I was going to call this: You aren’t the only person on the plane but figured I’d take a softer title instead.

On a recent Airtran flight from MDW to ATL we were delayed quite a bit leaving MDW and thus our 40 minute connections quickly became 15 minutes.  I always sit towards the back of the plane to get zone 3 seating so there is space for my overhead.  This also means that short connections get even shorter when the plane is slow to deplane.  The lady the row behind me was very adamant that Airtran needed to make an announcement that people without short connections should remain seated so she could make her flight.  The flight attendants did eventually make this announcement which appeased her, but when everyone began deplaning she got upset.  She didn’t believe that many people would also have such a close connection.  I explained that’s how hub work.  She said that Chicago is a hub too and no one was connecting.  I said MDW isn’t a hub for Airtran and therefore people aren’t usually connecting there because they connect in ATL.

So to my point: every day there are situations out of your control: traffic accidents leading to delays, people not showing up when they say they will, internet downtime.  Sure, they suck.  I hate them too, but there is nothing a passenger can do about a plane delay that will make it any less delayed.  The only thing you can do at that point is exactly what I did: find out the gate your next flight is at and run like the wind to that gate.  That’s it.  The flight attendants can’t get it any faster, the pilots would if they could, but usually either the FAA or airline controls are preventing them from going anywhere.

Breathe in, breathe out, and wait for your window to open.

What donations to the airlines have you made throughout the years by leaving things in seatback pockets?

The other day on my flight I was in the first row and had a friendly flight attendant so we chatted a bit.  She was complaining about the size of the novel she was carrying.  I replied that she should get a Kindle because that is the whole point.  She stated that if she wouldn’t pay $200 for a device that will just end up left on the plane.  I inquired if she has found many and she said I wouldn’t believe how many she’s found (and since she doesn’t have one I’ll assume she is honest and turns them in instead of getting new toys).  I told her it is my policy to never put anything in the seat back pocket.  The time I am most tempted is during a long-haul flight.  The problem is the longer the flight the more I try to sleep.  The more I try to sleep the less likely I am to remember whatever it is.

I will attach my glasses to the seat back pocket since I am so blind there is no way I will make it out of my seat without my glasses, but aside from that I follow the mantra of the regional carriers and leave only the airline magazine, sky mall, airsickness bag, and safety card.

Photo from Amazon.com

Now that I have my new driver’s license I’ve been submitting name change requests to everyone.

American and Avis have been the easiest so far…just fill in the info and that’s it.  Others will accept faxes, others e-mail.  Now to wait and see all the updates trickle in.

So far the worst name changer is Citi Credit Cards.  I have 2 photo cards with them.  The policy is that names can be changed online unless you have a photo card which requires a new signature.  I submitted my new signature over a week ago and while everyone else I changed names with since then has sent me new credit cards (AMEX, my bank, my non-photo citi card), the accounts with the photo cards still reflect my old name.  I tried just changing my name online as well.  Apparently that + an iPad purchase = fraud.  Citi fraud alert seems to call me regularly now.  It makes me want to move even more off the pathetic program that is Thank You Points.

Set the counter.  I just overnighted my passport, photos, etc to the passport agency to get a new passport and finally get a passport card.  The goal is to just carry my passport card and leave my passport book at home unless I’m actually flying internationally.  I’ll smash the PP card so the RFID is inactive, but I think I’ll leave the RFID active in the passport book because I have issues at immigration as it is.

My progress changing my Frequent Travel accounts

(for the next sectionproof = a copy of the wallet-size marriage license, without proof = I just said change my name)

• AirTran Airways- faxed them with proof on 3/28, account updated first thing on 3/29.  They added a middle initial to my A+ account and my travel agent doesn’t use middle initials or titles which has caused issues with Airtran before.  We shall see…
• American Airline – I guess thanks to the Secure Flight name B.S. they have a form on their website to update both first and last name without proof as long as a last name change is due to marriage or something else.  I filled out the form on 3/28.
• Avis – Just change the name of the profile and wait. Changed 3/28
• Delta – Faxed proof early 3/29 and account updated in the evening 3/29.  I’m not sure if I can get a new SkyClub card or not.  I requested a new Gold Medallion card.  I have a flight in my old name next week.  Let’s see how that goes.
• Hilton HHonors – I faxed them proof  on 3/29 and I’m waiting.
• jetBlue – I can’t find anything on their website.  Since individual points expire after 12 months without their AMEX I have no points with them.  They are also usually not conducive to my clients since they are all MidWest or West coast so I may just create a new account with them.  It will take the same amount of effort.
• Marriott – One part of the website said write, another said write or call.  I faxed proof to the customer service number on 3/28
• National – faxed proof early 3/29 and changed on 3/29
• Priority Club – They claimed to accept fax, call, or e-mail so I e-mailed my proof on 3/28 and my name was updated on 3/29 although it was cutoff.
• Starwood Preferred Guest - I didn’t write anything down.  I don’t know if  I ever submitted this or not.

Not yet submitted – I have flights this week and next booked on United/US Airways so I haven’t submitted my United one yet…

I took my full marriage license with me on my honeymoon because I was headed straight to work without passing go and collecting $200. I also collected .PDFs of all the forms I’d need to update with my company like new W4s, benefits forms, as well as a name change form. It seems like everything has filtered through except for the IT account changes so I’m not really sure what name to use until my outlook name officially changes.

