Rock Star Treatment

Today, I got the rock star treatment!  I travel fairly regularly with my job, so I have gotten pretty good at the airport shuffle.  So when I found out last week that I needed to attend a meeting out of state today, I figured we would be traveling via the normal routine. Trying to find the least objectionable connecting flights, getting up at the crack of dawn and fighting long lines in security. However, this time was different.

Instead of flying a commercial flight, we got the VIP treatment on a chartered flight.  This was the first time I had ever flown this way.  The first indication that this trip was going to be different was the message I received with the details.  It said (and this is not a typo), "Your flight leaves at 9:15 am.  Arriving by 9 am should be fine."  I only have to be at the airport fifteen minutes before my flight? Sounds weird to me but I guess they know what they are talking about.

The pilot came in and introduced himself to us and since we were waiting for one other person, he told us to take our time and to let him know when we were ready.  What?  No ID checks?  No security shuffle?  No standing in line to get on the plane?   This is weird, but I like it!

When we landed it got a little weirder.  They told us a car would pick us up and they were right. But it wasn't the usual car service, it was a long, sleek, black limo that pulled directly up to the plane to pick us up! I had flashbacks to my high school days and felt like I was going to prom. As we were being drive to our meeting, it was odd to watch the reactions of the people driving past us (mainly, "yo, dude, check that out! Peace bro!").

I have to say that is was really nice to finish a meeting and within 30 minutes be back at the airport and on a plane headed home.  It took me longer to drive home from the airport (in a torrential downpour) than it did to fly halfway across the country!

If you ever have the chance to fly a charted plane, I highly recommend it.  Party on, like a Rock Star!