Best Route to Dallas

Expect to hear from me once a month in regards to travel arrangements. I'm fully aware of guys lack of motivation when it comes to booking airline travel, which is why I don't want there to be a situation where someone is in a tough spot that I could have helped avoid.

As previously stated, I strongly suggest everyone try to get a Thursday night, after work flight. There are direct flights from everywhere to Dallas each evening, and that way you will be there in time for the now traditional TR night film session. If you HAVE to leave Friday, please get on the first flight out, no matter how early it is, to minimize the risk of an all day session at the airport and missing Games 1 and 2 which will be played at 5:00pm and 6:00pm, respectively.

Everyone that has ever lived in the south obviously prefers flying Southwest. Problem is that Nashville does not fly directly to Dallas despite the fact that their headquarter's is that (So is American's.. There is your business lesson for the day Pitto). I suggest the following flight:

American Airlines Flight 1691 on Thursday, April 5th:
Departs Nashville @ 6:50pm.
Arrives Dallas FW @ 8:50pm.

American Airlines Flight 2684 on Sunday, April 8th:
Departs Dallas FW @ 6:00pm.
Arrive Nashville @ 7:45pm.

Prices are roughly around $350 (SW's are about $410)right now. Hold off until they get down to about $275 then book. My suggestion is to pay attention not necessarily because of the prices, but for the flights. American Airlines has better flights and is cheaper than Southwest going from Nashville to DFW. An AA flight will be non-stop for an hour and a half, a SW flight will be minimum four hours and a chance to get stuck in the world's worst city that isn't Nashville or Atlanta; Houston, TX.

I strongly advise not driving as it's a BRUTAL 11 hour drive of nothing and anticipate a lot of bad cramps along the way... And it will probably be more expensive than flying.

For anyone wondering, American Airlines stock (Ticker: AMR) is currently trading at $.74 (Up 67% today because they claimed bankruptcy and somehow people found value in that). Southwest (Ticker: LUV) is currently trading at $8.54 a share. Southwest is a trillion times better than American in every facet, hence the reasoning they are taking a ton of business from them, and why all their employees are happy and AA's are miserable 24/7, usually trying to make your flight experience as miserable as they are. Unfortunately in this case, it will save you time and money.

And finally, an update on each company stock price as of today that is represented in PCTI:

Kimberly Clark (Donley)-$70.79 WITH a 3.96% dividend
CH Robinson (Smo)-$68.54 with a small dividend
Verizon Wireless (Abe)-$38.32 WITH a 5.22% dividend
Macy's (Wes)-$32.95 with a small dividend
All State Insurance (McKinney)-$27.12
ConAgra Foods (Ca$h)-$25.52 WITH a 4% dividend

Long story short, the company's represented in PCTI are not growth but value stocks. If you have a portfolio with KC, Verizon and ConAgra will your money will compound each year and turn into a decent sum in 30 years if you re-invest your dividends. For anyone that is wondering, outside of my salesmanship of Slim Jim's and David Seeds in the always lucrative convenient store industry, ConAgra is hurting. However, our cash cow is the doing all the fries for Burger King and McDonalds, along with the dough for Papa John's... Unfortunately, commodity prices are up so it's hurting our business. I'm not sure how the forecast is looking for the rest of the company's on the list. The one thing I will weigh my hat on is that the actual price of the stock is not a direct correlation of the company's overall performance (Or so they so, I think that's exactly what it means). If I'm wrong, my company is the worst publically traded company in PCTI.

There is another business lesson for Pitto and Bruise.

This post was 99% for Brian. I trust everyone else to book their flights except Pitto, and I like Brian enough to know he is the one that will be put out when it's March 25th and Pitto still has not gotten around to booking his flight.

Long story short, BOOK YOUR FLIGHT.