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We should have the last business meeting on the deal today. I'm now having to start the follow up activities, which is quite exciting. The final bits of closing something like this are quite dull. We've reached agreement to do the project, we have a good idea of the terms - spending a month arguing about how many days a particular clause should bind somebody for is essential, but quite boring.
The new stuff is always more interesting and, it allows be, as usual to do battle with BTI our travel firm.
Here's what I need to do starting next week.
I have to go to Lund(well, actually Copenhagen, but they are next door), New York, Seattle, New York, Copenhagen.
BTI, in their finite wisdom, look at this and see lots of trips. I look at this and think, hmmm, BA like to route people through their London Hub - I wonder if there's a good fare online for Copenhagen-New York via London. Naturally there is.
However, BTI (a) don't find the fare and (b) don't even suggest it, instead suggesing a return Copenhagen-London and then a London-New York...
I've told the admin team who deal with them that they've got until 10am and then I'm booking the flights on my credit card via the web and have done with it.
The through London Hub fares on BA are amazing, but you really need to be mentally prepared for them. As it happens, I have arranged meetings in Lund for next Wednesday and Monday 19th June. So it makes sense for me to book the following flights:
London - Copenhagen Return: Leaving next Tuesday, returning Monday June 19th.
Copenhagen - New York: BA Business Class Leaving next Thursday, flying back overnight Sunday 18th June.
New York - Seattle: Coach(*) Sunday - Thursday
Finding this lot wasn't trivial, far from it, but it wasn't hard either. A travel agent, if they intend to survive has to be able to do better magic than the web. Otherwise there's no point in keeping them.
(*) - there's also a frequent flyer trick to be invoked here which means that I'll book First and pay the difference myself. The number of frequent flyer "points" I get for that route are worth a free upgrade to the next class for myself and a partner on a future flight. This is looking like next year's world con where we have enough airmiles to fly Business and could come home First.
The new stuff is always more interesting and, it allows be, as usual to do battle with BTI our travel firm.
Here's what I need to do starting next week.
I have to go to Lund(well, actually Copenhagen, but they are next door), New York, Seattle, New York, Copenhagen.
BTI, in their finite wisdom, look at this and see lots of trips. I look at this and think, hmmm, BA like to route people through their London Hub - I wonder if there's a good fare online for Copenhagen-New York via London. Naturally there is.
However, BTI (a) don't find the fare and (b) don't even suggest it, instead suggesing a return Copenhagen-London and then a London-New York...
I've told the admin team who deal with them that they've got until 10am and then I'm booking the flights on my credit card via the web and have done with it.
The through London Hub fares on BA are amazing, but you really need to be mentally prepared for them. As it happens, I have arranged meetings in Lund for next Wednesday and Monday 19th June. So it makes sense for me to book the following flights:
London - Copenhagen Return: Leaving next Tuesday, returning Monday June 19th.
Copenhagen - New York: BA Business Class Leaving next Thursday, flying back overnight Sunday 18th June.
New York - Seattle: Coach(*) Sunday - Thursday
Finding this lot wasn't trivial, far from it, but it wasn't hard either. A travel agent, if they intend to survive has to be able to do better magic than the web. Otherwise there's no point in keeping them.
(*) - there's also a frequent flyer trick to be invoked here which means that I'll book First and pay the difference myself. The number of frequent flyer "points" I get for that route are worth a free upgrade to the next class for myself and a partner on a future flight. This is looking like next year's world con where we have enough airmiles to fly Business and could come home First.
