Pre Leaving Stuff
So while I was at the Lake House I finally got around to
booking my ticket back to Africa.
Decided to fly into Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (pronounced Wagadoogoo). I want my frequent flyer points and I
need a month layover in Europe so me thinks it is best to call United and pay
the extra 25 bucks to work this one out with a real human. Every time I go online and try to do
this one myself I end up with wicked high prices…I’m talking over 3,000 bucks
at best.
So finally get in touch with a United rep and off we
go. I have yet to have anyone;
even in the travel business know how to say Ouagadougou so I just gave her the
airport code. I had to look
up the pronunciation the first time too don’t get me wrong it’s a wonderful little
mouthful and has to be the best capital name ever.
United earned their extra 25 bucks on this one. My rep worked hard to find me a
reasonable deal. Luckily I was
flexible by more than a few days of when my flights were and even what airports
I came and went from. I was cool
to enter or leave from Frankfurt, Paris or Brussels. I assume it will be Brussels, which has two flights a week
to Waga. I was right. Managed to get the ticket for about $1900. Sounds like a lot but a great deal on
this especially in the summer. Most of the tickets I looked at in the region
without the long stopover where like 2400. The change fee is $300; which is pretty standard
anymore. Oh how sad to not be
using frequent flyer points on this one and I have to fly economy….yikes!
A Couple weeks later
Checking in online and given the option to buy double or
triple miles for my flight for a mere $230 US. Hell yes I am.
I use my flyer point and I use them well so on a long haul like this
triple miles for 230 is huge man.
I should be able to do a one way business class on my next international
just by doing this and with the points I still have. So basically I just spent 230 and will be able to fly in
style next time. I will be buying
on the way back too.