I was finally home on Friday so I used my window to go to the DMV and get that changed. I headed in with my new SS card, marriage license, and a pay check (since I was updating my address too). I decided to try to go early morning since going over lunch is a horrible idea in NC. They all go on lunch and everyone else who works goes to the DMV so they have 2 people open and a 2 hour line. It opens at 8 a.m. so I headed over at 9 a.m. I was seen by the triage guy after waiting in the first line for 10 minutes, then after he verified I had enough papers (I wish all states would have a primary paper checker to make sure before the big wait that you don’t have to come back). I took my number and sat down. Now the NC DMV only accepts checks and cash and I was unsure what this would set me back. A new license is $32 for 8 years. A replacement license is $10. I had $20 on me so I was hoping it was the latter and it was so I was safe. I did have to get a new picture taken. I wasn’t really prepared for that, but oh well. New license should arrive in the mail in 10 days and the old license is completely intact. I’m not sure what’s the point of central processing if we get unsnipped licenses. The DMV also updated my name and address with the voter administration so that was 2 birds with 1 stone. I wasn’t sure about car registration since that’s a separate office in NC (very annoying!)

After that I headed over to the bank and changed my name there. Pretty easy since I bank with a small bank and I always get great service when I go there.

I had to renew my registration for my car so I got it inspected, returned home, and renewed my registration online. Turns out that they did in fact update that record also when I changed my name at the DMV so my new registration should come in my new name.

After that I printed out forms for all my other banks and copied the marriage license and sent it off. This included Fidelity and ING Direct. I called American Express to get new cards issued. I called their card replacement line and just requested a new name over the phone, no documentation required. I have photo cards from Citi so I had to mail a new signature to them, but otherwise I could have updated it over the internet.

I printed out a form for a new passport, but I need to get some photos taken and I’m slacking about that.

Now I just have to wait until I have some form of ID in my new name and I will begin the process of changing names with frequent flyer accounts which is the whole point I want to get to.

So the first thing I need to do before I can get a new driver’s license and thus change all my rental programs is to get a social security card issued in my name. That poses interesting logistical problems with my not being home. My client this week is an early worker so we started early, finished before the SSA closed, but I still had to get to the hotel to pick up my envelope from FedEx (love delivery e-mails!) and then head over to the social security office (which didn’t exist in my brand new GPS).

I was so stressed out that if I didn’t make it my whole time line to change everything wouldn’t work out. I read stories online about people waiting for 45 minutes and since I was making it at 3:30pm and the office closes at 4 pm I was getting scared. I was so stressed I brought my papers in, but not the SS-5 form I worked so hard to fill out.

I got in, read the computer screen to get a number, sat down, got called within 2 minutes, and was out no more than 3 minutes after that. I had read reviews of SSA staff being very polite. The man was professional…let’s put it that way. Professional and to the point. I prefer that over polite but incompetent any day! I presented him my NC marriage license, my FL social security number, and my passport and he didn’t give me a single “what the heck are you doing in Chicago if you live in NC” like some office personnel do. I did volunteer that I was in town on business, but he didn’t seem to care. He just wanted my info and printed out a statement of what I requested and off I went.

This was the office in Woodridge. Maybe I got lucky getting in and out at 3:30 pm in a couple minutes. I’d reckon when they first open and during lunch are probably really busy.

Maybe I’d be really happy and professional if I worked from 9 to 4. I know I wouldn’t want to put up with people as stressed out over nothing as I was today. He was a real professional, but since I was stressed I didn’t bother noticing any name. Thank you Mr. Social Security guy who put up with a crazy newly wed today.

I figured I would chronicle my process to change my name since I didn’t really take any time off for this process so this will all be done while still traveling 80%.  I finally received word that my marriage license is ready for pickup, but I got the call on the way to the airport to fly out this week.  DH will have to wake up early or get off early and fedex it to me for anything to get done now.

Step 1: change name with Social Security administration.   I have to do this before I can change my name at work.  I thought the DMV cared too, but their website just said marriage certificate so we’ll see since NC DMV will never let you in the door without a SS card.

Hurdle 1: The SSA website constantly says “local office” when saying where to go.  Now of course it makes sense to go to the closest office, but is there a real requirement to go to the office it tells me when I plop in my current zip code?  Well this week I’m in Baltimore for 2 days, Chicago for 2 days, then I leave for Australia on Saturday.  I get back into the country and go straight to my company’s office (which is not in Charlotte).  I hoped to have something to show them to help change my name while I’m up there.  My real SS card might not be done, but someone on the internet mentioned something about a paper from the SSA on the spot.  Hopefully that plus a marriage license will be sufficient to appease my HR department.  I ordered 2 full licenses and 2 wallet licenses to be ready for most situations.

Hurdle 1.5: the other option is to mail the application and supporting documents.  I’m trying to get clarification on what documents are needed for a name change, but it sounds like I need birth certificate, marriage license, and driver’s license or passport.   I can’t mail my passport until I get back in the US and I need my driver’s license for rental pickup on Wednesday of this week, then again as soon as  I land at my destination in the US.  I never bothered to get a passport card because I had been anticipating needing to change my name on it since they announced the start of the passport card program.  Now I wish I had a passport card.  I am requesting one with my change of name for my passport, but that does me no good now.

So either I can go to the SS office in Chicago or I have to wait 3 weeks to even start this process!

Am I reading into this too much?