Would you ever give up a confirmed upgrade on a six-hour flight just to get home a few hours earlier? That’s what I did yesterday.
I was flying from Newark to Burbank via San Francisco on United and had locked in a mid-afternoon flight to SFO and late-evening connection to Burbank with upgrades confirmed. A lie-flat seat on a transcon flight is always appreciated. Always.
But I’ve been gone since Thursday and was really feeling the burden of being separated from my family. With several more trips coming up in the weeks ahead, I’m trying to make each trip as brief as possible. I don’t want to be the perpetual absentee husband and father.
When I arrived at Newark I saw that I could leave Newark a couple hours earlier and therefore catch an earlier flight to Burbank and be home in time in dinner.
The earlier transcon flight was a 757-200 with only 16 seats in business class and every one of them was taken with a waitlist a mile long for an upgrade. But I figured that by taking the earlier flight I would have plenty of legroom in the exit row, hopefully be more productive since I would not sleep, and even be fed a complimentary meal.
So I took the earlier flight. How nice it was to see my wife and son again a little earlier than planned.
CONCLUSION
I had a very special pair of seatmates sitting in front of me on the flight. More on that later today…
Was it worthwhile? Oh yes. Upgrades are a beautiful thing, but sometimes just getting home a few hours earlier is worth giving them up.
Without a doubt I will take getting home to my family early over an upgrade at least domestic.
Anytime. Upgrades are over rated. As long I can get an economy plus aisle… who cares ?
Let’s all give him a big pat on the back!
Better now?
I’m not looking for a pat on the back. I am curious whether you would have made the same choice.
domestic flight? no brainer. Done it before, and always look for the earliest option. On a transcon I’d want a window or aisle, on a 2 hour flight, I’ll gladly take a middle. Would I do that flying back from SYD? No.
I do this all the time. Family always come first.
Nice. Didn’t even stop off at the burger joint near the airport .
Matthew,
Definitely the right decision. Getting “extra” time with family that I didn’t expect is a treat I look forward to as a business traveler.