Travel plans

  Years ago I worked for an airline, I miss it dearly (the pay & stress were awful, but the perks were great!).  So, because of my experience, some of our friends use me as their "personal travel agent".  I don't mind helping them at all, in fact I enjoy finding great deals on airfare, car rental or hotel for them.  I haven't done it in awhile, so a few weeks ago when I was asked to help our friends with their vacation plans I said "be glad to".
  As I said, it's been awhile, so I forgot just what an undertaking it could be at times.  We  own a timeshare condo so we let them use a week of it "no problem" I thought.  The problem was when I tried to book the week they wanted at the location they wanted, it was full.  I spent at least a whole day going back and forth between our friends and the condo reservation center, then to add another wrinkle, they were using an airline flight voucher for their tickets.   Using a voucher for their tickets of course meant that they were limited to one airline's destinations (the airline has limited destinations also), so the timeshare condo options were very limited for availibility.  Also they needed a rental car booked, and the company that they had a discount for was not available some of the airline's destinations.
  The other thing was, that any place they were going had to have a major league baseball team playing during that week, because they want to see a game at a stadium they've never been to before.  Again, less options!  Even with all of these things, I still didn't mind doing this for them, in fact I saw it as a challenge that I would win!  Oh and by the way, also couldn't book anything online because they didn't want their credit card information "out there in cyberspace".  Had to look online then book the old fashioned way, by phone.
  Sometimes travel planning can be a nightmare, but when all was said and done, did what I set out to do.  I got their vacation booking done with all their requests included, and I'm happy I could help.
  I really do enjoy helping others.  I do believe "What goes around, comes around".

Fateful Day

11 years ago today I met my husband. It was a day we both will never forget.
My husband and I were both working for the same major airline. I was working at Oakland airport (Oakland CA) and he was working at Columbus airport (Columbus OH).
A friend of mine (who I met through working with the airline)was also working in Columbus OH (we met through an airline training session in Phoenix AZ). I had made arrangements for my friend to come out and go to an Oakland A's game with me. We were both baseball fans and I used to get free Oakland A's tickets through a co-worker who lived next door to an Oakland A's player (on an airline agent's salary free was all I could afford anyway).
We made plans to go to the 12p.m. game on April 19th 1999, the A's were playing the Cleveland Indians that day (weird thing is, from 2003 to 2007 I worked for the Cleveland Indians!).
About 3 days before the game, my friend calls and asks me if they could bring a friend from Columbus to the game with them. I told them yes, but their friend will have to buy their own ticket (I only had 2), he said that was fine, I told him I would pick them up at the airport and we'd head straight to game from there. Everything was set.
I was at the airport around 9:30 a.m. on April 19th 1999. A big crowd of passenegers were making their way to baggage claim.
In the crowd I saw a man wearing a Cleveland Indians cap, with a Cleveland Indians jersey and khaki shorts, with a great big smile on his face! The first thing I said to myself was "oh my God, that's got to be the friend, because no one else would wear that here".Has to be them!
I was attracted to my husband's smile and his big brown eyes immediately, even though I'm a die hard A's fan, I looked past the Indians garb!
I liked him so much I was nervous around him, even standing next to him made me tingle! I had never felt that way about anyone before!
The funny thing is he thought I didn't like him, because everytime he'd try to start a conversation with me I gave him the cold shoulder. I later told him I was too nervous to talk and was afraid I wouldn't make sense!
We went to the game and the Indians beat the A's on that day. Afterwards I drove my friend and my future husband back to the airport. We exchanged e-mail addresses with each other and said our goodbyes. The rest is history!
If someone would have told me on April 19th 1999 that I was looking at my future husband, I would have thought they were kidding!
My husband still remembers what I was wearing that day. He has told me that never in a million years did he think he was going to fly to California to see a baseball game for a few hours, and end up meeting his future wife!
He still makes me tingle!

Things i love/ Favorite Things: Flying/Airplanes

For as long as I can remember, I've always been fascinated with airplanes and flying! My grandfather was a navy pilot during WWII(he retired as a Naval Officer in the 1950's), so I guess it's in my genes. I always loved watching planes takeoff and land. Boarding a plane and flying somewhere always excites me!
When I worked for a major airline, I felt like I was in my element. I took advantage of my free flight perks often! I used to sit outside on my breaks and watch flights land and taxi to their gates. When I worked at the boarding gate counter, I would often walk down the "jetway" after the passengers got off the airplane, sit in the empty airplane while talking with the flight crew.
Flying interested me so much that I took flying lessons for a period of time until I could no longer afford it!
I get "goosebumps" whenever my husband and I go to an airshow! The last time we went to one he surprised me, by buying me a ride on one of the planes on display! It was awesome!
I always tell my husband that if we ever win the lottery, we're buying our own private jet and I'm getting my pilots license! That's when he tells me "don't hold your breathe!" 
  I've always had this burning desire to fly and I know I will fly again.

Vacation/Travel tips

It's summertime and I know lot of people out there are going to hit the road or take to the skies to start their vacations! I'm a former airline agent and I thought I would offer a few airline passenger travel tips from an "insider's point of view". These tips can help you get your trip off to a less "stressful" start.

Before you get to the airport, make sure you have a address tag on both the outside and inside of your luggage and your carry on bag. I always suggest an address tag on the inside just in case the one on the outside breaks off, this is helpful to the baggage service office to look your name up in their system should something happen to your luggage. Another thing I suggest is to make a note of a couple of specific items packed in check in luggage, for example: blue hair dryer, red shorts etc...This helps any baggage service office locate your lost bag faster, in case the flight bag tag or your address tag has been broken off.

Remember airlines are NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLES, WHEELS, ZIPPERS, TAGS being broken off bags.

Please DO NOT PACK VALUABLES, MEDICINES, MONEY, KEYS etc... in your checked luggage.

When you arrive at the check in counter, have your I.D. and reservation confirmation # in hand, this will make check in quicker for you and the airline agent checking you in. Also, have your check in luggage loaded onto the scale, this makes it much easier for the agent to tag your bags.

While you are in line at the security check point, have your boarding pass and I.D. in hand. Since they are scanning shoes, take off your shoes while you are waiting in line, this way you are ready to put your shoes through the scanner when you get to the check point. Another good thing to do is to have your carry on, any jacket you may have on in hand and ready to put through the scanner when you get to the check point. These simple tips will make going through security quicker for everyone!

When you are in the gate area, pay close attention to your departure time and to all gate announcements. Most airlines END BOARDING TIME ten minutes before departure, to help ensure an on time departure. Once the aircraft doors are closed, they cannot be reopened until the flight reaches it's destination. Airlines are not liable for anyone missing their flight if they are not in the gate area and missed announcements! They will rebook you on the next available flight but are NOT REQUIRED TO GIVE COMPENSATION for anyone missing their flight because they were not paying attention.

When boarding your flight, decide where you are going to stow your carry on ahead of time( either overhead or under the seat in front of you). Also, take off anything like backpacks, jackets before you board the flight and have them in hand so you can stow them quickly before you sit in your seat. Following these little tips will help keep the airplane aisle clearer and make boarding quicker.

If your flight is cancelled, please do not get angry with the airline agents, they are not responsible for your flight being cancelled! They are there to assist you! Be patient, airlines are not responsible for weather delays or cancellations THERE ARE NO AMMENITIES DUE TO WEATHER OR "ACTS OF GOD"! Airlines are not required to provide hotel accomodations or any kind of compensation unless you are delayed over 4 hours due to a mechanical problem or air traffic control delay!

I hope some of these tips are helpful, I will have some more in a later post. Bye for now, and happy travels!