Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

IMO, in the case of a seaplane, the coolness factor is worth the extra $$.

Yes, definiately yes. ^

The TransAtlantic 738 is making good progress to Frankfurt.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/C...254Z/CYYR/EDFH

With the new Goose Bay hub CO could really do well on 738's to Europe destinations :)

Corporate and personal work are two entirely different animals. Unfortunately there are people out there (leisure, not corporate) who truly believe that they can do it themselves from soup to nuts and have the same experience. It regrettably sparks a larger commentary on the general decline of motivated service in this country and relevant personnel who are good at it. The relationship with the travel agent is not unlike that of any other subject-matter expert (attorney, etc.): over time, the good agent will anticipate the client's needs and get it all right, so long as there is open dialog on both sides. In the NW forum there was some idiot who wanted to switch agents because said agent booked him on a 50% EQM fare. From the way the thread played out, it didn't sound like said idiot had specified that he is a mile nut, and that he should be booked in 100% EQM fares no matter the fare difference. It's totally wrong and pigheaded to blame the agent in that scenario. There's also leisure people who think TripAdvisor and Expedia are the holy grail of travel knowledge. I could go on for pages upon pages about this, but suffice it to say that the average corporate agent of today gives a horrible name to even a just-OK leisure agent. belynch, little help if you would?

Yo ALCO, for BD status miles off of UA metal, based on miles traveled or miles awarded?

I think it's hilarious that FlightAware can't track the entire EWR-YYR flight but has no problem tracking the YYR-FRA segment halfway across the Atlantic.

From one who has done most of the above, this is very good advice. However, this summer our trip out of Seattle will be a tour of the wineries in the Yakima Valley with a one night stayover out there, probably in Richland.

I'm surprised FlightAware has kept with it as long as it has...

That's probably because YYR-FRA is an IFR flight plan, and EWR-YYR is not. At least, that's what I've been told about IAH-MSP flights that all of a suddent stop on FA.

We almost stayed at that same Courtyard a few weeks ago. It's in a nice location, and the new Seattle streetcar service stops almost right in front of it. You can take it right into the heart of downtown Seattle.

I'd definitely try to fly on Kenmore. If a round trip is too costly, maybe you could fly it one way and do something like the Victoria Clipper for the other direction? The ferry rides are incredibly scenic. You'd get the best of both worlds that way.

Not sure if I understand the question properly (and I'm a wee bit drunk at the moment). Here's how the Status/Destination Mile earnings shake out on BD for trips on UA:

Biz - 200%
First - 300%

I left Coach off. I believe almost all UA Coach fare buckets earn 100%, but don't know for sure, as I haven't purchased coach on UA.

Assume you have not yet flown 55,000 Status Miles in a Gold Year with BD, and that you just flew UA in F on a 1,000mi segment. That trip would earn you 3,000 Status Miles, and 3,250 Destination Miles (the extra 250 comes from the 25% Gold Bonus). You earn both Destination and Status miles at 300% (with the Destination miles also getting the additional 25% boost).

After you have flown 55,000 Status Miles in a Gold Year, your Status Miles earned each month convert to Destination Miles in the following month (usually the second Thursday of each month). That's when you can begin earning 625% Destination Miles on each F flight.

Also, there are times when BD will have promos (as they do now), where they'll offer something silly like Double Destination Miles on all flights in a certain month. That's when things really start to get silly.

Warning - Earning mileage at 625% and above is highly addictive. When you have reached the point of contemplating your paycheck in terms of mileage potential, and cutting your food budget (they'll be feeding you in F anyhow), your family or friends may attempt an intervention. Try to stay one step ahead of the men in white coats.

Reason #462.b why working for a global company isn't all its cracked up to be:

Worldwide conference calls.

Someone always gets screwed by whacky times, and today it was me. Happy Friday. :rolleyes:

We would probably be up for more winery related stuff, but my wife is pregnant. So we won't be renting a convertible and re-living Sideways. :D

Ditto here, although our fees are 19 online /27 live, bookings only, others stuff 'free'.

I took a massive hit back in the day when I had to give up Traveler's advantage. That 5% back on EVERYTHING was sweeeeeet.

IIRC, Sideways involved men getting up to shenanigans without their wives/girlfriends around to see ;)

If you do end up re-living it, be sure to stash some clothes in bushes all over town :D