Matthew@fun

Hello world,

I am back home this week for Illinois' General Primary Election on Tuesday.  I forgot to register in Chicago, so I took the train on Wednesday to vote and also participate in the election as an election judge.  Also known as elections inspector, elections officer or poll worker, basically I'm the person who hands out the ballots.  I have to be at the polling place by 5 am and I probably won't get back home until 9 or 10 pm.

In other news, I have decided to change my e-mail address to my initials at live.com [spam spiders have apparently found my e-mail address, so if you would like to know, please message me], so please add me to your contact/Messenger list.  I have made this change because I get too much junk at my Hotmail alias.  My new alias is synced up to my mobile phone through Windows Live for Windows Mobile, so I will be able to respond to messages on the go and also instant message.  My Hotmail alias will still be accepting mail, and I will still continue to check it, but I want to use the Live alias for all things personal.  That way I won't miss a message from you because there's too many newsletters or other junk.  If you would like to give Windows Live a test drive yourself, go to http://www.windowslive.com/.  TrueSwitch has an excellent service that can import your contacts, e-mail, and calendar!

I will be returning to Chicago on Thursday evening, and I can't wait to get back.  I've been busy pretty much everyday helping do things for my parents or friends.  My parents and I all got new Samsung BlackJack's because of an antenna issue, and they've all been upgraded to Windows Mobile 6, yay!

I'll be happy to relax once I get back to Chicago.

@Matthew

Woo-hoo, I just booked a flight for Peyton at 65% off the retail price!!  I didn't even think it would work, I was trying $115 to see the counter-bids I would get.  However, the price was accepted on United non-stop service from Chicago O'Hare to Greenville/Spartanburg, SC.  The retail price for those same flights are $397.30, for both non-stop American [$381 base] or United [$354.43 base].  The lowest fare is out of Milwaukee on Delta with a connection through Atlanta or Cincinnati for $193.60 [$158 base fare].

 

Confirm Itinerary Details and Charges Departing Flight Information - Saturday, December 8, 2007 United Airlines Flight 7172 1h 46m, 577 mi Chicago- O'Hare Intl (ORD) Chicago, IL Departs: 9:04 AM To Greenville Spartanburg (GSP) Greer, SC Arrives: 11:50 AM Aircraft Canadair Regional Jet (Jet) Economy/Coach Class Returning Flight Information - Sunday, December 16, 2007 United Airlines Flight 7198 2h 10m, 577 mi Greenville Spartanburg (GSP) Greer, SC Departs: 12:20 PM To Chicago- O'Hare Intl (ORD) Chicago, IL Arrives: 1:30 PM Aircraft Canadair Regional Jet (Jet) Economy/Coach Class

Passenger and Ticket Information Itinerary Number: 592-926-591-02 Booking ID: 5FCMRX Confirmation Number: S9GSMU - United Airlines Ticket Type: Electronic Ticket Passenger #1: Peyton Marshall  Seat Preference:      Flight 7172: No Seat Preference      Flight 7198: No Seat Preference Ticket Number 1: 0167011727206

Summary Of Charges  Airline Ticket Offer Price:  $115.00 per ticket  Airline Ticket Taxes & Fees:  $23.75 per ticket    Number of Tickets:  1  Airline Ticket Shipping & Handling:  $0.00   (Electronic Ticket)  Airfare Subtotal:  $138.75  Total Trip Cost:  $138.75  Last 4 Digits of Credit Card:    Priceline Customer Service Number:  1-800-340-0575

Lowest Published Airline Ticket Price:  $397.30 per ticket  Your Total Airline Ticket Cost:  $138.75 per ticket  Savings Per Airline Ticket:  $258.55  Total Trip Savings*:  $258.55   (You Saved 65%) * This is your savings on the total cost of your airline ticket(s) when compared to the lowest published airfare available at time of booking for the itinerary and airline shown.

It is the passenger's responsibility to confirm flight information and check-in location prior to each departure. We recommend that you arrive at the airport a minimum of 90 minutes in advance of departure for domestic flights and at least 2 hours in advance of departure for international flights. If you fail to arrive at your gate on time, the airline has the right to cancel your reservation and make you ineligible for denied boarding compensation. If you choose not to take any of the flights for which you are ticketed, the airlines will automatically cancel the remainder of your reservation.

All adults, 18 and over, are required to show valid photo identification when traveling domestically (examples include a driver's license, passport or state identification card). If you are traveling outside the U.S., all travelers, including persons under age 18, are required to present a valid passport, and you may also need to show additional documentation at your destination and/or in connecting countries.

