I'm a savvy business traveler. I spent 2 years working for Xbox, during which I would travel nearly 100,000 miles a year. On a monthly basis I'd be in Shanghai, Tokyo, Tapei, Soeul, London, Brisbane, and those were 2 day destinations. Today, I had to travel from New York to San Francisco on a routine business trip for Google. I decided to do a little experiment and track not only how long it actually takes to get from New York to San Franciso door-to-door, but where the time goes.
I used 3 certified, scientific tools to write down exact times:
- An analog Diesel wrist watch
- A pen
- My hand
My hand was not only a convenient place to write down times, it was also a reminder to keep writing down times. The trip was simple:
Take the NY Subway 1 stop to Penn Station. From there, the NJR direct to to Newark Airport. Direct flight w/ United to SFO. Rent car, drive to hotel in Palo Alto. End of trip. It's a 6.5 hour flight, so how long could the whole trip take? (NEARLY 12 HOURS)
5:30pm, leave Google office for Penn Station. (10 minutes in transit)
5:40pm, Penn Station is a total disaster. I make a 5:50pm train to Penn. (10 minute wait)
6:49pm, arrival at Newark Airport. The trains were delayed and slow. (1 hour 9 minutes)
7:45pm flight is delayed until 8:15pm. Further delays. (2 hours 11 minutes)
9:00pm we finally depart (6.5 hour flight)
11:59pm arrival at car rental depot via Air Train (i had no luggage to pick up)
12:25am after 2 very slow people ahead of me I finally get to talk to the agent at National car rental.
12:27am I have the contract in my hand, on my way to get a car.
12:37am I'm in the car leaving the depot.
1:37 I am at the hotel in Palo alto (4:47am New York Time)
Take the NY Subway 1 stop to Penn Station. From there, the NJR direct to to Newark Airport. Direct flight w/ United to SFO. Rent car, drive to hotel in Palo Alto. End of trip. It's a 6.5 hour flight, so how long could the whole trip take? (NEARLY 12 HOURS)
5:30pm, leave Google office for Penn Station. (10 minutes in transit)
5:40pm, Penn Station is a total disaster. I make a 5:50pm train to Penn. (10 minute wait)
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| Penn Station, NJR NYC at 5:40pm Monday. |
7:45pm flight is delayed until 8:15pm. Further delays. (2 hours 11 minutes)
9:00pm we finally depart (6.5 hour flight)
11:59pm arrival at car rental depot via Air Train (i had no luggage to pick up)
12:25am after 2 very slow people ahead of me I finally get to talk to the agent at National car rental.
12:27am I have the contract in my hand, on my way to get a car.
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| I'm assaulted by a Sea of Silver Sedans and there's nothing poetic about it. Silver is the most popular choice, and the only choice. How grim. |
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