Traveling to the West Coast on US Airways, I made it early for my flight to make sure I made it in time for pre-boarding. Why?, you may ask. Just to make sure in the mad rush for Zone 1 (which includes every frequent flyer) that I get my space in the overhead. You see, US Airways does not call first class separately, but includes them in Zone 1.

Anyway, I made it on without a hitch and stowed my luggage and had my jacket hung up. I had a tee time at the Pacific Palms Resort (the Eisenhower and Babe courses) in Industry Hills, CA  and so I was wearing a rather attractive ensemble of shorts and a polo shirt with a blazer. ( I was at the max in my carry-on bag and had no room to pack the blazer).

After sitting for a few minutes and reading a newspaper, the rest of the boarding was proceeding and a guy with his roller bag was next to me and he was lifting the bag up and down, slightly banging the floor. Odd behavior, I thought, but typical of those oblivious to the rest of the world ( like the mad whistlers who walk around blowing their tunes to our bemusement). So, the guys says to me “I’m in 3C.” I pulled out my boarding pass and showed him my seat number and said “You better ask someone.”

Over the years, I have learned that you never give up your seat and if there is an issue, you make the ticket agent come to you rather than getting up out of your seat. I had a particularly interesting flight with Kate Simpson on Alaska Airlines which I documented in eFlyer. They nearly tossed me off the plane!

In a few minutes the flight attendant came and asked for my boarding pass stub and asked if I was Francis Gallagher (and of course, I am!). The gentleman disappeared for a while and then in a few minutes walked by on the way back to the boarding area and told me that I would be okay, it had just been a passenger with the same name. “My twin?” I asked. “Maybe,” he said. We chuckled.

Now, did this person just think it was his lucky day? Booking a ticket for the least expensive rate on the plane and they just gave him seat 3C?  Funny, I thought. But, having a clone may be helpful and I am sure that the staff of Global Traveler would appreciate it – and my competition too!

-Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO