Monday, July 18, 2011
...home
So...that little journey that began Sunday morning in LGA that saw me visit DEN and then over to DAY...well friends, it has sadly come to an end here at 4:00am Monday morning, here in the good 'ol CMH. I'm off to bed. Safe travels!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of...
NEW YORK...destination for this past weekend! We departed the house early Friday morning to travel to Dayton (DAY), to hop a flight up to Milwaukee (MKE) so that we could pick-up the flight that "Wings" was flying to LaGuardia (LGA). We found the Economy lot at DAY and shuttled on over to the terminal. After a somewhat-lengthy security screening, we were on our way to the gate. Note to self: avoid getting behind families with children in the security line...rookie mistake.
Finding our gate, I enjoyed a latte courtesy of Starbucks and we boarded our flight. It's really amazing that what can take over 7 hours by car can be achieved in under an hour by flight! We arrived in MKE and had a couple of hours to spare. We had lunch outside of security where we compared the dryness of our respective chicken entrees and then proceeded back to our departure gate. An absolute BONUS of traveling with a pilot is the opportunity to go through "Express" Security Screening with him. A line that had 40+ people in it was made that many people shorter as the TSA official waived "Wings" and I through a new line!
We found our gate and enjoyed a bout of people-watching. Part of the Non-Rev "game" is checking the flight loads as often as you can before they disappear from the computer program (about an hour before departure). The loads for the flight kept changing: 2 seats available; 10 seats available; 4 seats available; 0 flights available, etc...watching your fate of whether or not you're going to get on a flight teeter-totter like that can cause a boy some stress!
Alas, as it was time to board, I got a seat toward the back of the plane and off we went. We passed over Cedar Point and flew up the river as we approached NYC. I always get a smile when I hear "Wings" talk to us over the plane's intercom...one of those "that's my pilot" moments if you will. :)
Anyway, we landed and headed to the hotel shuttle. The airline's hotel choice for their LGA overnight crews is...well...a wee-bit run-down. We settled ourselves, enjoyed some dinner that I had packed at home and then called it a night. As "Wings" had to do an early morning flight back and forth MKE-LGA-MKE, I got to sleep in. I woke around the same time that he was getting back from his trip. We made plans to head down to Times Square for lunch and a bit of "TBD" as we explored the city. Sadly, I knew that a previous cold that I had earlier in the week was now making its progression through him. We took the shuttle back to LGA and then the MTA bus to a subway stop and then somehow (Magic, I tell you) "Wings" got us to Times Square. Me trying to make sense of the MTA Subway system is like me trying to fly an airplane..."there's got to be an easier way." Chicago, Washington DC, those are subway systems that I can do, no problem. But NYC's takes the cake for confusing this simpleton.
We explored a bit, found some food and then headed down to TKTS to see what opportunities there might be to score tickets to a Broadway show. Sadly, there was only one show available and a line not worth standing in to get tickets for said show. So, we decided to subway-it-down to Ground Zero. Once emerging from the Subway system and walking a block and turning the corner - you can't help but be struck by the magnitude of what is...and what isn't. The new Freedom Tower is progressing along nicely, about a third of the way (my best guestimate)...it is going to be gorgeous. Following the site-seeing, we were in desperate need of a pharmacy to find "Wings" a decongestant...poor kid was not feeling great at all. It took 3 attempts at drug stores to find a pharmacy open mid-day in New York City...really, do people in NYC not get sick on the weekends? Following this adventure, we decided it was probably most desirable to go back to the hotel given the huge crowd of people EVERYWHERE in NYC. We ventured back to the hotel and ordered some local, delicious Italian-in for dinner. Yum.
Today came quickly enough and we headed back to LGA. The original Airbus that was supposed to take us back to MKE was downgraded to an Embraer 190...about 40 seats fewer. The airline had suffered some serious hail damage earlier in the week and has about 15 planes out of service for repairs...SOooooo...Wings got on the flight by being able to sit in the extra seat in the cockpit. I, however, was not as fortunate.
I was however fortunate enough to get the last available seat on the flight from LGA to Denver (DEN)...that's a bit of long ride. So, hear I sit in the Denver airport, waiting for my connecting flight back to Dayton, to pick-up the car and drive back to Columbus. Meanwhile, Wings is already back in Columbus after dealing with craziness on his end and being diverted from MKE to Philadelphia (PHL). The DAY flight is running about an hour and a half delayed, now showing an arrival into DAY at 1:15am tomorrow morning. Neat.
But what can I say? I get to travel, I get to people-watch, I get to meet some interesting people and I get to blog...oh, and I didn't pay a cent to do any of it!
So, I think I'll meander down to A28 and see what my luck looks like for getting a seat to Dayton! Wish me luck!!!