Carry-on and checked baggage guidelines vary by airline, we recommend that you check your airline's Web site for answers to specific baggage questions. Airlines will not always guarantee seat assignments prior to airport check-in. If there is not a seat assignment printed on your ticket and/or itinerary, your carrier will assign one at the airport on the day of departure

For requirements due to disability, requests for special meals, or questions about traveling with pets, skis, etc., call your airline in advance so they are prepared to meet your needs. Please note - Priceline cannot guarantee that special needs requests will be met. Special meals are not available on all airlines and meal service is not guaranteed on all flights.

If your flight is delayed or canceled or you are denied boarding at the airport due to over booking, immediately check with your airline gate agent for information and instructions.

If your journey involves an ultimate destination or stop in a country other than the country of departure, the Warsaw Convention may be applicable and the Convention governs and in most cases limits the liability of carriers for death or personal injury and for loss of or damage to baggage. Also see the notices entitled Advice to International Passengers on Limitation of Liability, and Notice of Baggage Liability Limitations, Notice of Incorporated Terms, Notice - Overbooking of Flights.

Air transportation to be provided between points in the U.S. (including its overseas territories and possessions) is subject to the individual contract terms (including rules, regulations, tariffs, and conditions) of the transporting air carriers, which are herein incorporated by reference and made part of the contract of carriage. Also see the notices entitled Conditions of Contract, Notice of Incorporated Terms, Notice of Baggage Liability Limitations, and Notice of Overbooking.

@Matthew

I'm coming to you now from my Rogers, Arkansas [known for the birth of Wal~Mart], where my Uncle Chuck, his wife Monica, and their son David live.  My father's mother wanted to have everyone together for Thanksgiving.  Although my mother and brother have to work on Thanksgiving, I left on the 16th, and my father is coming down on the 21st.  He's taking the train, Amtrak's Texas Eagle, from Springfield IL to Little Rock AR.  The train leaves at 5:14 PM and arrives at 3:10 AM, although the delay currently averages 13 [min -4, max 55] and 47 [min -17, max 188] minutes, respectively.  My grandparents live in Greenwood, which is near Fort Smith and the Oklahoma border, and at least two hours away from Little Rock.  My cousin that lives in Rantoul IL is going to travel with my father, and both of my uncles are going to pick them up.

It will be nice to have everyone back together again, which hasn't happened in a very long time.  I was going to take the train myself, but the train ticket was $139.40 [after 15% disability discount], and I found a airline ticket for $156 [plus taxes].  Peyton was coming back from Roanoke on the 16th, so I thought it would be perfect if I could find a ticket that leaves after he arrives.  He was coming in at 10:44 AM, and I found a 12:05 PM departure, which was the latest flight I could find at the lowest price.  So I drove his vehicle to O'Hare, parked it nearby in hourly parking, so that he could easily get it and drive back.  That way we wouldn't be wasting twice the amount of gas if we flew on two separate days.  The blue line train that goes from O'Hare to downtown is under construction, so they are running a shuttle between two different stations.  Although it's not that terribly inconvenient, it is a pain when there's luggage in tow.  So this was a great solution for both of us.

Below is my itinerary:

---

Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 07:36:54 +0000
From: webuser@nwa.com
To: MATTHEW_WEYER@HOTMAIL.COM
Subject: Northwest Airlines Trip Summary and Receipt 16NOV #LYO44A

