Mrs. TBF To The Rescue....

...again!

I'm happy to report that the "issues" concerning my Chicago itinerary have been resolved.

To make a long story short...

I tell Mrs. TBF that it will cost over CHF 1,000 to change my itinerary so that I can leave Chicago on October 28th instead of the 25th...

Mrs. TBF calls her special-double-secret-probabtion, Executive Club Gold/Platinum/any other precious metals phone number and speaks with a representative...

Mrs. TBF has "words" with said representative and asks to speak with her manager...

Unlike the underling, the manager THINKS OUTSIDE THE BOX and says "...let's see if there's something else we can do."

Instead of paying CHF 1,096/"nothing else we can do" to switch my return flight from Chicago, the manager says Mrs. TBF can use 25,000 miles to upgrade me from Business Class to First Class, plus no change fee.

TBF is happy he gets to stay in Chicago an extra three days, and, more importantly for British Airways...

Mrs. TBF is happy!

A Lesson Learned!

I called British Airways a little while ago to see if I could change the date of my end-of-October return flight from Chicago to Basel. When I booked the flight in August, I made the reservation so that it would coincide with one of Mrs. TBF's many business trips to the U.S. This way, we could sit together on our flights to and from the U.S.

Awwwwwwwwww... Aren't we cute??

Naturally, as often happens in the world of bidness, Mrs. TBF's itinerary has changed due to factors beyond her control. We'll still be flying to the U.S. together, but her schedule change now necessitates her remaining in the U.S. for a couple of days after my scheduled return. But, no problem, right? I just figured I'd call BA and change my ticket and stay in Chicago a few extra days. Right?

Wrong!

Yes, I could change my ticket. However, coming back three days later would cost an extra 1,000 bucks, and I'm just not willing to pay the extra money. So, my trip to Chicago will stay at ten nights instead of thirteen. Oh well... lesson learned.

From now on, I book my trips to Chicago based on when I want to go and return.

Hi-Yo Silver!!!

Today was an excellent mail day!!!

Kind of sad, isn't it? I actually rate mail days...

The mailman buzzed me from downstairs and informed me that he was leaving our recently ordered box of Nespresso capsules in the lobby.

coffee...Coffee...COFFEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Hey! But that's not all!

When I went down to grab the Nespresso box, I also checked the mailbox and found that I had received my new British Airways SILVER Executive Club card.

I'M SILVER, PEOPLE!!!!

Of course, Mrs. TBF has to ruin my fun by pointing out that since I always fly business class on overseas flights anyway, I'm allowed to use Fast Track and the lounge even without having Silver status. Which I then counter by saying: "HA! But now I'll earn BONUS MILES on all of my flights on BA. Ha!"!

...HA!

Of course, then I'm reminded that Mrs. TBF has GOLD status, and that she can use the First Class Lounge. The only way I can use it is if I go in as her guest.

That's it!

I'M GOING FOR GOLD!!!

Comfort Food

We've had yet another brush with celebrity.

I was enjoying my 1.5 hour snooze on the sofa in the Concorde Lounge at Heathrow when Mrs. TBF woke me up (the NERVE!!!) to tell me that our flight would be boarding soon (oh...thanks!).

Oh...and by the way, Mrs. TBF...thanks for the flattering photo. Revenge WILL be sweet!

While I was wiping away the crud from my eyes and the drool from my cheeks, I glanced over Mrs. TBF's shoulder and noticed a BA employee fawning over a man who looked very familiar. I heard the BA lady say "Just let me know if there's anything at all I can do for you...." and the celeb-dar in my groggy brain began beeping.

The man just sat there staring straight ahead as if he was in a trance, so he didn't notice me staring, trance-like, at him. I stared, rubbed my eyes, stared a bit more, and then it hit me...

MEAT LOAF!!!

I noticed on his official website that he had performed in London the night before, so I'm 100% sure it was him.

He was sitting with a lady, but he didn't say one word to her. He just sat there, staring straight ahead, like a zombie. Was he tired from the previous night's performance? Hungover? Sleeping pills? Who knows? I guess selling over 70 million albums, appearing in a bunch of movies, and touring relentlessly is hard work.

...I wouldn't know.

But I'm happy to announce that the 13-month brush with celebrity drought is officially over!

We Saw A Sign...

...on a Christian academy in Arlington Heights, Illinois yesterday that said:

JESUS CHRIST IS KING!

So now that we've suddenly discovered that our cat is Jesus Christ, we figured it was about time we got headin' back to Switzerland so we can show him some love.

