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canyonwalkerPhoenix travelog #1
SJC Airport · Sun, 17 Aug 2025, 3pm
Less than 72 hours after landing at SJC airport returning from a business trip to Chicago — 64 hours, to be exact— I'm back at SJC. Today, Sunday afternoon, I'm flying out to Phoenix. For business. And Hawk is coming with me!
The deal is I've got a high level meeting with a customer in Phoenix Monday morning. Initially I booked this trip as a same-day, "rubber band" trip, flying out to Phoenix in the morning and returning in the afternoon. But then I reconsidered my plan of flying in in the morning. The Monday 6:45am flight would arrive at least 90 minutes before meeting, plenty of time to get there if everything runs on schedule, there's always a chance of delays. It's a small chance ex-SJC as the airport doesn't get the flight schedule crippling morning fog that SFO 40 miles north frequently gets, but not a zero chance. And even if I arrive on-time there may not be enough time to accommodate a last-minute briefing meeting with colleagues. Plus, getting up before 4:30am for a 6:45 flight is not fun.
On the other hand, choosing to fly out tonight has its drawbacks. The main one is that I'd be giving up part of my weekend to work. Another is that I'd be away from my family for a night. But that's where a nifty feature of my elite status with Southwest airlines comes in. My Companion Pass allows Hawk to travel with me on any Southwest flight I fly for a nominal fee. And while we're together in Phoenix tonight we can enjoy the hotel's pool and hot tub together.
When I started earning the Companion Pass years ago (it needs requalification every year; I've earned it several times) I looked forward to exercising the benefit of having Hawk occasionally come with me on business trips. The problem, of course, was having the time to do so. When Hawk was working she generally couldn't just take vacation days to come with me. Especially when I'd have to be working those days, not joining her on vacation. Now factor in her current state of unemployment. Mostly it sucks; the job market has been terrible. But unemployment can be turned into funemployment. 🤣 She has time to join me on trips like this!
Update: We got to Phoenix late and tired. Our plan to go swimming in the evening fizzled.
SJC Airport · Sun, 17 Aug 2025, 3pm
Less than 72 hours after landing at SJC airport returning from a business trip to Chicago — 64 hours, to be exact— I'm back at SJC. Today, Sunday afternoon, I'm flying out to Phoenix. For business. And Hawk is coming with me!
The deal is I've got a high level meeting with a customer in Phoenix Monday morning. Initially I booked this trip as a same-day, "rubber band" trip, flying out to Phoenix in the morning and returning in the afternoon. But then I reconsidered my plan of flying in in the morning. The Monday 6:45am flight would arrive at least 90 minutes before meeting, plenty of time to get there if everything runs on schedule, there's always a chance of delays. It's a small chance ex-SJC as the airport doesn't get the flight schedule crippling morning fog that SFO 40 miles north frequently gets, but not a zero chance. And even if I arrive on-time there may not be enough time to accommodate a last-minute briefing meeting with colleagues. Plus, getting up before 4:30am for a 6:45 flight is not fun.
On the other hand, choosing to fly out tonight has its drawbacks. The main one is that I'd be giving up part of my weekend to work. Another is that I'd be away from my family for a night. But that's where a nifty feature of my elite status with Southwest airlines comes in. My Companion Pass allows Hawk to travel with me on any Southwest flight I fly for a nominal fee. And while we're together in Phoenix tonight we can enjoy the hotel's pool and hot tub together.
When I started earning the Companion Pass years ago (it needs requalification every year; I've earned it several times) I looked forward to exercising the benefit of having Hawk occasionally come with me on business trips. The problem, of course, was having the time to do so. When Hawk was working she generally couldn't just take vacation days to come with me. Especially when I'd have to be working those days, not joining her on vacation. Now factor in her current state of unemployment. Mostly it sucks; the job market has been terrible. But unemployment can be turned into funemployment. 🤣 She has time to join me on trips like this!
Update: We got to Phoenix late and tired. Our plan to go swimming in the evening fizzled.
