Yesterday I spent a few obsessive hours trying to book a flight to JFK and back using our frequent flyer miles. The funny thing about redeeming them is that you naturally have a limited selection of flights available and strangely, they seem to change every few seconds. I'd look at a flight that cost 25,000 frequent flyer miles, call James to come see and a minute later it would cost 35,000. So really, it was a race against the clock, not really knowing what I'd find or what it would cost. Finally, last night, I hit the jackpot.
Our flight from JFK to Jo-burg is going to be, let's face it, probably one of the longest, most dreadful flights I've been on. And having a number of layovers between here and JFK is probably going to tire us out before we've even left for the "big" flght, so . . . for lack of a flight that worked for us on the day we needed, we decided to leave the 9th (our flight to Africa is the evening of the 10th). Any free flight was going to have numerous layovers, that's a given, so this way the travel time is broken up. We actually got a good deal. We leave the morning of the 9th from a small airport down the road, fly 30 mins to Atlanta, then to Philly, then to JFK. We arrive in time to check into the Comfort Inn, where we can get a good night's sleep, eat a free deluxe continental breakfast, and then take a free shuttel to the airport around noon. We'll have an early check-in, nose around JFK, and have plenty of time to board around 5:00. That way, rather than being rushed, I can enjoy being excited, look out the window at the colorful South African Airways planes and just enjoy. Also, I won't be going so long without a shower!! Very important! :-)
Posted by Hannah at April 5, 2005 12:17 PMThis trip is sooo exciting! :) One of my previous supervisor's is from Kenya and she said when her mom came to visit it took like three days with all the layovers and everything you've been writing about!
Posted by: Linda at April 5, 2005 01:16 PMYeah it used to take us two days from SE Asia. When we were in Singapore we would fly to tokyo-chicago-birmingham or hongkong-san fransisco-atlanta-birmingham and it took about two days. It was always so exciting and dreading at the same time. Lots of crossword puzzles and things like that were bought ahead of time along with snacks as airplane food SUCKS.
I remember getting so excited to have a coke and these certain potato chips (in a red hexagon tube container) in the tokyo airport that were so good. And then back to Chicago style pizza at O'hare airport. MMMMM!!! Actually, its funny because every airport I can think of has a memory tied to food. Haha
Posted by: Allison at April 5, 2005 03:09 PMThat good night's sleep near JFK will definitely help, I think. I'm getting excited for your trip!
Posted by: shokufeh at April 5, 2005 06:11 PMOh, I am so excited for you and your trip to South Africa!!
Posted by: little things at April 5, 2005 09:29 PMYAY!! SO exciting! I love your attitude about it too... you are totally making the most of the travel situation and I really admire that. :)
Posted by: girl from florida at April 6, 2005 01:14 AMI've been meaning to tell you that I have been to Seoul, Korea and from what I remember of it, I really liked it. It is farther north in Asia so you have winter there (which we LOVED being that our seasons were wet and wetter only) which was exciting for us. The food was good and the shopping was AWESOME with all the fake purses and at the time, L.A. GEARS!!! Gosh I loved those! hehe I absolutley loved living in asia and if you ever have kids, it is a wonderful excperience to give them. I am SO thankful for my parents for giving me that.
Posted by: Allison at April 6, 2005 10:10 AMOh, and I added you to my blogroll before I left work yest. :-) Hope it's okay. (I forget to ask people when I do)
Posted by: Allison at April 6, 2005 10:23 AMHow exciting... and scary! What a trip, sounds like it's going to be great with you planning it. Lots of rest is always good on a trip. It always surprises me what a difference it makes.
Posted by: Pink Sun Drops at April 7, 2005 02:22 AM