Holiday Flight Adventures and Hassles

[+ FreshFluff]

I always enjoy the flying threads, so I thought I"d start another one. This is for describing your holiday flight experiences--hassles, good experiences, interesting or annoying people you met on board.

[+ FreshFluff]

My experience on American yesterday: There was a major hassle at the gate: My boarding passed scanned as "Raul Carillo" [name changed]. The gate agent pointed to the end of the long line where the standby and upgrade requests and said "Go over there to resolve this." I politely but firmly insisted they deal with it on the spot, as this was clearly American's error. They tried to change my seat, claiming I had "never checked in" (???), but I got my original seat back. (I told him about the situation, and he insisted on submitting a request to grant me some miles for the hassle. He says he has some connections so who knows, maybe it will work.)

 

Once I got on the flight, everything was great. I used my CC miles to fly first, and found American's domestic first class to be the best I had seen in a long time.The flight attendant was wonderful. We had Gogo wifi, which always makes the flight better. and the food was great (should have ordered the filet mignon though). And, at the end of the flight, they had my favorite treat--chocolate chip cookies and milk. Mmm.

 

During the flight, I met the real Raul Carillo, who turned out to be a noted "celebrity makeup artist." Unlike most male makeup artists, Raul appears to be straight/bi, as he was very flirtatious. When he walked past me upon boarding, he murmured something like "You're lovely." Then he sidled up to me as I was waiting for the bathroom and asked if I was in the beauty industry. (He sat two rows behind me and saw that I was looking at a makeup website.) He gave me his card and made a kissy face when waving goodbye.

 

I tried to be open minded to see if I could be attracted to him, but I just couldn't do it; he's not my type at all. I'd enjoy getting to know him as a friend, if I'm not too boring for him.

 

"Raul" is a pretty good looking guy. Here's a picture:

http://s23.postimg.org/9qwqjy9hj/Eduardo.jpg

[bigvalboy]

My experience on American yesterday: There was a major hassle at the gate: My boarding passed scanned as "Raul Carillo" [name changed]. The gate agent pointed to the end of the long line where the standby and upgrade requests and said "Go over there to resolve this." I politely but firmly insisted they deal with it on the spot, as this was clearly American's error. They tried to change my seat, claiming I had "never checked in" (???), but I got my original seat back. (I told him about the situation, and he insisted on submitting a request to grant me some miles for the hassle. He says he has some connections so who knows, maybe it will work.)

 

Once I got on the flight, everything was great. I used my CC miles to fly first, and found American's domestic first class to be the best I had seen in a long time.The flight attendant was wonderful. We had Gogo wifi, which always makes the flight better. and the food was great (should have ordered the filet mignon though). And, at the end of the flight, they had my favorite treat--chocolate chip cookies and milk. Mmm.

 

During the flight, I met the real Raul Carillo, who turned out to be a noted "celebrity makeup artist." Unlike most male makeup artists, Raul appears to be straight/bi, as he was very flirtatious. When he walked past me upon boarding, he murmured something like "You're lovely." Then he sidled up to me as I was waiting for the bathroom and asked if I was in the beauty industry. (He sat two rows behind me and saw that I was looking at a makeup website.) He gave me his card and made a kissy face when waving goodbye.

 

I tried to be open minded to see if I could be attracted to him, but I just couldn't do it; he's not my type at all. I'd enjoy getting to know him as a friend, if I'm not too boring for him.

 

"Raul" is a pretty good looking guy. Here's a picture:

http://s23.postimg.org/9qwqjy9hj/Eduardo.jpg

 

Sorry about the hassle at the gate FF, but it sounds like it all ended up just fine, as young Mr. Carillo is stunning. Thanks for the pic, as I was just about to google his name.

[tyro]

You go, girl!!

T

[+ FreshFluff]

Thanks, Tyro.

 

BVB, Raul Carillo is not his real name; I try not to use real names on publicly searchable boards.

 

And he pales in comparison to you, BVB sweetheart.

[Lohengrin1979]

Merry Christmas indeed. More of my flights, minus the mixup, need to be like this.

 

 

Lohengrin

[bigvalboy]

Thanks, Tyro.

 

BVB, Raul Carillo is not his real name; I try not to use real names on publicly searchable boards.

 

And he pales in comparison to you, BVB sweetheart.

Thanks FF, and smart girl....and most fair for Mr. Carillo, or whatever his real name is.

