Welcome to my mini-blog, Travels-in-Switzerland. I say mini because my entire trip will only be six days long. I leave from San Luis Obispo very early tomorrow morning, Tuesday, December 4 and return to San Luis Obispo on Sunday, December 9 in the evening. Of the six days, two full days will be spent in airplanes. Total miles traveled will be around the 13,000 on six different flights with hundreds of other cranky pre-holiday people. Why an I doing this, a little background information might help. 

Unlike most of my travels, this one is not work related. I'm going to Geneva to visit my niece, Elizabeth, her husband Fabian, and their two beautiful young daughters. Normally, I don't like to travel this time of year, but United had a "promotion" that I just couldn't refuse. Because I do a fair amount of  flying on United, on occasion, I get seat upgrades.  Earler this year, United notified me that I had four system-wide upgrades. This meant I can upgrade one class of service on any United flight to anywhere in the world. The hitch; they were to expire on December 31, 2012.

I have not seen my niece is a long time so I decided to save my upgrades and make the trip to Geneva. After all, even if it's only for a few days, flying business class both ways won't be too bad. Maybe even a little fun.

I should have known it all sounded too easy. When I made the reservations last September, I learned they can only be used in connection with certain fares, in this case, the fare had to be a "W" or higher. Of course, the least expensive fare from SLO to Geneva was not a "W" so I had to buy the more expensive ticket. I never really liked the letter "W" when it was used in conjunction with a former U.S. president, now United has just reinforced my dislike for it.

So with my new "W" ticket in hand, I requested my upgrades. But, wait says United, these upgrades are not automatic, you can apply for an upgrade and if there is space, you might get it. Sort of like having a parking permit at Cal Poly. But, I just bought the more expensive ticket a couple days ago I explain to Mary, the United agent, who is the unfortunate one to get my call. Sorry says Mary, the ticket is nonrefundable and th'ems the rules. What are my chances of getting an upgrade I ask with great hope? In a very calm voice, Mary explains that these are very popular routes, and basically, I have a snowball's chance in hell -  or Geneva in this case - to be upgraded.

However, as of this afternoon, my luck has chanced. I did get an upgrade on one flight tomorrow. United can figure right now that I plan to drink the some quantity of my favorite beverage on that one flight as I would have on all four. After all, I'm not driving when I arrive in Geneva.

It's back to packing my bag for 25 degree temperatures and lots of snow.  To be continued tomorrow.
Happy Travels