The Guidance Counselor was Correct: I am Destined to be a Professional Schemer

Sleepless in Santiago

Ok here`s the deal...for all those who anticipated my long awaited return back home last Wednesday, hold your horses. I`m currently admits one of my grandest schemes of all-time, and rest assured this one is 100% legal.

Long story short Delta, my new favorite airline, has overbooked their daily flight to Atlanta from Santiago by 30-50 people per day (depending on the day). Hence they need volunteers to be bumped so they can accommodate the people that actually have to make it to work the next day. But for us young folk (our reoccurring group is about 10 strong by now) opportunity is knocking and we are more than happy to sleep in hotel rooms, eat 3 gourmet meals a day, and go to and fro to the airport to either pick-up a check of US$500/600 (depending on the day) or a Delta voucher of US$600 PER DAY! I`m currently on day six (and counting hopefully).


In ode to Andrew`s final blog post numerically highlighting the highs and lows of his trip, I will do the same only focusing on the last 6 days all made due by the graces of Delta Airlines. (I know this all sounds cocky, but let`s face it, I`m kinda going delirious at this point in this surreal fantasy of mine)


Days bumped from flight: 6
Average cost of hotel per night: US$275 (after two nights the hotel bill has far surpassed the total amount I spent on hostels in my entire 3 month trip).
Average cost per meal: US$30
Trips to or from the airport in car service: 11 (each at US$25 per go)
Sum of checks received: US$2,200 (covers apprx. 75% of my entire 3 month trip)
Sum of Delta voucher(s): US$1,200
Money of my own spent per day: US$10-15

When flights are overbooked in Santiago, we celebrate. When flights are overbooked in Buenos Aires, they riot (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22630041/?GT1=10755).

So I know I miss y`all and everybody misses me, but hey what`s another week or so after being gone for 3 months. And besides screw you, this is the best post-graduate job a St. Ed`s alum could ever hope for.

Ridin` this burro until it collapses,
Stewart