Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore & Indonesia -- March 1990

I had wanted to make a trip to Asia for a long time, but I didn't have the money to do so. Unfortunately, American Airlines made this trip possible. At Christmas, 1989, my Grandmother was flying with them to spend the holiday with Mom, Dad and me in Hilton Head, South Carolina. There was a winter storm, and American somehow shipped her to Atlanta. There was no way for American to get her from Atlanta to Hilton Head, but in exchange for my driving to pick her up, they gave me a small travel voucher.

I applied the voucher towards an American flight to Narita, Japan, and bought an add-on ticket on Northwest to Bangkok and on United from Singapore back to Narita. I also upgraded the ticket to Business Class, using frequent flyer miles.