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I've been known to do that now and again. I don't earn status like most frequent travelers but you can pry my silver delta status from my cold dead hands!
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Nov 15, 2012 04:21
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Ran into a guy on the shuttle to SLC's airport with the Red Oxx Air Boss. Chatted with him about it (and other travel stuff) for a bit on the ride. After seeing it in person and hearing his experience first hand, I'm sold. Best part is my trip is to Billings MT where they have their store and do their manufacturing. I'm thinking I'll stop in and check their gear out in person on the way to the Billings airport tomorrow.
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Nov 29, 2012 00:10
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Thoguh posted:One note on the Air Boss: You might consider getting a different strap for it. I sometimes have to carry some reasonably heavy stuff when I travel and the first time I did that with the Air Boss it left marks on my shoulder. Their strap grips like a motherfucker and does not let go. That was one thing the guy mentioned as a downside as well but I think that was his only occasional complaint. I'll be sure to check out the Sky Train as well. The backpack function sounds like a good solution to the weight issue. One problem I have is that I travel with a small tool bag. I know tools under 7" are supposed to be OK but I haven't tried to actually carry them on. I'd really like to avoid checking baggage but as I'm sure everyone here has run into, one TSA officer who doesn't know their own rules can completely ruin a trip.
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Nov 29, 2012 13:52
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I (over) carry a set of interchangeable screw/allen/torx drivers, a multimeter, a medium sized adjustable wrench, a set of metric allen wrenches, small needle nose pliers, wire cutter/stripper, hose clamp tool and an ananometer. I think everything is under the 7" rule for tools but I'm guessing that just like how my bag is always searched when it gets checked I'd be pulled aside at security when the giant blob of metal and wires goes through the Xray. Stopped into the Red Oxx store on my way to the Billings airport and I'm really impressed with their gear now that I've had a chance to get my hands on various pieces. Everything was really ruggedly built and engineered to the nth degree for strength. I'm actually leaning towards one of the duffel bags now. I don't think my small tool bag will fit in either the Air Boss or the Skytrain. Although I'm starting to rethink whether or not I should try taking my tools through security to avoid having to check luggage at all. If I do end up going that route I will likely cut even more out of my tool kit to further reduce weight. Also my girlfriend called me a travel nerd last night for geeking out over luggage.
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Nov 29, 2012 23:07
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For those of you who do 'one carry on, no checked luggage,' what does your toiletry bag look like? Anybody gone so far as to eliminate (or close to it) all liquids?
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Dec 3, 2012 14:39
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niss posted:All I bring with me is travel size tooth paste, tooth brush and deodorant. I use the hotels shampoo and soap. I was doing that for a while but Holiday Inn use some really lovely soaps. I'm going to try tooth powder and bar shampoo to see how well it works. Anybody know the rule for creams? I use a hair styling cream but haven't tried to take it through carry on and I can't find it discussed on the TSA's site anywhere.
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Dec 3, 2012 16:01
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I know in my case the cost of my time to take an extra flight or route less efficiently is significantly less than the cost to lose status. For example, if I fail to maintain silver medallion on Delta I will start getting hit with the $25.00 bag fee increasing the cost of travel by $50 per trip. The total cost of baggage fees would end up costing more than a quick turn around flight between SLC and DEN to keep my status. There are additional benefits that save money/time as well such as access to the faster security lane (can arrive at the airport later reducing the amount of overall travel time), access to the lounge (quieter, more conductive to working, calling clients, etc.) changing flights without penalty or charge, etc. For employers of frequent travelers, having their employees maintain status can significantly reduce the cost of travel and the more an employee travels the more important it is that they maintain that higher level of status.
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Dec 5, 2012 13:54
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It also depends on how frequently you're having to do a mileage/segment run. I'll likely have to do a SLC to DEN run to maintain status. It will cost around $300 and take about 5 hours including travel to and from the airport. Really not that big of deal. On the other hand if I were having to do that same run 2 or 3 times it wouldn't be worth the time and effort. Additionally depending on where you're headed, traveling for 9 hours directly or 12 hours with a layover is not that much different. In fact taking the layover might be better as you get a chance to get off the plane and stretch your legs a bit somewhere in the middle. Obviously there are folks who play the status game really hard and do everything they can to maximize their earnings but I can't say I've noticed anyone on here doing that.