Finding our gate, I enjoyed a latte courtesy of Starbucks and we boarded our flight. It's really amazing that what can take over 7 hours by car can be achieved in under an hour by flight! We arrived in MKE and had a couple of hours to spare. We had lunch outside of security where we compared the dryness of our respective chicken entrees and then proceeded back to our departure gate. An absolute BONUS of traveling with a pilot is the opportunity to go through "Express" Security Screening with him. A line that had 40+ people in it was made that many people shorter as the TSA official waived "Wings" and I through a new line!
We found our gate and enjoyed a bout of people-watching. Part of the Non-Rev "game" is checking the flight loads as often as you can before they disappear from the computer program (about an hour before departure). The loads for the flight kept changing: 2 seats available; 10 seats available; 4 seats available; 0 flights available, etc...watching your fate of whether or not you're going to get on a flight teeter-totter like that can cause a boy some stress!
Alas, as it was time to board, I got a seat toward the back of the plane and off we went. We passed over Cedar Point and flew up the river as we approached NYC. I always get a smile when I hear "Wings" talk to us over the plane's intercom...one of those "that's my pilot" moments if you will. :)
Anyway, we landed and headed to the hotel shuttle. The airline's hotel choice for their LGA overnight crews is...well...a wee-bit run-down. We settled ourselves, enjoyed some dinner that I had packed at home and then called it a night. As "Wings" had to do an early morning flight back and forth MKE-LGA-MKE, I got to sleep in. I woke around the same time that he was getting back from his trip. We made plans to head down to Times Square for lunch and a bit of "TBD" as we explored the city. Sadly, I knew that a previous cold that I had earlier in the week was now making its progression through him. We took the shuttle back to LGA and then the MTA bus to a subway stop and then somehow (Magic, I tell you) "Wings" got us to Times Square. Me trying to make sense of the MTA Subway system is like me trying to fly an airplane..."there's got to be an easier way." Chicago, Washington DC, those are subway systems that I can do, no problem. But NYC's takes the cake for confusing this simpleton.
We explored a bit, found some food and then headed down to TKTS to see what opportunities there might be to score tickets to a Broadway show. Sadly, there was only one show available and a line not worth standing in to get tickets for said show. So, we decided to subway-it-down to Ground Zero. Once emerging from the Subway system and walking a block and turning the corner - you can't help but be struck by the magnitude of what is...and what isn't. The new Freedom Tower is progressing along nicely, about a third of the way (my best guestimate)...it is going to be gorgeous. Following the site-seeing, we were in desperate need of a pharmacy to find "Wings" a decongestant...poor kid was not feeling great at all. It took 3 attempts at drug stores to find a pharmacy open mid-day in New York City...really, do people in NYC not get sick on the weekends? Following this adventure, we decided it was probably most desirable to go back to the hotel given the huge crowd of people EVERYWHERE in NYC. We ventured back to the hotel and ordered some local, delicious Italian-in for dinner. Yum.
Today came quickly enough and we headed back to LGA. The original Airbus that was supposed to take us back to MKE was downgraded to an Embraer 190...about 40 seats fewer. The airline had suffered some serious hail damage earlier in the week and has about 15 planes out of service for repairs...SOooooo...Wings got on the flight by being able to sit in the extra seat in the cockpit. I, however, was not as fortunate.
I was however fortunate enough to get the last available seat on the flight from LGA to Denver (DEN)...that's a bit of long ride. So, hear I sit in the Denver airport, waiting for my connecting flight back to Dayton, to pick-up the car and drive back to Columbus. Meanwhile, Wings is already back in Columbus after dealing with craziness on his end and being diverted from MKE to Philadelphia (PHL). The DAY flight is running about an hour and a half delayed, now showing an arrival into DAY at 1:15am tomorrow morning. Neat.
But what can I say? I get to travel, I get to people-watch, I get to meet some interesting people and I get to blog...oh, and I didn't pay a cent to do any of it!
So, I think I'll meander down to A28 and see what my luck looks like for getting a seat to Dayton! Wish me luck!!!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
In the beginning...
Hi, first and foremost - I guess we should get acquainted as I am hoping to make this outlet a regular source of humor and observation of my privilege as a "non-revenue" generating passenger. My name is Doug I am so fortunate and happy to be in a wonderful relationship with an airline pilot. One of those "perks" is the opportunity to travel...as a "non-rev" passenger. Sure, glamorous and awesome as it sounds (and usually is)...one must realize that a NonRev is a Standby passenger on EVERY flight. A Standby passenger is the LAST person to get a seat on a flight, if in fact there are any seats left to give. Getting from point A to point B can be a challenge sometimes and can include trips across the country just to get back home...but I am fortunate that I get to travel, that I get to fly as often as I do...and that I haven't purchased an airline ticket since...well...it's been a while. :)
So, in an effort to pass some of my free time in airports, I am here to publish my observations, my adventures all while protecting the innocent as much as possible. Ladies and gents, let's prepare for departure!
So, in an effort to pass some of my free time in airports, I am here to publish my observations, my adventures all while protecting the innocent as much as possible. Ladies and gents, let's prepare for departure!
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