Airport lounges

For reasons I don't really understand, my status with Delta airlines entitles me to free lounge access abroad. I have to pay to enter Delta's lounges in the US, but I get in free outside of the US.

Today was the first time I've taken advantage of lounge facilities. It is mostly quiet in the lounge at the Oslo airport....just one guy gabbering on his mobile phone.

I can help myself to soda, water - still and sparkling, wine - red and white, beer, coffee, tea, and there is food too! Cheese, ham, cereal and yogurt.

And perhaps the best two parts - internet access and line-free toilets.

I like the lounge! It even feels a little spa-like. But....I'm not sure I would pay for it unless perhaps I had a long layover.

Another bonus -- the more time I spend in the lounge the less time I spend shopping. It is almost like I am being paid to relax in the lounge!

Red-eye flight number 2

I was home for about 15 hours after Vegas before I left for London.

I knew taking red-eye flights two nights in a row was a really bad idea. But I did it anyway.

Thankfully I was able to sleep a few hours on the flight from Minneapolis to Amsterdam. That helped...a little.

Too much travel in a short period of time. Being sick has made it even worse than it should be.

Red-eye flight number 1

I don't like red-eye flights. I can sort of sleep on planes, but beds are so much more comfortable.

I am about to take the first of back-to-back red-eye flights. I wouldn't do this on purpose. I am doing this to maximize my time at home before leaving on an international trip.

I am taking the red-eye from Vegas to Minneapolis. I could have kept my original flight but then I could only be home for three hours before leaving the country for two weeks. I think I made the right decision, but probably won't know that for sure until Wednesday when I arrive in London.

Hopefully I will sleep on this first red-eye.....and will dream of how to use the miles I am accumulating.

Up in the Air

I really liked the movie "Up in the Air." And... not just because George Clooney was in it, but he is the reason why I saw it a second time.

I travel occasionally for work. Not as much as George's character, but enough to make elite status with the airline. There are a few things in that movie that I can related to. Collecting and maximizing miles has become a hobby for me -- in part because I have come to rely on those miles to help with my personal trips.

I was Silver elite with Northwest Airlines in 2009. I made it to Gold with Delta at the end of 2009, which carried over for 2010. I flew 45,000 miles in 2009, and NWA gave me 10,000 bonus miles....which put me over the 50,000 needed for Gold.

My goal for 2010 - platinum - which is 75,000 miles with Delta. I could only make it though if I take many work trips to London. (7ish, plus my typical travel.)

I could start mileage tracking as a new list. I was over 10,000 (elite qualifying) miles by mid-February, and I have 4 trips booked in the next 5 weeks. Now.... I haven't actually flown 10,000 miles yet. Sometimes I get bonus miles. I like bonus miles.

I am saving for a trip to Japan. I find it easier to save frequent flier miles than money. I am confident I will have the miles, but will I have the money when I get there???

Red Tail?

I am sitting at MSP (Minneapolis - St. Paul airport) waiting for my flight to DCA (Washington National airport) and am wondering if the plane will be NWA (red tail) or Delta.

(BTW - I know lots of airport codes, but that can be a different post.)

Delta airlines is merging (translation - absorbing) Northwest airlines. I get about one e-mail per week from NWA about the merger. Growing up in Minnesota - the world HQ for NWA - I am a little sad that brand is going away. I now take a picture of my plane every time I fly. I have been doing this for several months now. Eventually, I will be on a NWA-painted plane for the last time, and I want to be sure and capture this historic moment.

I have a picture from my last flight ready to upload in case tonight's plane does not have a red tail.