mother, I started calling the reservation line. Checking flights, and load numbers, connecting flights and their load numbers...I finally had hope. I put myself on a flight to Detroit with a connection to home, both looking very hopeful. I also had to go back out to ticketing to get my new ticket, which meant going back through security. This time, while getting my ticket, there was no rude comment about "if" I get on, security was about as breezy as it could be, and after a short wait...I was on board, en route to Detroit.

Detroit was pretty uneventful. Had some food. Then once boarded...we waited for an hour while they "loaded luggage." Somewhat suspicious of that, and although it made me impatient (I was supposed to be home at noon. It was now 3 and I was looking to make it back to coach that night), I waited. And finally we took off and I made it home.

I missed practice that night. And a full day of work. But, the experience was worth it. Pretty sure I will be ok now when I am "rejected" from future flights. And excited to use my "benies" from here on out!


Jenny and I Sunday night at a sports bar for the NFL playoffs


Flipflops in January!