The Demise of Lufthansa

As hard to believe as it is, what with all of the crappy service I've endured on United Airlines, Lufthansa just became my least favorite airline.

Ethel and I booked a trip to go to Europe for summer vacation. We booked several months ago so that we could get decent fares. I noticed last month that somehow my last name was spelled wrong on the ticket (it's still not clear to me why American Express allowed Milton Dorkemhoff to use my credit card to pay for the tickets), so I called the ticket office.

I was told that there is normally a $50 fee to change a name, but it would be waived because it was obviously the agent's mistake. Cool beans. Scored points with me too, they admitted their mistake.

We're supposed to be leaving tomorrow, so I went online to print out our eTicket receipt (the beauty of flying paperless) and wouldn't you know it, my name is STILL spelled wrong. So I called Lufthansa again.

This time I was told "there will be a $50 fee to change a name" - I pointed out that I was told that before and was told it would be waived. And also that I had already called to get it changed four weeks ago (which was noted in the record).

After a lengthy pause, a feigned "I'll need to check with my supervisor" the agent came back on and said that the fee would be waived. Cool, ok, you pissed me off by making me wait, but at least this is settled.

Bzzz, wrong answer. It's not settled. The office that needs to reticket me (funny, I thought "eTicket" was electronic) is closed on weekends, so I actually have to go to a Lufthansa ticket counter to get reticked. Ok, fine. Alas, the only one around is actually at San Francisco airport, and they're only open between 10:30am and 2pm.

Yeah, that's primo - I need to drive 100 miles to the airport ($10.00 in gasoline) to fix your mistakes, after giving you a crapload of money for the ticket. Nice.. Tell me again why you're better than any other airline..

Christine

It's totally freaky. Have you seen the movie Christine? That's been my life lately. Ethel and I met some friends for dinner downtown, and while we sat at the restaurant, a new retro Dodge Challenger kept driving by - this car:


Ok, no biggie, maybe the guy was looking for a place to park. But then yesterday I left for work, and the car was there again, sitting out in front of my house.

Sure, maybe two twice in two days is a coincidence, but then it was there again this morning, around the corner from my house. It's as if this car is stalking me.

Leave me alone. I don't want you. I get over 50mpg and am quite happy with my Prius. You, on the other hand, get around 2mpg. Do the math.

Dinner's on me, err, nevermind..

An e-coupon arrived this afternoon from Left at Albuquerque this afternoon - psych! I was going to take Ethel to dinner (she's a cheap date). Then I read the fine print:


Doh! The coupon expired weeks ago - before it was even sent. Nice. Real nice. Ethel will be disappointed. Jack In The Box here we come.

Special thanks to King Kong Capture for providing an awesome screenshot tool..

Update: I received a new coupon from Lefties, which blamed of all things, a computer for the problem:

Due to a computer error our new menu offering coupon was accidentally resent with an incorrect expiration date.

The computer incorrectly put the date? Or did the computer incorrectly send the coupon? And what's with the "resent" it - it was only sent once. I don't believe you..

Big Mac

Woohoo!! It's here!! My new Mac is here! It's a MacBook Pro. It's absolutely gigantic great. It's the bottom of the line model, but it's still gorgeous. Steve, you and your people have outdone yourselves this time. I was on the fence about the new iPhone, but if this computer is any indication of the quality of your work, I'm getting one. It puts my Windows machines to shame.

There is one problem with it though - I can't come up with a name for it. I try to come up with cutesy names for my computers. I came up with a couple of choices for this puppy but I can't decide which to go with.

Ethel suggested I create a survey - so that's exactly what I did. I set up a survey over at Survey Monkey (note to self: always remember to thank the people who give you things for free) so you, my loyal readers (all 7 of you) can help me decide what to name this baby.

The polls are open now, run, don't walk to the survey.

Togo's Disappoints

I've been a fan of the Togo's #9 since sometime in the mid-80s. Sadly, my fandom ended today. I was home at lunchtime, and had a craving, so I walked over to the local Togo's (passing up the recently opened Quiznos and lacking in atmosphere/manners Subway).

There was a sign taped to the door - "we're sorry, for health reasons, we will not be using tomatoes." Two problems here:

1. Tomatoes add flavor; I learned first hand today that the #9 is not so great without tomatoes. That might be because the sandwich barista overcompensated with lettuce though;
   
2. The FDA has said that tomatoes from California are not linked to the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak
   

So, if Togo's is no longer serving tomatoes, then that means they are either overly paranoid, or they are getting their tomatoes from outside California. I'm going with the latter, and I can't see paying them to import vegetables when we grow perfectly good (and healthy no less) vegetables right here at home in CA.

Sorry Togo's, you're on my boycott list, along with Canada and Noah's Bagels. We had a good run though.

Economic Stimulus Package

I try to stay up on current events, but I confess, the economic stimulus package caught me off guard. When I first heard about it, I thought it was something pornographic-related. I mean, really, "stimulus" and "package" in the same sentence? I thought maybe it was some sort of cheap vibrator.

I'm happy to say, I was completely wrong. It's not a cheap vibrator (nor an audio vibratory physio molecular transport device - for Rocky Horror fans in the crowd), it's intended to stimulate our not-recessed economy. The idea is simple - the government sends me a check, and I go and buy something with it (sadly, what I buy will likely be made in China, thus stimulating the wrong economy - will China quiver when their economy gets overstimulated?).

What a great idea Mr. President! I say, bring them on! In fact, how about this - don't send me a check; instead, just send it to Steve Jobs; and he can send me a new iPhone3G, ok?