MileageAddict
Oct 20, 07, 8:24 am
Yes, I am crazy to do a mileage run on Ted which includes their longest route. However, the price could not be ignored. I found a fare of $215.20 for IAD-SJU-ORD-IAD. I had a $100 e-cert discount and applied it to the fare. So far so good. When I went to pay for the fare on united.bomb, I got a ticketing error and called the 1K line to get it resolved. The 1K agent was friendly but forwarded my call to the online help desk for resolution.
Oh no! I am connected to the ICC and get Mr. Roger Smith. His English is terrible and I need to repeat the details of my issue numerous times. Eventually, I think he understands and processes my ticket. He explains that he applied the $100 e-cert and my total fare is now $15.20. :eek: Somehow, neither of us could see the $100 fare already applied and he ended up applying it a second time. :) Okay, this was now my best ICC experience ever!
IAD-SJU with only 40 or so pax was great. Everyone spread out. I had 7A, popped a movie into my laptop and enjoyed the on-time flight to SJU. FA's were scarce but I already had my coffee before heading out that morning and didn't need anything.
I was very concerned about the weather in ORD on my next two segments (SJU-ORD-IAD) as the forecast was for heavy winds and storms around the time of my arrival. After landing at SJU, I could have easily switched over to the SJU-IAD return flight leaving in 30 minutes and been home for dinner. The greedy mileage runner in me chose to ignore that option.
I didn't have enough time to go anywhere by taxi so I walked over to the Best Western Hotel and Casino attached to the airport. Instead of gambling, I opted to sit in the little sushi bar, plug in my laptop to recharge the battery and enjoy free wi-fi while eating some fairly decent sushi rolls.
Watching the Weather Channel on the TV above the bar, I start showing some concern about the return flight. SJU-ORD is running a little late. I go back into the terminal and strike up a very friendly conversation with the UA agent. I am starting to chicken out and wonder if I should bail out of my mileage run if at all possible. I inquire with her about endorsing my ticket for the AA late afternoon nonstop back to IAD. No dice although she did make a true effort to do this for me. We both agree that the SJU-ORD Ted flight will not be a problem but my departure ORD-IAD may be a headache.
SJU-ORD Ted flight. I am seated in 1A and hate it. The bulkhead wall does not have an opening at the bottom and the legroom is pure torture. Flight is completely full and goes out with no empty seats. I have a polite older couple next to me but the man must have just gone to the barber for a haircut and reeks of cheap hair tonic. Thanks goodness for overhead air nozzles. Here I go... the longest flight in the Ted route structure. AUUUGHHH!!!! Why did I do this??? Ha ha...
On the plus side, the youngest member of the cabin crew has 28 years with UA, the most senior FA's have 37 and 39 years! They were an absolute delight and I spent a good hour chatting with them. I enjoyed hearing stories about flying the DC-7's and Caravelle aircraft, white glove service, etc.
I ran out of drink coupons after 3 and the lead FA gave me another drink and a RightBite snack box for free. ^ They took great care of me.
5 hours, 22 minutes later, we land at ORD after dancing around dozens of storms in the Chicago area. Only 30 minutes late so not too bad considering the weather.
After deplaning, I see the earlier ORD-IAD flight has been delayed and is still at the gate. Of course, I am at gate B-666 and the IAD flight is at B-2. I hustle down there and miss boarding by a minute or so. The GA says the flight is leaving completely full anyway. Drats!
The 9:15pm ORD-IAD departure gets clobbered by delays and ends up leaving at 12:05am with an arrival at IAD a few minutes past 2am. Blech. I fall asleep while we are number 40 or 50 in line and don't wake up until announcements are made to prepare for landing.
One more bonus... besides the miles, I receive TWO account entries of 5,000 miles each titled CUSTOMER RELATIONS BONUS MILES. I suspect the super awesome agent in SJU did that as I never made any contact with UA nor was I planning to.