Trip Summary and Receipt Thank you for choosing Northwest Airlines! Below are the flight and E-Ticket details for your confirmed reservation. Sign up for My NWA Info to receive check-in and flight status alerts. Use View / Change Reservations on nwa.com before or during your trip to: Request or change seats for each flight on your trip. Update frequent flyer information in your reservation. Add / View special requests which include wheelchairs and assistance. Make changes to any flight in this itinerary. Review TSA Security Requirements NWA Confirmation Number: LYO44A   Passenger Name E-Ticket Number Frequent Flyer Number WEYER/MATTHEW 0122156584063-064 NW100107034031 0122156639284-285 The following flights are confirmed:   Date: Friday, November 16 Flight: NW 1244 Departs: Chicago-O'Hare Int'l, IL (ORD) at 12:05PM   Arrives: Detroit-Wayne County Int'l, MI (DTW) at 2:24PM Class of Service: Economy Class (K) Seat: 06-A Flight Duration: 1 hour 19 minutes Approximate Miles: 237 Meal Service: None Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas DC9-30 Date: Friday, November 16 Flight: NW 2997 Departs: Detroit-Wayne County Int'l, MI (DTW) at 3:16PM Arrives: Fayetteville, AR (XNA) at 4:35PM Class of Service: Economy Class (K) Seat: 02-D Flight Duration: 2 hours 19 minutes Approximate Miles: 732 Meal Service: None Aircraft: Canadair Regional Jet CRJ Note:   *Operated by PINNACLE AIRLINES/NWA AIRLINK JET Weather forecast for Fayetteville, AR (XNA) Plan your trip to Fayetteville, AR (XNA) Content is provided solely by Frommers.com and the opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Northwest Airlines. Date: Monday, November 26 Flight: NW 2838 Departs: Fayetteville, AR (XNA) at 4:15PM   Arrives: Memphis-Int'l, TN (MEM) at 5:25PM Class of Service: Economy Class (K) Seat: 02-D Flight Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes Approximate Miles: 244 Meal Service: None Aircraft: Canadair Regional Jet CRJ Note:   *Operated by PINNACLE AIRLINES/NWA AIRLINK JET Date: Monday, November 26 Flight: NW 280 Departs: Memphis-Int'l, TN (MEM) at 6:43PM Arrives: Detroit-Wayne County Int'l, MI (DTW) at 9:38PM Class of Service: Economy Class (K) Seat: 05-F Flight Duration: 1 hour 55 minutes Approximate Miles: 621 Meal Service: None Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas DC9-50 Date: Monday, November 26 Flight: NW 1245 Departs: Detroit-Wayne County Int'l, MI (DTW) at 10:29PM Arrives: Chicago-O'Hare Int'l, IL (ORD) at 10:41PM Class of Service: Economy Class (K) Seat: 07-A Flight Duration: 1 hour 12 minutes Approximate Miles: 237 Meal Service: None Aircraft: Airbus A319 The following E-Tickets have been issued: Passenger Name: WEYER/MATTHEW Receipt Information for your E-Ticket Number(s): 0122156584063 - 064 E-Ticket Issue Date: November 07, 2007 Flight Origin-Destination Date Fare Basis Code Status NW 1244 ORD-DTW 16Nov2007 KR7V8N Exchanged NW 2997 DTW-XNA 16Nov2007 KR7V8N Exchanged NW 5773 XNA-MEM 26Nov2007 KR7V8N Exchanged NW 0294 MEM-DTW 26Nov2007 KR7V8N Exchanged NW 1245 DTW-ORD 26Nov2007 KR7V8N Exchanged Base Fare: USD160.93 Tax: 28.00   Tax: 12.07 Tax: 17.00 E-Ticket Total: USD218.00 Method of Payment:    TP************1014 Fare Calculation: 7 CHI NW X/DTT NW FYV80.47NW X/ MEM NW X/DTT NW CHI80.46USD 160.93END NW ZPORDDTWXNAMEMDTW XT10.00AY18.00XF ORD4.5DTW4.5XNA4.5DTW4.5 Other Restrictions: NON-REFUNDABLE PENALTY FOR CHANGES Name/Place of Issue: NWA.COM US E-TICKET TAR MPLS/ST PAUL MN/   Passenger Name: WEYER/MATTHEW Receipt Information for your E-Ticket Number(s): 0122156639284 - 285 E-Ticket Issue Date: November 09, 2007 Flight Origin-Destination Date Fare Basis Code Status NW 1244 ORD-DTW 16Nov2007 KR7V8N Available NW 2997 DTW-XNA 16Nov2007 KR7V8N Available NW 2838 XNA-MEM 26Nov2007 KR7V8N Available NW 0280 MEM-DTW 26Nov2007 KR7V8N Available NW 1245 DTW-ORD 26Nov2007 KR7V8N Available Base Fare: USD160.93 Tax: 28.00   Tax: 12.07 Tax: 17.00 E-Ticket Total: USD218.00 Method of Payment:     Document(s) Used during E-Ticket Issue: 0122156584063   0122156584064 Document(s) value total: USD218.00 Fare Calculation: 7 CHI NW X/DTT NW FYV80.47NW X/ MEM NW X/DTT NW CHI80.46USD 160.93END NW ZPORDDTWXNAMEMDTW XT10.00AY18.00XF ORD4.5DTW4.5XNA4.5DTW4.5 Other Restrictions: NON-REFUNDABLE PENALTY FOR CHANGES Name/Place of Issue: NWA.COM US E-TICKET TAR MPLS/ST PAUL MN/   Add us to Your Address Book & Safe Lists: To ensure that your e-mail Trip Summary and Receipt is not blocked by a filter, please add our "From" e-mail address (webuser@lists.nwa.com) to your address book or safe list. Terms and Conditions - CHECK-IN AND BOARDING REQUIREMENTS: Passengers not checked in at least 30 minutes (except Atlanta, Denver, Tampa, Los Angeles, Washington D.C.