I don’t care what anyone thinks. Business travel sucks. I’m in my third city this week and I’m in the airport, waiting to go to another continent.
Ten years ago, this may have been exciting, but I’m too old and tired to feel that way any more.
I went to Chicago Sunday, back to Dallas on Tuesday, to San Francisco Wednesday, and somebody told me it’s Friday today, so I’m off to Kuala Lumpur.
That’s right. The place CNN won’t shut up about, because a plane is missing from there.
The Spousal Unit is not happy.
CNN is actually on ithe TV in the Admirals’ Club, so you can have a relaxing drink and learn about how a plane can be sabotaged before you get on your plane. Piers Morgan is interviewing someone, so by the time I leave for my gate, at least we’ll know it’s the Tea Party’s fault.
Lovely.
(It’s still better than March Madness.)
I’m flying to Los Angeles, then to Hong Kong, then to Kuala Lumpur. It’s Friday now, I’ll be there Sunday afternoon.
I’m coming home next Friday.
I’m traveling 30 hours or so each way for a two-day class. This does not seem an efficient use of time to me, but I don’t have an MBA. Luckily, since our management has found cutting costs is somewhat easier than making money, I’m flying in coach.
I’m hoping the family with their precious (and cute) family goats are at least a few rows away from me.
The last time I flew to Hong Kong, it was from Europe. So, this is a first. The last time I flew home from Hong Kong is when I crossed a million miles on American.
So, I’m currently waiting in San Francisco (and listening to plane crash theories), so I can fly to LA and wait, so I can fly to Hong Kong, clear customs and wait, and fly to Malaysia.
Then, I can collapse in the hotel.
One partial day of rest (and a couple of meetings), another day of nothing but meetings, two days of workshops (teaching alone, since my co-instructor couldn’t get a visa) and then home. Also known ad another 30 hours in coach and airports.
Funny thing about the workshop: US logic says if the classroom holds 25 people, you stop registrations at 25. Asian logic says when you go over 25, you just find a bigger classroom. So, there were 40 students registered as of yesterday. The largest class I’ve done by myself is probably 20.
How can business travel not be fun?
So, the next person who says, “You’re lucky. I never get to travel!” is getting punched in the head.
Great stuff Kevin. But what a price to pay to be able to share it. Sharing my experiences passing kidney stones (if I ever were to do it), in this new light of yours, seems less painful, and a tad less heroic.
But having been through it, and likely to experience more of the same, thank you for sharing it in an inconceivably light-hearted way. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, wherever you are.