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Dec 5, 2012 17:17
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My flights are typically between SLC and Billings MT or Las Vegas NV and I make one of the trips typically once, maybe twice a month. Those are both 500 mile trips and don't get me to Silver. Sometimes I'll have training in CT, CA or even Europe that will help bump me up but I don't do the weekly, long flights that most hardcore travelers do. I do fairly frequent, short hops that in some years leaves me just short of where I need to be to maintain status. For example, Delta has a 30 segment threshold for silver medallion. This year, unless I do a run, I'll have 28 (it was a light year). Next year, if I do the same number of segments I'll end up with $700 in luggage fees. That alone justifies the half day spent running between SLC and somewhere cheap. KYOON GRIFFEY JR posted:I'd rather just buy up in that case. Delta lets you buy MQMs at the end of the year. Or there's a promo on SkyClub for 1500 MQMs. I'd rather do either of those than a mileage run in a CRJ7. I've never seen where I can purchase segments but I've never looked very hard. Because of my short flights, miles never get me status. For me it's all segments. Almost always on RJ and CRJ 700s. Just getting into a real plane in coach makes me an extremely happy traveler.
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Dec 6, 2012 14:10
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In a total subject change, does anyone know if the Pre-Check needs to be renewed yearly? I got it this year thanks to having Gold status when it was first introduced last year but I don't believe Silver gets it automatically. That Pre-Check lane is a god send and if I need to get a NEXUS pass to continue to have access I'd like to get the ball rolling on it now. edit: and yes, my employer pays all travel fees including checked luggage fees.
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Dec 6, 2012 16:45
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I'd be getting just for Pre-Check access. I very rarely (like twice in the last 10 years) travel international for business.
TouchyMcFeely fucked around with this message at 22:40 on Dec 6, 2012 |
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Dec 6, 2012 19:06
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Thoguh posted:Barring something unplanned between Christmas and New Years it looks like I'm going to be finishing the year with 93,933 MQM miles over 94 segments on Delta, 87 nights in Hilton Honors hotels over 27 stays, and 24 Hertz rentals. Plus a few odds and ends that weren't on my preferred loyalty programs. I'm an engineer who does integration on DoD projects, so the travel is spread out around the country but 90% of it is to one west coast and one east coast location. I've hit and maintained the highest level of Priority Club and National Car Rental status every year for the last 10 years. I find that unless I happen to use my hotel points for a vacation I'll cash them out for Amazon gift cards around Christmas time and use them to buy gifts. One thing that's nice and terrible about Priority Club hotels is how the perks are so hit and miss. One Holiday Inn in Billings MT will give me a free bottle of wine (and sometimes another bottle is waiting for me in my room) while others couldn't give less of a rats rear end about my status and will offer me a warm bottle of water if I'm lucky. Car rentals are pretty meh. I don't really pay too much attention unless I end up with a really nice car or a real shitbox. The only time I really benefit from National's Emerald Aisle is if I'm flying to Vegas but even then I'm usually grabbing a minivan or SUV.
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Dec 7, 2012 23:15
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My company's policy for food is "don't go crazy" for the most part. We had a change in the Regional Manager who was notorious for having a $7 limit on lunches and $15 limit for dinners. Thankfully our Group Leader (my boss) told him to stuff it and the policy hasn't really changed...much. We're not suppose to charge alcohol but we have a weird policy of needing to submit a signed, itemized receipt. Unfortunately for our expense report group, very rarely do I sign the itemized receipt so they get the one that lists just the total charges + tip.
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Dec 11, 2012 14:43
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Getting back to luggage real quick. I was just about dead set on the Red Oxx Skytrain but then came across the Tom Bihn Aeronaut. I've loved the Skytrain since I had a chance to get my hands on it at their store but from what I've read the Aeronaut is built almost as well and has what looks like a better layout with the end pockets and main compartment zipper placement. Anybody here have any experience with Tom Bihn bags by chance?
