Mr Mars works away. A lot.
Not for long periods of time, but he literally can fly to London for a day and then fly home that same night. Not fun for him. No different for me. I just put his dinner in the microwave as usual and sometimes he comes home with some unused toiletries or an instyle magazine (he snaffles from the lounges - don't worry they are free, business class perk, he is not stealing).
He works all over the UK and the major perk of this has been large amounts of frequent flyer miles and a humongous spend in one year (I think it was £20k) when meant he then qualified for a companion flight.
What does all of this get you? A Business class flight to Chicago for the cost of the taxes only. I don't think you understand me.... we only paid for the taxes. For a business class flight to Chicago!!! Cost of these flights was £5,827!!! Taxes were still cost a lot, mind you...
Having travelled either Ryan Air or Easy Jet for the best part of my adult life I have no idea what Business Class entails.... I imagine champagne and unicorns. You get champagne, but I think they keep the unicorns for first class.
Thankfully the world wide web has lots of blogs by rich people who like to tell us about the things that us mere morsels will (usually) never get the chance to enjoy. I like this website, it is full of REAL pictures. God I love pictures.
The Luxury Travel Expert:
http://theluxurytravelexpert.com/2014/06/11/flight-review-british-airways-business-class-boeing-747-400-lhr-sfo/
So here is what it looks like I am in for. Excited, ME, Nooooo. This guy says the meal is a disappointment, I am still in awe of the fact that you GET A PLATE THAT IS NOT MADE OF TIN OR PLASTIC. Are you kidding me? Real cutlery? This guy should try economy and he'll see what a disappointment really is...
I'm also struggling with how I will manage to not ransack the FREE shops in the lounge or on board and store everything like a squirrel for when we reach Chicago.
Only take 5 bars of chocolate Mrs Mars... act like you fly business class all the time.... take the other 8 bars out of your bag...take them out...okay grab some peanuts...quickly...COME ON, DO IT...no-one is looking...
I will, of course, be taking pictures of everything. Even down to the toilet. I plan to use them to reminise about the time I flew Business Class with BA when I am shackled up on my next Ryan Air flight trying to hide my handbag so they do not charge me for two carry on and then counting how many euros I have left to see if I can afford a can of cola. All whilst sweating in my extra jacket as my suitcase was over 10kg.
There are OF COURSE catches to these flights see below (here is my understanding of them):
1) They are only available on certain flights and there is only 1 allowance per day. So everyone in the UK with a companion flight is fighting to get in first for these flights
2) Once you qualify it is only valid for one year
3) Only valid for a single flight (no stop offs or returns)
4) Only valid for a flight leaving the UK; and
5) You have to reach the £20k spend within one year
6) You only get this once
7) The big one - you can only use the companion flight to places you have enough air miles to cover. So you can't top up with cash and fly to anywhere in the world.
xoxo
Showing posts with label frequent flyer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label frequent flyer. Show all posts
Tuesday, 12 August 2014
Thursday, 17 July 2014
Christmas continues with some healthy eating
Hi All,
No money saving, no DIY jobs. Nothing. What a crap blog this is turning out to be!
My posting has become minimal on all forums, of any sort, and considering Mr Mars and I are emigrating abroad next month, and move out of our house in 3.5 weeks time, it looks like posting will be minimal for the foreseeable future.
We are haemorrhaging money, which is another issue altogether. But the focus for the minute is to get some visas and make it out of the country. My simple mind can only focus on one thing at a time.
We leave next month to travel across America for over a month before we then move to the other side of the world. I am terrified. My unorganised self has gone too far this time. We have our flights booked, where we got the bargain of the century (I will dedicate a post to these flights) and we are staying in a rather nice hotel in Chicago (also bargain buy - the perks of having jobs where Mr Mars and I travelled a lot). But beyond that we have nothing planned. NOTHING. Is anyone else panicking about this for me? As I think someone should be!
Christmas:
So, as you know, I am trying to get some Christmas presents sorted before we go. I know this is the last thing I should be thinking about - but sometimes crazy people need something to occupy their mind. This is my thing.
So, the author of this book happens to live where I grew up and works in the building next to me. He has a sign up in the building promoting the book and if you want it signed he will come meet you to do so - how nice is that? Obviously promoting the book, but I still think it's nice.
