Cathy Classics by Cathy Guisewite for July 02, 2010
July 01, 2010
July 03, 2010
Transcript:
Cathy: We could have paid $220 for vacation plane tickets two weeks ago. But my sweetie insisted on searching for better fares, lower luggage fees, roomier seats and reachable phone reps. Now we're paying $540 to travel to the same destination on a red-eye with three stops and one four-hour layover. Why fly coach when you can spring for the aggravation upgrade?
Allison Nunn Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Too true!
Plods with ...™ almost 14 years ago
Now Cathy can go to the mall and shop for traveling boots.
lightenup Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Next time you need to make the arrangements yourself, Cathy.
peter0423 almost 14 years ago
Fer Lefer: “Red-eye” refers to having to fly in the middle of the night and getting too little sleep – so you end up with bloodshot eyes, hence “red-eye”. (Also frayed nerves and a sour stomach…but sometimes you have no choice about flight times. No fun.)
DolphinGirl78 almost 14 years ago
I’m glad that my flights weren’t too bad going to Florida and coming back… One layover both ways. Just the last flight got delayed yesterday, but considering everything that could have gone wrong, I was lucky. Glad I made it home in one piece!
Nelly55 almost 14 years ago
I literally cannot sleep on a plane. I will stay home before I take a red-eye flight.
avonsalis almost 14 years ago
Irving: let this be a lesson to you, guy!!
Red-eye flights are the norm to Europe. Otherwise you waste 8AM-9PM (local times) on the eastbound plane, landing just as it’s time to start thinking about bedtime - but, after losing 6 hours out of your day, not being sleepy yet. Brutal as it sounds to have a night that’s short by 6 hours, the red-eye actually makes sense compared to a day flight. I got used to it. Waking up in Europe *is* awfully nice.
But then my boss poisoned the very word “red-eye” for me. I had to fly to San Francisco from NYC one Wednesday evening for a Thursday conference. My boss said to fly home Thursday night … if I could’ve counted on a plane at 3:30 I’d get to NYC around midnight, but more likely I’d have to catch a 10pm red-eye flight that gets to NYC before breakfast, with less than 6 hours in the air to try to sleep. That way, he could have me for a full day’s work at the office Friday.
I told him I’d save him 50% ($400) on airfare by staying over a Saturday night in SF, at a friend’s house (for free), if he’d just give me Friday off. After all, I’d already have worked on the westbound plane til 3am (NYC time) on Wednesday night. Plus, after a Thursday redeye flight I wouldn’t be good for much quality work Friday. He said Nope, I could use a vacation day if I wanted to stay over. (Amazing guy.)
We ended up “compromising.” I got debited a half vacation day; he got his $400 discount.
I played with my friend in SF for two full days, but I can never again hear the word “red-eye” without cringing.