Kolek planning to go pro
Wow, I'm very concerned for Benny. Being able to mimic Myron Medcalf's writing so closely implies an oncoming case of dementia.
Benny is flying into San Diego on Thursday evening for a Friday morning meeting. Benny flies AAL and is looking at return flight options on Friday afternoon that connect through LAX.Benny is a Brewer fan and knows there's a possibility that the Brewers will be playing in LA on Friday evening.Ideally, Benny would like to take an afternoon flight into LAX, throw his duffel bag in a locker, Uber over to Dodger Stadium for a few hours, Uber back to LAX, and take the red-eye back to ORD in time for his daughter's volleyball game on Saturday. However, if the Brewers don't advance to the NLDS (or they do but it's an afternoon game), Benny would like to take an earlier flight in order to get into ORD Friday evening.Benny has status with AAL so can standby for earlier flights or do a same-day flight change (based on availability) for $75. Benny knows that AAL allows a maximum connection time of 4 hours.Accordingly, Benny the following options:1) Book SAN-LAX and LAX-ORD as separate tickets. Pros: Pricing is roughly the same, flexibility to move one flight without having to adjust the other. Cons: If the first flight is delayed, AAL has no liability if the second flight is missed (likely only a problem if there's no Brewer game in LA); while not explicitly prohibited, may be a violation of the Carriage Rules which says: "Reservations made to exploit or circumvent fare and ticket rules are strictly prohibited."2) Book return LAX-ORD. Rent car in SAN and drive to LA Friday afternoon. Pros: No rules violations. Maximum flexibility on LAX-ORD flight. Could leave San Diego a little later afternoon (and minimize downtime in LA). Cons: Driving from San Diego to LA; could miss earlier flight out of LAX (i.e. if no Brewer game that evening) if traffic is bad.3) Book one ticket through SAN-LAX-ORD. Pros: Easiest to book. A little cheaper. Peace of mind if first flight is delayed. Cons: Can you standby or change just one leg of connecting flights?4) Don't book anything until tomorrow night. This is actually what I'm going to do, but just out of curiosity has anyone ever done a "same-day flight change" on AAL only on the second leg of a connecting flight -or- fly standby on the first leg of that arrives >4 hours before the second flight
Has Brother Benny ever driven in Los Angeles traffic? The 405 at that time of day is a nightmare only surpassed by the 5.Assuming Brother Benny is in Downtown San Diego, the trip to Dodger Stadium should take between 90 and 120 minutes sans traffic. But, that's a fantasy except after 10:00 p.m. Plan up to six hours to get to Dodger Stadium depending on time of day. And, there is NO mass transit!If the Benster is planning on a 7:00 p.m. start, the game will be over by 10:30 p.m., assuming no extra innings. The bank of flights from LAX to ORD that would get Brother Benny to the volleyball game would leave around midnight. Assuming 2.5 hours to get from Dodger Stadium (Pasadena Freeway -- Cal 110 at Elysian Fields) down to the Harbor Freeway to the 105, return a rental car and clear security at LAX Terminal 5 and Brother Benny is pushing it in the extreme. More likely, Brother Benny is sleeping in chairs at LAX.Uber probably takes 45 minutes less, but you lose that benefit at Dodger Stadium when you are competing late at night for the Ubers operating in LA at that time.The morning bank leaves beginning between 5:30 a.m., and 6:00 a.m., and would arrive in Chicago around noon. Assuming an hour connecting time for a flight to Milwaukee and a 30 minutes actual flight, Brother Benny better hope the volleyball game does not start before 2:30 p.m.P.S.— Benny, I travel to LA quite a bit on business and have entertained various versions of your great adventure — even when the Cardinals were in town. The logistics are a nightmare in SoCal. Also, have you priced Dodger tickets?You are better off waiting until they return to Milwaukee!
You are better off waiting until they return to Milwaukee!
Despite the facade, rest assured that Benny's no idiot (although, Benny is asking Scoop for travel advice, so maybe Benny is a few french fries short of a Happy Meal).Yes, I have driven in SoCal. Twice. Once involved a late-morning drive from LAX to Ventura and back home that afternoon via Hope International. The other time was landing SNA at 9:15a, driving to Carlsbad, and having my 4:45 SAN-PHX-ORD flight (via PHX) cancelled while I was at lunch... so I calmly finished my meal and headed for LAX; I drove by the San Pechugas nuke station at 2:30 (which I know from the timestamp, because of course I took a picture), which means I left Carlsbad around 2:00, and still made it in plenty of time for my 6:15 flight back to ORD (incidentally, arriving at roughly the same time as my original PHX-ORD would have).Yes, I've already priced tickets... a little over $200 gets me 20 rows from the Visitor's dugout. But I would hope that a combination of my a) needing just a single ticket and b) willingness to wait until last minute to buy will provide an opportunity to get into the stadium at a bargain price... at least by LA standards, which roughly translates to "not-sure-if-I-did-or-didn't-get-ripped-off" in Milwaukee.But it occurred to me that it's not flight schedules or ticket prices that are going to make/break my plans.... Are there even lockers at LAX? I know some airports have done away with them, and Dodger Stadium most assuredly isn't going to let me inside the stadium with a duffel bag, especially after that debacle their counterpart across town had several years ago with the Queen.Of course I already have tickets for Game 3 back home... I figured I'd try to catch 2 NLDS games this year since after Sunday's game, there won't be baseball in Milwaukee for another 8 days.
