Location: Flying from RDU to Denver via Chicago
4 days ago - Good news - Received free upgrades all the way
2:00 pm - Bad news - flights massively delayed due to weather in Chicago
2:30 pm - Good news - rerouted through Charlotte, with an upgrade from Charlotte to Denver
6:20 pm - Bad news - my seat 4F is not actually in first class; it's the first row behind the bulkhead
6:40 pm - Good news - seat 1A in first class is empty - maybe I can get it
6:45 pm - Bad news - two people are ahead of me on the upgrade list
7:10 pm - Good news - The flight attendant in first class comps me a meal and a drink
Sometimes it all works out in the end.
RDU Terminal 2
Monday, August 25, 2014
Friday, August 22, 2014
Travel Humor - There’s a Reason
Location: Bangalore Airport, waiting to fly to Doha, Qatar on my way home
Question: Why does it take 60 minutes to load a Qatar Airways flight?
Answer: 15 minutes to board, and 45 minutes to argue with the flight attendants about the seats. And yes, the seats are assigned, but that doesn't seem to matter to some folks.
Yelling, screaming and crying by spoiled brats, refusing to sit in the assigned seats … and that was the adults!
Question: Why does it take 60 minutes to load a Qatar Airways flight?
Answer: 15 minutes to board, and 45 minutes to argue with the flight attendants about the seats. And yes, the seats are assigned, but that doesn't seem to matter to some folks.
Yelling, screaming and crying by spoiled brats, refusing to sit in the assigned seats … and that was the adults!
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Travel Tip - Hourly Parking at RDU Terminal 2
Location: RDU Airport, Terminal 2 Hourly Parking
This hint applies only to terminal 2 at RDU airport. If you are going to the hourly/short-term parking to wait for someone, the upper level is sometimes full. You have two options: go to the lower level, or go through the gate to the next section. If you are in this situation, go to the lower level. There are barriers at all levels, so once you go through the gate you can't get back. I have been in the situation where I went through the gate, went to the lower level, and saw great parking spots just out of reach behind a barrier. I had to park very far away because I didn't want to go out and come back in again.
The gate does have a sign above it that indicates that you are leaving hourly parking, but it is easy to miss. I have talked to many folks who didn't see it and fell into the same trap as me.
This hint applies only to terminal 2 at RDU airport. If you are going to the hourly/short-term parking to wait for someone, the upper level is sometimes full. You have two options: go to the lower level, or go through the gate to the next section. If you are in this situation, go to the lower level. There are barriers at all levels, so once you go through the gate you can't get back. I have been in the situation where I went through the gate, went to the lower level, and saw great parking spots just out of reach behind a barrier. I had to park very far away because I didn't want to go out and come back in again.
The gate does have a sign above it that indicates that you are leaving hourly parking, but it is easy to miss. I have talked to many folks who didn't see it and fell into the same trap as me.
Travel Tip - A Reason to Take the Middle Seat
Location: RDU Airport - Waiting to fly to Bangalore via London on AA174 AKA "Rusty"
Most widebody airliners are set up with 2 aisles in coach. It's usually best to avoid the crummy seats in the middle between the aisles, but it can also be good if you have the middle section to yourself so you can lie down. If you are fortunate enough to have this situation, be sure to secure your good fortune by sitting in the middle seat. On my fairly empty 767 (2-3-2 seating) I saw two women who each had a 3-seat middle section all to themselves. After takeoff the first moved from her assigned aisle seat to the middle, thus discouraging space poachers. The second stayed in her assigned aisle seat, and had the other end of her once-empty row grabbed by an enterprising passenger. Move quickly!
P.S. The second woman was eventually able to eject the interloper and lie down. You may not be so lucky (or perhaps assertive).
Most widebody airliners are set up with 2 aisles in coach. It's usually best to avoid the crummy seats in the middle between the aisles, but it can also be good if you have the middle section to yourself so you can lie down. If you are fortunate enough to have this situation, be sure to secure your good fortune by sitting in the middle seat. On my fairly empty 767 (2-3-2 seating) I saw two women who each had a 3-seat middle section all to themselves. After takeoff the first moved from her assigned aisle seat to the middle, thus discouraging space poachers. The second stayed in her assigned aisle seat, and had the other end of her once-empty row grabbed by an enterprising passenger. Move quickly!
P.S. The second woman was eventually able to eject the interloper and lie down. You may not be so lucky (or perhaps assertive).
Travel Humor - English, the Universal Language for Snark
Location: RDU Airport - Waiting to fly to Bangalore via London on AA174 AKA "Rusty"
While waiting to board I was standing next to a German family: Mom, Dad, sister and 2 little brothers. The kids all looked to be grade-schoolers. The boys were being a bit rambunctious and things were getting out of control, with more and more arguing in German. Finally one of the boys did something to big sis (who looked to be about 12) and she had had enough. She struck a pose with one hand on her hip, the other with a finger wagging, and said in very good English "oh no you just di-int!" and then resumed arguing with brother in German.
While waiting to board I was standing next to a German family: Mom, Dad, sister and 2 little brothers. The kids all looked to be grade-schoolers. The boys were being a bit rambunctious and things were getting out of control, with more and more arguing in German. Finally one of the boys did something to big sis (who looked to be about 12) and she had had enough. She struck a pose with one hand on her hip, the other with a finger wagging, and said in very good English "oh no you just di-int!" and then resumed arguing with brother in German.
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