Originally Posted by Flews (Post 11912865)

(yes, short haul had meals in those days!).

Originally Posted by Flews (Post 11912865)

My worst use of miles was arguably also my best use of miles.

It was certainly a trip I will always remember.

It was the time I used points to travel about 200 miles from Toronto to Ottawa for a wedding. We flew up in the afternoon, with our return booked for the last flight back in the evening. Two J class tickets. Now, that was a lot of points for just a short puddle hop - but hey, the airline was struggling back in those days and I figured better to use 'em than lose 'em, right?

I have no recollection of the flight to Ottawa. Or the wedding. Or the reception. Except that it ran late so we were cutting it tight getting back to the airport.

We quickly snagged our boarding passes without line-up, made it through security, and dashed to the gate only to find no one there except the agent.

As we approached the gate, she greeted us by name. She explained she wasn't psychic; just that the flight before ours was running late so they had already put everyone from our flight on the earlier one - which was gone!

Fear not, the agent explained. Our flight was still departing as scheduled. It's just that we would be the only passengers on it! Literally.

A few minutes later came the departure announcement, concluding with the words, "would Mr. and Mrs. Flews now please proceed to the gate?"

So we did. As we proceeded down the ramp to the plane, we were greeted by the entire crew of eight standing outside the door; the head purser dramatically unfolding a red table cloth for us to walk across.

In we went, into this caverous, empty airplane, where we were invited to seat ourselves "wherever you like". Hundreds of seats, a 2/3/2 configuration up front. So much for using the extra miles for J class!

Then came the really neat part.

My wife, half joking, asked whether sitting "wherever you like" included the cockpit. Let me ask the Captain, says the Purser. Who quickly returned with a grin and told us we were invited to sit in the cockpit for takeoff.

Now, I happen to have a fear of heights. Back then I wasn't really a big fan of flying. I ALWAYS avoid the window, even to this day, if I can. So I took a pass and ordered a double gin & tonic instead.

My wife went up front, and returned after about 10 minutes after take-off once we had leveled off. She raved about it, said it was truly an amazing experience. We enjoyed a quick meal (yes, short haul had meals in those days!). And we chatted with the crew, who confessed they had never encountered a completely empty flight like this before.

Soon the Captain came back on with the pre-landing announcement. He concluded by asking "would any Flews' like to join me in the cockpit for landing?"

This time, I couldn't resist. So we both went up and sat in the jumpseats behind the pilots.

It was truly an experience I will always treasure. For one thing, I will never forgot how quiet it was. The sky was crystal clear that night, and the City was sparkling below. We were amazed how small Pearson Airport seemed to be. The pilots even turned on the radio so we could hear their conversation with the tower - which rattled off a whole bunch of instructions.

At that point, probably for our benefit, the Captain asked the tower for some kind of confirmation or clarification of the numbers. And the tower replied with a laugh: "Oh, forget it - just follow that airbus in!"

So we did. For the smothest landing I ever had experienced. We even clapped when we touched down, to the grins of the pilots, who high fived themselves.

And that, my friends, is how my worst use of miles actually became my best use of miles.

Ya just never know!

Happy flying. ^

Cheers,

Originally Posted by caipiroska (Post 11901082)

I got a roundtrip ticket from TXL-LHR-HGK on CX and BA for 85.000 asia miles where the LHR HKG I could have gotten for under 400 Euros.

Originally Posted by CMK10 (Post 11913813)

This was a great story, I'm jealous.