My Father-in-law is very into books. He loves thrillers and especially likes books that are by local or Scottish authors. I know this as I borrow most of his books after him, and every time I do, I get all the details on where the author lives and where the books are based, so I just know he is going to love this gift:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Go-Sleep-D-P-Sloan/dp/1906755752
So I've ordered the book and am going to get him to write a personalised message for my Father-in-law. I've not decided whether it will 100% be for Christmas so I'll get the author to write "hope you enjoy your gift". Generic and covers me for any occasion. Mr Mars wants a copy too, but at £10 a book he can borrow his dads!
Healthy Eating:
My eating has been pretty bad recently, just with everything going on. I really notice it in my energy levels and exercise. So last night Mr Mars went out and bought a super-food extravaganza!
We had a rainbow salad with quinoa, topped with organic Herby Olive Oil (I bought a bottle, along with some organic balsamic vinegar in a little shop in North Scotland and it is HEAVEN), we then had some piri piri hummus and normal hummus with it and mini pittas. I was so hungry I forgot to take a photograph...
We then had some fresh blueberries with some Mango flavoured natural yogurt - this was my dessert (check out the vintage bowls that were my grans):
YUM. Today my mate is taking me for lunch. I, of course, forgot about this and brought in lunch. Have I mentioned I am unorganised? I seriously think I need to bring the file-o-fax back into my life. But he is infamous for cancelling so I would rather have my backup pasta which I can eat tomorrow than not bring anything. Need to try and retain some control over our finances at the minute.
xoxo
No money saving, no DIY jobs. Nothing. What a crap blog this is turning out to be!
My posting has become minimal on all forums, of any sort, and considering Mr Mars and I are emigrating abroad next month, and move out of our house in 3.5 weeks time, it looks like posting will be minimal for the foreseeable future.
We are haemorrhaging money, which is another issue altogether. But the focus for the minute is to get some visas and make it out of the country. My simple mind can only focus on one thing at a time.
We leave next month to travel across America for over a month before we then move to the other side of the world. I am terrified. My unorganised self has gone too far this time. We have our flights booked, where we got the bargain of the century (I will dedicate a post to these flights) and we are staying in a rather nice hotel in Chicago (also bargain buy - the perks of having jobs where Mr Mars and I travelled a lot). But beyond that we have nothing planned. NOTHING. Is anyone else panicking about this for me? As I think someone should be!
Christmas:
So, as you know, I am trying to get some Christmas presents sorted before we go. I know this is the last thing I should be thinking about - but sometimes crazy people need something to occupy their mind. This is my thing.
So, the author of this book happens to live where I grew up and works in the building next to me. He has a sign up in the building promoting the book and if you want it signed he will come meet you to do so - how nice is that? Obviously promoting the book, but I still think it's nice.
My Father-in-law is very into books. He loves thrillers and especially likes books that are by local or Scottish authors. I know this as I borrow most of his books after him, and every time I do, I get all the details on where the author lives and where the books are based, so I just know he is going to love this gift:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Go-Sleep-D-P-Sloan/dp/1906755752
So I've ordered the book and am going to get him to write a personalised message for my Father-in-law. I've not decided whether it will 100% be for Christmas so I'll get the author to write "hope you enjoy your gift". Generic and covers me for any occasion. Mr Mars wants a copy too, but at £10 a book he can borrow his dads!
Healthy Eating:
My eating has been pretty bad recently, just with everything going on. I really notice it in my energy levels and exercise. So last night Mr Mars went out and bought a super-food extravaganza!
We had a rainbow salad with quinoa, topped with organic Herby Olive Oil (I bought a bottle, along with some organic balsamic vinegar in a little shop in North Scotland and it is HEAVEN), we then had some piri piri hummus and normal hummus with it and mini pittas. I was so hungry I forgot to take a photograph...
We then had some fresh blueberries with some Mango flavoured natural yogurt - this was my dessert (check out the vintage bowls that were my grans):
YUM. Today my mate is taking me for lunch. I, of course, forgot about this and brought in lunch. Have I mentioned I am unorganised? I seriously think I need to bring the file-o-fax back into my life. But he is infamous for cancelling so I would rather have my backup pasta which I can eat tomorrow than not bring anything. Need to try and retain some control over our finances at the minute.
xoxo
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