Going on a trip is always a little stressful. First there is the packing, then getting to the airport, going through security and finally reaching your destination. I've always heard that you should aim to be at the airport 1 hour before domestic flights and 2 hours before international flights. I assumed this was to make sure you get through security. Boy was I wrong.
My friend, who lives in Queens, allowed me to stay at his house the night before my trip. I was so close to the airport and it was only a domestic flight, so I was all set for my 6:59 AM flight. I woke up at 5:15 AM and figured I would leave by 5:30 AM to get to the airport by 6 AM. That was my first mistake. I should have planned to be out of his house by 5:15. I ordered Uber Pool, which was my next mistake. According to the driver's GPS, I should have reached the airport by 6 AM but then another call came in and that delayed my arrival to the airport by 10 minutes. I checked in from the cab and thought, it's a little close but I will still make it. They were boarding by 6:19 and I would have to hoof it to the gate but I would make it. At least, that's what I was praying for.
Well, I get to the airport and go immediately to drop off my bag. The first sign of trouble, the ticket agent looked at my ticket (on the phone) and then on the computer and shook her head. Uh oh.. What is going on? She then asked her co-worker for confirmation that I had to be redirected. The coworker nodded and I was sent to "Rebooking." That should have clued me in that I wouldn't be making my flight but I was cautiously optimistic. I walk over and speak with the agent who proceeded to tell me that my luggage needed to be checked in an hour before the flight and I had missed the cut off. WHAT?? Since when was there a cut off time for luggage?? Instant panic, what was I going to do? She told me my only option was to get on the next flight, which didn't leave until 11:10 AM. I asked to speak with the manager, as it slowly dawned on me that for the first time ever, I had missed a flight. The manager confirmed that I had no choice but to rebook my flight. Not only did I have to pay an extra $75 but there were no seats in Delta Comfort. This was horrible.
Now, many people may not know this but when I get angry, sad, frustrated, upset or anything, I cry. Tears are instant. As you can imagine, tears were streaming down my cheek as I now worried about how I was going to get to the retreat once I got to Salt Lake City. In the email I received from the foundation, it was very clear that I had be at the airport by 11 AM, MT or find my own ride to the retreat. My new flight wouldn't get into Salt Lake until 2:30 PM. All I thought about was the money that I would have to spend and how stupid of me to not be at the airport earlier. I texted my husband and my sister to explain what had happened. My husband immediately called me and I burst out crying. I couldn't help it. All the pent up nerves and excitement of the upcoming retreat mixed with the frustration and anxiety of missing my flight. He was ready to take the train from CT and come to the airport to be with me but that would have taken him over 2 hours to get to me. Instead, he video chatted with me for 1 hour, until the tears dried and I was finally calmed down.
I emailed the retreat and explained how I had missed my flight and wouldn't get there until 2:30 PM. As I waited for my new flight, I tried to do a puzzle, but realized I didn't have a pen. I tried to get on the Wi-Fi with my laptop and it wouldn't connect. My anxiety was through the roof. I checked my carry on bag to get on the flight earlier and then realized that my headphones were in the carry on. I was now facing a flight that was supposed to last over 5 hours without any way to watch the entertainment. This was not the way I wanted to start the week.
My luck started to change when the flight attendant explained that the headphones from the airline would be free because the WiFi was spotty. YES! I could now watch a movie. When I landed in Salt Lake City and turned my phone on, I had both a text message and email from the retreat asking me to call them. I called and with baited breath I waited to see what my options were. To my surprise, I was told they would handle my transportation. They would call and email me back with the details. Within 20 minutes, I was re-assured that my shuttle ride from the airport was scheduled and I was not paying for it. Phew..
I finally pulled up to the retreat at 5:05 PM, over 4 hours after I was supposed to. I was exhausted and drained from the morning travels but when I got out of the shuttle, I was met with a big and welcoming smile. I had made it and was ready to start my retreat.
My friend, who lives in Queens, allowed me to stay at his house the night before my trip. I was so close to the airport and it was only a domestic flight, so I was all set for my 6:59 AM flight. I woke up at 5:15 AM and figured I would leave by 5:30 AM to get to the airport by 6 AM. That was my first mistake. I should have planned to be out of his house by 5:15. I ordered Uber Pool, which was my next mistake. According to the driver's GPS, I should have reached the airport by 6 AM but then another call came in and that delayed my arrival to the airport by 10 minutes. I checked in from the cab and thought, it's a little close but I will still make it. They were boarding by 6:19 and I would have to hoof it to the gate but I would make it. At least, that's what I was praying for.
Well, I get to the airport and go immediately to drop off my bag. The first sign of trouble, the ticket agent looked at my ticket (on the phone) and then on the computer and shook her head. Uh oh.. What is going on? She then asked her co-worker for confirmation that I had to be redirected. The coworker nodded and I was sent to "Rebooking." That should have clued me in that I wouldn't be making my flight but I was cautiously optimistic. I walk over and speak with the agent who proceeded to tell me that my luggage needed to be checked in an hour before the flight and I had missed the cut off. WHAT?? Since when was there a cut off time for luggage?? Instant panic, what was I going to do? She told me my only option was to get on the next flight, which didn't leave until 11:10 AM. I asked to speak with the manager, as it slowly dawned on me that for the first time ever, I had missed a flight. The manager confirmed that I had no choice but to rebook my flight. Not only did I have to pay an extra $75 but there were no seats in Delta Comfort. This was horrible.
Now, many people may not know this but when I get angry, sad, frustrated, upset or anything, I cry. Tears are instant. As you can imagine, tears were streaming down my cheek as I now worried about how I was going to get to the retreat once I got to Salt Lake City. In the email I received from the foundation, it was very clear that I had be at the airport by 11 AM, MT or find my own ride to the retreat. My new flight wouldn't get into Salt Lake until 2:30 PM. All I thought about was the money that I would have to spend and how stupid of me to not be at the airport earlier. I texted my husband and my sister to explain what had happened. My husband immediately called me and I burst out crying. I couldn't help it. All the pent up nerves and excitement of the upcoming retreat mixed with the frustration and anxiety of missing my flight. He was ready to take the train from CT and come to the airport to be with me but that would have taken him over 2 hours to get to me. Instead, he video chatted with me for 1 hour, until the tears dried and I was finally calmed down.
I emailed the retreat and explained how I had missed my flight and wouldn't get there until 2:30 PM. As I waited for my new flight, I tried to do a puzzle, but realized I didn't have a pen. I tried to get on the Wi-Fi with my laptop and it wouldn't connect. My anxiety was through the roof. I checked my carry on bag to get on the flight earlier and then realized that my headphones were in the carry on. I was now facing a flight that was supposed to last over 5 hours without any way to watch the entertainment. This was not the way I wanted to start the week.
My luck started to change when the flight attendant explained that the headphones from the airline would be free because the WiFi was spotty. YES! I could now watch a movie. When I landed in Salt Lake City and turned my phone on, I had both a text message and email from the retreat asking me to call them. I called and with baited breath I waited to see what my options were. To my surprise, I was told they would handle my transportation. They would call and email me back with the details. Within 20 minutes, I was re-assured that my shuttle ride from the airport was scheduled and I was not paying for it. Phew..
I finally pulled up to the retreat at 5:05 PM, over 4 hours after I was supposed to. I was exhausted and drained from the morning travels but when I got out of the shuttle, I was met with a big and welcoming smile. I had made it and was ready to start my retreat.
