As January ends and February begins an interesting record is about to crash and burn. Continental Airlines requires either 30 flight segments or 25,000 miles to reach the Silver Elite status and I will have 28 segments. That's not bad for one month. By the first of March I could be hitting Gold... and by May will hit Platinum (Platinum status requires 90 segments or 75,000 miles). I could hit double platinum before the year ends, although I don't think they give you anything more for it.
What does it mean to be a frequent flier? When arriving at a larger airport there is a special area to check-in where only the frequent fliers can. There is a shorter line through security and you are allowed to be the first to board the plane. If checking bags they put a special Elite tag on it for faster offloading. For me these are the real perks. Why? It is not because of some special feeling or hidden narcissim, no... let me explain.
Last night I was seated in First Class on the 737-300 from Cleveland to Newark, a short 61 minute flight. As the second person on the plane, there was plenty of room for my suitcase and computer bag in the overhead. After about 40 minutes of people streaming by my seat, just as the door was to be closed, another First Class passenger came on board. She had a suitcase and computer bag as well but was in a bulkhead seat (that means no seats in front of her so no place to put her stuff). By this time the flight attendants had already removed the economy class passengers belongings from the first class overheads... except for one large suitcase that wouldn't fit anywhere else. This suitcase took the space rightfully belonging to the last lady on board but it was too late. Two other people had to (err, volunteered to) accomodate her luggage, taking up their precious leg room.
Getting on the plane first also gives you a chance to get comfortable in the spacious but not too nice seats up front. The really nice first class seats are found on long distance flights and planes (not the 737). The flight attendant takes your coat to hang in a forward closet then offers a drink. Yes, up here the drinks are free and there is time for one before take-off and two more during the hour long flight but I rarely have more than one vodka-cran during these short flights. I need to be able to find the limo driver waiting for me in Newark. Ok that is another perk but it comes from my employer and is available to all of our employees.
The main difference between Silver, Gold, and Platinum are the ability to get free upgrades for companions and increasing priority for the upgrade. Each flight credits you for a certain number of miles no matter your status but with the FF programs you get incrementally more miles for each real mile.
Most of my flights are short flights on the ERJ 135 or 145 planes. These hold about 48 people and every seat is first class... so I'll take it when I can get it.
Saturday, February 2
Wednesday, January 16
Winter?
I have been such a slacker, not writing for almost a month. Since the last posting I have been fortunate enough to spend about five nights in my own bed. It has been interesting traveling to Knoxville through the winter, especially having just completed the novel 'Flesh and Bone' by Jefferson Bass that is set in Knoxville with a plot around the infamous Body Farm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_Farm). You can read more here: http://archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/10/31/body.farm/index.html.
This evening it would be a little eery to go searching for the exact location as it is snowing a heavy wet snow. The news channels are all lit up with the snowstorm news, many school districts are announcing closures for tomorrow, reporters are interviewing
third shift' workers wondering how they will drive home in the white stuff, and there were several large planes grounded at the airport-rerouted from Atlanta and full of people sitting on the tarmac. The city of Knoxville has been "pre" spraying the roads with a wet salt mixture for three days now just to prepare for this storm.
I can hardly wait for morning to see the carnage that everyone seems to be expecting. It is almost like the frenzy that would come with huricane preparations but its barely 32 degrees and the snow is melting as it lands. The weather guy just told school administrators to wait until the morning before deciding on closures... good advice I would say.
Earlier this week I was in Kalamazoo, Michigan on the presidential primary day. Apparently John McCain had visited Kalamazoo on the same day but none of the others did. With all of the media frenzy on this topic you would think that everyone in Michigan would be talking about it. I never heard one person mention it although I wondered if McCain was staying at the same hotel. Back to the winter topic, it was cold and snowing there with several inches of accumulation during the day. No one even gave it a second mention but that is understandable, it was a minor storm compared to the several others I've witnessed there this winter already.
Back in New Jersey it has not snowed enough to matter although jackets are required most days. Over the last month I have seen 78 degrees for a high and 11 degrees for a low here in Knoxville. The San Francisco Bay Area was in the 60's, with palm trees and other blooming plants giving no indication that it was the last week of December.
Wherever you might be, be warm, be safe, and keep the rubber side down!
This evening it would be a little eery to go searching for the exact location as it is snowing a heavy wet snow. The news channels are all lit up with the snowstorm news, many school districts are announcing closures for tomorrow, reporters are interviewing
third shift' workers wondering how they will drive home in the white stuff, and there were several large planes grounded at the airport-rerouted from Atlanta and full of people sitting on the tarmac. The city of Knoxville has been "pre" spraying the roads with a wet salt mixture for three days now just to prepare for this storm.
I can hardly wait for morning to see the carnage that everyone seems to be expecting. It is almost like the frenzy that would come with huricane preparations but its barely 32 degrees and the snow is melting as it lands. The weather guy just told school administrators to wait until the morning before deciding on closures... good advice I would say.
Earlier this week I was in Kalamazoo, Michigan on the presidential primary day. Apparently John McCain had visited Kalamazoo on the same day but none of the others did. With all of the media frenzy on this topic you would think that everyone in Michigan would be talking about it. I never heard one person mention it although I wondered if McCain was staying at the same hotel. Back to the winter topic, it was cold and snowing there with several inches of accumulation during the day. No one even gave it a second mention but that is understandable, it was a minor storm compared to the several others I've witnessed there this winter already.
Back in New Jersey it has not snowed enough to matter although jackets are required most days. Over the last month I have seen 78 degrees for a high and 11 degrees for a low here in Knoxville. The San Francisco Bay Area was in the 60's, with palm trees and other blooming plants giving no indication that it was the last week of December.
Wherever you might be, be warm, be safe, and keep the rubber side down!
Tuesday, December 18
Winter travel
It has been a while since my last post. This may lead you to think that I have not been traveling so let me set the record straight. Between November 1st and December 31st I will have spent six days in Orlando at a conference followed by four trips to Knoxville for 14 days, two trips to Kalamazoo for three days, one in Cherry Hill NJ (burbs of Philly), and a week in San Francisco for vacation. So out of 60 or so days I will be spending about 25 of them away from home.
I have experienced all the winter time horror stories you read about in the news from cancelled flights to sketchy landings, deicing delays, short connections, and reroutes.
We have recently started using Carlson Wagonlit travel and they have performed superbly for me. My agent, Susan E., has saved us several thousand dollars by booking creative itineraries and finding good options to meet my needs. Many thanks go to her for saving me the stress and hassle of trying to figure things out solo...
I'll try to find something interesting to write about in the coming days... my January and February travel will probably be just as intense so there should be plenty of opportunities!
Be safe and have a happy holiday season!
I have experienced all the winter time horror stories you read about in the news from cancelled flights to sketchy landings, deicing delays, short connections, and reroutes.
We have recently started using Carlson Wagonlit travel and they have performed superbly for me. My agent, Susan E., has saved us several thousand dollars by booking creative itineraries and finding good options to meet my needs. Many thanks go to her for saving me the stress and hassle of trying to figure things out solo...
I'll try to find something interesting to write about in the coming days... my January and February travel will probably be just as intense so there should be plenty of opportunities!
Be safe and have a happy holiday season!
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