My First Airline Trip with the "Frugal Travel Dude"
Posted by Rick Monday, February 13, 2012, No Comments
Today is the big day for Carter’s first flight. We have four award tickets and an “infant in arms” from Columbia, South Carolina, through Atlanta to St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.
Shannon, hubby Chris, and my grandson were originally planning on joining us in Hawaii this past December, but Carter’s mom, Shannon, voted for a shorter first flying experience and a few more months under his belt before taking wings. Carter will be five months old this week and I can’t wait to hang out in our goofy beach hats and shades at the Westin Resort on St. Johns. Grammy Katybug and “PapaDada” have babysitting duties on the island while Chris and Shannon get in some snorkeling and diving. We can’t wait.
Its been 25 years since I’ve done the baby thing and have found myself more and more intolerant of babies on airplanes. If I know my grandson, he will not disappoint and will probably pitch a fit for all to hear just to put me back in a more tolerant frame of mind. Way to go, buddy. My last poopy diaper was almost 30 years ago when our soon-to-be-lawyer Andrew took out the last six rows of a Northwest Airlines flight. I had to just walk away and have his mom handle the problem. so to speak. This time, I will be invoking the Grandpa Rule, which clearly states that I am exempt from diaper duty unless in a dire emergency and no other capable adult is present. I was granted the Grandpa Rule prior to birth and will hold all the other family members accountable for following the established guidelines.
With shorter flights, only a one-hour time zone change, and flight times that kind of fit Carter’s schedule, I expect we’ll make it OK and have five great family days on the beach. I am just like a little kid when I’m hanging with Carter. We jibber, talk baseball, politics, and financial planning matters. It is still a little early for college choices and continuing my earlier talk about “girls,” but we”ll have plenty of fun.
UPDATE: Carter slept all the way to Atlanta and has been a joy. Katybug got a little fuzzy so we hope she’ll sleep on the way to St Thomas. Shannon is a great Mom amd Chris and I. are just chillin’ We’re on vacation 
Earn the miles, use the miles. This one is all miles and points. Four award tickets and five nights in two rooms at the resort on Starwood Preferred Guest points.
Mommy Points, if it doesn’t go well, can Shannon, Katybug, and I email for tips on the return trip? Thanks for all you do for family travelers. I’m back in your kiddie ballpark now and loving every minute.
And in the diversity of this blog, Andrew is reporting in from Madagascar and South Africa on Wednesday. I’ve seen some of the photos and read the posts. He is definitely in a different league than I am when it comes to going the route of the locals. I hope we can get all his photos in the next couple weeks. And he hasn’t even made it to his safari yet.
30,000 Delta Miles No First Year Fee
