Breezin D3 Style

It's 2 a.m. and I'm online listing my rookie D3 passriders. I'm prepared for a long day, for if nothing else experience has taught me that rookie pass flyers will call at least three times to give a running report on their exciting nonrev adventure.
The ringing phone jars me awake, it's my intrepid adventurers, they're calling to tell me that airport security was a breeze and now they're sitting at a deserted gate. Why did I tell them to get there so early, nobody else is there - they could have slept in- and no they didn't see the irony in waking me up to tell me that.

*ring* It's a courtesy call. My D3 rookies have made the flight. They're seated in the back, a middle and aisle seat near the lavs. Everybody is so nice- the FA that took one of the carry-ons because there was no room in the overhead and especially the nice girl at the counter (who doesn't know me by the way) who appreciated their unsolicited offer to split up.

*ring* They made it, they're in Chicago waitng for friends to pick them up. The flight got in early and it was so nice just to walk right out without having to collect luggage. The conversation drifts into how "EAZY" nonrevving is. Sure they had to take a crack of dawn flight because of loads, but none of the other things I warned about- having to fall back on plan B, having to split up, a possible flight delay, or being asked to gather up their things because of a late passenger, happened. In fact my two rookies declared they were ready for a flight with a connection, "all the gates at ORD being so close to together and all". :o
Their only gripe, which they were hesitant to mention, had to do with the earbuds I gave them and not being able to see the video monitors really well.
I remind them they still have the return flight, but not to worry as I'll take care of everything; keep an eye on loads and weather, have their backup B & C plans ready to roll, and of course I'll take care of listing. I'll even try and get them a flight with inseat monitors. All they have to do is....... show up -- nonrevving D3 style is so, soooooo eazy, it's a breeze.

Phew....I'm exhausted! *faint*

oh, Mig--you said it all!!
been there done that--I just don't take calls in the wee hours!!... funny stuff when it isn't happening to me!
Please don't tell me you fainted realllllly...

Ok I didn't faint exactly, but I did suffer a sudden onset of blurred vision and learned more that I ever wanted to know about the jet stream and lake effect snow. Did you know that all your midwest weather starts in Canada,...yup it's a fact. Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit all that snow...jet stream from Canada. uh-huh LOL!

Non-Rev Gremlins

Friends had planned their trip to Europe meticulously, but there‘s always Murphy‘s law AND those pesky non-rev gremlins. ^_^
The flights over went smoothly, this is the story of their return.
Now between sightseeing, shopping and trips to the beach, my Spanish adventurers did hear, from me and others, about an impending East Coast snowstorm. But they thought, we’ve always been lucky, we have backups and really, what are the chances of a huge snowstorm shutting down the entire East Coast in October.
So the morning of Oct 29 they headed for the airport for their once a day flight.
At the airport they were hit with the news of ‘Snowtober’ the Qantas and Air France strikes and the revised standby list. Uh-huh what were the chances. http://bestsmileys.com/fainting/1.gif
Surprising not all of this “lucky band” made it out, and so the ‘Picasso group’ began the search for a hotel for the night.
Meanwhile the lucky ‘Goya Group’ has their JFK bound flight diverted to BOS. I get a quick message, (on a borrowed phone because no one charged the phone in Spain) asking me to look into hotels and flights out of BOS.
I message back that the entire East Coast is a mess, and find out that the original message was premature - they won’t be needing anything because….
they can’t get off the plane in BOS……. customs!
Back in Barcelona the ‘Picasso Group’ is having no luck finding a hotel.

Sometime later
On the tarmac in BOS the storm is getting worse, the Captain is giving updates, the FA’s are busy, some pax whose final destination is BOS are asking if they can deplane and “just leave our luggage” and the fuel truck shows up.
Back in Spain the ‘Picasso Group’ finally find a hotel, somewhere between Barcelona and Sitges and see that it’s unlikely that everyone will be going home the next day - so much for “open flights and “never fail” backups.

Much Much Later:
‘Goya Group’ finally on way to JFK, but can’t get out - will be sleeping in the terminal.

‘Picasso Group’ aren't sleeping at all, people are running up and down the hotel's hallway all night.

Day two - the odyssey continues:

The ‘Goya-JFK group’ have hot dogs for breakfast - it’s the shortest line

“Picasso group’ up early want to get to the airport. .
Everyone hopeful.

Sometime later (Day 2)

'Goya group’ splits up and all make it home on various flights.

‘Picasso group’ most make it out - two left behind.

Day three
The last members of the ‘Picasso Group' make it home, vowing never to fly anywhere without checking the 14 day weather forecast again.

funny--they could have checked 14 days in advance but it would not have mattered! Fun story tho--hot dogs notwithstanding...brrrppp

That is rather unfortunate. They missed the SNOWTOBER football games. However, if it were I stuck in Spain, I'd be all over that flamenco and bullfighting kinda stuff. Sangria and cruzcampo beer well in the mix.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Migflanker

It's 2 a.m. and I'm online listing my rookie D3 passriders. I'm prepared for a long day, for if nothing else experience has taught me that rookie pass flyers will call at least three times to give a running report on their exciting nonrev adventure.
The ringing phone jars me awake, it's my intrepid adventurers, they're calling to tell me that airport security was a breeze and now they're sitting at a deserted gate. Why did I tell them to get there so early, nobody else is there - they could have slept in- and no they didn't see the irony in waking me up to tell me that.

*ring* It's a courtesy call. My D3 rookies have made the flight. They're seated in the back, a middle and aisle seat near the lavs. Everybody is so nice- the FA that took one of the carry-ons because there was no room in the overhead and especially the nice girl at the counter (who doesn't know me by the way) who appreciated their unsolicited offer to split up.

*ring* They made it, they're in Chicago waitng for friends to pick them up. The flight got in early and it was so nice just to walk right out without having to collect luggage. The conversation drifts into how "EAZY" nonrevving is. Sure they had to take a crack of dawn flight because of loads, but none of the other things I warned about- having to fall back on plan B, having to split up, a possible flight delay, or being asked to gather up their things because of a late passenger, happened. In fact my two rookies declared they were ready for a flight with a connection, "all the gates at ORD being so close to together and all". :o
Their only gripe, which they were hesitant to mention, had to do with the earbuds I gave them and not being able to see the video monitors really well.
I remind them they still have the return flight, but not to worry as I'll take care of everything; keep an eye on loads and weather, have their backup B & C plans ready to roll, and of course I'll take care of listing. I'll even try and get them a flight with inseat monitors. All they have to do is....... show up -- nonrevving D3 style is so, soooooo eazy, it's a breeze.

Phew....I'm exhausted! *faint*

---

Very funny

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PlaneWhisperer

Very funny

---

That's why I rarely give my "buddies" away..:huh:

United gives us the option to exchange our buddy passes for a second (or first, for those that are married) enrolled friend - basically, someone with the same benefits as a spouse at the priority of parents/children. The only people who can fly on buddy passes are family members too distant for regular benefits (parents-in-law, siblings, etc). Needless to say, that's what I chose to do.