The obligatory pining of Scoop for travel info. I literally have a round the world business trip coming up the end of the month to visit several customers and a sister manufacturing plant.12 hour layover in Seoul where I've already booked a Transit Tour. Special tours from Incheon to nearby places and you supposedly get to skip security on the return to airport.Kuala Lumpur - Just overnight on my way to......Penang, MalaysiaSingaporeBangalore, IndiaI've got flights and hotels booked and most of the transportation worked out. I'm vaccinated up. I will bring my running shoes.I was reading that Uber is big in Banagalore. I booked hotels walking distance to downtown sites or near metro stops.Any thoughts on how much cash to bring for each country for gift shopping, cabs, dinners? Good gift shopping location for wife and kids?Typical gift types? I read orchid jewelry from Singapore for example.
Get a Schwab Investment Checking Account. Comes with a global ATM card which pays you back for all your fees. Best way to get cash.
I don't understand the opportunity for a contract airline to fly spoke service between Milwaukee, Grand Rapids (23 minutes flying time), Omaha and any other regional sub-market. The only thing that might make sense is Milwaukee to Dallas, Denver, Seattle, New York or Florida.
Thats an awesome route, unfortunately you're ending in Bangalore instead of Seoul or Singapore.Uber in India is a game changer. Extremely inexpensive, cuts through a lot of the BS. As someone who has traveled to India a dozen times, Id caution against the Metro. Just unpleasant, uncomfortably crowded and unhygienic, and will add nothing to your visit. You can use Ubers all day for practically nothing. Ill take 2-3 Ubers a day in Mumbai, stuck in traffic on 45-1 hour long trips...and still combine multiple days into a single expense line item under $25.Singapore is incredible. Make sure you go up to the Marina Bay Sands, get a drink at either Spago or Lavo. Views are absolutely stunning and surreal. Also walk around the Marina Bay mall. Gorgeous and upscale. Speaking of malls, the Jewel I can't recommend highly enough. Beautiful from the outside, inside its a combination upscale mall and botanical garden. Absolutely stunning interior with tons of amazing vegetation. Felt like the best zoo exhibit I'd see...without the animals.KL is supposed to be great too. Enjoy!
Bangalore was my planned first stop (because I wanted to knock it out first) and my customer informed me the preceding Monday & Tuesday was a national holiday and the factory would be closed so I had to put on the tail end else I would have an extra day in Singapore.Reading up on Bangalore it said it's the best first place to visit in India because it's cleaner, less hot, and less congested than most of India. Don't know if it's true. Same article mentioned the metro was clean and just opened like 2 years ago. But cheap Uber works for me. And there is nothing like staying at a Conrad Hotel for the same price as the Hampton Inn in Downtown Milwaukee. (It's all about the points.)
Sam Sauceda also spearheaded getting rid of Willie Wampum. Just sayin', hey?
A good flight crew makes such a big difference, especially when travelling with wife/kids. I'm on a flight to Denver right now on a 777 from ORD, gave my wife the upgrade to the lie flat, and myself and 3 kids are in the middle 4 seats in economy plus. A + crew on this flight, they made sure my kids felt welcomed and were happy (we sat on the tarmac for an hour this morning). When it came time for bistro on board, my 1K took care of my meal, and they comped my kids snacks (multiple Pringles/M&M's/gummy bears...we look like we looted a 7-11). Travelling with kids can be really stressful, and this particular crew has made a gigantic difference. Often overlooked how that can impact the travel experience.
Our kid has traveled a ton in his first few years out of college, again only domestically. Has now earned Bonvoy 'lounge access' just based on travel this year. Don't think he has enough airline miles to get the airport clubs yet though. Soon, I'm sure. I'm hanging with him!
When it comes to perks, hotel status like with Marriott usually is more useful, IMO. My airline status is great for business travel perks and flexibility, but minimal benefit for personal travel with a SO unless we’re using miles. My GF is Titanium with Marriott and I get way more benefit from that then she does from my 1K.As for clubs, unfortunately he won’t. Those are usually tied to either ticket class purchased or if you have the right CC (United Club Card or one with Priority Pass). As I mentioned, I’m 1K, and I only get into lounges if I’m flying international. I never have United Club access for domestic travel