For those of you who have been on FT for awhile, I'm pretty well traveled in the USA. There are only a few places of any size in the USA where I've never been (either as a chicken checker or as anything else).

Well, Buffalo, NY is one of those places. My mother lived there as a child, I'd never been there, I have a good friend who grew up there to give me advice and...I found a $119 RT ticket on CO on Monday before Easter (leaving Good Friday, returning Easter Day). The good thing about CO is the return routing was through CLE and DTW, so I could (theoretically) stand by in the AM and have a day in CLE with my grandmother there...

Ticketed with Expedia who had to Airborne the ticket to me (as it was a paper tkt)

ATL-DTW-BUF CO (on NW metal)

I have NW/KLM upg coupons expiring on 4/30, but assume that I'm ticketed as CO I can't use it. (I was low level elite last year and this was a consolation upg coupon as they said "sorry u didn't make it this year")

Tried to ck in using the NW terminals, but it referred me to the agent, so I just went to the gate, where I presented tkt and coupon. Amazingly, she accepted the cpn, and stapled to the tkt. As she couldn't confirm me DTW-BUF, I went on board the A320.

Painless 1 1/2 hour flt, served snack in both f/c and coach (for us in 1st, focaccia with turkey and pasta salad).

DTW-BUF, also was able to get upgraded. Left a little late and arrived a little late, but nothing untoward happened. NW DC9s really look quite good with their new interiors.

Avis car, brand new Sunfire.

Had found $50 at the Holiday Inn airport, and stayed there 2 nites. OK, but uncomfortable beds that came unmade (slippery ticking plus tiny mattress pad plus synthetic sheets). Checked in in a flash, very friendly.

My friend had given me eating places to hit (Anderson's for Beef on Weck, another chain for hotdogs, and Alethia's for sponge candy) so I hit all of them. The hotdogs I could take or leave (I am not one for char-grilled hotdogs, which these were (over real charcoal!). I prefer the steamed Chicago-style to these, although the homemade onion rings were good. The beef on weck was superb!!!

Went to see Niagara Falls (didn't get out of the car, but I had seen it before). More questions at the border into Canada than back to the US. Stopped by Zellers for candy, unfortunately no Loblaw's that I could find for President's Choice, also the LCBO had icewine to buy.

Set alarm for 6 am to make a 640 flt. Called nite before and told both AM flights full, but decided to standby (my grandmother's retirement home puts on a super feed for Easter). Woke up--my watch somehow got out of synch with the clock--anyway, got to the airport at 4 am (rather than 6a)...back to hotel for a few more winks, back to airport to find them offloading LAX pax from the BUF-CLE flight , but I sit there for another 20 mins to be told that no, every seat on the ATR was full. Asked and told that the 830 flight was also full, so I give up, and try to get the car back fm Avis. Fortunately, hadn't been ckd in so was able to get the keys back and go.

Visited where my mom lived when she was there in the early 40s (Hamburg, NY). I was mystified b/c I thought it was suburbia, at this point, but it really isn't (more exurban). My friend said he'd never been there except for the Erie County Fair. Very logical.

Also went to East Aurora which is famous for 2 things--it is where Fisher Price (toys) is based and where the Roycroft movement (arts and crafts) was based. Interesting museum there (open on Sun--good thing).

Back to airport to try to get a 320 BUF-DTW flt on NW (which would allow for 2 tries to get back to ATL earlier)...made it on the flt which got right in.

Then the fun began.

500p DTW-ATL

Full full full, to the surprise of the gate agent (who said it never fills up). Took 2 volunteers. Lots of nonrevs denied boarding.

700p DTW-ATL

Not quite as full, but they wouldn't confirm me on either. Then it got strange, as flight attendants and pilots go aboard. They close the door and I confront the agent, who says "you can't stand by and get first class--the employees can"

Has anyone heard of this????

930 DTWATL--my scheduled flight was about 20 mins late leaving and arriving