After having jetted back and forth to London this Spring on various Sarah-related missions, I was thrilled when, having received my Swiss Air Lines Miles & More account overview today, I was informed that, with just a little bit of effort, I could achieve my long sought-after Frequent Traveller status!!

Yay!!

Not to sure what benefits this includes, though. But never mind; take a look at this status bar:

I am soo close!!

And the remaining effort is pretty reasonable, I’d say:

I can already smell the sweet scent of success!

“Yes, madam: I can confirm it. Your luggage IS checked all the way through to Santorini’s Thira airport.”

The woman at Zürich‘s check-in counter then proceeded to stare at us, eyebrows very raised, as if daring us to question the vital piece of information she had so kindly confirmed…again.

So when we arrived in Athens, knowing we had a leisurely three hours to before our connecting flight was due to leave, we unsuspectedly looked for the transit signs.

Which, for some reason, we didn’t locate

But we did suddenly find ourselves in the luggage reclaim hall. And as I was due to refill my nicotine tanks and there just happened to be a pit stop just right there, I couldn’t think of a better 3-minute occupation for the girls than send them to watch other passengers luggage being reunited with their relieved owners.

NOT A Transit sign!

And besides: despite that lady’s eyebrows, I still had this weird feeling….

So off they went, surprisedly enthralled by my brilliant idea, before returning 150 seconds later with our three suitcases and a puzzled look on their faces.

We then proceeded to pass the customs, head back to a check-in desk, re-deposit our luggage, exhorted a confirmation and a stern look from yet another lady, before sailing through security where, after successfully confusing a security agent about the validity of bringing a liter of (liquid) duty free back airside, we were ready to relax.

Ok: most probably we would only have had to wait a day for our stuff to arrive (and I’ve that Greek toothbrushes are not so bad). But I promised myself to go pluck someone’s eyebrows when we got back!

Nice one Austrian!!

A guy whose paw I’d definitely like to shake!

Godspeed, Sully!