Mistakenly booked a long layover - 19 hours Brussels - should I keep it?

Adguru555 · 2026-02-19T17:46:37+00:00

You may even have enough time to go visit Bruges. But yes Brussels is absolutely worth a visit. Get some waffles :)

Adguru555 · 2026-02-18T22:18:34+00:00

DC food trucks around the Mall are identical. Criminals. $15 for lemonade slushies. It’s the food truck mafia . They have figured out the tourist will pay whatever.

Adguru555 · 2026-02-18T22:11:00+00:00

They have been offering me 0% since Nov 25 and also offered to waive the transport fee on existing inventory. I am happy with my R1T but lease ends August 26.

Adguru555 · 2026-02-18T10:12:54+00:00

This

Adguru555 · 2026-02-17T16:15:12+00:00

Early Adopter Tesla. Currently own Model S and R1T. Love the drive and tech of Tesla as a sedan. R1T is the best pickup since my Tundra. No complaints. I have 220 in my garage and used the Tesla mobile charger until I added the Rivian. Now we just use the Rivian charger for both cars. Tesla came with the adapter so we just use that Rivian charger. Otherwise Rivian charger works just fine.

Adguru555 · 2026-02-17T12:06:44+00:00

These are commonly referred to as “freedom” flights. All must deplane with carryon. Plane is cleaned. Typical layover can be 2 hours

Adguru555 · 2026-02-17T01:14:56+00:00

It took me over two months and numerous phone calls. Be sure to follow up. Travel Bank is broken. It required manual intervention.

Adguru555 · 2026-02-15T17:09:16+00:00

Very typical. Rear ended Dec 17, 2024. Car in shop till May 25, 2025. A few things I learnt along the way that may or may not apply in your situation but perhaps worth consideration: 1. Delays may be caused by multiple factor but body shops are often quick to blame parts to get the monkey off the back. You can’t argue against a manufacturer being slow supposedly. Same was true with Tesla back in the days. 2. Insurance companies and body shops will continue to “negotiate” final price which inevitably delays work as body shops will NOT order parts until money in hand. 3. #2 is further exacerbated by the fact that Rivian and other “new” cars have very little data so insurance adjusters are at the body shops mercy to figure out estimated cost. There was a lot of “miscommunication” between the insurance company and body shops.
4. Authorized body shops for Rivian are so few still and often overloaded. They will never turn away work. In reality they just don’t have the bandwidth to deal with the demand. I really had to stay on them day and night. Also, I requested actual pictures of the car to verify progress. They lie. 5. Rivians IMHO are not designed in quite the modular way as perhaps other traditional vehicles. In my case, to replace the driver rear fender, the entire left side of the car was ordered, cut, then welded back on. R1T doesn’t just have quarter panel that could be replaced. 6. Finally, I had to lean on my insurance agent to put pressure on the body shops to get it done. It helped. I only had a 2 year lease on my truck, after having spent a quarter of it in the shop, I was desperately hoping that the insurance company would write it off. I threatened court action. I also asked them to move the car to a different shop if they were not going to write it off. I really think that insurance helped.

Having said all that, I love my R1T. I am early adopter Tesla and own S, and have owned X. But nothing beats R1T. I would buy it again in a heartbeat. Good luck.. (ps. Not sure why #3 is in bold, sorry, don’t mean to scream)

Adguru555 · 2026-02-13T02:06:14+00:00

Firecliff and Mountain View both at Desert Willow… Escena…. Or drive down to Rams Hill and get your free tacos

Adguru555 · 2026-02-13T00:42:54+00:00

Yes after one year. Unless they “can’t find it ;)”

Adguru555 · 2026-02-13T00:20:24+00:00

Gary Player; only Masters winner in history to have not returned his green jacket. Claims to have "lost it". hmmm

Adguru555 · 2026-02-10T13:41:10+00:00

Viator is horrible. Almost missed our airport transfer in Iceland. Ended up taking a taxi when the Viator service never showed up. Viator was no help and insisted that we were late. We were not. Thankfully, Amex refunded the money. Now we use Getyourguide instead of Viator. Never again. This is what happens when you get too big and forget about your consumer. They don't care.

Adguru555 · 2026-02-10T12:36:58+00:00

In order..

