Fat guy in a little seat... Options

[Hartmann]

I have had a rollercoaster last couple of months but last month topped the list.

I needed to be in South Africa for work and the client did not want to pay the business fare due to the struggling economy down there. That's fine, I flew Virgin Atlantic in their "premium" economy section and the 24 hour trip went well. I get down there, start working for a few days and get an e-mail saying I have to be in Norway in two days. I let the client know, which pisses them off and I start hunting for tickets to Stavanger. Nothing. I finally found a seat on a KLM flight in the worst part of the plane, and I had a customer of size next to me, no, not some slightly overweight fella, this guy took up just about a whole two seats.

But that is not the end of the story my friends. As I am attempting to sleep, the overweight gentleman decides this would be the perfect time to pass gas. It was loud, really loud and it smelled awful. I turned my head, looked at him, and just shook my head.

It was the longest flight of my life. How do people think it is ok to fart right next to someone?

[Mommy]

I have had a rollercoaster last couple of months but last month topped the list.

I needed to be in South Africa for work and the client did not want to pay the business fare due to the struggling economy down there. That's fine, I flew Virgin Atlantic in their "premium" economy section and the 24 hour trip went well. I get down there, start working for a few days and get an e-mail saying I have to be in Norway in two days. I let the client know, which pisses them off and I start hunting for tickets to Stavanger. Nothing. I finally found a seat on a KLM flight in the worst part of the plane, and I had a customer of size next to me, no, not some slightly overweight fella, this guy took up just about a whole two seats.

But that is not the end of the story my friends. As I am attempting to sleep, the overweight gentleman decides this would be the perfect time to pass gas. It was loud, really loud and it smelled awful. I turned my head, looked at him, and just shook my head.

It was the longest flight of my life. How do people think it is ok to fart right next to someone?

Wow... that does sound exhausting and frustrating. I am kinda jealous though. I mean, seems like this job is taking you all over the world. That's really neat. What do you do anyway?

[Hartmann]

Wow... that does sound exhausting and frustrating. I am kinda jealous though. I mean, seems like this job is taking you all over the world. That's really neat. What do you do anyway?

I am a consultant to a good chunk of the major oil, gas, and utility companies in the world, helping them make decisions on how to mitigate risk and increase reliability in their drilling, production, refining, and distribution operations.

Traveling is great, I think I've posted on here before about it but it does take a toll over time. On trips like this past one, I did not really get to see much as my time is spent in a refinery or out in a remote area. But it is a neat job.

I thought this month would be quiet but my inbox disagrees.

[chook]

Are you on contracts or salaried with bonuses? It sounds pretty fun except that trip.

[Hartmann]

Are you on contracts or salaried with bonuses? It sounds pretty fun except that trip.

I am salaried with bonuses based on billable hours.

[chook]

That sucks about that flight. I always fly business on long flights, but don't travel near as much :-(

[Hartmann]

That sucks about that flight. I always fly business on long flights, but don't travel near as much :-(

Our contracts usually have business on anything over five hours, and if business isn't available, first. This client specifically said they refused to pay for business class and their contract was important, so we did what the client wanted. It was my first flight across the Atlantic not in a business cabin since I was little. But, Virgin Atlantic's premium economy was pretty close to what most of the U.S. airlines call business.

I wish the travel was better planned because right now everything is random and last minute. There are other guys here who have good managers and are able to plan most of their travel out 6,7,10 months in advance.

Who do you work for Chuck?

Lance, were you traveling in the U.S.? I remember when you worked for Nortel, I think that was while I was still in Dallas.

[chook]

Raytheon Missile Systems, work mainly on foreign systems.