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Quest's blog: On the road

By CNN's Richard Quest

The view from the balcony.

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Biz Traveller

Richard Quest

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Manage Alerts | What Is This?

(CNN) -- Posted: May 8, 2006
Forum: read comments

When I last wrote, it was still up for grabs whether I would go to Hawaii. I did. A quick flight across from LAX-OGG on UA.

Everyone in the office made very nasty noises that I was going somewhere so lovely. I wish! Five hours there. Five hours back and I only spent 36 hours on Maui.

There was no laying on a beach. No sunset pina coladas and I had to beg and grovel to be allowed to travel first class, since it is against corporate travel policy on U.S. domestic trips.

Even though my return was a red-eye and I connected onto London on another overnight flight!

(By the way -- that breaks my usual rule of trying never to have two red eye flights on consecutive nights. At 44, its too hard on my mind and body!!)

I think management must have caught the desperate tone of my e-mail. They finally agreed. (Ha! Chalk up one victory for the Road Warrior!!)

Incidentally, why is it that everyone back home thinks it must be such a good wheeze going to all these places. Don't get me wrong, I very much enjoy it and fight hard to get these trips, but I do resent the idea that I must be on some sort of holiday when I'm actually on a business trip. I am sure you get the same reaction.

Let me know how your colleagues react when you get to go somewhere lovely (although I think I can guess).

Anyway -- I left Maui, got back to LAX, changed planes and flew to London -- UA again. Then they told me I was off to Portugal for the Quest show.

Now I am in Faro, Portugal (LGW-FAO via BA franchise GB Airways -- my miles will go to my AAdvantage account, although it won't be many since it's a discounted economy ticket.

A very acceptable two-and-a-half hour BA flight except for the rather disgusting sandwich. Gave me a nasty bout of heartburn! I should have just had a biscuit and cup of tea! Return will be FAO-LIS-LHR via TP with miles to my UA account.

So it's Sunday night and I am sitting on the balcony of my hotel writing this. It's a lovely evening. Hmm. Something tells me now I understand why they are making nasty comments back at base. I might have just shot myself in the foot with this blog.

Forum

From: Mark
Posted: 14 May, 2006
Comment: Richard, I get exactly the same remarks! Problem is I get them from my wife! My colleagues know what I do and how strenuous it is and if they do not believe me, sometimes I take one along. After that never ever do I hear any nasty remark again! My trade is I consult governments and individuals in matters of counter-terrorism and aviation (the guys that have the 767s, A340s and way beyond as private jets...), my clients for some reason are cheeky (most have something to do with my daily fee ;-) ) and so want to start working as soon as I hit the ground (at least speeds up immigration processes! ;-) ) and stop working at the cut off time for my return flight and between that it usually starts at 5 a.m. and runs until 7 p.m. Vacation????? Unless you are one hell of a masochist it is certainly not a vacation! In addition to that our company policy is that only unless with special approval there is no business class. That is hell! Imagine almost 200K miles in economy... the only advantage is when it's the same price I can charter small aircraft and that gives me back the fun! As you can see on the Atlantic Crossing link on my website www.opmiso.com. Best wishes and safe travels!
PS: Whenever your job becomes available (at least that would be business sometimes) let me know where to apply!

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