-Dulles and Newark which require 45 minutes and Las Vegas which requires 60 minutes) and on-board at least 15 minutes before scheduled departure time for domestic flights; not checked in at least 60 minutes and on-board at least 30 minutes before scheduled departure time for flights to/from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and all other International flights may have their pre-assigned seat assignment and reserved space canceled and will not be eligible for denied boarding compensation. Boarding passes may be obtained at nwa.com check-in, at a Northwest Airlines self-service check-in kiosk or any Northwest check-in position. Please contact the operating carrier for policy information that may differ from Northwest Airlines. LUGGAGE: Free luggage allowance is two pieces of checked luggage and one piece of carry-on luggage. Each passenger is allowed one piece of carry-on luggage, plus a purse or briefcase or laptop. Carry-on luggage must fit underneath the passenger seat or in an overhead compartment and cannot exceed 45 in. (9"x14"x22") or 115 cm (25x35x55). Maximum size per checked piece is 62 in. (158 cm). For First Class and World Business Class passengers, the maximum free weight allowance is 70 lbs. / 32 kgs per piece. For Economy Class passengers, the maximum free weight allowance is 50 lbs. / 23 kgs. The fee for luggage weighing over 50 lbs. / 23 kgs up to 70 lbs. / 32 kgs is: For travel within the 50 U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean – USD $25 / CAD $39 For travel from the 50 U.S., Canada and Mexico to other international destinations – varies by destination. Contact Northwest for International Excess luggage charges. Any luggage in excess of 2 checked pieces or that is overweight and/or oversize is subject to excess luggage charges. Regulations require name identification on outside. Northwest reserves the right to restrict carry-on luggage. Northwest wi! ll not be responsible for money, jewelry, cameras, video and electronic equipment, silverware, negotiable papers, securities, business documents, samples, paintings, antiques, artifacts, manuscripts, furs, other irreplaceable items or items of similar value contained in checked or unchecked luggage. Liability for loss, delay or damage to luggage is limited unless a higher value is declared in advance and additional charges are paid. For travel wholly between U.S. points, luggage liability is limited to $3,000 per passenger. For most international travel (including domestic portions of international journeys), liability is limited to 1000 SDR’s (Special Drawing Rights) per passenger, for checked luggage and unchecked luggage. DOMESTIC TICKET EXPIRATION: Refundable and Nonrefundable tickets expire one year after date of first departure on ticket. Once any ticket expires, Northwest will retain all amounts collected from the passenger as an administrative service charge/cancellation fee. CHANGES & REFUNDS: To make a change to your reservation or to inquire about a refund, if applicable, please visit our website at www.nwa.com. Refer to the fare rules of your ticket for restrictions and limitations. or call nwa.com Website Online Support at 1-800-692-6955. NORTHWEST AIRLINES NOTICE OF INCORPORATED TERMS: Air transportation provided by Northwest Airlines is subject to the Northwest Airlines Passenger Contract of Carriage, (a.k.a. conditions of contract) the terms of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Incorporated terms include but are not restricted to: (1) Limits on liability for personal injury or death. (2) Additional limits on liability for loss, damage, or delay of luggage, including fragile or perishable goods. (3) Claim restrictions, including time periods in which you must file a claim or sue Northwest. (4) Northwest's rights to change terms of the contract. (5) Rules on reservations, reconfirmation, check-in times, refusal to carry, and smoking. (6) Northwest's rights and limits of liability for delay or failure to perform service, including schedule changes, substitution of alternate air carriers or aircraft, and rerouting. (7) Fare rules, including without limitation penalties for changing itinerary or cancellation of your journey on some restricted fares. (8) Overbooking. If we deny you boarding due to an oversale and you have met all check-in time requirements, with few exceptions, we compensate you. (9) Northwest reserves the right to refuse carriage to any person who is not able to produce positive identification. (10) You may inspect the full text of the contract of carriage online at www.nwa.com or at any Northwest airport. You may obtain a full copy of the text of Northwest Airlines terms by writing to Northwest Airlines, Inc., Customer Care, P.O. Box 1908, Minot, ND, 58701, USA. THIS IS A POST-ONLY MAILING. PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS MESSAGE.

