Infinite Road Trip

My life of late feels like a jumbled mess of changing itineraries, carry on baggage requirements, delayed flights and all of the other joys that come with frequent travel.  I know I'm not even in the same league as many road warriors who take weekly trips and sometimes more than one per week.

Even so, I have been in 6 states in the last 7 days, including connecting flights through random airports, which is quite a whirlwind even for me.  I've come to appreciate the little things in air travel that really do keep you sane.

*Medallion Status-  I had never understood the allure of occasional upgrades and the relative few other benefits the airlines afford to its best customers.  Now, even as a lowly silver medallion member on Delta, I can finally say that I get it.  Just the free checked luggage and premium security and check in lines make it worth it.  For me though, the benefit I appreciate most is speaking to a customer service agent on the phone who is in the US and goes out of their way to accommodate me as an "elite" customer.

*Sky Clubs-  This has long been a favorite part of travel for me (See this trip),  I have come to appreciate it even more this summer as airlines have started overbooking flights more and more frequently and the terminals have become unbearable oases of pedestrian travelers.  If not for the relative calmness and free pre-flight cocktails, I'm not sure I could bear spending countless hours in airports.

*Taken just this morning in the crown room, approx 6 a.m.  Woof!

*Routine-  It's strangely comforting for the LGA Sky Club bartender to recognize you and start pouring your preferred cocktail before you even reach the front of the line.  What's more is my now uncanny ability to time my departure from Manhattan nearly to the minute to allow for travel time to get to the airport (in a black car, obviously), then adequate time to pass through security, pop by the crown room to have a cocktail and check last minute emails, and finally arrive at my gate just in time to check the upgrade board and cross my fingers that I have cleared.

Life on the road is more good than bad for me, at least for now.  I've had the chance to see some very cool places, and getting away from the concrete jungle every now and then is good for my sanity.  For those brave road warriors out there, hopefully I'll run into you at an airline lounge or security line along the way.

JLH