Booking my Flight
We shall start with booking my flight, last thanksgiving I got stuck at the airport for 5 hours through united...it was really stinky as was I since I didn't get to shower before thanksgiving dinner! To say the other passengers and I were unhappy is an understatement.
Because of this they gave us a choice of 6,000miles, $250 certificate, or 20% of our next flight and since I fly internationally I chose the 20%. So here is the catch it only works on United flights so I could book United and fly on their partner swiss for about $1450 but if I wanted to use my certificate all the flights had to be United (not partners) so the price went up to $1800 and the certificate brought it down to $1370...needless to say I was annoyed so saving my certificate for a flight were it will really make a difference maybe to India in January.
Now seating is another problem United doesn't haven't the ability to assign you seats on your flights with other partner carriers. So what you need to do it to call those airlines and tell them your preferences so you get a seat and hopefully one with your preference. I called Swiss airlines it only took about 10 minutes and I have 3 Aisle seats for my connections. I have done this before its really in your best interest since they usually overbook flights and you might end up seatless.
Another seating problem is that all the "complementary seats" are booked, although it says this its not true if you check-in right at 24-hour before your flight there are always a bunch of seats that open up. Silver members also get to upgrade their seat to economy plus when they check-in 24 hours before their flight so those seats will also open up. Since my flight is 7 hours and 30 Minutes I choose to sit in a Aisle seat so I can get up as I please and I don't have to wake or disturb my neighbor. However on short flights its always fun to sit in the window seat.
When boarding if you have roller luggage that needs to go in the bins, get on the plane as soon as possible these long flights never have enough overhead room. If however you only have your backpack and know your going to put it under the seat DONT rush on the plane your just going to sit there, enjoy the terminal for the extra 60 minutes the plane takes to board. Many flights will call for specific passengers over the terminal if you aren't boarded and everyone else is so don't worry they won't leave you behind they know you are in the airport.
Travel Planning
Now that my flight is booked I get into my super in-depth planning, I make an itinerary for the whole trip including everyone who is coming especially if they are coming in on different flights. The idea behind this is everything is in one place of reference including flight numbers, reservation #'s and where you will be on what day.
So I know I will be traveling from the Marco Polo Airport VCE to Lido and I need to figure out the cheapest and most effective way to get there. There is a canal cruise from the airport for 13-15 Euro's of we can use the public transport and get a 24 pass for 20 Euro's but we can use it for the 24 hours we are in the city including bus and water bus public transportation
Money
To be continued...
