So, I just found out I get to go on my first work trip (well, first real one - I had one other one where I got to rent a car & drive for 5 hours to Roanoke, VA to spend 2 days with one of my clients).

So, I'm local to IAD/DCA/BWI in that order & I need to go to Shelton, CT. The nearest airport is HVN - other options include LGA/JFK/BDL/HPN but all would require renting a car using my company's CDP (insurance included) - that's about 60-70/day - by flying into HVN, a co-worker could pick me up or I could take a cab for fairly cheap.

As a 100% leisure traveler, my preferred carrier is NW, where I've got Gold Status & a WC Membership - I couldn't get any cheap flights out of DCA/IAD to HVN on NW/CO/DL - my secondary carriers are US/UA where I have Gold (requested Silver, was given Gold) on US (and I'll probably fly 30K on them this year overall - bankruptcy concerns still, maybe more, but at least that's my max through June) & Premier on UA (comped from last year - flew ~20K on them in 2004 & just didn't see the value of being a Premier on UA based out of DC).

So, trying to figure out the best cost/value to me/time spent/connections/club time ratios was impossible ! Fare price was a major concern (don't want to piss off the people paying for this!). So I ended up booking on US out of BWI (which is a haul from my house) - I've got a Monday morning flight that leaves around 10AM (did I mention I will be flying back from a weekend trip into IAD the night before arriving at 10:36PM?). My flights are all on Dash-8's, except one 737 on the return for PHL-BWI (91 mile flight, I'm hoping I get upgraded ) - so no real upgrade opportunity & no club access for my layover in PHL or my departure from BWI (NW/CO, why no clubs at BWI?? I can't even go into the CRC at PHL since I'm not flying DL metal!)

I'll be up near HVN for 2 days - I'll have to bring suits. I've got a garment bag for those (thanks to an offer Gleff informed me about about a year ago for a $7 garment bag on Overstock.com!), but my 22" rollaboard isn't in the country right now (because my Mom & my sister took it with them to India/BKK/HKG for a month & a half long trip!) - SO, that means I may have to use a bigger bag & possibly (ugh!) check luggage!

Overall, despite the fact that as a business traveler, I won't get the things I'm used to as a leisure traveler (free upgrades on almost every flight, lounge access, etc) - but I think it'll still be fun! I'm sure most of you don't even remember your first real business trip - but if you do, anything crazy every happen on them? Anything embarrassing or something that you'll never forget?