Poll of the Day > In 24 hours I will already be on a plane to NY.

(+) Yeah! (+)

My grandfather passed away a few days ago, so I am flying to NY for the funeral.

Been retired a few years now and honestly it's nerve wracking to travel at this point. I flew to see him on his 90th birthday ....actually 2 years ago.....and the long flight cross country really thrashed my feet. They swelled up like crazy. I said I wasn't gonna do a flight like that again, but the funeral is on Wed, so there was no other way to get there in time.

I'm flying Southwest....because it was the only way to get tickets for under like $900 on such short notice (still gonna be $600 round trip), and they don't have assigned seats. Hopefully I will still be able to grab an aisle seat though, so I can stand up mid flight a few times. I was told standing up and walking around may help (I think it has more to do with the alititude though because I can sit long periods of time on the ground and my feet don't blow up).

I fly out tomorrow at 7:30 am, gonna take uber to the airport (about $50) and leave at around 6 am (should only take 30 minutes to get there). It says to arrive 30 minutes early, so hopefully getting there 1 hour early will be good enough.

This will probably be the last time my family gets together as well. Everyone loved my Grandfather, he was a really great person, and made a difference in many peoples lives. He is going to be missed by many. I wouldn't have gone for pretty much any other reason, but I couldn't not be there to say goodbye.

Maybe if I can handle the trip and it's not to bad it'll help motivate me to travel other places. I would love to go to Europe sometime before I get to old/ill to move around anymore. I'm still in good enough shape etc to travel, I just get stressed out to easily at this point, don't like driving and on a very fixed budget so it's pretty hard to actually travel anywhere.
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Hope it's a good send off, bud.
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Were you guys close?
I have no comments about flying on a place as I've never done that. I will however be doing that next month.
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I guess I should feel lucky my grandfather's funeral was a bus ride from my house
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An hour should work. Though 2 is usually better. But it depends on the airport size and crowd. Also, if its only 30 minutes, why does it cost $50 for an Uber. Are they really that expensive?

As for flying, I actually like it. Its calming for me. But Im also short. And I normally go for a window seat.

wwinterj25 posted...

Were you guys close?
I have no comments about flying on a place as I've never done that. I will however be doing that next month.

Where are you going?
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sorry about your grandfather, and hope things at the airport and your flight go smoothly
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Yeah, we were close, but didn't communicate much lately, he always asked how I was doing etc, and it hasn't been great news for awhile, so I kinda avoided calling him. I regret that now.

Yeah I checked lyft as well, cheapest is 40$, I'm probably gonna head out a bit earlier just to be extra careful though, I'm seriously nervous about missing flights etc. I hate this stuff.

Flying into laguardia NY from Seattle NY, leaving at 7:20am and arriving at 8:30 pm. I'll have till wait till 9:30 for another person to arrive before we leave. Then we drive like 1 hour or so to get to huntington NY (maybe less since there shouldn't be traffic that late).

Just found out I might be able to get a bereavement reduction, my uncle saved $150, I'm on hold to find out...that would be really great as I wasn't expecting to spend a bunch of money right now, but don't feel comfortable having my relatives pay for me (many are rich and offered but yeah, I can cover my own expenses).

I was fine flying most of my life, only the last time to NY was it really bad with my feet. Not sure if it's the diabetes or pills i'm on for blood pressue or what, but my feet were so swollen they hurt to walk on for days after the last trip. Didn't seem very safe to me, so was going to avoid flying again but not much choice in this case.
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Darn, Southwest doesn't have berevement fairs. Wish I had knows before I booked. *sigh*
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Blah can't cancel and go for a different airnline either as I did wanna get away which doesn't offer refunds. Even without bereviement I found a flight on American Airlines that was $170 cheaper round trip (430 instead of 600), but I can't cancel the other flight. It was also much shorter and left at 11am instead of 7:30 am...while arriving at the same time in NY).

GRRRR.

Wish it had been available last night when I searched.
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LinkPizza posted...

Where are you going?

Gdask in Poland. Going with my bro and acquaintances. It's only for several days but It'll be a adventure.
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Southwest might let you priority board because of your issue with your feet, ask the gate agent.
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Thanks Big Merl, I called and they said I should be able to get priority at the gate, and set up a wheel chair if needed at chicago if my feet are bad (to help me get to the new gate before the plane leaves).

I have an hour so I told them I will request one there if needed instead of requesting one now. I'm hoping that if I get up and move around my feet won't be so bad this time.

I keep forgetting it's 3 hours ahead so it's not actually 13 hours....but a bit over 10....still bad (and 9+ on a plane (unless they have us get off in Las Vegas). Wasn't gonna fly long distance again but no other option.

Anyway thanks, this may be a big help, I would never have thought of asking.
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You're retired and your grandfather is only dead now? How old were they when they had your parents?
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Lol, I wasn't born yet when they had my parent (mom) hehe....would be really weird if I was!!

He was 92

Everyone on my mom's side of the family (and her mom's) passed away early, including my brother who was 2 years younger then me (he passed away like 5 years ago now).

My grandfathers side of the family though tend to live fairly long.

But yeah they had kids young back then, not sure how old he was when he had my mom, but late teens/early 20's (She was the oldest). Then my mom got pregnant as a teen with my sister (Who they put up for adoption and I never met), and then had me a year later.

Not sure how old my mom would be if she was still alive, but if he had her at 20, then about 72, and she had me before she was 20.

Also I'm retired for medical reasons, not due to my age. I don't currently get social security, but if I get declared disabled (and if my eyesight gets much worse I'll have to), I can start receiving it, otherwise you have to wait to 60 usually.
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@No_U_L7

You promise you'll make a topic too the next time you're anticipating getting on a plane?
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Sorry to hear about your grandfather! Have a great flight!
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HANGtheDJ_86 posted...

@No_U_L7

You promise you'll make a topic too the next time you're anticipating getting on a plane?

Why? I made one last time I was on a plane and it got 0 posts

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Sorry about your grandfather.
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How was the flight? Did your feet hold up ok?
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Sorry wasn't able to get online till today and i'm typing on the tiny laptop keyboard which does not work well with my big hands.

Anyway the flight was great and I got pre-boarding which let me get an aisle seat on both planes. They had turbulance though so I was able to get up much, but it was like 2 1/2 hours to Las Vegas then 3 hours to chicago and then 1 1/2 to NY, and at every stop I stood and walked around as much as possible. My feet were not nearly as bad this way (still swolen but I could walk on them fine).

Thank you for the advice it certainly helped.

Today was emotional, and tomorrow is the funeral. Nice to see all my family, but very sad at the same time. We all told or tried to tell stories of ourselves with my grandfather but I got too choked up and couldn't finish.

Anyway won't be posting much till I get back to a real keyboard, this thing is a pain.
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