Spring Break

I am off to Redmond to spend Spring Break with Avery and Anika. I also get to spend time with Kendra and Kristie and John.

Marge drove me to O'Hare, thanks Marge, and I checked in and went through security - thankfully with short lines because I was flying first class and got to get in the short line. Regular security was a long line.

I went to the Admiral's Club and discovered that on American Airlines a first class ticket does not get you into the Admiral's Club. My bad for not booking Alaska Airlines! At the Admiral's Club check in I gave the gate keeper my boarding pass and was asked how I qualified to get into the Admiral's Club. I replied, "I have a first class ticket." Then she said that was not enough, I needed a membership or a Platinum American Express card or Platinum Citi Card. I asked if the rules had changed and mentioned that last year I was allowed in the Alaska Airlines Board Room with a first class ticket. She then asked if I had a Board Room card. She never responded to me when I asked if the rules had changed. I pick up my bag and headed out. There were chairs by the door into the Admiral's Lounge so I sat down to go on-line to check on Admiral Club rules. Another gate keeper asked me if I had checked in, I said "no" and she said I had to leave. I said I was on-line on the AA web site. They gave me another couple of minutes and then said I would have to leave. I asked them to back off as I was on the AA website. They were quite rude and insistent When I determined the rules for access I picked up and left, but not after getting a bad taste of poor customer service. The gate keepers were downright rude. I found the answer on the aa.com website under Admiral Club access frequently asked questions. If the gate keepers had simply told me the access rules as the are stated in the FAQ then we would have been done. As it was I had to determined the rules mysef. Fail. An e-mail to cstomer service is in order.

The flight from O'Hare to DFW was uneventful and arrived a little early. At DFW I rode the Skylink from Terminal A to C. Nice. After a short layover I was on the flight to Seattle. Why Chicago to Dallas to Seattle you ask? I am flying on miles and these were the best connections I could get for free.

I started writing this on the flight to Seattle. I am watching the Life of Pi. Good. No, wonderful, lifting, sad, an extraordinary story. If you have not seen it, see it,

Listening to J.J. Cale, and Van Morrison and Boz Scaggs I am thinking that uptight right wingers should kick back, listen to some mellow music and chill. Calm down, relax, enjoy life.

Seattle. What a long walk from the gate. We arrived at the far end of the A Concourse which seemed to go on forever. I went to the Alaska Airlines Boardroom and asked if I could get in. Nope, not on an American first lass ticket. If I had booked Alaska I'd be golden. The ladies behind the desk were both very nice and we hatted a bit before I left. Not like the American experience.

I headed to Anthony's and had a beer and a small plate of pan fried oysters. Yummy. Then onto the small plane to Remond, nt full, legt on tie and arrived a little early. John picked me up and I am now on spri g break!

Vegging at John and Kristies right now by the wood stove. I am cozy.