Carol Cassara

Holiday air travel tips

By 47 Comments

air-travel-nightmares

The other week we flew across the country from SFO to the western NY city that is our hometown, Rochester.  There was a full schedule of events and a full house at sister-in-love’s house, so we were excited to get there.

Now, I never fly through Chicago in the winter. Or ever, if I can help it. But we used airline miles for our tickets and pickings were slim.

Less than a month before our flight, United sent an email — there had been a schedule change. Since we were in Sicily when it arrived, we weren’t as on top of it as we might have been and failed to notice that the change meant we now had a five-hour layover in Chicago, would  get in at quarter to midnight –and sister-in love insisted on picking us up, despite it being a work week for her. GRRR.  Turns out, United had discontinued the earlier flight and this was the last flight to Rochester out of Chicago. Last flight out. Another thing I avoid.

Landing on time in Chicago, we had time for a leisurely dinner and to sit. And sit. And sit.

Finally, it was time to board for our 8:56pm CDST departure.

“Ladies and gentlemen, your flight attendants just landed from overseas and have to make their way to this terminal. If they don’t get here in the next 10 minutes, we may be a little late taking off.” Ok, at least they were in the airport, somewhere.

Ten minutes clicked by.  Fifteen.  Our departure time inched up on the board  in 10 minute increments. The crew finally appeared at the 30-minute mark.  Still, we knew boarding was just a couple minutes away.

flight-delayedThen,  the crackle of an announcement.

“Ladies and gentlemen, there is a problem with the computer and maintenance is checking it out. They think it’ll be a quick fix.”

Quick and fix are not words that go together in airline lexicon.  We stood. And stood.  By now our departure time had pushed to 10:30 Central (11:30 in Rochester).  I sidled up to the counter and asked if the flight was going to be cancelled. Their faces said yes, but they hedged.

“When’s the next flight to Rochester?”

Turns out that while we had been patiently standing there, others had been “protecting” themselves on the first flight out in the morning and it was now full. In my days of constant business travel, I would’ve been one of those people but apparently I have developed amnesia about how these things work. It never occurred to me.

The gate agents “protected” us on a flight leaving Chicago the next day at 3PM. Yes. In the afternoon. If the flight were cancelled, we’d spend the day at O’Hare.  The agent told me that the customer service counter would get us a hotel voucher if the flight didn’t go.

I told M and suggested we slip down six or seven gates to the customer service counter, where we’d later get a hotel room and food vouchers.  We had time to check it out. After all, an hour to go before our new scheduled take off.

He didn’t like the idea.

“I’ll wait, just in case they fix it and board earlier,” he said.  He was once on a delayed flight that boarded earlier and half his colleagues missed it as they’d left the gate area.

I started down the concourse to customer service and almost instantly  heard him call my name.

“We’re boarding!”  Had we gone down the concourse we would’ve missed the flight.

Settled in our seats, we were ready to go.

Well, we THOUGHT we were.

“Ladies and gentlemen, maintenance noticed a dent on the back of the plane that they want to check out.”

Seriously????

After another 20 minute wait, the dent was deemed “not a problem” and we took off. We arrived in Rochester around 1 a.m.

So as you prepare for your own air travel this holiday season, let me share my lessons learned.

  • When an airline tells you there has been a schedule change, check it immediately.  If you don’t like it, call to see if it can be changed.
  • Never book the last flight out of a city.
  • Always “protect” yourself on the next flight out when it looks like your flight might be cancelled. Call the airline or go online immediately.
  • Never leave the concourse during a flight delay as they can call for boarding at any time and you can miss your flight.
  • Have a stiff drink in the airport cocktail lounge before any holiday trip.

Oh, and that flight we were protected on?  Apparently we were still scheduled on it. The following day I got a text that said Your 3pm flight has been delayed and will now depart at 4pm. 

The another, that said, Your 3pm flight will now depart at 5pm.

But by that time, I was happily hanging with a girlfriend in Rochester, the night before’s hassles only a distant memory.

Here’s hoping you fare better this holiday season.

Comments

  2. Laura says

    Why I don’t travel between November 2th and January 4th. In 30 years of living away from my family I had Christmas with them 5 times. Three of those five they came to me.
    Laura recently posted…BallottementMy Profile

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    • Carol Cassara says

      My family used to always say “but you’re so much more adaptable.” And truth, mom no longer flew. So it was me. Plus I lived on two coasts for some years and flew between them. I’m still waiting to be able to beam up.

      Reply

  4. ryder ziebarth says

    Air travel now is appalling. Someday I’ll tell you the story of almost being arrested for “talking back “to a huffy, Pompous overly -tired United Airline stewardess. She actually called the Newark Police to meet us at the gate. Those days are gone, too. Thank God. And three stars for M.

    Reply

  9. Risa says

    Then there was the time I was detained at the John Wayne Airport for allegedly sniffing Sterno while being a teenager. But seriously, the drink at the airport bar should always come first, if time allows. One of our kids lives in Syracuse, and there’s just no good, reliable way to get there that doesn’t include a long layover and possible delays. I’m going early next month and know that it will be a very long travel day. I only have one daughter, and that’s where she lives, so…unless I can get her and her family to come to their senses and move back to California where they belong, I’m going to have to deal with this stuff. Glad you had fun in Rochester!
    Risa recently posted…Martha, My DearMy Profile

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    • Carol Cassara says

      Yes, no one likes to fly through OHare but sometimes there is no better alternative. Your daughter would probably not have spent those 3 hours at OHare, but she might spend SOME time there. I’ve also had flights that went right on time out of there. But winter is ALWAYS problematic and a southern route most always best.

      Reply

  18. Helene Cohen Bludman says

    Those of us old enough to remember when air travel was luxurious and fun are probably the worst off with the sorry state of affairs today. Our kids have never known differently.

    Reply

  19. Jackie says

    I’m not a traveler. I hate to fly. This would have sent me over the edge — and I would have had NO idea what to do… thanks so much for the helpful tips! (I won’t be travelling over the holidays, but will keep this info in my “back pocket” anyway!)
    Jackie recently posted…Channeling GrandmaMy Profile

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  22. Angela Weight says

    Sounds like travel day Hell. Ive been there so many times, flying back and forth between SFO and ATL. Getting stuck in an airport is misery. Once when we connected in Chicago in March, I was wearing flip flops. Never in a million years did I think we’d be plodding outside through the melting snow slop to our next puddle jumper. My poor toes! I thought they were going to break off.
    Angela Weight recently posted…Seriously? Amazon Kindle Publishing Wants Me to Lose Weight!My Profile

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