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Dec 13, 2012 16:01
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I'm not sure about shoes but I could see keeping toiletries in a laptop/messenger bag if your carry on doesn't have a convenient pocket to keep them in. That's actually why this debate popped up in my head. The Aeronat has two end pouches that would work great for toiletries where the Skytrain just has the large sections. In my case, either one would likely do the job just fine. But as I'm sure folks in here are aware, every little bit of convenience counts and cutting just a little bit of time or effort makes frequent traveling that much less unpleasant.
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Dec 13, 2012 22:04
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Thoguh posted:And freedom gropes. I don't know about other folks but I enjoy my government mandated massage and hand job before every flight. Nothing like a good rubdown before hopping on a plane. I fly into Billings MT frequently and they're probably the worst about it. Every time I tell them I'm opting out I get a description of how safe the system is. Yeah, don't give a gently caress. Give me my rubdown. I did see over on Flyer Talk that some folks are getting to go through a metal detector without a pat down by saying they have a medical problem with lifting their arms (surgery, old injury, etc.). Haven't tried it and don't care enough to but it may work until the TSA catches on.
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Dec 15, 2012 15:14
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I'll usually chat with the guy giving me the pat down a bit while it's going on. I'd love to give them a heap of poo poo but it really doesn't do any good. They can't change the policy but they can certainly ruin my day. The best I can do is ensure that there's an additional mark in their "number of opt outs" book every time I go through security. Although the Viagra idea is hilarious. "Sir, please stop touching me." "Sorry, it's my boner. It happens everytime someone puts their head next to my crotch."
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Dec 15, 2012 22:54
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dexter posted:Neither of these programs would help when flying out of my home airport. What's up commuter airport that doesn't even open security until 9:00am for a 9:12am flight. Don't worry, it's not just commuter airports. Ran into the same thing at SLC trying to catch a 6:15 flight. Security opened at 5:30 and there were something like 4 or 5 early 6am flights all trying to get through security at the same time. It was wonderful. For folks who have signed up for Nexus or the like, what kind of wait time did you experience for the interview? I'm on the last step of choosing where to have my interview and I'll likely do it at either Denver or Seattle but I'm curious about how long I can expect to wait.
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Dec 17, 2012 05:10
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Looking at my options for Global Entry I have a few I can choose from, a couple even in airports or near where I head regularly anyhow. There's actually one in the middle of nowhere Montana between Billings and Bozeman for some drat reason, just North of Wyoming. Just found out I need to wait until I have my passport in hand before I can apply though so I'm going to have to wait for a bit anyway. drat.
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Dec 17, 2012 14:24
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Shbobdb posted:Why are people opting out of the scanner? Is there something I don't know? There's a few of reasons. Some folks have health/safety concerns, for others it's a privacy issue and some others see it as a complete waste of time and would rather make going through security as difficult as possible for the TSA while still following the rules (this is mostly where I fall). I'm sure folks can come up with additional reasons but those are typically the big 3 that I see.
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Dec 17, 2012 15:07
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I really don't know enough about the technology to have an informed opinion on the health matters either way. I know early on they were using one type of machine that had people up in arms, which was likely compounded with the fact that there was a change at all, but that technology has since been retired and they've moved on to something supposedly safer. My beef is more that it's a complete waste of time and if they're going to waste my time I'm going to waste theirs. I'm pleasant and cordial but it's the best way I know of that I allows me to say, "This poo poo sucks, please change it" that won't get me on a no fly list. edit because I'm slow: The beef with TSA strikes me as more political than anything. Even if the TSA hadn't been established the Fed likely would have still put into place the same requirements we have now and we'd still be going through the same circus we do now. Regardless of who is running the lines the procedures that are currently in place are unnecessarily slow and invasive. That's probably the biggest complaint the frequent flyers in here have. TouchyMcFeely fucked around with this message at 16:44 on Dec 17, 2012 |
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Dec 17, 2012 16:38
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what is this posted:I see no reason to waste the time of people who are supposed to be catching criminals when I have better things to do, like go have a beer or get on an airplane. Any time sitting at an airport is wasted time regardless of whether you're being patted down or drinking a beer. I really wasn't trying to pull a "if only you knew how hard it is if you were me" argument. If anything I feel sorrier for the folks who don't deal with it frequently who get caught up the whole thing. If I weren't a regular flyer I probably wouldn't be brave enough to opt out since I wouldn't know what to expect. Honestly, I don't get enjoyment out of the pat down. I treat it much the same way as going to the doctor and having him squeeze my scrotum. I do find morbid humor in the whole thing but that's about as far as it goes. For all you lucky bastards who are travel free for the next week or two I hope you'll take a minute of silence for all those brave souls subjected to holiday air travel. I've had to fly up to Bozeman twice in the last month, will likely have to go back again on Wed and then fly up again on Christmas. Seems like it always happens this time of year because I am just that lucky!
