They do give some bonuses periodically, but it's usually for shopping at merchants I don't shop with.

This year, I probably won't hit the $7500 threshold, after running between $25-50K each of the last 5 years.

Official policy (which was just revised last month) says that I'm supposed to use corp AX card for all submitted expenses where possible. That was the policy before the last revision as well, but they emphasized it more this time around. I'm waiting to see how rigorously it's enforced by the beancounters.

Good Morning Box.

Morning, Box. Today's downtime this afternoon will certainly require a nap. :-: Mrs. Mackie and I had such a good time last night, and I wish that Rolo, Fozz, mnmag, baglady, and Plus1 had been able to make it.

There was a bit of :rolleyes: at the reception Q&A thanks to some overly-entitled SPG plats, but the Sheraton and associated SPG management were very, very classy people and were honest about their organization and how they operated their hotel. Mrs. Mackie made up a new drinking game where a swig of beer was taken every time someone said, "brand standard." She was quite toasted... :D

Good, albeit somewhat cold, times at The Flying Saucer as well. We eventually got to a table with a heater as all the tables inside were taken (expected on a Friday night). Myself and Mrs. Mackie, monitor and Fran, colpuck, cheepneezy, sfogate, J.Edward, Flyer_70 +1, ALCO +1, BondAir007, and Renard all had a great time and had several tasty adult beverages. :D Breakfast is on its way, and this is going to be a :cool: day. ^

LOL Yes! :D:D

My first DO selection has certainly been a good one.^^:-: It's great to finally meet the 'friends' you've had for years. Colpuck goes down in history as being my first FTer/Boxer;) since I recognized him as an Olympic torch carrier.

Looking forward to the rest today's events and getting back together win everyone. :cool::):-::D:):-:

And by the way - good morning, Box. :) happy travels to all you hitting the air today.

Good Morning Box.
Well I don't think ALCO has a boot fetish so I'll assume she has passport, will travel on a seconds notice, and packs light and quickly.

I really miss the four of those whom I have met and was quite looking forward to meeting the other. I guess there will need to be another of these Dos fairly soon when the snow is not flying.
Mackieman, as usual, cuts thru the BS to tell it like it was. I started out interested in the Q&A and had a question about setting rates which I wanted to ask the revenue person but the entire session deteriorated into conversation about suite upgrades and other such nonsense that I stifled and went back to the bar for some more Shiner Bock. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
The Flying Saucer was an awesome place but we were freezing our butts off in the windy spot where we started and it took that heater to let us relax a bit. Starwood Lurker and RichMSN +1 apparently decided to have none of it and shunned our hardy crowd to sit inside in the warmth. :td: ;)

And then Mackieman had no trouble finding a Whataburger to expose these Easterners to it for the first time. I've tasted worse. :)

Sorry we didn't make it.... between sudden work requirements and a Thursday evening encounter with a massive quantity of Dos XX, I was ready for bed... even slept on both the ABQ-IAH and IAH-AUS segments.

While clearing TSA and futzing with my mobile BP I accidentally dialed :rollpuck:...I have to not call him :rollpuck: in my phone book, since the colon makes him show up first on the list.

ETA: Phonebook entry successfully changed to "Passport Boy".

Good Morning, Box.

Greetings from PR. Finally got to the El Conquistador about 2:30 this morning. I just got up, so kind of cuts into my one day of R&R before my conference starts tomorrow. I'm trying to decide what to do, the weather is kind of icky. It's warm, but humid and showery. (I know, not getting much sympathy from the NE contingent in teh Box. I wish I was there!) A bunch of the sales people invited me to golf with them later. I'm not much of a golfer, but I'll probably join them for the exercise and the drinking.

ETA: Good luck and have fun to everyone traveling and Do-ing today.

I know there used to be, since I flew on some little propeller plane going BOS-ALB-BGM-ITH (on PI) in 1988.

US occasionally offers this as a weekend e-fares special. It is about an hour and fifteen minutes from ABE to PHL by car. :rolleyes:

That is one thing they can learn from UA. They generally seem to board planes efficiently (not boarding all elites at once is probably helpful, as much as it pains me to say it).

It seems to me that this is always a good plan, whether or not you are obliged to listen to a stultifying discussion of suite upgrades.

Buen viaje a todos hoy.

I don't know why it takes so long for CO planes to load. I've been on fully load BA 777's of nothing but kettles and they board in under 30 minutes. In part the lack of carry on bags helps speed things up.

DL offered $400 to 7 people on PHL-CVG. They really have no clue how to consult historical trend data for bookings, do they?? And who offers $400 as a first offer on such a short hop??

Almost sounds like UA, though I think UA has a tad more strict standards about what is to be handed out in certain situations.

Off to the brewery tour. ^