Well... I know there are pimps here that have done far more traveling than I...

If you're inexperienced though, I'd like to let you know what you have to look forward to...

I flew with those nice (sarcasm) folks of Delta (their counter people anyway... I wanted to strangle the first gate agent for being a real prick. Flight attendants were cool)

My first flight, they couldn't find a place to park the plane when I touched down in Utah... so we sat there for awhile... We arrived late.

My second flight from UT to CA... they had to de-ice the plane, but we had to wait in a line of other planes, and it took them awhile... We arrived late.

My flights back...

The flight from CA to UT... they couldn't close the door... they had to call a mechanic to fix the door... we arrive late.

Flight home... they couldn't find a crew to man the plane... we had to turn around and go back to the terminal for a bit until they located everyone... we got on, and they had to change out a person... we arrived late...

Now then...that's just the planes...

Hotel:

IF YOU STAY WITH THE EMBASSY SUITES::: THE SHUTTLE WILL TAKE YOU TO ANYWHERE IN A SIX MILE RADIUS!

The reason I mention this is I didn't have a rental car, so I had to rely on people who did, to get me to where I needed to go. I found this out on the LAST DAY just as I was heading to the airport...

Secondly... It seems like the hotels these days seem to have a proprietary television system... I hooked my N64 up to the RCA jacks, and I couldn't get a channel that would allow me to see my game!

So I took up space in my luggage for somethin' I couldn't do jack with...

To add insult to injury, they put this big plastic thing over the Coaxial connections to make sure you can't take them off and hook up your sh*t.

If you plan on visiting family while you're on said business trip... LEAVE A LOT OF ROOM IN YOUR LUGGAGE...

I packed my suitcase to the gills just 'cause I picked a small suitcase... so naturally... between the crap the company gave me (paperwork/ notebooks/ etc...) and all the crap my family gave me (ie..."Here you go Dave, your Dad left this with me seven years ago, figured he might want it back." ... and it was a big ol' Tom Clancy hardback novel)

I didn't have to take off my shoes when I wore my Converse All-Stars. There isn't enough metal in them to set off the sensors. I got through John Wayne airport with 'em on... so...

LUGGAGE:

They searched my luggage every damn flight... I found out if you package everything in clear plastic bags it's supposed to help, but also, they messed with my digital camera (It still works, but I can tell someone was messing with it), so be careful leavin' your electronic crap in the suitcase...

DELTA SELF CHECK-IN...

In Cali, I was kind of intimidated by the Delta Self Check in... no instruction, so I figured if anyone is travelin', this gal was kind enough to explain it to me (fellow traveler), so I'd like to pass it on.

Put your credit card in the reader (even if it wasn't the one you booked the flight with) and it'll print off your boarding pass off your name.

It doesn't require a sky-miles card or anything. Just anything with a magnetic strip it can read with your name on it.

When traveling, sign up for their stupid programs...

By the time I finish my next level of training (and I still have a bunch more training I have to take), I'll have a free night on Embassy Suites... Which my girl and I are planning on traveling on my vacation.

Anyway... I know I'll be adding more, but I'm just waking up, and I have to do a ton of crap to catch up from the week I was gone.

Oh... and flying with a hangover is NOT a good idea... you feel every damn movement of the plane... I never get motion sickness, but I was having hell not makin' use of the "little baggies".

I guess I should add, don't let your coworkers bait you with the "I bought you that drink, man... drink up!"
And for the love of God, if you do... try to have eaten something earlier in the day!

It may not sound that hard, but after living off exotic (to me) food for the last few days, my gut just wanted a break.

I'm doing this again next month... so I'll have more soon... but all in all, I'm finding out why people hate business travel so much!