® Northwest Airlines 2007

I was very impressed with Northwest's web site.  They even have an itinerary link that constantly displays any updates to the itinerary, including flight status, and the link instantly transfers to the mobile site if browsing on a mobile phone.  Although the reservation system is finicky just like any other airline web site, the web site is still filled with tons of information.  Also, under their "Customers First" program, you can make any changes to your reservation for free until the end of the next day [11:59 PM].  Additionally, since I said I have a disability, I was able to choose any premium seat for free without a premium frequent flier account.  I was able to choose a bulkhead seat, and unlike most airlines that have a hard bulkhead behind first class sets, Northwest only had a top curtain on my plane.  It was awesome, almost as much foot room as a exit row!  I was a bit disappointed there was no pretzels or cookies with the drink, but they did have trail mix and Pringles for $2.  On my second flight, the flight attendant even asked me if I would like anything more to drink, which I thought was nice.  I got a club soda for my stomach, which was a tad upset, but I think it just made things worse.  I was told club soda was better than 7up or the like, but I don't agree, at least for my stomach.

Well, looks like tonight we'll be heading over to see my other uncle, Rodney.  I hope we do something fun, because Chuck and Monica have been busy doing household stuff.  I always use visitors as an excuse to go do something fun, but I guess there's not much to do here other than the Wal~Mart Museum, lol.

@Matthew

I about fell over in my chair this morning when I read the newest "Ding" from Southwest:

Chicago (Midway) to San Francisco for $57-$61 One-Way on Flight 184/680 Only!

- Flight 184/680 is currently scheduled for a morning departure
- Fare is valid for travel Monday-Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 1 through December 18, 2007
- Fare is valid for travel on Flight 184/680 only

Chicago (Midway) to San Francisco for $58-$62 One-Way!

- Fare is valid for travel Monday-Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 1 through December 18, 2007 only

I have never seen such a long distance California flight for that price!  Florida maybe, but no way California.  That is simply amazing, I love Southwest!  I'm assuming this fare is so low because SWA recently restarted service to San Francisco, having utilized Oakland's airport solely for a while now.  There are still a lot of people who want to fly to SFO that think SWA still only services OAK, so the planes could be leaving fairly empty.  Southwest doesn't use any travel agent site like Orbitz for their bookings, so they're entirely reliant on self-advertisement.

A sample itinerary:

Air Itinerary
Trip	Date	Day	Stops	Routing	Flight	Routing Details
Depart	Dec 01	Sat	N/S	MDW-SFO	1837	Depart Chicago (MDW) at 1:05 PM Arrive in San Francisco (SFO) at 3:55 PM
Return	Dec 18	Tue	N/S	SFO-MDW	210	Depart San Francisco (SFO) at 4:50 PM Arrive in Chicago (MDW) at 11:00 PM

Pricing
Passenger Type	Trip	Routing	Type of Fare	Base Fare	U.S. Taxes	PFC	Security Fee1	Passenger(s)	Total
Adult	Depart	MDW-SFO	Ding Fare	$53.95	$7.45	$4.50	$2.50	1	$68.40
	Return	SFO-MDW	Ding Fare	$53.95	$7.45	$4.50	$2.50	1	$68.40
			Total	$107.90	$14.90	$9.00	$5.00		$136.80
1 Security Fee is the government-imposed September 11th Security Fee.

This price expires at 7 PM CDT, so if you want, book soon.  I always recommend people who have flexible travel plans to also check out Priceline's bidding system and Hotwire's no-name cheap flights.

@Matthew

How exciting: item number 230189249580!  I've actually never made an eBay listing before, but Peyton needed my help, and I think I did a good job.  I've never made one before, probably because I usually hold on to things once I buy them.  I am accumulating a lot of junk tho, so I may need to start listing stuff myself.

Peyton bought three laptops for Yerzhan to send to his home country of Kazakhstan.  He went back on July 13, and e-mailed me shortly after he got back asking for my help purchasing some cheap, yet good laptops.  I found some on sale at Best Buy, but we haven't heard from him in a while now.  I don't know what's happened to him, I hope he's okay.

Although there won't be much of a profit on these laptops, Peyton does need to be reimbursed, so he asked me to sell them ASAP.  I tried my best to create the best listing as possible, answering some questions most people would have, and ease cautious buyers.  eBay can be a little overwhelming, especially with certain sellers who are very vague on what they're really selling.  I was pretty detailed, yet cautious myself since there are scammers out there.

I am also going to try Craig's List, Windows Live Expo, and Pricegrabber to see what I can get.  I'll let you know how it goes!  What do you think of my listing?  Anything that would stop you as a potential buyer?

Thanks!
@Matthew

PS--If you do want one of the laptops, please let me know!

Last weekend, my parents came up for a quick trip to Chicago.  I was able to Priceline a 4* hotel in O'Hare for $55/night [the Hyatt Regency].  It was a really nice hotel, and although they had to pay for parking, they were right next to the interstate so it was convenient.  I've stayed at a number of Hyatt's myself, and I really love the brand.  They offer a lot to travelers, including the ability to print your airline boarding pass at the hotel.

Anyway, I decided on short notice to ride back with them since they were driving.  Of course both of them really don't like driving in Chicago, especially my Dad, so I did all of the driving while they were in town and most of the way back home.

Although they were working all week, I still had a good time.  I saw James and Dena on Monday, we went out to eat and did some shopping.  I called a number of my friends, but I guess they were all busy.  Actually one had his phone temporarily turned off since he was a couple dollars over his spending limit.  The poor guy is still on that nasty Sprint!!  Yuck.