[+ newatthis]

Unlike Freshfluff, American did me dirty this time around. I'm a fan of theirs, but they screwed up big time on my return from Hawaii recently. The details are intricate and boring. I won't recount them in detail, but they forced me to spend almost an hour and a half of prime beach time on the phone, mostly on hold. They claimed everything was taken care of after the first hour, so I hied myself off to the beach. When I returned, the condo office spent 20 minutes attempting to print out my boarding pass to no avail, resulting in the second stint on hold. Their excuse? "The system had a glitch just as you were being reticketed." They did, at my insistence, stay on the line while I walked back to the condo office and had the boarding pass printed out.

 

Since my upgrade cleared and I got to experience their "Aloha service," things could have been worse.

[+ poolboy48220]

I once spent an flight from Phoenix to Detroit seated next to a turkey hunter who couldn't stop talking about it.

 

My youngest sister and husband flew from Minneapolis to Detroit on Christmas Day. Their flight was delayed, due to an altercation between some other passengers and an attendant; she said the crew came on the PA and acted as if they'd saved the passengers from terrorists, instead of some unpleasant people with oversized luggage. Some problem with the air pressure on the plane prevented it from getting to its normal cruising altitude resulting in a rough and scary flight. I picked them up at the airport, several hours late, and that was when the youngest sister first learned that dinner was some bizarre chicken dish my older sister (not a great cook) wanted to try, rather than my mother's traditional turkey. We got to the older sister's house, where the kids were tearing up the house after having to wait several hours to open presents. Presents behind us, the older sister announced "everyone's been nibbling all day, I'm just going to put the chicken away and we'll have it another night" - leaving the three of us who'd been on planes or at the airport, unfed.

 

That was only the start of a truly horrible holiday week that also involved the death of an aunt, a backed-up drain and semi-flooded basement, and picking up a friend released from jail/rehab who spent the entire bus ride home from mid-Michigan drinking.

 

Oh, and the next year, for Christmas dinner at the same sister's, I brought along a Banquet frozen turkey dinner.

[+ FreshFluff]

Poolboy, ugh, sounds like a frustrating trip. And after all that hassle, not being fed at home must have been the last straw. I hope you went out and got some Chinese (many Chinese restaurants are open on Christmas day) or at least something from 7/11.

 

Hope your time with your family is better than the trip!

[+ FreshFluff]

Mr. Carillo is stunning.

 

BVB, you were right. Google shows that Raul is a former runway/print model who appeared in a Giorgio Armani campaign and editorial spreads in several big fashion and men's magazines. Like many who age out of modeling, he found another way to stay in that world.

 

Like many models, he looks very different in his fashion spreads--larger than life and glamorous.

 

I lucked out this time as I had a single middle seat. Next time, I might end up next to Poolboy's turkey hunter!

[bigvalboy]

BVB, you were right. Google shows that Raul is a former runway/print model who appeared in a Giorgio Armani campaign and editorial spreads in several big fashion and men's magazines. Like many who age out of modeling, he found another way to stay in that world.

 

Like many models, he looks very different in his fashion spreads--larger than life and glamorous.

 

I lucked out this time as I had a single middle seat. Next time, I might end up next to Poolboy's turkey hunter!

 

Well FF, word on the street is that you could have gotten young Mr. Carillo without a problem....speaking of which, I have gotten quite lucky myself on a recent sojourn to the Caymans, but we'll leave that story for another time.

[+ FreshFluff]

speaking of which, I have gotten quite lucky myself on a recent sojourn to the Caymans, but we'll leave that story for another time.

 

I hope you didn't spend more money on him/her than on me!

 

Seriously, tell us!

[Tighty]

I yelled at the bitch seated beside me. She wanted me to get up so that she can get out and get her luggage. Problem is the plane was not even at the gate yet been though lots of idiots were up opening the cabin. Ugh, I'm gonna save this year to at least fly premium economy.

[+ Chris Eisenhower]

I yelled at the bitch seated beside me. She wanted me to get up so that she can get out and get her luggage. Problem is the plane was not even at the gate yet been though lots of idiots were up opening the cabin. Ugh, I'm gonna save this year to at least fly premium economy.

 

Pick one of the rows that just has two seats. You and your seatmate tend not to irritate each other as much.

[bigvalboy]

I hope you didn't spend more money on him/her than on me!

 

Seriously, tell us!

 

Well truth-be-told, I did. So sorry FF, but I'm a sucker for a pretty face, and besides, he said all the right things. As for the full story, this is neither the time nor the place my darling....

[+ Gar1eth]

I hope you didn't spend more money on him/her than on me!

 

 

... this is neither the time nor the place my darling....

 

Do we need to get you two a private room?

 

http://global-4-lvs-colossus.opera-mini.net/hs02-01/3412/1/-1/www.sl-designs.com/289299283/0smiley_winking.jpg

 

Gman

[Tighty]

Pick one of the rows that just has two seats. You and your seatmate tend not to irritate each other as much.

