I just go back from another work trip to New Jersey, which included a side weekend trip to New York City. It is official. I have fallen passionately in love with New York City.
I know we are not going to be a forever kind of thing. My first love is California and I would never leave him for a side fling. But like “The Bridges of Madison County”, I am hoping we can continue to meet at least once a year.
Not only did I get to shop at my favorite Macy’s store, I got to see my celebrity crush Wayne Brady in a great show on Broadway, “Kinky Boots.” Great music, great message and great fun.
I also learned some valuable lessons to add to my work travel fact folder. Here are the newest three:
JOIN THE REWARDS PROGRAMS
Join ALL the rewards programs! I know it sucks keeping track of your membership numbers and passwords, but it does pay off! I arrived in New York City to check into the Radisson Martinique and got a free upgrade to the penthouse floor, a much larger room than expected, a check in three hours early and a late check out three hours after regular time. All because I have a lot of points on my Radisson reward membership! I literally paid for a vacation flight with my Southwest Airlines points, accumulated from all that work travel. So join, join, join.
NEVER BOOK THE LAST FLIGHT OUT
I love Southwest Airlines. Yes, they have late flights and yes, I have missed connections because of this fact, but overall, they are my favorite airline. That being said, flying home out of Newark, I made the not so smart decision to book a flight with a connection to Phoenix that would take me home to Burbank airport. Problem was, the connection was the last flight out of Phoenix to Burbank. Basically, if I missed the connection, I was staying in Phoenix for the night.
Now nothing against Phoenix, but when you have not budgeted for a night in another hotel and you want to get home to your bed and your sweet boys, Kato and Kody, staying in Phoenix is not high on your bucket list.
The other factor I ignored was having only one hour between flights. Boo boo number two.
Of course the Newark flight got delayed by almost 30 minutes. Of course the Phoenix flight was right on time.
Yes, I made it, but the stress of willing all the people who took their time getting their crap out of the storage bins to turn to sand and the reenactment of the OJ Simpson Hertz commercial are two things I can live without again.
This next business trip I am flying direct, but if I have to make a connection again, I am flying out in the morning. If you miss a connection in the morning, there is another flight. Miss it at night and you are looking for a Motel Six instead of relaxing on your comfy couch with a glass of wine and all your back episodes of your favorite show you missed while you were away.
DOWNLOAD, DOWNLOAD, DOWNLOAD
Adding to the fun and games coming home, was a five hour flight on a plane that did not have working internet. No working internet meant no watching live television. No surfing mid-century modern design websites. No Amazon Prime music. Nothing but two magazines that I burned through by hour one.
I had one movie that I downloaded from my DVR to my tablet. It turned out to be two hours when I didn’t have to listen to a kid behind me say, “Mommy, no!” fifteen times in a row. It was a true blessing. Unfortunately, that was it and for the remaining two hours, I just had to suck it up.
This next trip, I have downloaded music and five movies from the DVR. No internet and I will be ready for a full flight of entertainment, not trying to find a way to sit outside the plane on the wing!
I hope these tips help and wishing you happy and safe travels, for business or for pleasure!
I know we are not going to be a forever kind of thing. My first love is California and I would never leave him for a side fling. But like “The Bridges of Madison County”, I am hoping we can continue to meet at least once a year.
Not only did I get to shop at my favorite Macy’s store, I got to see my celebrity crush Wayne Brady in a great show on Broadway, “Kinky Boots.” Great music, great message and great fun.
I also learned some valuable lessons to add to my work travel fact folder. Here are the newest three:
JOIN THE REWARDS PROGRAMS
Join ALL the rewards programs! I know it sucks keeping track of your membership numbers and passwords, but it does pay off! I arrived in New York City to check into the Radisson Martinique and got a free upgrade to the penthouse floor, a much larger room than expected, a check in three hours early and a late check out three hours after regular time. All because I have a lot of points on my Radisson reward membership! I literally paid for a vacation flight with my Southwest Airlines points, accumulated from all that work travel. So join, join, join.
NEVER BOOK THE LAST FLIGHT OUT
I love Southwest Airlines. Yes, they have late flights and yes, I have missed connections because of this fact, but overall, they are my favorite airline. That being said, flying home out of Newark, I made the not so smart decision to book a flight with a connection to Phoenix that would take me home to Burbank airport. Problem was, the connection was the last flight out of Phoenix to Burbank. Basically, if I missed the connection, I was staying in Phoenix for the night.
Now nothing against Phoenix, but when you have not budgeted for a night in another hotel and you want to get home to your bed and your sweet boys, Kato and Kody, staying in Phoenix is not high on your bucket list.
The other factor I ignored was having only one hour between flights. Boo boo number two.
Of course the Newark flight got delayed by almost 30 minutes. Of course the Phoenix flight was right on time.
Yes, I made it, but the stress of willing all the people who took their time getting their crap out of the storage bins to turn to sand and the reenactment of the OJ Simpson Hertz commercial are two things I can live without again.
This next business trip I am flying direct, but if I have to make a connection again, I am flying out in the morning. If you miss a connection in the morning, there is another flight. Miss it at night and you are looking for a Motel Six instead of relaxing on your comfy couch with a glass of wine and all your back episodes of your favorite show you missed while you were away.
DOWNLOAD, DOWNLOAD, DOWNLOAD
Adding to the fun and games coming home, was a five hour flight on a plane that did not have working internet. No working internet meant no watching live television. No surfing mid-century modern design websites. No Amazon Prime music. Nothing but two magazines that I burned through by hour one.
I had one movie that I downloaded from my DVR to my tablet. It turned out to be two hours when I didn’t have to listen to a kid behind me say, “Mommy, no!” fifteen times in a row. It was a true blessing. Unfortunately, that was it and for the remaining two hours, I just had to suck it up.
This next trip, I have downloaded music and five movies from the DVR. No internet and I will be ready for a full flight of entertainment, not trying to find a way to sit outside the plane on the wing!
I hope these tips help and wishing you happy and safe travels, for business or for pleasure!
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