I would see no reason to book MRs on the phone but I do need to call the EXP desk from time to time for rebooking. If its a MR (which I've cut down on) I simply tell them that I need to be in xxx for a very short period of time (usually to deliver a document to someone standing outside Security) and they seem to understand. I would rather not get into a long drawl about why I am doing a MR. Truthfully, I think the TA just wants to resolve the issue and satisfy the caller (EXP) and move on.

My family thinks the IRS is going to arrest me for laundering mint coins. Seriously.

I am in the midst of a PLT challenge with SPG. Last week I found out that I am being sent to Washington DC for three nights, which really helps a lot. The only downside is that there is no SPG property near where I will be working, so I will be a temporary commuter for the duration of my stay.

The DW looked at me like I had lost my mind, asking why I'm not staying a block away from my conference. I looked at her and with a steady voice and reminded her of the doubts she had regarding my initial push to earn elite status on AA, and how she benefited by flying almost exclusively in J on TATLs for the next year. She thought about it for a second, kissed me on the check and told me that I knew best and she supported me. :rolleyes:

Almost died laughing on this one, Baht Run, I'm too young ad too new to FT to have ever done one of these, but read up on the story and it always brings a smile to my face..

I had a puzzled look today when checking in at the desk (I could not check in online) flying SFO-SLC-DEN-ATL-TPA today.. And the agent asked if I wanted a more direct route for $50.... just smiled and said no thank you.. :rolleyes:

While the IRS criminal division agents may identify money laundering and be involved in an arrest when there is a criminal tax violation element involved, money laundering of the sort that is a violation of law in the US does not cover using your own funds (or funds legally available to you) to legally convert into another currency for deposit into your own account for your own use to pay off your own liabilities. Absent involvement of a fourth party -- that is a party beyond you, your legally-compliant bank card issuer and the government (US Mint) -- money laundering charges wouldn't have a snowball's chance in a hot CPK pizza oven at lunch time.

On my marathon last week (ANC-SEA-ORD-DCA-DFW-LAX-SBA,SBA-LAX-MIA-SEA-ORD-DCA-ORD-SEA-ANC-FAI), I just looked at them straight-faced and told them I found a fare, and it was several hundred dollars cheaper. When they inevitably asked if I wanted to change the route, I said I couldn't really afford it, because I'm a student.

I did call in a time or two in an attempt to get on earlier flights, and used the same reasoning as above. I wasn't successful any time, however.

The sad part is, I was entirely truthful. I should get elite though, by August.

I think my final tally ended up being at 6.81 cpm, which isn't that bad considering; I had an American voucher from a failed overseas vacation to use, I had to fly to SBA and SEA, I did this to post to AS (not AA), and I'm flying out of Alaska in the first place. Heck, I even got upgraded four times throughout - that isn't bad considering I was flying AA using an AS mileage plan. (Btw, to the guy who offered me his first class seat DCA-ORD so he could sit beside his son, THANK YOU!! That was *so* rejuvenating!)

I'll have to do a similar thing in August, but hopefully I'll have more work to do during the flight. I got incredibly bored the last 24 hours.

I beg to differ with your FT name. Laugh out loud Classic!

look at this thread about one of my recent trips to europe with crazy routing.

not only you need to explain "why" to agents on the phone but when you get to the airport you may encounter things like unable to check bags to your destination, unable to mantain an electronic tickets when reissuing upgrades, etc.

despite the above most of the agents in AA check-in or admirals club have never seen this before and they took it with a good laugh.

the best part was in JFK-LAX, the FA was announcing the connections, and it came mine: "passengers going to Miami gate XX", everyone in the cabin started laughing and murmuring about who in this planet will go to LAX to connect to MIA.

It was me !

anyways here the details.

YYZ-JFK-LAX-MIA-DFW-ORD-LHR-VCE-FCO-MAD-DFW-LAX-JFK-YYZ

While doing a series of BOS-LAX-BOS same day turns during AA's BOS-LAX 3X bonus a few years ago I had a FA admit to me that when she first saw someone returning to BOS on a same day turn she reported it to the purser, who started laughing and then explained what we were doing.

Actually met a CX flight attendant on one of those flights, doing a MR.

I have several stories. The most classic one was last year, a 10-segment first class run on US.

Checkin agent was puzzled: "So you are coming all the way back in... 2 days?". Later, I asked the gate agent to print out subsequent boarding passes and you know what, she printed out 7 out of 10:eek: Sure enough, she was shocekd.

Another fun run was a routing like MKE-ORD-MSN-DEN-***, so during the first 8 hours after departure, I was always within 100 miles from MKE. I could have driven faster:D The highlight was the FA annoucement upon arrival of ORD-MSN "We have a passenger connecting at MSN to DEN on the same plane, he/she must deboard first"... Have anyone ever tried to "connect" in MSN? LOL

I still think this video is a wonderful teaching tool. ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFO0H...layer_embedded
My wife said "That is so you". She still won't turn down the upgrade when I hand her the boarding pass.

Incredible video, the text-to-speech is hilarious! ^

5.24 Cents EQM? He is a freaking idiot. ;)

Fabulous!