Yeah, didn't you hear FEMA scheduled a news conference for 11/10.

Must be tough, having to relocate so many staff from FEMA HQ to MSY, just so they can lob some softballs at the director during a faux news conference.

Oh well, I booked WN outbound and CO return. I haven't flown out of Hobby (or on WN) in years, should be interesting...

Hobby has been totally rebuilt and they relocated all the airlines to one central concourse. It is pretty nice, if you can get by all the Oklahoma State University adverts proclaiming themselves to be "a brighter orange".:td:

Yeah, Hobby is a total different animal now that all flights are in the new concourse. I actually don't mind flying out of there. Not only is the concourse attractive and has ample waiting room at the gates, but there's decent food choices (about the same as Terminal E at IAH), including a Pappasito's. Now if only CO would go back to Hobby, I'd be thrilled, since it is a lot closer to home for me...

Same for me. I used to jump on the early morning AA flight to DFW and had no trouble getting to the airport 45 minutes before the flight.

Well I could fly DL out of HOU when I'm headed to ATL, but it also means giving up EUAs (which seem to always be happening these days for me on IAH-ATL and vice versa) and some RDMs, since DL has a lower Platinum bonus than CO. But in the few cases I've found where DL was cheaper than CO, if I'm going to be on DL anyway, HOU sure is more convenient to home.

Phew, "problem" solved. Found a flight leaving Saturday morning with a Sunday return for a decent price, that worked out about identical to WN outbound, CO return. Refunded the WN & CO one-ways and booked the CO return with Saturday outbound.

This way, I'll be able to enjoy a morning G&T at the PC :D.

I would actually consider flying DL now that they are in the main concourse instead of that old annex they were in back in April when I last flew DL. Of course now that I am gunning for EUA's I may still fly CO, even DL is cheaper.

Non-Elite on CO Blows
 

I just managed to talk the 'rents out of blowing 180K on 2 domestic Sleazypass domestic F awards :eek:. They needed flights IAH-SAN to catch up with a Mexico cruise they're taking in the first week of December (over 10 days after Thanksgiving and about two/three weeks before Christmas).

Total price for two Y tix on dates they needed (outbound Wednesday with a Saturday return 10 days later) was a somewhat reasonable $630. Connections or WN would not have saved more than $12/ticket, for much added hassle. Of course, as non-elites, there were absolutely no upgradeable flights available on either their outbound or return date, despite non-elites having to purchase higher fare buckets.

The only standard Y/F awards involved itins such as IAH-DEN-SEA-SAN-CLE(redeye)-IAH. They're pushing 70, and weren't interested. Likewise, KVS is showing no SkyTeam partner award availability for their dates. Also, Aeromexico via MEX was a no-go (apparently, the agent couldn't even book such an option).

I didn't have the time to explain to my father that if he feels like impulsively booking a cruise just a month or so before departing, he shouldn't expect award availability to simultaneously exist. He has neither the time nor the inclination to discern the finer points of award redemption.

Oh well, got a brief taste of non-elite status (and the accompanying mindset). Verdict: Ick - definitely not for me :p. At least I managed to talk him into purchasing two Y tix for $630 rather than blowing 180Kmi. on two domestic F tix.

I haven't flown in two weeks, and I am going a little crazy. I am trying to focus my resources on the 2008 requal, so I have quit booking trips for this year I have only three left. Stupid travel addiction.

BTW is it wrong to carry my elite card in my wallet and show it to the police when they ask me for id???

I'm on a flying high for the next few weeks... IAH-DEN-IAH-LBB-IAH-DEN-IAH-AUS-IAH-DEN-IAH

It's starting to feel like morse code.

The DEN-IAH-AUS-IAH-DEN piece has made me want to fly Frontier, but I'm looking out for my status. :(

Wow, that would make me start going a little crazy too.

I have the opposite problem. Right now I really want a few days at home! Hopefully work will leave the Monday-Wednesday of Thanksgiving week, when I currently have no assignment, alone, and I can get a little break then.

Be sure to feed your travel addiction a steady diet, otherwise it's apt to flare up sharply with very expensive consequences :p

Am looking forward to this weekend...IAH-DCA-IAH-SJU-IAH-DCA-IAH :D

Actually, hopefully I will be going on a guided tour of the ATL tower today, that should calm it down. This whole internship with the FAA has some benefits.

I haven't flown since the DO, but I will be abusing myself late next week with a trip to Asia in J. I've been on Acela a few times, however.