Fly with me

Late on Thursday, I was offered a chance to go see my boy toy out of town where he had a court hearing for work. I said sure. I spent most of the night, until 4 am, working on finding just the right flight at the right price. I admit I rather enjoy doing that, searching around the web for travel. I check several sites to fly and for trains and whatever seems logical. I was happy with my choice, because the price was right, the times were good, and the flight was out of Flint, MI, which is much nicer to deal with than Detroit. The Flint airport isn't much bigger than a mall. The parking is a dream.

The next day, really the same day, I get notice that due to Gerald Ford's death and mourning, federal offices are closed on Tuesday. The court hearing is canceled. Ooops. As usual, my flight was non-refundable. I never buy insurance - I always figure that for all the flights I haven't paid insurance for, once I lose one, I will still come out ahead. Insurance companies make money, right?

I waited a bit to see if the court hearing would be rescheduled before my shoulder surgery, so I could still go. Not likely to happen, so I need to call the airlines and beg for a refund on a non-refundable ticket.

In the meantime, while I am looking for my frequent flyer card, Child calls.

Mom?

Yes, Child.

Can you do me a favor?

I don't have any money.

Guess what! I found another ride to the airport tomorrow, you don't need to drive me!

(great, I don't need to drive to the airport two days in a row after all....) Good.

Can I borrow some money?

I don't have any money.

Yes you do. You always do. I only need $100 and I will pay it back in a week.

What am I supposed to live on while you have my money?

Younever spend any money.

That is because you always have it.

Well, can I borrow it? (It's 11 pm, and I hear she is in a store, she wants to come get my cash right now, I am thinking.)

(I count out my cash...) I only have $92.

What? How will you pay your house payment? I know you have more than that.

I don't pay cash for my bills, do I? That is all the cash I have.

Will you go to the bank tomorrow morning and come up to my bar and have lunch and bring me the money?

Once that call was over, I figured I had the cajones to call the airlines and politely beg.

Still, I wrote out a list of WHY the airlines should do this for me. I decided to give all the truth - even though the court hearing being canceled had nothing directly to do with me. I was a nervous wreck.

The first item on my list was to begin with, "Yesterday I made a reservation." Technically, that was true. It was late Thursday night, like 4 am when I made the reservations, but really Friday. It was 11:30 pm when I made the call, but still, it was Saturday. Right? Logical?

I had myself all braced up to make my point. I got a very nice lady named Marie on the phone who took all the wind out of my sails. She very sweetly told me that I could go online and cancel (cancel!) my reservation since it only the next day, and before midnight. I almost cried. She even did it FOR me.

No fees, no charge, no restocking charge, nothing at all. Total, full refund.

Thanks, Monica, for the advice :)

Child will get her cash. I will deliver. Woe to her if I am alone any of the first 14 nights after my surgery.