(FYI: I don’t think the photos are uploading properly so for the meantime text it is)
A new trip. A smaller suitcase. This time brought to you by PTSD from “The Great Cambodian Underwear Incident of 2015” and Cyber Monday (you know when you purchase something to be a good American? Well hello Briggs and Reilly International Carryon.).
Trying to fit everything for 3 countries and a variety of situations into an international carryon and keep it under 7.5 kg is like setting any big goal: running an under 6 hour half Ironman, going to medical school, etc. It requires calculated planning, proactive thinking, and focused training. In sum: it took me two weeks to pack and I forgot an outfit to sleep in.
With a busy call weekend behind me and minimal “free” time during the week, I was in a bigger rush than normal the night before and the morning off. I booked the train to LA and flew out of the house with 2 minutes to spare only to immediately ask my Lyft driver to turn around for the food I left that was to be my lunch. I explained to him my hurry and in true Fast and Furious fashion he got me to the train station with 4 minutes to spare.
I decided to splurge and I booked myself in business class which equals free pastries (there was a 7 year old that preferred the chocolate chip scones) and numerous conversations about canary diamonds and Gucci boots (“You know what you would look really good in? These bazillion dollar shoes.”).
To Union Station I went and I must say the train is the way to go. It is beautiful and you aren’t worried about the impending doom of LA traffic at least until you are in LA proper. Next up the Fly-Away Bus to LAX which was also pretty great.
Checking in at the Etihad counter they asked me for my Madagascar visa. Wait?? NOOOOOO!!!! Not this again. This time fortunately I was correct and it is visa on arrival. They handed me my boarding passes and through security I went and on to the gate to board.
Initially the guy who sat beside me didn’t fit between the armrests so he had to move. Paying for two seats hurts my soul for a couple of reasons. I understand not singling people out but what happens when you just don’t fit. He had to wedge himself in with a fair amount of effort and then he was half way into both my seat and the guy beside him. He finally asked his friend who had an aisle seat to switch and moved to that seat and one of the passengers from that row was moved to another area of the plane.
Other than that the flight to Abu Dhabi was uneventful. I slept, planked, did yoga, played online, and watched a movie. For dinner I was asked if I would like chicken, “local lamb”, or vegetables (Define local lamb? Since at the time we were over Canada and LA is not known for it’s mutton farms.)
Upon arrival and clearing customs, I decided to figure out why they had not given me my boarding pass to TNR before I went to the lounge. As it turns out the flight had been cancelled over a month ago and Chase Saphire had been notified but chosen not to pass on the information to me. 2 hours later and no answer from Chase as to whether anything had happened with the rest of my flights, I had a new flight to Kenya, a free night in the airport hotel, and a McDonald’s voucher burning a hole in my pocket. Prior to heading to the hotel I decided I should buy a new iPhone cord and stop at the Priority Pass lounge for a snack (Baba Ghanouj with pomegranates you blew my mind).
A hot shower and a nice bed I quickly fell asleep waiting for Chase to call me back. It’s 3 am and almost 6 hours later and crickets. Time for me to call them back.
The good news is Etihad as advertised is a class act.
A new trip. A smaller suitcase. This time brought to you by PTSD from “The Great Cambodian Underwear Incident of 2015” and Cyber Monday (you know when you purchase something to be a good American? Well hello Briggs and Reilly International Carryon.).
Trying to fit everything for 3 countries and a variety of situations into an international carryon and keep it under 7.5 kg is like setting any big goal: running an under 6 hour half Ironman, going to medical school, etc. It requires calculated planning, proactive thinking, and focused training. In sum: it took me two weeks to pack and I forgot an outfit to sleep in.
With a busy call weekend behind me and minimal “free” time during the week, I was in a bigger rush than normal the night before and the morning off. I booked the train to LA and flew out of the house with 2 minutes to spare only to immediately ask my Lyft driver to turn around for the food I left that was to be my lunch. I explained to him my hurry and in true Fast and Furious fashion he got me to the train station with 4 minutes to spare.
I decided to splurge and I booked myself in business class which equals free pastries (there was a 7 year old that preferred the chocolate chip scones) and numerous conversations about canary diamonds and Gucci boots (“You know what you would look really good in? These bazillion dollar shoes.”).
To Union Station I went and I must say the train is the way to go. It is beautiful and you aren’t worried about the impending doom of LA traffic at least until you are in LA proper. Next up the Fly-Away Bus to LAX which was also pretty great.
Checking in at the Etihad counter they asked me for my Madagascar visa. Wait?? NOOOOOO!!!! Not this again. This time fortunately I was correct and it is visa on arrival. They handed me my boarding passes and through security I went and on to the gate to board.
Initially the guy who sat beside me didn’t fit between the armrests so he had to move. Paying for two seats hurts my soul for a couple of reasons. I understand not singling people out but what happens when you just don’t fit. He had to wedge himself in with a fair amount of effort and then he was half way into both my seat and the guy beside him. He finally asked his friend who had an aisle seat to switch and moved to that seat and one of the passengers from that row was moved to another area of the plane.
Other than that the flight to Abu Dhabi was uneventful. I slept, planked, did yoga, played online, and watched a movie. For dinner I was asked if I would like chicken, “local lamb”, or vegetables (Define local lamb? Since at the time we were over Canada and LA is not known for it’s mutton farms.)
Upon arrival and clearing customs, I decided to figure out why they had not given me my boarding pass to TNR before I went to the lounge. As it turns out the flight had been cancelled over a month ago and Chase Saphire had been notified but chosen not to pass on the information to me. 2 hours later and no answer from Chase as to whether anything had happened with the rest of my flights, I had a new flight to Kenya, a free night in the airport hotel, and a McDonald’s voucher burning a hole in my pocket. Prior to heading to the hotel I decided I should buy a new iPhone cord and stop at the Priority Pass lounge for a snack (Baba Ghanouj with pomegranates you blew my mind).
A hot shower and a nice bed I quickly fell asleep waiting for Chase to call me back. It’s 3 am and almost 6 hours later and crickets. Time for me to call them back.
The good news is Etihad as advertised is a class act.
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