Expedia considered frustrating

I'm trying to optimize flights for a trip to Los Angeles (for the next session of the Sh'liach K'hilah program, in February). My goals are to not miss any of the program, miss as little time from work as possible, and keep the price down. So off to Expedia I went.

After choosing a departing flight, I got to the page for return flights. None of the options brought me joy, but then I wondered if I was seeing a subset of the option space that was limited by my departing flight. (That is, the departing flight had a price associated with it, so it makes sense that only certain return flights would be good for that price.) So, I said, I should be able to find out everything that's out there (and work backwards if need be) by instead querying one-way trips, right?

Bzzt. That got me a different set of options, but some of the ones I had previously seen were gone.

How do I find the list of all flights between two cities on a particular day? I just want information; I'll sort out the money and the purchase later. I just want to know if it's even possible for me to leave when I want to leave.

Do I really need to engage the services of a travel agent, in the internet age?

trip to LA [Sh'liach K'hilah]

I'm rethinking the trip to LA. The Sh'liach K'hilah program is important to me, but the cost of this particular session is winding up higher than I expected (perhaps higher than the summer session), which is leading me to do the cost-benefit analysis.

The cost of the session is $500, which includes the hotel for Friday and Saturday nights. (We just got this figure.) I would have to fly there (add transport to/from airports), and because it's in LA I'd need to fly out Thursday evening (so there's another night of accommodations). My choices on Sunday are to miss a bit of the final session or take a red-eye back, and the red-eye has a layover (not a direct flight). I'd consider it without the layover, especially as that would give me Sunday afternoon to potential spend with friends in LA. (I've got some of those.)

I spent $1000 (plus 1.5 tanks of gas :-) ) for the week-long session in Cincinnati, and that had tons of classes crammed into it. For a comparable amount, at the winter session I'd be getting 8.5 class hours and Shabbat. I'm sure it would be rewarding (Cincinnati was fantastic), but I'm not sure it's $120/hour of rewarding.

( schedule )

I'm still thinking about it. Not going won't endanger my standing in the program; it'll just be a disappointment. On the other hand, the education per dollar is looking a bit off. If it were in Cincinnati and thus half the price, I'd definitely go.

I think I'll look harder for a direct red-eye and investigate the time-with-friends-Sunday-afternoon option.

congregational board

I was chosen for the nominating committee (to choose board members) for my synagogue tonight, for the second year in a row. I'm pleasantly surprised. (I didn't think repeats would be seriously considered, though I knew I had been nominated and they didn't eliminate me then.)

The committee consists of three board members, three non-board congregants, and a few direct appointments. Last year I was chosen as a board member; this year I was chosen as a congregant. To complete the trifecta, next year I need to be directly appointed by someone. :-) (Nah. Not gonna happen.)

I seem to have a reputation there as thoughtful, analytical, and all those other good things you want in leaders. Nifty. It's so easy to go into a new organization and screw up by not knowing the history, politics, and unwritten rules. This time around that didn't happen to me.