This train trip has been superb so far.  Sometimes the car has screaming kids or other annoying passengers, but tonight it's very quiet.  The guy in front of me is watching DVDs without headphones, but at least it's not too loud [although the film must be rated R by how many times they're saying the F word].  I guess most people aren't looking at going to Chicago on a Saturday night.  James and Dena wanted to go with me and take a day trip to Chicago, but all except the morning train was sold out going from Chicago to Champaign-Urbana tomorrow.  Oh well, I told them we should do it in advance anyway since it can be expensive booking last second.

I got a lot done this week, including grabbing some stuff from home I need.  I wanted to grab some winter clothes too, but I think I'll do that another time.  I should have brought all my summer clothes with me when I came down, but I didn't pack beforehand.  Oh well, I have enough clothes as it is, but when I opened my closet at home I was surprised by how many I still have!  Working at WalMart was a bad thing for me, I have way too many clothes, lol!

I also fixed the computers at home, showed my parents how to send picture messages [MMS], and found out that AT&T roams onto T-mobile now.  I think we have a new tower nearby, because I've noticed the phone hopping between towers a lot.  It's caused some problems since our phones will sometimes do too much hopping and the call quality will degrade.  It seems to affect my parents' phones more than mine for some reason tho.  I showed my Dad how to force it onto T-mobile since they have only one tower and he can try out the call quality.  I placed a number of calls today while on T-mobile and it seems to work well.  I'm really considering about switching to T-mobile since they're cheaper and roam for free to AT&T if you get a headset with the 850 MHz band.

Well, we just passed Gilman and are making excellent time.  I think the train is so empty that the people getting on and off aren't slowing it down.  I was running late myself getting to the train station.  I was so concerned since ticketing can close down 5 minutes prior to departure, but I think that's for trains that are leaving the station, not going through it.  I got my ticket with about 3 minutes to spare to scheduled departure, but based upon recent data, the train has even left Champaign-Urbana 5 minutes early.  I was so worried I had my parents park and bring in the luggage while I got my ticket.  The Illini Terminal is so nice, but their brand new QuikTrak machine still isn't working.  Luckily the ticketing agent was really nice, although James says he's been nasty to him before.  Thankfully the train was 10 minutes late, although the train status went from 2 minutes late to on-time after Mattoon.  Phew!  We're still expected to arrive into Chicago 11 minutes early [down from 22, then 19 mins after we stopped for freight twice].

I love the train! <3

                           THIS IS NOT A TICKET                         
==========================================================================  
Reservation Number Is 0C5E33
Subject To Cancellation Unless Ticketed By October 27, 2007                 
==========================================================================  
Weyer, Matthew Mr
 
Train:     392    Illini
Departure:  Champaign-Urbana, Illinois
            Saturday    October 27, 2007     6:49PM
Arrival:    Chicago (Union Station), Illinois
            Saturday    October 27, 2007     9:35PM
Accommodation:   1 Reserved Coach Seat
 
Special Service Has Been Requested
 
Charges:
Total Reservation Charges:      $     11.05
Ticket Delivery Charge:         $      0.00
-------------------------------------------
Total Charges:                  $     11.05
 
 
TICKETING INFORMATION
---------------------
This confirmation notice is not a ticket.  You must obtain a ticket for travel.
 
 
IMPORTANT POLICIES
------------------
*Valid identification is required for all passengers 18 and over.  For detailed information, please visit http://www.amtrak.com/IDrequirements.html or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).
*For important baggage policy information, please visit http://www.amtrak.com/BaggagePolicy.html or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).                                                                      
*Please Note: All Amtrak trains except Auto Train are non-smoking (smoking is permitted on Auto Train in a designated, enclosed smoking area).
 
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
----------------------
* We recommend that you arrive at the station at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure.  Allow additional time if you need help with baggage or tickets.
* If you are traveling on the Auto Train you must check in at least two hours before scheduled departure.                                                                                          
* To change or cancel your reservation, please call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).  Refund fees may apply.  Additional travel, refund or exchange rules may apply if any trip segments have been priced using passenger discounts, promotions and/or fares orders.  Contact Amtrak for full details regarding fare rules and restrictions relating to this reservation.
* Need a hotel?  Amtrak offers great deals for your destination.  Please visit http://www.amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) to learn more.
 
 
HAVE A GREAT TRIP!
------------------
Questions?  Contact us online at http://www.amtrak.com/contactus.html or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).

