What's So Special About Business Class?

I'll tell you what's so special about business class...  I'll start by letting you know that I'm talking about business class on the Amtrak.  When I booked my ticket, it was only a $13 difference to ride business class.  I justified spending the extra money because I knew I would be working on my computer most of the trip, and thought I should probably be as comfortable as I could be, as the trip was 5 hours long.  I have only taken Amtrak one time before, and it really was not bad at all.  You get decent leg room, and an outlet by your seat to plug in your computer or phone.

It all started when they began boarding the train.  "Senior Citizens, and Business Class passengers please come to the front of the gate for priority check in".  Basically I got to walk into a room on the other side of the red rope and continue to wait until we could actually board.  The good part about this was that I could take a seat while I continued to wait, rather than stand in a long line with all the other "coach" passengers.  Next we walked to the train and boarded the first car (someone even helped me with my luggage, not like last time).  I picked my seat and thought to myself "wow, who needs all this leg room".  No joke, your leg room literally triples.  Your seat is much more wide, and you have a huge armrest between you and your neighbor, which includes a cup holder for each of you.  My seat was like a recliner.  It leaned back really far, and a foot rest kicked out from the bottom.  You could almost lay flat if you wanted.  In addition, you get one complimentary beverage with your business class ticket.....and for those of you who know me, know that I obviously used it for a cup of coffee, I mean it was 7:45 am.

So nothing ridiculous happened on this trip....but I still wanted to share my experience, and the advice about upgrading to business class.  It's totally worth it!

I'll be flying home on Friday, so keep your eyes peeled for my next post!

Out of My Way

So this actually occurred about a year ago, but the recent thought of it that prompted me to start this blog.  I was assigned to work at one of our hotels in the downtown Des Moines area.  On weekends I would drive home, so I made the roughly 5 1/2 hour trip quite regularly.  One particular morning, I left the hotel very early, say 5 AM.  I was basically in auto pilot mode, and around 10 AM I decided I needed a Starbucks to help carry me through the rest of the trip.  I was in luck because there is a Starbucks at the Dekalb oasis so naturally I exited, parked. went in, and ordered me Grande Americano with room.  Still in auto pilot mode, I got back in my car and made my way back onto the highway.  It was not until I went through a toll that I though, hmmmm, I really thought I was done paying tolls, that's weird.  But I kept going.  And then I read a sign that said "Birth Place of Ronald Reagan, next exit" - or something very similar.  Then I thought, hmmmm, I swore I read that sign earlier, but I've made this trip so many times, maybe I'm just confused.  A few more miles went by and I thought, hmmmmm, where are the signs for Aurora, I definitely should have seen them by now. And at that moment, I realized I had gotten back on the highway going the wrong direction.  Let me just say that I was not going the wrong direction for a few minutes or miles, NO, it was nearly 1 1/2 hours the wrong direction!!!  This was probably the most upset I've ever been inside a vehicle.  I will also share that the new Task Force Manager recently assigned to Des Moines made the same mistake, but for only 20 minutes.  Honestly, that particular rest stop makes it very easy to make this mistake.  These days I pay very close attention when getting back on highways.