The Jeff Show: Re-booking a Flight Due to a Summer Storm

June is very busy at WAV with three Microsoft events and two Honeywell events; and with the beginning of summer concert season, a myriad of other small events. As I write this, everyone is on the road except me. 

This makes me think about summer storm season around the old airport. That means at some point you (and I do mean you) will get caught at a gate with your travel plans delayed by Mother Nature. You and about 180 of your closest friends (ok they are not your friends) are trying to get a seat on the next flight home.
  

Everyone lines up at the ticket counter as two gate agents try to rebook 180 people with travel plans that are next to impossible. So, you’re looking at about a two hour wait just to talk to an agent.

You won’t have to wait if you have status or are smart. If you have status, the computer will automatically rebook you and send an email. If you’re smart, you can rebook your flight in no time and get a free drink for a mere $50. That’s right, head over to the airline club, pay the $50 one day fee, go upstairs to the desk and let the agent fix it. You're in the club, they are the best at what they do, and they never want to tick off a club member.  While the other 179 of your friends all battle for the last 3 seats on the next flight, the number just went to 2 as you get your boarding pass.

Problem solved.  But wait Jeff, what if you are in Smoot Wyoming where there is not a club. Just go past security and hit the ticket counter. It helps if you can give the agent puppy eyes. And remember; never be mean to a ticket agent. Mother Nature is not their fault.

I, myself. try to restrict my summer travel to taking the family to Door County. But when we drive by O’Hare every time on the way up, I promise to think of you.
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Company owner Jeff Warner has been involved in the industry of as long as he can remember as his dad, Harry, started WAV. He joined the company full-time in 1979, and travels the world to help big clients like Bankers Life and Casualty, McDonald's and Microsoft plan AV displays for meetings and events. Please e-mail Jeff you own travel tips to jwarner@warnerav.com, and your tip might be featured in our blog.

The Jeff Show: Nabbing a Cab in Vegas

It was exciting to read all your smart travel tips in response to my plea for ideas. However, I must confess, almost everything started or ended with food. Let a tech out of a ballroom for 30 minutes, and they will find food. Please continue to e-mail me with all your travel tips. We’ll include some of them soon. 


So on to giving away the travel tip for May.

Sooner or later, everyone flies to Vegas. It’s a rule in our business.

When you get off the plane at McCarran International Airport, you'll fight the urge to play the quarter slot machines. You ride down and fight your way on to the tram. Hurling down through the tunnel, you arrive at baggage claim with several thousand of your friends. With no thanks to your air carrier, you wait a good half hour for your baggage. Then, it’s time to hustle outside and get into the cab line.

Now don’t get me wrong, the cab line is not as bad as used to be since the economy tanked. But snaking through that line can take a good half hour. It’s never fun – and I’ve always wondered if there was a way to bypass that stupid cab line.

But wait there is, and you walked right past it. The pesky sky caps that push their carts into your way are your salvation. Let them put your bag on that silver cart, and they will whisk you outside to the left of the line and straight into a cab. It’s the best couple of bucks you can spend in order to get to the casino and lose your money faster - just the way God intended it.

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Company owner Jeff Warner has been involved in the industry for as long as he can remember as his dad, Harry, started WAV. He joined the company full-time in 1979, and travels the world to help big clients like Bankers Life and Casualty, McDonald's and American Airlines plan AV displays for meetings and events. E-mail Jeff your own travel tips to jwarner@warnerav.com

The Jeff Show: April 2012

Welcome to the first edition of WAV News. Since this is our first eZine, I get the honor of writing a column in the corner, The Jeff Show.

In addition to our endeavors, advice on AV, and planning meetings, I am imparting my great wisdom on years of traveling this big world and running shows. You’ll read important stuff, like finding a good sushi restaurant in the Sonoran Desert of the Southwest; or, how you can nab the last business class seat on a four-hour flight - back to that in a minute.

Here is what I’m also thinking. Since almost all my good ideas are the advice I most likely heard from someone else, I also want your help. Please send me your travel tips. Now in all fairness, you should get something for the idea. So I will give you credit for it. Just think of your name right here in the newsletter. It kind of makes you feel all warm inside.

On to the important part of getting upgraded to the last seat in business class.  Remember this, no matter what you may think; they always save one seat for airport release just in case someone runs up at the last minute with a wheel barrel full of money to purchase it. At the airport, it’s all about who gets on the list first. Get there early enough to be the first one to request the upgrade and you might get it. Unless you’re gold, then someone will bump you anyway.

On a serious note, thanks for taking the time to read this, and for letting us work for and with you.

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Company owner Jeff Warner has been involved in the industry for as long as he can remember as his dad, Harry, started WAV. He joined the company full-time in 1979, and travels the world to help big clients like Bankers Life and Casualty, McDonald's and American Airlines plan AV displays for meetings and events.