You're not going to believe this.
I'm trying to fix our seats and I'm on hold again . . . With Ms. Fishman!!!! I almost hung up when she answered, but I can hear the hum of hundreds of other voices in the Continental call center, so I know it must be a karmic backlash for some bad deed I've committed in this or another life to get this sweet,addled woman for a second day in a row.
After a whole lot of explaining, I managed to convey to her that we'd prefer to at least have husbands and wives sitting together rather than have window seats throughout the entire aircraft, but we'd really like to all be in the same general vicinity of the aircraft so that we can annoy the rest of the passengers on board.
After asking me about last night's concert she proceeded to make some even crazier seat assignments.
After I explained why those seats didn't work, a little chat about Obama's VP selection and some more time on hold, I think we've got it covered. She just sent me the seat manifest and, while she doesn't have us seated with our siginificant others, I like the bloc of seats we've got.
On Continental, the 777-200 series in coach is configured 9 across in three clumps of three seats with two aisles.
Here's a link to a seat map so of this aircraft you can get a better idea of where we'll be sitting:
On the outbound we have A,B,C in Row 35 (the driver's side window is A and the aisle is C) and seats B,C in rows 38, 39, 40 & 41. Teri said you guys would much rather have aisle seats so you won't have to climb over a sleeping stranger in the middle of the night to go pee. It'll be dark for most of the flight, so there won't be a whole lot to see out the window except at takeoff and landing.
On the return, we have A,B,C, in Row 34 and B,C in Rows 35, 38, 39 & 40
Okay, since I'm the one who battled Ms. Fishman for two straight days, I get to decide how it's going to go. Since the seats are pretty well randomly assigned, I'm claiming Teri (spouse) and Colleen (skinny) in Row 35 going out and Row 34 coming home. Colleen, you get to choose the window or aisle seat, whichever makes you happy. The seat manifest has Mike, Teri and me sitting together in those rows, but that ain't happening. The other 8 of you can decide amongst yourselves who is sitting together and in what rows.
If anyone wants to see our e-ticket itinerary for their records or have a copy of the the flight manifest, just let me know and I'll be happy to forward that to you via e-mail.
So, in sum . . .
Our flights are now booked and confirmed!
Our Paris hotel is booked and confirmed!
Our week on the barge is booked and confirmed!
Our transportation to the airport from the barge is set.
We're pretty much done with the basics.
The next agenda items are to work out the whole Paris dining thing and arrange transportation from CDG to our hotel (and Kathy pretty much has that worked out). We also have to decide what we want to see and do while in Paris.
Oh and there's still the Petanque tournament to organize. I haven't forgotten about that.
8 comments:
I don't know if the past two blog entries convey how much time Hank spent on the phone in the past 24 hours. I've been cleaning the house today all by myself so he could get this settled. My only contribution to the trip planning so far.
Hank is the best travel agent you will ever have. If the travel industry and airline, in particular, gave as much attention to each traveler, there would be a lot less confusion. Now if he can just figure out how to make the plane arrive on time with the appropriate luggage, we could turn this into a business and be millionaires.
The ride over the pond is not my favorite part of the trip, but I am pretty sure, no matter what happens this one will be the most fun. I know you guys and we can turn ANYTHING into a party.
You guys are awesome.
Hank, your patience with Ms. Fishtrap has earned you another star for your crown!!!!
As for the seat assignments, I understand that the window seat has a little less leg room due to the video equipment stored there, so I will take that one if you wish. I am just happy to be on the plane!!!!
Teri, a question from one who has never flown over the pond....how long is the flight???
My best calculation is that the flight from Houston to Paris is 9 hours and 40 minutes long in real time and the flight home is about an hour longer than that (due to headwinds).
Colleen here's how it works:
Our flight from Houston leaves at 6:40 p.m. and arrives at 11:05 a.m. the next day, which is 16 hours and 40 minutes later. But you get to subtract 7 hours for time zone changes (it's seven hours later in Paris than it is in New Orleans or Houston.
So we're really landing in Paris at 4:05 a.m. our time, which is why it takes a day or so to get over the jet lag.
The flight is an hour longer in real time on the way back since we'll be fighting headwinds. We'll take off at 1 p.m. Paris time and land at 4:30 p.m. Houston time the same afternoon. Add seven hours of time zone changes to that and you've got a 10 and a half hour flight.
No matter how you look at it, it's a long time to be stuck in a plane.
Oh, and the window and aisle seat leg room are exactly the same on this plane, so choose the seat that makes you happy.
Either will be fine with me. As I said, just happy to be on the plane!!
Colleen,
Hank loves the window seat and he likes me in the middle, which means you get the aisle, unless of course you want Hank to cuddle with you and drool on you when he sleeps--which he says he doesn't do--but he does.! You and I can swap aisle seats you wish.
And--oh, BTW, today is Mr. Hanks; 49th. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
Hank - you really should become a writer....not that you aren't already. I think it's time to start working on a book about your adventures. You can make it fictional or biographical, whichever its most fun for you. I am serious!!!! Maybe you could begin with a series of short stories or articles and eventually weave them into a novel.
Blogging might be an option, too.
Aw, that's sweet Cathleen. But I don't think there's anything in this blog that's worthy of turning into a formal work of either fiction or non-fiction.
Now if everyone misbehaves enough on the trip, I might just have something to work with.
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