@Matthew

I found a new web site tool recently: yapta.com.  It's great because with some airlines if you purchase a ticket and the price drops, you usually can get a refund of the difference [minus a $100 or $200 change fee in some cases].  This can amount to a lot of money if the fare later goes on sale drastically [for example, American just put on sale fares from ORD to DTW, MCI, IND, STL, CMH, OMA, and SDF at $62 for travel on Halloween [I guess it's going to be a slow travel day].  So Yapta will track your fares and send you an e-mail as soon as it noticed the fare drop.  This can only last a few hours in some cases, as seat inventory and airline market changes all the time, so it's impossible for a person to do.

I happen to add Peyton's flights to Roanoke, and saw how much the price fluctuated for Dena's flights to Seattle [she's coming back Friday].  Look at the change:

Date	Time	Price Per Person
10/09/07	08:25 AM		Unavailable
10/09/07	12:25 AM		$642.80
10/08/07	04:31 PM		$746.80
10/08/07	08:27 AM		$1050.80
10/05/07	04:42 PM		$687.80
10/02/07	10:59 PM		$583.80
10/01/07	02:52 PM		$432.80
09/29/07	10:07 PM		$402.80
09/29/07	05:48 AM		$372.80
09/27/07	10:59 AM		$402.80
09/26/07	05:27 PM		$372.80
09/26/07	08:30 AM		$402.80
09/26/07	12:30 AM		$372.80
09/25/07	04:33 PM		$402.80
09/25/07	08:30 AM		$372.80
09/25/07	12:25 AM		$402.80
09/24/07	12:30 AM		$372.80
09/23/07	08:26 AM		$342.80
09/21/07	08:36 AM		$372.80
09/21/07	12:36 AM		$342.80
09/19/07	03:07 PM		$372.80
09/18/07	03:06 PM		$302.80
09/17/07	07:00 AM		$289.80
09/15/07	09:27 AM		$302.80
09/14/07	07:03 PM		$362.80
09/14/07	09:30 AM		$341.80
09/13/07	10:21 PM		$386.80
09/13/07	10:58 AM		$384.80
09/12/07	08:50 AM		$369.80
09/09/07	07:02 PM		$339.80
09/09/07	11:07 AM		$309.80
09/06/07	10:09 PM		$339.80
09/06/07	11:11 AM		$278.80
09/03/07	11:03 AM		$339.80
09/02/07	02:51 AM		$309.80
09/01/07	06:52 PM		$339.80
09/01/07	02:56 AM		$334.80
08/31/07	02:55 AM		$325.80
08/28/07	08:28 AM		$334.80
08/25/07	02:59 AM		$364.80
08/21/07	06:51 PM		$334.80
08/21/07	06:51 PM		$258.80	Purchase price

Additionally, look at my flights for Las Vegas:

Date	Time	Price Per Person
10/17/07	10:51 PM		$720.30
10/16/07	02:57 PM		$700.30
10/15/07	02:57 PM		$710.30
10/14/07	10:55 PM		$700.30
10/12/07	10:55 PM		$710.30
10/08/07	10:49 PM		$700.30
09/26/07	05:53 PM		$670.30
09/14/07	11:35 AM		$686.30
09/08/07	01:37 AM		$680.30
09/03/07	10:20 PM		$670.30
08/13/07	07:11 PM		$650.30
08/10/07	03:19 AM		$660.30
08/01/07	03:49 AM		$650.30
07/31/07	05:51 PM		$394.30
07/30/07	08:05 PM		$404.30
07/30/07	08:05 PM		$138.29	Purchase price

Wow - all I can say is wow.  I really like how Southwest has a refundable fare that you see up front and you know how much the maximum price is right away.  Sometimes I've seen some economy tickets that are more expensive than if you bough a first class ticket, it's insane!

I still love traveling...

@Matthew

Talk about cool!  Southwest Airlines is going to completely makeover all of their gates by the first half of 2008.  The new look is what every traveler dreams of: power and USB ports to charge up, a work area with flat screen televisions showing news programming, a separate family area with kids programming - it's simply a dream!  I'm sure I'm one of many who's tried to find a working power outlet at an airport, and wished that the screaming kids would go to the other end of the gate.  Now our dreams have come true!

This sums it up well:

As part of the "gate makeover," the carrier will eventually install stainless steel columns and television monitors to support its new numerical style boarding at all of the airline's 64 airports. The enhanced gate area also exhibits new elements that cater to different types of Customers, including: a family area containing small-sized tables and chairs, "kid friendly" programming displayed on a flat screen television, and low to the ground power stations for charging electric devices; and a business/leisure section with padded seats, tables with power outlets, power stations with stools, and flat screen televisions with news programming. San Antonio International was the first airport to adopt the new look, and Dallas Love Field Customers will reap the rewards of the new boarding system and gate redesign on Oct. 15, 2007. The airline will implement its new boarding at its other 62 airports in early November 2007 and anticipates a full gate makeover in the first half of 2008. For a virtual view of the new gate design, please visit http://www.southwest.com/makeover or http://gallery.swamedia.com/photos/value=open/type=jpg for photos.