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Dec 17, 2012 22:08
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Getting geared up for a trip to London. Been a few years since I've been out that way. Anything I should know about getting through UK airport security with just a carry on?
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Jan 10, 2013 05:29
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We use Concur in my company but I'm pretty meh about it. The biggest pain in the rear end I run into is the "must take the lowest logical airfare" requirement my company has. Usually that simple translates into "lowest airfare period" so I get flagged every time I fly to Montana from Salt Lake City. Usually ends up with a phone call wanting to know why I purchased the direct flight for $1000+ when there were other flights for around $600. The answer is always the same and it's because a 50 minute direct flight for $1000+ is cheaper in totality than a 5 hour trip with a layover but it never fails and gets flagged every time. What I really love is when I book a last minute flight and the person I always go through this dance with is unavailable to approve it so my trip gets cancelled and I have to rebook it at even more money. Then again I could probably attain higher status with another airline if I didn't take the directly flights but who wants to double up their travel time just so they can spend more time traveling?
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Feb 1, 2013 07:40
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Lyon posted:The requirements are fairly configurable and it seems like whoever set up your rules is kind of a dick. Ours is set so we can take any flight that is within $200 of the cheapest flight and I think we exclude anything with more than 1 stop from being considered the cheapest. We don't bill the customer for my time if they have a contract. That 50 minute flight ends up costing my company the ticket price of $1000 + our internal cost of $250/hr for my time. If I take that 5 hour flight it's $600 + $250/hr x 5, so roughly $2250. Plus I can't work that day since I get in so late so the trip is extended by at least a day if not 2. That delay results in my being unable to respond to other customers in a reasonable amount of time which costs us additional money in terms of customer irritation and reflects poorly on myself. The joys of field service. Oh - I'm about to complete my trip to the UK with my Red Ox Air Boss and holy poo poo, I'm never checking bags again if I can avoid it. Don't know how often that will be but drat if that isn't the way to go for ease and speed during air travel.
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Feb 2, 2013 00:08
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Small White Dragon posted:Question - Does anyone here feel they're getting a good deal out of their hotel loyalty program? I'd like to hear why and how. I'm going to spend 4 nights in Moab UT for free on hotel points that would otherwise have cost $200+ a night. I consider that a pretty good deal.
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Jul 21, 2013 15:13
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I'd just dispute the charges at that point. If they can't figure out how to issue a refund after talking to either the front desk or the manager on duty I wouldn't waste anymore time waiting for them to figure it out. I ran into a similar issue where the offsite airport parking lot charged me my ticket number (in excess of $5,000) instead of the $26.00 they should have. I spoke with them on the phone once before calling up Visa. Had to fill out a form and it took a week or two to get it removed but it was a pretty painless process.
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Aug 23, 2013 01:42
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Any of you poor sods get stuck in that mess in Atlanta? I ran into a guy in SLC who had been trying to get back to ATL for 2 days without luck. Can't imagine how bad it must have been in and around the airport.
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Jan 31, 2014 01:15
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oxsnard posted:ATL mess delayed my flight out of Tulsa. Can't get back to Denver now because of the 10-15 inches we'll be getting overnight. Flight out tomorrow morning was canceled and I'm rebooked for the afternoon. God willing I'll make it home then. DIA will be humming again with a few hours of cleanup bit it looks like Atlanta has hosed flights across the Nation. You're not kidding. I was flying back from Vegas to SLC and the 8AM flight was delayed an hour and a half. Turned out one of the flight attendants originally scheduled for that flight went over on hours and they were scrambling to find a replacement. Apparently she (and presumably quite a few others) due to the shuffling having to happen as a result of ATL. A ton of people were pissed but I got lucky and was able to get on that flight, saving me a few hours at the airport.
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Jan 31, 2014 22:12
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