I'm on a plane again today. This week I go through Atlanta, last week it was Charlotte. For most people their connecting gates don't matter much, so long as you get to your final destination. Of course, I have to be different. I was waiting for my flight and reflecting on the contrast between my morning experience in Charlotte versus Atlanta.  This is what I came up with.

At Hartsfield, there is no Starbucks on concourse C, only a mini Seattle's Best. This means no chocolate banana Vivanno smoothie for me. It means if I wanted tea, it probably wouldn't be a soy milk London Fog Earl Grey Latte hold the sugar. All a little disappointing, so I didn't stop. Thus the reason I am sitting hear being reflective. I have nothing else to occupy my time. No tea, no smoothie, nada. 

I get so excited though when I head through Charlotte though. Douglas International has a Jamba Juice right on the way from the commuter concourse to where the big planes are. Seriously, I jump up and down for Jamba Juice.  I get excited to wake up at 4am if I know I cam going to be able to stop there. I love them for breakfast. Their oatmeal is still gritty and has crunchy oaty bits in it, unlike mush at Starbucks. I don't think it's instant. And the toppings! You have yummy, yummy choices. I personally love the hot blackberry and blueberry but you could have apple or banana or just cinnamon and nuts.  They even have a brown sugar crumble they can add. I have them hold it for me though. It's a bit sweet plus it has hidden wheat! All of this is worth having to stop by the Starbucks for my tea.  In the afternoon, their smoothies are so good. I like the ones with mangoes. And they can leave out strawberries, which of course I am allergic to,  from the others. They have low cal versions so I can have fruit and save about 200 calories off my Vivanno habit. One other thing I love about Jamba Juice is that they have a book with all their ingredients in it mounted on the wall. I know their complete yogurt meals are NOT wheat-free. This is a good thing to know, especially when flying. Federal Aviation Rules do not permit you to lock yourself in the lavatory for the entire flight. 

All of this morning trauma of no tea and no breakfast is enough to make me think of flying US Air more than Delta.  I have status on Delta though, and they do serve peanuts and have better for-purchase snack choices.  From Chattanooga, they have the most flights. That gives me an 85% chance of being on Delta when I fly. Still, for that 15% , there's always Jamba Juice to look forward to. 

This photo taken from Jamba Juice... I hope they don't mind. I never can pause long enough to photograph it. It's just that good!