Think This // After Hours

Last week I found out that blogging and being on vacation does not mix well. The intentions were there I promise, the subject matter plenty, but no execution. It also did not help that there was no Internet connection on premises. Needless to say I was not posting much last week. Sorry.

Last week we were on vacation in Phoenix, AZ where the temperatures were in record 90’s for this time of year. It was wonderful. Chilling by the pool, sun bathing, driving to Sedona and the Grand Canyon were the required activities of the week. We took lots of pictures which we will share in the next few days. That is a beautiful part of the Union in many ways: the weather, the view, the landscape, and the people were very friendly.

From our non-rev travels to Arizona we learned this time to stay at the gate until the airplane leaves, no matter what, no matter that all seats were taken, no matter that there were 20+ stand-by, non-rev passengers above you. But because they were not at the gate just before the departure, we took advantage of the fact that 4 regular passengers missed their flight due to whatever unfortunate for them circumstances. It was pretty amazing. Some told us we were crazy to non-rev travel during the Spring Training and the Spring break. All went well. Some would call it “so lucky” others call it being in the right place at the right time, while we call it being very blessed.

On the way back from Phoenix there were no empty seats for couple of days in a row so we drove to San Diego, CA to catch a flight. It was a nice 5+ hour drive through Arizona and California’s dessert dunes and mountains.

We definitely would like to go back to Phoenix Arizona some day again.

Thanks to my wife, who works as a flight attendant with Midwest Airlines, a week ago we went on a quick trip to Florida. We left on Saturday morning and returned Sunday night. It was a fast trip but very much needed. It provided a nice break from the Wisconsin winter. We went to Sarasota, FL to visit grandma and grandpa.

We traveled as non-rev (non-revenue) passengers. This means that our tickets were stand-by. If there are extra seats on the airplane we go, if not, we stay. Everyone who travels using this non-rev employee benefit knows this and is prepared for the worst.

A night before the computer system showed that there were still 6 seats available. At 6:30 in the morning of the next day we showed up at the gate. We only needed 3 seats. (Lynnea was working that weekend.) As the time drew closer to departure at 7:30, the gate agent informed us that due to the weight and balance of the air plane we will not be able to go. Disappointed we started to draw a contingency plan.

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