T-0 MSP-PEN

As expected, my departure date for Penang came in a whirlwind. I had a week off between getting home from California and leaving for Penang but between prepping stuff for our shipment, packing up the house, doing work on the other house, running around for some last minute errands, I knew it would flash by.

Ken took yesterday and today off, which was really nice ☺️

Some people this week asking me how my luggage packing was going were maybe surprised by the fact that yes, I had started packing for my flight with more than 12 hours to go 😅

Still though, was I packing an hour before leaving for the airport? Of course I was.

I sent Ken to Target for a last-minute buy of that sweet, cheap, American OTC medication while I finished up, and then it was time to say bye to the house (until January).

We got to the airport with plenty of time to figure out checking my bags. Since I was flying United to San Francisco, then switching to Singapore Airlines, my online check-in was stunted. Couldn’t finish my MSP-SFO check-in due to a manual passport check, and couldn’t check in on the Singapore side either. Even the agent at the United self checkin was surprised that I needed a desk check in when the self service computer errored out on me. When she asked for my final destination, her reaction to Penang was “Wow! Haven’t seen that one in a while.” My bags were able to get through-checked to Penang no problem, and me and Ken had more time to hang out before I went through security.

In typical Twin Cities big small town fashion, my aisle rowmate also works at bsci, which I spotted because of his backpack. We chatted for a bit and we learned a little about what each of us do! Middle seat was open, trip is off to a great start. It’s been 10+ years since I flew United (they screwed me over two years in a row going to Beijing and I swore them off), and I gotta say, the automated PA announcements instead of a flight attendant talking is very sterile. Not a fan!

1.25 James Bond movies later, we touched down in SFO, very uneventful flight. My Singapore ticket got me access to the United Polaris lounge, a nice perk.

And now for the star of this three-leg show, SFO-SIN, a 16 hour flight. Corporate work policy kicked in with the business class for this leg and it definitely made me more eager for this long journey.

Singapore Airlines business class is world famous, and this newb is settling in. Downloaded Season 3 of The Diplomat and have a fully charged Steam Deck for Harry Potter Legacy.

See you on the flip side! As always, comments are open at the bottom 😙