IAD-SJU 1,571
1K bonus 1,571
SJU-ORD 2,072
1k bonus 2,072
ORD-IAD 589
1k bonus 589
Cust Relations Bonus - 10,000
$15.20 for airfare, 18,464 miles. ^:cool:
.0008 per mile (sushi, Puerto Rico fridge magnet and IAD airport parking not included in calculations)
Oh no! I am connected to the ICC and get Mr. Roger Smith. His English is terrible and I need to repeat the details of my issue numerous times. Eventually, I think he understands and processes my ticket. He explains that he applied the $100 e-cert and my total fare is now $15.20. :eek: Somehow, neither of us could see the $100 fare already applied and he ended up applying it a second time. :) Okay, this was now my best ICC experience ever!
IAD-SJU with only 40 or so pax was great. Everyone spread out. I had 7A, popped a movie into my laptop and enjoyed the on-time flight to SJU. FA's were scarce but I already had my coffee before heading out that morning and didn't need anything.
I was very concerned about the weather in ORD on my next two segments (SJU-ORD-IAD) as the forecast was for heavy winds and storms around the time of my arrival. After landing at SJU, I could have easily switched over to the SJU-IAD return flight leaving in 30 minutes and been home for dinner. The greedy mileage runner in me chose to ignore that option.
I didn't have enough time to go anywhere by taxi so I walked over to the Best Western Hotel and Casino attached to the airport. Instead of gambling, I opted to sit in the little sushi bar, plug in my laptop to recharge the battery and enjoy free wi-fi while eating some fairly decent sushi rolls.
Watching the Weather Channel on the TV above the bar, I start showing some concern about the return flight. SJU-ORD is running a little late. I go back into the terminal and strike up a very friendly conversation with the UA agent. I am starting to chicken out and wonder if I should bail out of my mileage run if at all possible. I inquire with her about endorsing my ticket for the AA late afternoon nonstop back to IAD. No dice although she did make a true effort to do this for me. We both agree that the SJU-ORD Ted flight will not be a problem but my departure ORD-IAD may be a headache.
SJU-ORD Ted flight. I am seated in 1A and hate it. The bulkhead wall does not have an opening at the bottom and the legroom is pure torture. Flight is completely full and goes out with no empty seats. I have a polite older couple next to me but the man must have just gone to the barber for a haircut and reeks of cheap hair tonic. Thanks goodness for overhead air nozzles. Here I go... the longest flight in the Ted route structure. AUUUGHHH!!!! Why did I do this??? Ha ha...
On the plus side, the youngest member of the cabin crew has 28 years with UA, the most senior FA's have 37 and 39 years! They were an absolute delight and I spent a good hour chatting with them. I enjoyed hearing stories about flying the DC-7's and Caravelle aircraft, white glove service, etc.
I ran out of drink coupons after 3 and the lead FA gave me another drink and a RightBite snack box for free. ^ They took great care of me.
5 hours, 22 minutes later, we land at ORD after dancing around dozens of storms in the Chicago area. Only 30 minutes late so not too bad considering the weather.
After deplaning, I see the earlier ORD-IAD flight has been delayed and is still at the gate. Of course, I am at gate B-666 and the IAD flight is at B-2. I hustle down there and miss boarding by a minute or so. The GA says the flight is leaving completely full anyway. Drats!
The 9:15pm ORD-IAD departure gets clobbered by delays and ends up leaving at 12:05am with an arrival at IAD a few minutes past 2am. Blech. I fall asleep while we are number 40 or 50 in line and don't wake up until announcements are made to prepare for landing.
One more bonus... besides the miles, I receive TWO account entries of 5,000 miles each titled CUSTOMER RELATIONS BONUS MILES. I suspect the super awesome agent in SJU did that as I never made any contact with UA nor was I planning to.
IAD-SJU 1,571
1K bonus 1,571
SJU-ORD 2,072
1k bonus 2,072
ORD-IAD 589
1k bonus 589
Cust Relations Bonus - 10,000
$15.20 for airfare, 18,464 miles. ^:cool:
.0008 per mile (sushi, Puerto Rico fridge magnet and IAD airport parking not included in calculations)