It seems I'm in some kind of zone. I was planning on taking a routine trip tonight. I had a reservation on AA from SNA to SJC, and a reservation at the brand new Westin Palo Alto. I guess I've become so confident in AA and Starwood that I trusted the agents instead of double checking everything like I used to.

So I arrive at SNA to find the flight oversold. No worries, I have a confirmed seat and thanks to my BA Gold card I'm Emerald with Oneworld. How wrong I was.

For some reason, I skip the outer desk and try to check in at the gate. There was a huge line and by the time I got to the front, they were nearly done boarding. When I get there, they tell me I'm not on the flight. I had my record locator handy (always do) and they told me that my reservation was for Tuesday! And they would not let me go standby even though I was Emerald and the people they let on had zero status!!! This was the last flight out so I was screwed. Screw American! Never again.

So I go down to Avis, plop down my President's card and they give me a Caddy for $45 per day. At least some things work, but more trouble to come. I call the United 1K desk, push 1 for Domestic and get put on hold for 10 minutes. I think something is wrong so I dial again, and again get put on lengthy hold. I figure UA is broken. One last time I dial and push 2 for Intl and I get through. <shrug>

All the flights for tomorrow morning are sold out. I say, no problem, just put me on the standby list. With my 1K status I'm sure I'll get on. They say the list is closed!! Closed!! HELLO! IS THIS THING ON!! I'M 1K!!!

So then I call the Starwood Platinum desk to advise them I won't be arriving tonight. They are closed too!!!! What's more, they don't have a button to transfer to the normal Starwood line. Fortunately I know the standard number by heart and call in. Then they tell me they have no record of any reservation for me at the Westin Palo Alto!! This is too weird! I dig out the confirmation number (you gotta keep records) and find that they made my reservation at the Sheraton Palo Alto!! I recall discussing with the agent how I was looking forward to trying the new Westin, but somehow they booked me into the Sheraton. They transfered me to a very nice lady in the U.K. corporate office but she couldn't get me into the Westin. She did make sure that I wasn't charged for tonight which was nice.

Now I'm stuck with trying to find a way to SJC in the morning to make my meetings. But it doesn't look good. All my status doesn't seem to be worth a **** with AA or UA. Maybe I'll take HP via Vegas.

I'm just not used to this. Travel is normally quite smooth for me. I need to rub the belly of the travel god or something to get back into good graces.

Sorry to vent.