What an interesting couple of days. We will start with my travels...

The loads looked wide open. Or so the airline told me. My plan was to fly RDU-DTW-HKG then fly on Cathay Pacific over to SIN and then head back from that point. Well, for some reason or another, Saturday I called Cathay Pacific's number and asked why the loads went up considerably within the week and if I should worry. They told me the numbers were in the mid negative 20s and 30s for both of their morning departures and the afternoon was bad number wise when I first checked and they stayed terribly oversold. On a whim, I decided to swing thru Atlanta and New Orleans to get to the west coast. I then caught a flight up to the Bay Area before heading across the pacific ocean to stop in Tokyo. My plan B was to fly RDU-ATL-MSY-LAX-SFO-NRT-HKG-SIN-NRT-ATL-RDU.


But as we were starting to deplane in NRT, the gate agent meeting the inbound arrival made an announcement: "For those passengers traveling to Hong Kong on tonights flight. This flight has been post ponned until tomorrow evening due to a typhoon. Please check with a Delta agent....."


Okay...time for plan C. What the heck is plan C? Don't have a clue.

According to the agent, the NRT-SIN filled up somehow due to effects by the typhoon, but I still didn't get that as SIN was quite a ways out of the way from HKG. Nonetheless, the flight was full and I was stuck in NRT for a little bit to figure out where or when I will be going.


Nifty little tip, for those heading to NRT and plan on connecting make sure you have your boarding pass. If you need to get re-listed you must be activated by the customer service desk which is only open from 11:30-1730.

One more thing...

Craig, a former RDU DGS employee who moved back home to Australia a month or so ago, and his wife share a common thread with everyone who loves to travel, especially with our fellow competitors on the challenge. Most of the information shared here (or www.ytravelblog.com). Everything covered from travel planning such as where visas are needed to banking needs. Travel tips including cheap international flights to cheap accommodations.

Check it out and share it with your friends.

Also check them out on Facebook!

As always, safe travels and Keep Climbing!

--zach

6 pictures, 2.5 days

I counted the number of seat backs being carried off the aircraft as I sat comfortably in 3C on the Airbus 320, and I started to get worried. Yes, for those playing along at home, you read correctly. *Seat Backs* Full flight, and they were removing seats. Luckily, the door was finally shut sans a row somewhere in coach as we finally pushed back from the gate in CVG. The next 18 hours would encompass two pictures and a whole lot of flying.

I usually shy away from paying customers, especially when seated in a premium cabin. However, that night was an exception as the gentleman sitting next to me asked what I was doing at my destination. He looked doubly surprised when I told him I would be flying to MSP on the redeye. He laughed as he told me "a little out of the way, don't ya think?"

Welcome to the next two months!

As I gallivanted across the continental US, Matt and Julie found themselves flying over the pond. As I am not exactly sure where they went as of yet, I do know two things. One, don't give Julie your phone. Two, those two are sneaky good at what they hit.

Chris is on vacation starting today, so let's see what he can hit. Mike is working on hitting a few places starting next week.

I think our photo count is somewhere in and or around 7 or 8 at this point in time. Look for an update has we continue our quest to win as we fly around the country and around the world.

Safe travels and remember to Keep Climbing!

--zach

As the first week of the challenge comes to a close, I decide to make our first blog posting.

Julie decided to kick off our team's run on the first day of the challenge in the Big Easy sometime mid morning. I didn't ask where the beads came from, but we had to remind her shes too early for Mardi Gras and to make sure she gets back in time for her next big trip.

Labor day just isn't an easy day to travel as a nonrev. However, Julie and Matt looked like pros this afternoon as those two went gallivanting off to Europe somewhere, which left Chris, Mike and I behind to maintain a perfect afternoon as Chris and I handled the helm upstairs and Mike had the reins downstairs as we achieved a 100% D-0 afternoon performance. Not a bad way to start my "weekend".

I hope every one had a safe and enjoyable labor day weekend (even though I wager that mostly everyone worked it at some point or another).

Safe travels and remember to Keep Climbing!

--zach