Well, I’m in the ‘Big Easy’ if only for a few minutes. Turns out that those beignets I was telling you about are in the main terminal, outside the security zone. Looking over the lines to re-enter and glancing at my watch, I hastily decide to go for it. While I look over the security lines here in New Orleans, I see a distinct difference between two terminals. For one terminal, the guard is checking IDs and letting people line right up for the scanner, which is about a dozen people deep. For the other terminal, the guard doesn’t seem to be letting people pass because there is no line at the scanner some 20 feet past the guard, however there is a line of people waiting to show their ticket and drivers license some 30 people deep which extends out into the terminal causing an obstacle of a conga line. Two guards, two ways of doing things. Luckily for me my terminal is the guard checking ID and letting people right up to the scanner. So, with caution (and security) to the wind, I head for the hot beignet shop. While the airport is no place for a Cafe Du Monde, it is as close as I can get for a wicked food fix. I take the usual three, and with powdered sugar on my upper lip I hold the remaining beignets close and head back through security. Again I’m tagged for closer inspection but after a few minutes of my time I’m back at the gate with just the right amount of minutes to finish my stash of goodies before flight time. Looking at my boarding pass I note that someone tried to sneak an upgrade in on me. While appreciating the gesture, I get in line and 10 minutes later return, having downgraded myself. The gate agent does let me know that in 4 years on the job, that’s a first for him. The reason was that on the flight to New Orleans I spent getting comfortable in my exit row seat and wasn’t going to start all over to get comfortable – no matter where the new seat was. But given the flight were 3 across and quite full on the return to Charlotte, I might have put up with the uncomfortable first class seat. But please understand that at this point of my career as a mileage runner, no seat is feeling comfortable. Yes, my butt has become a liability.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2001 at 7:32 pm and is filed under Come Fly with Me, Day 5. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.