there are times

When having spent 33 years in the US armed forces really can pay off.

Let me explain.

I have a reasonable tolerance for ambiguity, stupid directions, and do-loops that can drive another member of my household nuts. I don’t expect an absence of conflicting information. I don’t expect rationality. I don’t expect it to be easy to figure out in which direction to march. Knowing that departure and marching in the direction that will eventually get me there is good enough. I can work through all the hassles and web-stupidity without losing my cool.

Example – entry requirements for Spain in my case simply say that I need to be able to prove full vaccination more than 14 days prior to country entry. Ok. There is a website which states clearly that the information MUST include flight number (if flying in) and SEAT number one the plane. This can’t be done more than 48 hours prior to arrival.

There is absolutely no issue and complete clarity as far as I am concerned. Why would I even think about trying to pre-fill in the form over the weekend? Not me. my 48 hours doesn’t start till mid-day on Tues. George’s 48 hours doesn’t start till mid-day today (Monday). See reference above about the weekend….. There is a definite advantage to watching someone else attempt to do the impossible. Stops me from wasting my time. Besides, I don’t have my seat number for the connecting flight in front of me. So I will do this while hanging out prior to boarding at SFO tomorrow afternoon.

The other challenge that I don’t face is COVID testing. Turkish Airlines doesn’t require a test that I can find on their website. Turkey doesn’t require a test for transiting passengers. They do require immunization documentation which I have in two formats. Spain requires proof of immunization (see rant about their QR code above). If I can’t manage to do the on-line Spain thing at SFO, I have a long layover in Istanbul and can manage it then.

In case you are wondering – why Turkish Airlines, the answer is simple. Their prices for one way trips (not-cattle car) are ½ of any of the other airlines which proceed to charge you as much for the one way as for the round trip. As I don’t need a flight back to the US at this point, round trip didn’t make sense. I should have just booked for early May and just signed up for another trans-Atlantic crossing, but it is too late now. Inside the US, booking is based on each direction and it doesn’t cost 80-100% of a roundtrip fare to go one way. And no, it is not worth just skipping the second flight as there are penalties that can be applied.

Otherwise, I am packed although reconsidering once again what cross-stitch projects I am taking. Perhaps I just need a soak in the hot tub to get cooled off and drop my annoyance at someone who just can’t leave all the conflicting information alone…..