9 Hours at Home, Now Off to Vegas
Trade Show Travelog #1
SJC Airport - Mon, 2 Dec 2024, 10:15am
A little over 9 hours after getting home from one airport I left for another. We got home minutes before midnight last night from our Thanksgiving trip. After packing away stuff from my suitcase, showing, and winding down I didn't get to bed until almost 1am. Later this morning my usual weekday alarm rang at 6:45am. I snoozed it a few times before getting up to repack my bag, this time with different clothes, and head out to the airport again. On this trip I'm headed to Las Vegas for a big trade show, AWS re:Invent.
Could I have simplified this run through the travel gantlet by flowing directly from the east coast to Las Vegas last night? Actually it would have made it more complex. And more expensive.
Complexity would've increased as I'd have to pack two sets of clothes, one for leisure and one for business. That'd require a bigger suitcase, which would mean checking a bag on every flight instead of taking carry-ons only.
And costs would have increased as I booked yesterday's trip months ago. Thanksgiving Sunday is one of the most expensive travel days of the year. Rebooking that flight would've been about $200 more expensive. And getting reimbursement from my company likely would've been difficult. That feeds into complexity, too. It's easier when business expenses and personal expenses are kept clearly separate.
Things are looking good for travel today. I booked a later-morning flight so I'd have time to pack this morning. That worked out well. And, at the moment, my flight is expected to leave on time. It'll be nice to get into my hotel in Vegas today with enough time to clean up, join a brief meeting on videoconference, and then dress for the show and head over for registration.
SJC Airport - Mon, 2 Dec 2024, 10:15am
A little over 9 hours after getting home from one airport I left for another. We got home minutes before midnight last night from our Thanksgiving trip. After packing away stuff from my suitcase, showing, and winding down I didn't get to bed until almost 1am. Later this morning my usual weekday alarm rang at 6:45am. I snoozed it a few times before getting up to repack my bag, this time with different clothes, and head out to the airport again. On this trip I'm headed to Las Vegas for a big trade show, AWS re:Invent.
Could I have simplified this run through the travel gantlet by flowing directly from the east coast to Las Vegas last night? Actually it would have made it more complex. And more expensive.
Complexity would've increased as I'd have to pack two sets of clothes, one for leisure and one for business. That'd require a bigger suitcase, which would mean checking a bag on every flight instead of taking carry-ons only.
And costs would have increased as I booked yesterday's trip months ago. Thanksgiving Sunday is one of the most expensive travel days of the year. Rebooking that flight would've been about $200 more expensive. And getting reimbursement from my company likely would've been difficult. That feeds into complexity, too. It's easier when business expenses and personal expenses are kept clearly separate.
Things are looking good for travel today. I booked a later-morning flight so I'd have time to pack this morning. That worked out well. And, at the moment, my flight is expected to leave on time. It'll be nice to get into my hotel in Vegas today with enough time to clean up, join a brief meeting on videoconference, and then dress for the show and head over for registration.