It's approaching 7 p.m. in Chicago, and we're just sittin' here in the BA Lounge enjoying a couple of cool drinks and looking at the beautiful blue Chicago sky waiting for our 8:25 flight to London.

We feel like we've been away from home for a looooooooooooong time! I guess it HAS been two weeks, but it actually feels longer than that; maybe it's because we've crammed so many things into the past fourteen days.

I have to admit that I could stay here (a lot) longer, but Mrs. TBF has to get back to work, AND...we don't want to tick-off Jesus.

Talk to all youse guyses soon!

Next Stop Chi Town...

I'll be up bright and early tomorrow morning for my 6:45 flight to London. I fly British Airways (with whom Mrs. TBF is very angry at the moment) to London, and then I connect to a flight on American Airlines to Chicago; used the rest of Mrs. TBF's Aadvantage miles.

This is the first time in a long time that I haven't flown British Airways overseas, and while I usually enjoy my American Airlines experience, I'm not looking forward to having to switch terminals at Heathrow. But hey...the ticket was free, so why complain?

I'm completely packed, the taxi has been ordered for 5:15 a.m., my transfer from O'Hare to my sister's house in the suburbs has been arranged, and I've given Mrs. TBF a refresher course on how to use the washing machine (...I'm not kidding!). So, everything is good to go.

I always look forward to going to Chicago, but I'm really looking forward to this trip because...

I'll be going to Wrigley Field this Friday to see the Cubs battle the Pirates. Our friend Dave called last week to see if I'd be interested in sitting in the first row, right behind the Cubs' dugout.

WHO WOULDN'T????

I have to admit that I looked at the Cubs' roster, and...I only recognize the names of three players. When the heck did they get rid of Ernie Banks and Billy Williams???

Anyway...

If you happen to be watching the Cubs on TV this Friday, look for the big bald guy sitting behind the home dugout. I'll try to remember to wave.

Traveling On British Airways...

...in the near future? Please keep your eyes open for my suitcase because I STILL DON'T HAVE IT!! Yup...I arrived in Basel on June 28th (nearly two weeks ago!), and IT'S STILL MISSING!!!

It might be at Heathrow...or Chicago, but I can't be sure.

It's black.

Does that help?

How The Other Half Lives...

One post below this one, you can read about my recent travel woes. Here's the short recap: flight delay...seat mate who would not shut up...missed connection...six-hour wait at Heathrow...bag did not make it to Basel...still waiting for my bag FIVE DAYS LATER!!!

When I was at the BA desk getting a boarding pass for the later flight to Basel, the BA employee gave me a 10-pound voucher that I could use to buy food anywhere at Heathrow. I wasn't really expecting it, and it was a rather pleasant surprise. I ended up getting a massive cappucino, a couple of sandwiches, and a little tin of breath mints at the Costa coffee shop. The delay wasn't really that bad, and I thought it was a nice gesture. That was, until I got home and saw a letter from British Airways addressed to Mrs. TBF. Here's what was written on the letter:

Dear Mrs [TBF}

I am sorry about the entertainment system on your flight.

It is an important part of the British Airways service to help you relax and enjoy your time aboard, and you have every right to expect the entertainment equipment to work smoothly. I have informed our maintenance manager and I know he will follow it up with his team.

By way of an apology, I have arranged for your Executive Club account to be credited with 15000 BA Miles.

I hope that this did not spoil your flight and that you will fly British Airways again next time.

Yours sincerely

Kathika M[-------]
Customer Relations

For the record: Mrs. TBF didn't even complain about her entertainment system not working. It was during the safety announcements (that Mrs. TBF was apparently not paying attention to) that a flight attendant noticed that her screen was not working. Mrs. TBF was reading and listening to her iPod and had really no intention of even using the entertainment system. The flight attendant tried rebooting the entire system two times to no avail. She apologized profusely, and then apparently reported the incident to Executive Club who saw to it that Mrs. TBF receive extra BA miles for her "trouble".

Let's see now...

I had to deal with a flight delay that resulted in me missing my connection, FILLIS!, standing in line at Heathrow to be rebooked onto a later flight to Basel, six hours of waiting at Heathrow, and I'm still waiting for my bag to arrive five days later. For my troubles? 10 pounds!

Mrs. TBF was "inconvenienced" by a faulty entertainment system that she had no intention of even using (and probably wouldn't have even noticed wasn't working), and she receives 15,000 BA miles!

If I end up filing a claim for my missing suitcase, BA will pay!

Oh, yes...BA WILL PAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!