Random thoughts from our "quick weekend" getaway that covered 6 nights, 4 airports, and 3 cities
+ As we sat like peasants in the cattle pens at Midway, waiting for the SW cattle call for our connecting flight, I really felt like we were missing out on the lounge - even though we've never used one before so we don't actually know what we're missing! But the fact that it was something we were eligible for but couldn't access, it left a bit of disappointment in the back of my mind. I think part of it was it was typical Midway with packed gates, announcements going all over, and people always walking past so there's nothing relaxing about it even though we lucked out on timing and got seats (in chairs!) AND they were the new fancy ones with charging ports built into the bench under the seat so we could recharge while we sat.
On our return flight we got there way too early but it was way more relaxed so while slightly disappointed there was no lounge to check out, our hotel included free breakfast so we were watered and fed before arriving and we snagged two arm chairs at the gate that they were set back from the main seating area so it was much more relaxing while waiting nearly 2 hours to board the delayed flight. And since we were delayed on take-off there was no time to be disappointed on the connector airport as we had just enough time to use the restroom before boarding started on the last flight. It was interesting to reflect on the sense of loss on the outbound travel but happy to know it's not pervasive (since we were just fine during the inbound legs) and I could still be a peasant under the right situations - so it's not something I'll feel like I "need" once it's gone.
+ Apparently keeping your belt and shoes on is worth the cost of liberty

As we were packing up for this trip I mentioned that I realized me taking the backpack through security isn't really an incentive to get him to go for GE, as a joke. So hubby mentioned, yeah, I was thinking about maybe I should get it before the Alaska trip - very dejected like - possibly, maybe, but if I do that, that means I can keep my belt and shoes on, right?
"Yep, and you don't need to remove the liquids or anything from your bag and most times you get the metal detector rather than the body scan."
So after a little bit of discussion on his objections to doing it in the first place, which I very much respect and why I never pushed for him to do it, and that if he really wanted it before the Alaska trip he's got to decide soon since the wait times are longer than when I did it, I get this very defeated response, "I guess I'll take off the tinfoil hat if I can keep my belt and shoes on. What do I have to do?"
I find it hysterical that that's the deciding factor. I'm sure it's not just that, but I had to laugh when he put it that way.

But on the CC front, even though I won't get to use my Priority Pass, I'll probably get to use the GE credit from the CSR so that's something at least. I'll have to work on a roadmap for when it comes time for renewals in a few years.
+ And a reminder, mostly to ourselves, to always bring more small bills than you think you need. In an effort to not over plan, we didn't map out our cash as most stuff took CCs so we just hit the ATM on the way and only had what ones or fives were in our pockets. Well since most things did take CCs there wasn't a lot of opportunity to break a $20 bill so when we wanted to pay for public transit that takes exact change, it got a little dicey

Usually I make sure we have at least $20 in ones and fives since we are usually tipping drivers or bellhops or have a vending machine for tickets or whatnot, but I kinda under planned that aspect this time and now I have a wad of ones from the nice front desk clerk that had change for a $20 bill on the last day - but all in ones!
I've got a few hotels to review for the Hotel thread but the TL;DR of it was I don't think we stayed anywhere spectacular but nothing was terrible either. So I don't think you'll have to wait with baited breath for them to come out