This is an excellent idea, especially given the fact that all of the airlines seem so similar.  United does have a fairly nice gate area at O'hare, but it's so inconsistent from airport to airport.  Southwest is providing an excellent gate experience, while at the same time making it consistent.  With their competitively priced fares, it's going to be difficult for legacy airlines to stay in business.  This announcement comes after Southwest decided to change their boarding process, which is an improvement I'll blog about later.

I'm so excited about this, I can't wait for the opportunity to fly Southwest sometime.  I actually haven't flown them, but I know a lot of people that do, and their overall satisfaction is high.  Given that Southwest is the only major airline not to have serious financial trouble, they obviously know what they're doing.  They carry more passengers than any other airline, and they keep growing.  My wish is they would fly to smaller airports, but that can be an expensive endeavor.  I can't wait until they start international service, expected sometime next year!  Additionally, their frequent flier program, although simple, has it's points expire exactly two years after the posted date.  I wish they would be like most other airlines that will hold on to points as long as you earn more within 18-36 months.

I was hoping to have a friend fly them next year to Vegas for the International Consumer Electronics Show, but unfortunately we didn't book right away and sure enough the price from MDW-LAS went from $60 to $109-129 [the lowest only applying to service on Tue & Wed].  I was disappointed that the fare doubled, but the holiday travel season will be starting and fuel prices are high.  If anything, I'll probably try Priceline to get him a good deal.

See you on Southwest!

@Matthew

The rest of the press release:

Southwest Airlines Redesigns Its Gate Area; Customizing the Airport Experience to Meet the Needs of Each Customer

Same Southwest You've Grown to LUV - Only Better

DALLAS, Oct 10, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Southwest Airlines unveils today an updated gate design to customize and enhance the airport experience for Customers. The carrier's new boarding, which was announced last month, alleviates the need for Customers to "camp out" in line at the gate. Now, the airline is providing Customers a comfortable and productive space to enjoy their preflight moments. Combined with the airline's new organized style of boarding, Southwest continues to upgrade and refresh its brand-while keeping its Maverick character intact.

"We recently announced a change to our boarding that will give Customers back their time in the gate area -- no more standing in line," said Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines' Chief Executive Officer. "The new gate architecture we are introducing is designed to improve the airport experience for each type of Customer-families, leisure travelers, and business road warriors alike."

[quoted above]

"We understand that the Southwest experience begins the minute you step into an airport," Kelly said. "Our Employees work hard to safely and efficiently fly our Customers to their destination. We are confident that the new gate design will provide the most comfortable and productive lounge area while they wait to board."

The new boarding will start systemwide in early November. Southwest tested the new gate design this summer in San Antonio International Airport and tweaked the elements based on Customer and Employee feedback. The fine-tuning included changing furniture colors, increasing the number of power outlets, and installing stools to provide more comfortable charging stations for Customers.

"We do not take change lightly, and we depend heavily on input from our Customers and frontline Employees to make sure we are making the right choices," Kelly said. "As far as costs are concerned, we consider the expenditures to refresh our gates as an investment for our Customers. And of course, in typical Southwest fashion, we've successfully created a design that is bold in look and functionality but not in costs!"

Southwest Airlines announced a plan to enhance its product in late June 2007. Today's announcement is the second step in a list of items the carrier will introduce before the end of the year (last month's enhanced boarding announcement was the first). The carrier plans to announce additional initiatives that will allow product customization and additional incentives for the business and leisure traveler.

Southwest Airlines is one of the most honored airlines in the world. Among Southwest's recent honors was being named to Business Week's first ever list of "Customer Service Champs," which ranks the best providers of Customer Service. For eight years in a row, Southwest Airlines was named to Business Ethics magazine's list as one of America's "100 Best Corporate Citizens" for excelling at serving a variety of stakeholders and for leadership roles in corporate citizenship. And, for an impressive 11 consecutive years, FORTUNE magazine recognized Southwest Airlines as one of America's Top Ten most admired corporations.

http://www.southwest.com

SOURCE
Southwest Airlines

On Friday, Jennifer from Dallas flew up to Chicago to visit me and go to a friend's wedding.  As everyone surely knows by now, I'm obsessed with planes.  Thus, I was up early and decided to track her flight to [AAL2324] and from [AAL2321] Chicago.  I'll blog about her visit later since Dena is now in town, but I did post the photos of her flight on my space.  Some of the photos are just of airport activity as well, so you have to look for her flight.

@Matthew