 

I was on the side with just 2 seats. I'm becoming a grumpy old man. Lol.

[+ Gar1eth]

I once spent an flight from Phoenix to Detroit seated next to a turkey hunter who couldn't stop talking about it.

 

My youngest sister and husband flew from Minneapolis to Detroit on Christmas Day. Their flight was delayed, due to an altercation between some other passengers and an attendant; she said the crew came on the PA and acted as if they'd saved the passengers from terrorists, instead of some unpleasant people with oversized luggage. Some problem with the air pressure on the plane prevented it from getting to its normal cruising altitude resulting in a rough and scary flight. I picked them up at the airport, several hours late, and that was when the youngest sister first learned that dinner was some bizarre chicken dish my older sister (not a great cook) wanted to try, rather than my mother's traditional turkey. We got to the older sister's house, where the kids were tearing up the house after having to wait several hours to open presents. Presents behind us, the older sister announced "everyone's been nibbling all day, I'm just going to put the chicken away and we'll have it another night" - leaving the three of us who'd been on planes or at the airport, unfed.

 

That was only the start of a truly horrible holiday week that also involved the death of an aunt, a backed-up drain and semi-flooded basement, and picking up a friend released from jail/rehab who spent the entire bus ride home from mid-Michigan drinking.

 

Oh, and the next year, for Christmas dinner at the same sister's, I brought along a Banquet frozen turkey dinner.

 

I don't mean to criticize - ok- I guess I do. But what person knowing that guests were expecting dinner- even if they later decided the main meal would be better another day- wouldn't make sure the guests were fed in some satisfying way- especially if they knew someone had been stuck at an airport/on a plane where there may have been very little food? ( My parents don't drive anymore. And when I call them to tell them I've landed and am on my way to their place, my mother either asks me then or when I get to their place whether I've had anything to eat or not.) And why if someone knew that people wanted/ expected turkey as a family tradition for a holiday wouldn't either #1. Make sure everyone was ok with the substitution or #2. Make the experimental dish for the day after Christmas?

 

But I'm sure she probably has some nice qualities too.

 

Gman

[+ Funguy]

I know someone just like her - in her own world, does what she wants - and I don't go to her house for dinner anymore even tho she is a relative! And no nice qualities!

[+ poolboy48220]

To come to the defense of my sister She had told the local family about the menu change, but the sister who was travelling in hadn't heard about it yet. She found out on the ride back from the airport, when she questioned the side dish I'd brought to complement the chicken, and her face when she said "We're not having Mom's turkey?" was priceless. And the hostess had been dealing with her increasingly-frantic kids and the rest of the family while we were delayed at the airport, so I can understand her being a bit frazzled and overlooking the three of us. My mother was pretty mad at the situation but as our family's way, she vented to the younger sister and me the next day

 

It's gone down as just another family story to tell - all you have to mention is "apple walnut chicken".

 

She suggested not doing turkey again this year a few weeks before Christmas and was overruled. I was hosting this year and sent her a couple alternatives but she wasn't interested in any, so...I made turkey.

[+ FreshFluff]

Do we need to get you two a private room?

 

http://global-4-lvs-colossus.opera-mini.net/hs02-01/3412/1/-1/www.sl-designs.com/289299283/0smiley_winking.jpg

 

Gman

 

We had one reserved at the Four Seasons but BVB spent the money on his island boy.

[bigvalboy]

We had one reserved at the Four Seasons but BVB spent the money on his island boy.

 

Guilty as charged.....

[Bosguy]

Do we need to get you two a private room?

 

http://global-4-lvs-colossus.opera-mini.net/hs02-01/3412/1/-1/www.sl-designs.com/289299283/0smiley_winking.jpg

 

Gman

 

Gman. You hit the nail on the head. A campy interchange with little or nothing to due with the thread. I guess BVB is hiring again after posting previously in an emphatic manner that he wasn't. Guess his sojourn must have changed him.

 

Boston Bill

[bigvalboy]

Gman. You hit the nail on the head. A campy interchange with little or nothing to due with the thread. I guess BVB is hiring again after posting previously in an emphatic manner that he wasn't. Guess his sojourn must have changed him.

 

Boston Bill

 

FF...allow me to apologize for the rather tasteless, and unfortunate comment from BB. Pay him no mind. He knows not of what he speaks. You must understand that he means well, but just doesn't share our...well....let me just leave it at that. AND the truth of the matter is, had the island boy been less indulgent, then of course a room at the Four Seasons would have been in order. Cheers, mon ami...

 

And for those that guessed that the "island boy" was a hire...guess again.