Road Warrior Journal

Trying an overnight

2007-05-22T22:05:19Z

In my last post, I asked if you would rather take an overnight trip or go there and back in one day. After a few there/back trips to NYC, I'm sitting in the O'Hare airport waiting for a flight to Newark. I have a meeting tomorrow morning at 9:30. While I'm sure there was an option to go in the morning and return tomorrow night, it would have included a pretty early wake-up call. So I'm sitting here with my computer and a book, but no luggage. I checked it. As much as it pains me to check luggage, it was more painful to find the right plastic baggie this morning and repack my toiletries. Last August I made a few "always stay in the overnight bag" purchases. The not-so-new requirements would mean a reallocation of my shampoo, conditioner, etc. I decided it would be easier to just check it all. Have you decided which you prefer? A night in a hotel with cable TV (a treat for a luddite like me) or a night at home staring your chores in the face?

One day or overnight?

2007-05-04T18:56:04Z

Wednesday, for the second time in six months, I was in New York City. Also for the second time, I went there and back in one day. But is it worth it? For me it is. In the Pro column I have + sleep in my own bed + no check-in luggage hassle + no carry-on luggage hassle + halves the cost of a trip to NYC In the Cons list I have - no extra schmooze time with my NY coworkers - no fantastic dinner in NY - two flights in one day is exhausting What do you think? Do you come home the same day you left or do you prefer to make it an overnight?

Stranded in San Antonio

2007-04-04T01:05:22Z

I flew into San Antonio last night for a client meeting today in San Antonio. It has been about 15 years since I've been here and the city has changed considerably. The weather upon arrival was absolutely gorgeous, about 80 degrees and sunny. I checked into the Westin Riverwalk and went out for a stroll. The RiverWalk is bustling and there is no shortage of spots to grab a drink. We had a great meeting this morning and I headed off to the airport for a 1pm flight back to Chicago. Or so I thought! When I booked my flight last week, I saw that flights between ORD and SAT have a dismal 40% on time rate. I expected the worst and I got it. My flight was cancelled. I called my wife and she said that the weather in Chicago was poor but not severe. That is enough to get the regional flights cancelled. It seems that every time I fly Go Jet via United Express, it is a nightmare. Avoid it if possible. Anyway, one bit of good news and a great tip for those of you who may get stuck at SAT. If you're in terminal one, check in at the Mexicana Airways Executive Lounge. It is a tiny little oasis, with lots of refreshments, including some top-shelf spirits, snacks, a television, internet access, and friendly service, all for $15! What a deal!

sometimes you take the bus

2007-03-15T22:55:46Z

I'm experimenting with moblogging this afternoon and am writing this with my blackberry on the bus. A few years ago, before Edelman, I worked at a study abroad provider. One of my tasks was coordinating travel for my foreign program directors. Maria Eugenia reminded us all of charro, in a good way. She was a bright woman with a great laugh and her students adored her. She was coming up from chile to visit colleges in the northeast. A few days before her flight, she surprised me with news that she'd just had LASIC. Yes, the eye surgery. That meant she would not be able to drive. Trains and airplanes were out of the question, due to schedules and costs. So I did what any 20something former backpacker would do. I put her on the bus. I was very lucky that she wasn't a primadona. She took it in stride and made plenty of new friends. So maybe the next time you are on a small plane, be grateful that I didn't book tour travel. I would have put you on a bus.

United Global Services

2007-03-07T16:06:42Z

Ever since I moved to Chicago back in August 2006, I've been a frequent flyer on United. Prior to that, my primary airport was DTW, thus I flew Northwest. It's interesting to change primary airlines because you soon begin to pick up on a different culture, often with its own jargon. While "Global Services" is probably not jargon it is certainly veiled in mystery. Soon after you start flying United you begin to hear, "We will now begin the boarding process with our Global Services Customers..." So I've been intrigued for a while now. I finally had a few minutes to seek out an answer while stranded in Syracuse. First of all, Global Services is never mentioned on United's website. No surprise there. I found some answers on Conor Cahill's blog. You will find this interesting. Link here.

