I really enjoyed the P.S. Service on United from LAX-JFK. Big leather seats, extra touches before takeoff, hot towel , juice or champagne, ear plugs and eye shades. Slept like a baby and ran into the Flying Critic in the RCC at JFK. I had the day off, so we talked for about two hours about this crazy hobby and all the great trips we have had because of it. Be sure to check out The Flying Critic blog. By the way, the shuttle from JFK to LGA was $13 one way. I’d allow one hour at least.
It is a 4 AM wake up for the 6AM flight LGA to ORD and then a full flight to Anchorage with an ideal bump opportunity. I’ll volunteer while in NYC for the later segment and also the returns later that day. The return from SFO to ORD is also overbooked so I’ve got 2 chances to score.
I’m well rested and have an upgrade from ANC to SFO in the afternoon. If I do catch a bump on the way up, they will reroute me and I can get the 7:56 PM departure from ANC and still be back to Grand Rapids the morning of the 13th.
June 12th AM Update
I’m sitting at LaGuardia for the 6 AM flight which I will take to get to Chicago. The ORD-ANC flight is oversold at 156 seats and 174 seats sold. I am first on the volunteer list. That further confirms overselling by 10% actually a little higher. I have volunteered for this flight, the return from ANC -SFO and SFO to ORD, but if I get the first bump, I will not be connecting through SFO. It will be a return through either Denver at 11:25PM or ORD at 7:56 PM connecting to my original flight to Grand Rapids. I will go to the gate well armed with the available flights which are all booked close to capacity. I will also suggest that they send me home to Traverse City and save the drive and car rental. As over booked as this flight is, I’m fairly sure if there are no misconnects due to weather, I’ll get to fly into TVC.
And I will not turn down a “double dip”. A bump off my bump and it looks very feasible.
Wish me Good Luck