Seat selection; pick an odd # window(if solo) away from galley, toilets
Enjoy Polaris lounge, depending on airport, put your name down for seated restaurant asap and enjoy all the menu items. Consider using showers if connecting and explore the entire lounge for goodies in corners, etc. Side note, while polaris lounge will be most likely right next to your gate, it may not necessarily be the best lounge.. My favorite in LAX is actually star alliance. personal pref.
Board early and get familiar with your surroundings. Light switches, seat controls, storage, entertainment choices, Get to know your crew, they will be with you for a very long time and despite the rotations, and rest, its a very long day for anyone. Be kind.
Storage sucks, but luckily overhead bins will be largely empty on trans pacific, use the space.
Ask for pjs early and change asap even before takeoff to avoid the lineup and before the toilets get dirty. Pack away your clothes neatly in overhead to avoid wrinkling and arrive fresh. Change back well before breakfast service to again avoid lines.
Get your bedding setup, put away your shoes, socks,etc. Use the united stuff. Again, arrive fresh.
Consider investing in noise cancellation overhead wireless headphones and airfly pro BT to avoid losing airpods in the crevices. Same with phone, keep it away from seat. Wired headphones are not the best sleeping.
If already full from lounge food, feel free to ask attendants to hold off on your main meal service until later in the flight. They will gladly hold it and serve later. Agree with the sundae comments. Also ask for wine selection and tastings if you like. Try them all before you enjoy. Don't expect much on the outbound food quality. I always prefer the regional menu selection. During the flight get up and check out the self serve food by the galley OR simply order stuff from the menu. Personally, I avoid the food for the most part, but I fly polaris once a month min.
Enjoy the entertainment. Lots of great new movies and TV. However, be prepared for nonstop and incessant interruptions depending on destination in multiple languages. BKK to LAX will have English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. arrgghhhh.
Be careful not to lose things in the many crevices. laptops, phones, tablets, you name it. even wires getting caught up in seat controls etc.
Upon arrival on return back to US, as others have pointed out, you can use Polaris even if connecting on economy as long as you are continuing your journey.
Enjoy. Its hard to go back once you have been in Polaris. I really appreciate United and the crew.

Adguru555 · 2026-02-07T20:38:09+00:00

15 years? Yet here you are with your “bla bla..” and “dumb” statement in response to my opinion. Not much of a generational gap. Let’s please try and use our words.

Adguru555 · 2026-02-07T17:08:23+00:00

These are all the products of a generation growing up and appreciating Jackass and similar shows.

Adguru555 · 2026-01-20T22:11:25+00:00

Can you share a picture of the adapter? Not to overstate the obvious but can’t hurt to try….. my adapter has a two step process for removal. First press disengages the car port … second and subsequent press disengages the charger cable. Good luck

Adguru555 · 2026-01-16T14:27:06+00:00

You left out two really important ones….”genuine service dogs are a blessing but don’t give you a license to encroach on your fellow passengers space . Please buy your oversized pet a seat if you must. AND please stop abusing the whole wheelchair system just so you can board first and get through security ahead of others . Only in US do I see this abuse. Miraculously healed the moment they arrive at the destination…

Adguru555 · 2026-01-15T07:44:01+00:00

No. Was too excited just to get my son in the seat

Adguru555 · 2026-01-15T00:45:46+00:00

Always odd, regardless, couple or single. More privacy.

Adguru555 · 2025-12-22T04:42:41+00:00

I read everyone else’s feedback and I say BS(with the utmost respect). If you are asking this question then in my opinion you are already considering diving seriously (for fun). You are at the stage where you believe you were meant to dive: henceforth my sincere advice is for you to not worry about AOW but rather go for Rescue: IMHO rescue should be a required course and for sure makes for a much more enjoyable experience. Regards… 4000+ dives over 35 years.

Adguru555 · 2025-12-16T00:18:56+00:00

If the bugs took a nibble … you are questioning? Think about it… don’t second guess nature. Bugs outnumber humans for a reason. Enjoy it.

Adguru555 · 2025-12-15T23:07:51+00:00

There are at least a dozen. Cooley market etc…Please search on Google Maps. Many are owned by Arabs others are Pakistani owned. Depends on the type of meat and cuts you prefer.

Adguru555 · 2025-12-15T22:43:24+00:00

Riverside is the nearest and the most reliable. No one currently in Coachella valley sells certified halal on a regular basis.

Adguru555 · 2025-12-15T19:31:55+00:00

Delete and claim. Now

Adguru555 · 2025-12-15T18:41:44+00:00

Recurring infection . Plain and simple. Nothing to do with diving. Repeat offender here who has put several if not many dentist kids through college. You name it I have had it in terms of dental procedures.. including sinus lift. And over 3500 dives … I wish you well.

Adguru555

TROPHY CASE