Socket Follow-up

2007-03-05T16:00:45Z

A few weeks ago, I was complaining about the lack of outlets at most airports. Well, it seems that others are on to this growing problem. In Sunday's New York Times, Christopher Elliott penned an article called "The Socket Seekers". He digs into some possible solutions, most of which do not sound very good. Check it out, here. (registration required)

Charlotte: Phillips Seafood not bad

2007-03-02T15:33:12Z

Wednesday night I was traveling from Columbus, OH to Nashville, TN via Charlotte, NC. I’m normally opposed to one-stop flights but in this case I had no choice. I landed in Charlotte at about 7pm and had an 8pm departure. I stumbled upon a joint I had never heard of, Phillips Seafood. It is a Maryland chain that specializes in Maryland-style seafood and has been around since 1956. Curiously, of the 10 locations listed on their website, Charlotte is not one of them. I didn’t have much time and asked the waiter if they could accommodate my schedule. He told me that it would be no problem. I ordered a Phillips Lager, lobster bisque and crab cakes. The Lager was quite good and so was the lobster bisque despite having a slightly chunky consistency. This was a promising start. When my crab cakes arrived minutes later I was disappointed in the plating of the entrée. (The image above is from their website...if only the crab cakes I received were this beautiful.) The crab cakes were basically covered by undercooked, greasy French fries and badly overcooked mixed vegetables. While the crab cakes were not a disaster, they were not memorable. The texture was inconsistent, there was some filler, and they were not that flavorful. As for the fries and the vegetables, they were inedible. If I weren’t in such a rush I would have sent them back to the kitchen for replacements. My waiter was excellent and as far as airport food goes, despite the side dishes, this is not a bad option. I would probably order a little differently next time though.

Explanation, please?

2007-02-13T22:00:33Z

I was supposed to travel from Chicago to Syracuse, NY today. Chicago is experiencing blizzard-like conditions. Syracuse is supposed to get 15-20 inches of snow tonight. As of early this morning, over 400 flights scheduled for departure from O'Hare had already been cancelled. My flight, AA #4094 at 10:05am, was still showing "On-time" at 8:00am. How could that be? We have heavy snow coming down, 20-30 MPH winds, and visibility is near zero. Incremental delays have now been trickling in but the flight is only showing "delayed". Travel conditions are supposed to deteriorate as the day goes on. Thankfully, the class I was supposed to lecture in was postponed for a few weeks and I didn't have to suffer through traveling in these ridiculous conditions. I understand that planes sitting on the tarmac are losing money but let's be real. Even if this plane takes off at some point is it advisable or even safe? Your thoughts would be appreciated, maybe I'm missing something.

Austin Airport Is Unique

2007-02-13T01:57:02Z

When you spend as much time at airports as I do, you get kind of tired of staring at ho-hum gray walls and eating pre-packaged sandwiches. I’ve been at the Austin-Bergstrom Airport a few times recently. This really is a unique airport experience. If you haven’t been there, it is actually kind of festive. (Sounds, kind of strange, I know.) The airport, living up to Austin’s claim as the “Live Music Capital of the World” features live performances at three different stages. In addition, the airport has some tasty regional fare, most notably, the barbeque brisket at The Salt Lick is to die for.

Phoenix: Arrive Early

2007-02-11T22:20:30Z

Earlier today, I was heading back to Chicago after a wonderful weekend in Scottsdale. I had an 8:55am flight. I was up early and left Scottsdale at about 6:35am. The drive to Sky Harbor International Airport only took about 25 minutes but once I arrived at the complex it took nearly 40 minutes to drop my car off, catch a shuttle, and arrive at the terminal. You see, Phoenix has consolidated all rental car companies into a single location (this is good) but when you enter the airport from Highway 202 you have to navigate an unbelievable maze to get there (this is bad). After arriving at Terminal 3, I soon realized that nearly every flight departing the airport, including one to Honolulu, was originating from my wing (Gates 1-14). Here lies the rub: Each set of gates has its own security with only two scanners. While gates 15-25 had absolutely no line, our line snaked around the terminal. Needless to say, there were many panicked people there. It took a good 35 minutes to get through security. By the time I made it to the gate, it was 8:25 and my plane was already boarding! Thank goodness I left so early. Moral to the story: If you are traveling from Phoenix, and do not have gold status on the airline you are traveling with, leave early.

Help, My Battery is Dead

2007-02-06T22:38:59Z

Is there a business opportunity here? It seems that every airport these days has a serious outlet deficiency. It is so bad that I’ve recently noticed some rather bizarre behaviors. Like the guy who was standing in the men’s room, his PC resting on the edge of a sink, plugged in where people would typically plug an electric shaver. Or, the people sitting along the walls in busy corridors, huddled over their computers. When I’m in the airline clubs the situation isn’t much better. Lately, especially at busy, confined airports like LaGuardia, I can never find an available outlet. Each one is being used by all manner of electronic devices from mobile phones, to ipods, to video games, to PCs, to electric blankets. Something must be done. This is a rallying cry to all of you airport administrators or if that fails, you entrepreneurs.