Let's Take a Day Trip

Before I begin describing my journey, it’s essential to clarify my objective and the motivations behind it. My goal is to achieve MVP status on Alaska Airlines, which also provides Oneworld Ruby status. This accomplishment will enable me to receive complimentary upgrades on flights with both Alaska and American Airlines, regardless of whether I purchase a Saver or Basic Economy ticket. Moreover, I will be allowed one complimentary checked bag, irrespective of my fare class. A key point to note is that this benefit extends to other travelers on my itinerary—specifically, my mom and son. However, when traveling together as a trio, they typically won’t receive upgrades, though we will still gain access to main cabin seats and similar advantages.

American Airlines, under the Oneworld alliance, has always been my preferred airline, and maintaining this loyalty is important to me for both practical and personal reasons.

Walking You Through the Day:

2:50 a.m.: My day began in the early morning, waking up and finishing the dinner I had prepared the night before. I wasn’t particularly hungry. However, I knew I needed something solid and satiating to start my day. This would help me avoid hunger pangs later. I find that eating heavy meals at the airport can leave me feeling sluggish and bloated—definitely not the best feeling while traveling.

After a quick shower and getting myself ready, I chose to wear comfortable and loose-fitting clothes for the travel day. My outfit consisted of an oversize North Face hoodie paired with cozy Tommy Hilfiger sweats. I made sure to wear compression socks as well; these are crucial for long flights since they help with circulation and prevent stiffness and aching in my legs. Fully dressed and ready, it was finally time to head to the airport and embark on my journey.

4:50 a.m.: I arrived at the airport approximately one hour and ten minutes before my departure. Unfortunately, in my fatigued state, I absentmindedly lost my neck pillow at the TSA checkpoint—something I hoped to retrieve on my return flight to Chicago the following day. Beyond this minor blunder, I kept a close eye on the seat map for my Alaska Airlines flight. I was delighted to discover that I had the entire exit row to myself. This meant I could comfortably sit by the window. I felt no guilt about needing to get up to use the restroom or stretch my legs.

I always advise fellow travelers that for flights shorter than three hours, a window seat offers the best views and fewer interruptions. However, for flights longer than that, an aisle seat is ideal for easier access without disturbing neighbors.

My flight was delayed by 40 minutes due to the previous flight arriving late the night before, which was slightly alarming given my tight connection in Seattle. Nevertheless, I decided to wait until I arrived in Seattle to handle any potential issues with the connection.

During the Flight to Seattle:

As previously mentioned, I was fortunate to occupy the entire row to myself. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel sleepy during the flight and opted to purchase the in-flight Wi-Fi for $8, which allowed me to stream content. I logged onto YouTube TV and caught up on a couple of episodes of “Law and Order: SVU“. For the duration of the flight, I listened to music and browsed through various TV options. Interestingly, a flight attendant allowed another passenger to occupy the aisle seat, which I had originally claimed, but I didn’t mind since the middle seat remained vacant, giving me ample space.

Throughout the flight, I took the opportunity to get up and move around a little, which always helps to alleviate restlessness. Before long, we were preparing to land. The only downside to the flight was that they only offered snacks once, which felt a bit inadequate given the length of our journey.

Brief Layover in Seattle:

After landing in Seattle, I was pleasantly surprised to see that we arrived only ten minutes later than originally scheduled. The nearly five-hour flight had passed swiftly. It was around 8:40 a.m. PST, and as I explored the terminals, I noticed that most of the food options seemed to lean more toward lunch fare rather than breakfast, which was intriguing. Many of the eateries I passed featured fish and chips or various Asian cuisines, which I found appealing. However, I wasn’t in the mood for something heavy and managed to locate a restaurant serving breakfast sandwiches.

Keeping in mind that my next flight was scheduled to board at 9:10 a.m. and the clock was already ticking at 9:00 a.m., I hurried back to my gate to prepare for boarding. Once again, I checked the seat map for my Alaska Airlines flight bound for New Orleans and was thrilled to discover that I had the exit row all to myself again. I felt incredibly fortunate—or as I prefer to describe it, blessed!

Heading to New Orleans (11 a.m. CT):

Settling into my seat for the flight to New Orleans, I was pleasantly reminded of my good fortune with the exit row. No one else joined me, making this flight exceptionally smooth. Once again, I had access to Wi-Fi, which I utilized to watch Dateline throughout the flight. As I enjoyed a few episodes, I lost track of time until we were preparing to land. In a recurring theme, snacks were only distributed twice during this flight as well. Fortunately, I wasn’t overly hungry, but I felt the excitement of landing building as I started to grow restless.

Upon landing in New Orleans, the first thing that caught my attention was the newly completed terminal. It had been several years since I visited the city, and a quick online search revealed that the terminal had officially opened in 2019, just before the pandemic hit. Seeing this transformation was a pleasant surprise and marked a new chapter in my travel experience stunned by how modern everything looked. In a future story, I’ll write about New Orleans’ Airport in more detail, but it’s very nice.

What’s next?

Once I arrived in New Orleans, I picked up my rental car and headed to my hotel, the Hyatt Regency downtown. My plan was to get some rest before going out later. However, by the time I got there, it was around 6 p.m., and I was tired and ready for bed. So, I decided to call it a night.

The next Status Match Series will take place over the weekend of May 30. I’m still working on the details, but it will include overnight stays in both Seattle and Miami. Additionally, I’m planning something for this coming week. The good news is that I’ve already accumulated 4,700 miles from this trip!