American Airlines Challenge – Outbound TPA-DFW 11/29

Today I retired 929 points against my Gold challenge on the outbound trip to Dallas. I few more trips and I will have status. I accomplished lots for work, accumulated additional Hilton Honors points and found a great Micro Brewery called The Flying Saucer… Lots o’ Beer. I even got in a workout at Gold's Gym in spite of the fact that we really clocked some pretty long hours.

It is funny how each flight segment has a personality of its own. The outbound flight started out to be very nice; however I earned every single point. I had an exit row, windows seat, with ample leg room and a great opportunity for a nap between cities. Next to me sat a young mother and a very small baby... My first red flag. About 5 minutes into our takeoff, the crying started…Freakin’ Pavarotti reincarnated…. Holy shit this kid had lungs. Woulda made a great advertisement for iPod or Bose sound isolation headphones… I should write the copy and retire 

Well things progressed... actually a frightening turn of events. An elderly man with Whooping cough sat directly behind me and hacked. He did not cover his mouth… I could feel the cough on the back of my head… not good… And with every bout of coughing, there was bad gas… The air vents cracked and it was still nasty thick. Kinda smelled like the morning after a drunken White Castle binge. For those of you who have been there, this should be a very vivid description.

Then the kid started shitting. LOTS. At least 2 large pant loads in the first hour or so of the flight. I quickly moved to the isle way, where I stood as long as they would let me. Between the old guy hacking and exercising his mud flaps in unison… and the kid dumping choad… it was beyond ‘real bad’. I contemplated several Bloody Marys’ however I really had to work when I got there. A very nice flight attendant walked past, she touched my shoulder and said… I am sorry but there are no empty seats… I could see that… but the thought was very nice and she let me stand in the isle.

The nice young mother apologized, and cleaned up the kid which resolved half of the problems. The old guy… well the people next to him had it much worse than I… so overall a few hours of hell and we landed. I learned lots about the art of visualization… and finding that happy place.

Stay tuned… More to come as I chase Gold…

Scott