make my trip

this past week ive somehow slipped into a pattern that goes something like this:

browse flight itineraries.
choose a convenient and income sensitive flight.
book said flight.
find out that the flight is not acceptable.
immediately cancel flight.
try to re-book another flight.
'sorry miss, your credit card is declined'.
call creditcard.
discover that card is locked due to unusual activity.
assure customer service that the charges are indeed authorized.
try to re-book, declined again.
call creditcard.
re-assure that charges are authorized and the card is safely in my possession.

once card is re-activated, repeat sequence above, as many times as needed.

im on itinerary number three now, after hours on the phone with the travel agent, numerous emails regarding flight reimbursement feasibility, and at least 4 calls to my credit card company.

flight sequence #1 was denied due to a funny little stipulation in my grant contract called the 'fly america act'. sorry emirates, you lose. i need to have american flight codes on all my boarding passes. this is more difficult that it sounds.

flight sequence #2 was denied because the american carrier on the reservation failed to issue tickets to the agent.

flight sequence #3 will hopefully go through tomorrow after approximately two more calls to my creditcard issuer to assure them that yes, i really am charging three flights out of bombay in one week, and no, my card has not been stolen, and yes, i am expecting a refund of the cancelled itineraries, and no, i dont need anything else except for my card to work as soon as possible. and yes, i am in india right now.

maybe i should just stay?
except that the only thing more unpleasant right now would be trying to extend my visa with less than two weeks left.

flight sequence #3 has now been officially nixed, as contrary to opinion of the travel agent, air india and american airlines do not code share.

flight sequence #4 is out. klm and northwest are not the same airline. im outsourcing the project to my father now.