The Things They Carried

I know...I know...you want to know where we ended up after Las Vegas, right?  Well, those photos aren't quite in order yet, so you'll just have to sit tight for one more day.  In the meantime, let's discuss what we brought with us.  I'd like to introduce you to our traveling companions--from left to right they are:  The Red Barron, The Little Red Caboose, and Golden Boy.

When participating in the Non-Rev Challenge, it is ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL that you do NOT check a bag.  After all, what if you check your bag to Omaha but get into your journey only to find that the flight to Omaha is full and now you've switched gears and are trying to go to the Dominican Republic instead?  A lot of good your bag is going to do you sitting in Omaha!  Another ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL thing is that your carry-on MUST be able to fit under the seat in front of you, and not only in the overhead compartment.  Here's why:  Non-Rev employee travelers often have to wait until the last minute to know whether we are cleared to board or not.   And often, by this point, the overhead compartments are full.  If your bag does NOT fit under the seat in front of you, it is gate checked to your final destination and has to be picked up IN BAGGAGE CLAIM.  This can spell DISASTER for the Non-Rev Challenge!  After all, we are strategically zipping from flight to flight, making last minute travel destination decisions close to departure times.  If we have to stop to go PICK UP a bag in baggage claim, then go ALLLLLLL THE WAYYYYYY back through security...well...you don't even want to KNOW the wrath of the "weedy eye" you will get from your teammates!

And what to bring?  Very little!  After all, the more you bring, the more you have to carry.  This is what I found to be necessary:
1.  Laptop computer (for checking flight loads and making reservations.  Plus, the charger)
2.  Cell phone and camera (plus the chargers)
3.  Notebook (for jotting down notes, directions, names, and to give out our Blog address)
4.  Hat (crazy, dirty hair days)
5.  Change of socks and undies
6.  Very basic toiletries (toothpaste, face soap, lotion, lipbalm.  Hygiene is pretty much out the window   on the Non-Rev Challenge)
7.  Wallet and PASSPORT!!
8.  Jacket or fleece (doubles as a blanket when sleeping)

So back to our journey.  When last we left our mighty travelers, Krissey was researching flight destinations while sitting on the floor of the Las Vegas airport.  We booked our employee reservations and headed to..........