I had planned to write a post about photography in our National Parks today. But after yesterday’s experience flying from Jacksonville, FLA to Tucson, I’m going to share lessons I learned about flying instead. Baby boomer photographers, tune in tomorrow for the photography post.
After a weekend of grandmothering in Jacksonville, my trip home started out well enough. I arrived at the airport extra early so that my son could make it to work on time. No problem. Breakfast at Chili’s combined with free internet kept me well-fed and productive.
Lesson learned: Appreciate airports that offer reliable, free internet plus ample power connections.
At the gate for the American Airlines flight to Dallas/Ft Worth, I learned that the plane had a mechanical issue. Then, the flight was cancelled. Next, it was back on, delayed, almost cancelled and finally a go.
Lesson learned: Don’t rush to re-book. All of those savvy passengers who called reservations to re-book flights when they heard the “cancelled” announcement almost lost their seats. Once the flight resumed its “go” status they were no longer scheduled for the flight.
Our plane arrived late but I still had 30 minutes to catch the flight to Tucson. Only, we sat on the tarmac for 20 minutes before we could access the gate. Passengers in front of me took their time exiting the plane. The flight attendants could have asked those without tight connections to stay seated as a courtesy to those of us in a rush. They didn’t.
Lesson learned: The next time I’m on a plane that’s arriving late, I’ll stay in my seat if I’m not in a hurry so that other passengers can make their connections.
Passengers with tight connections were advised to check with the gate agent before rushing to their next plane. When I did, the gate agent told me the flight was closing and I would not make it to the gate at Terminal D in time. She gave me an American Airlines voucher for a flight leaving three hours later.
Lesson learned: I should have skipped this step. Read on to learn why.
I was in Terminal C but my re-scheduled flight was in Terminal A so I headed on over via SkyLink, the tram system that runs between the sprawled-out terminals at Dallas/Ft. Worth. At A-13, I asked the busy agent (first mistake), if I had a seat on the 4:00 p.m. flight. She said I was on standby (Donna, next time listen). I asked again if I would make the plane. She replied again that I was on standby. I wanted her to tell me if the plane was full. She danced around the issue.
Lesson learned: Avoid busy, harried-looking gate agents.
So, I walked through Terminal A until I found two gate agents without anything to do. Using my friendliest smile, I asked them to help confirm that I would be on the 4:00 p.m. flight. After a flurry of typing, one of the gate agents looked at me, “The flight is full. You might not clear standby. I can’t find another alternative for you today. I’ve confirmed a space for you on tomorrow morning’s flight, just in case.”
Lesson learned: Being friendly but persistent helps.
As I walked through the terminal looking for lunch, I called Alan to inform him of the delay. “But your original flight hasn’t left the gate,” he told me. A look overhead at the closest monitor confirmed that he was right. I rushed back to SkyLink for the ride to D-37. But, you guessed it, by the time I got to the gate, the plane had departed. By now, I wanted to find out why I had originally been told the flight had closed. The gate agent at D-37 confirmed that he was the one who had called my arriving gate (C-18), advising them that I could not make the flight. At the time, he did not know the Tucson flight would be delayed. Then he handed me a new ticket, ”I’ve booked you on a Frontier flight at 4:00 p.m. to Denver with a connection to Tucson.”
Lesson learned: After leaving the original flight, I should have gone straight to my departing gate, ignoring the advice to check in with the agent at the arriving gate. Even if I had missed the plane, I would have learned about my new flight arrangements and avoided the hassle of unnecessary terminal changes and a grouchy gate agent.
So, after 12 hours of travel, 3 flights on two airlines and three terminal changes in Dallas/Ft. Worth, I made it home.
Lesson learned: With airlines running such tight inventories, expect complications if anything goes wrong with your original flight. Stay calm, smile, be persistent, then write a blog post about it.
Baby boomer travelers, do you have any suggestions for next time? Post a comment to share your tips on negotiating a flight day gone wrong.
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
In your shoes, I would have started pushing to get off the plane when I knew I had 10 minutes to make my flight. “Excuse me, my connection leaves in 10 minutes. Excuse me, I need to make a connection in 10 minutes. May I just step around you? I need to make my connection in just a few minutes, thank you. Pardon me, I need to get by …”
I rarely care if my fellow passengers are offended once we're on the ground. I'll do the flight attendant's job for her if she won't.
I usually book myself toward the front of the plane, even if I have to take a middle seat between two strangers, for this reason. On the other hand, it means I sweat bullets during boarding because I'm the last batch on, and it's entirely possible the luggage hogs ahead of me have taken my overhead bins and left me to gate check my $6,000 worth of camera equipment in its (legally sized — I know because I paid big bucks to get those dimensions!) case.
Twitter: DonnaLHull
July 17, 2009 at 8:56 am
Julie, thanks for the tips. I’ll give them a try the next time I have plane issues. Yes, we always worry about having to gate check our carryon that has Alan’s camera gear. Always keep our fingers crossed until we’re onboard.
In your shoes, I would have started pushing to get off the plane when I knew I had 10 minutes to make my flight. “Excuse me, my connection leaves in 10 minutes. Excuse me, I need to make a connection in 10 minutes. May I just step around you? I need to make my connection in just a few minutes, thank you. Pardon me, I need to get by …”
I rarely care if my fellow passengers are offended once we’re on the ground. I’ll do the flight attendant’s job for her if she won’t.
I usually book myself toward the front of the plane, even if I have to take a middle seat between two strangers, for this reason. On the other hand, it means I sweat bullets during boarding because I’m the last batch on, and it’s entirely possible the luggage hogs ahead of me have taken my overhead bins and left me to gate check my $6,000 worth of camera equipment in its (legally sized — I know because I paid big bucks to get those dimensions!) case.
This is why I hate flying.
Twitter: kerrydexter
July 14, 2009 at 10:52 am
I'd add, as the delay starts to develop and unfold, stay relaxed and think about what your priorities are. and. as you did, treat the gate agents with courtesy even if they are harried when they speak with you. I'd also say, streamline your story. ask your questions, stay courteous, be flexible, decide what you want most. which it sounds athough you did.
most challenging flight delay I encountered — flight delayed out of Halifax to Boston, no customs forms available on flight caused further delay in Boston, missed Boston connection to Atlanta, by phone rebooked flight to Atlanta and connecting flight on home, that Boston flight delayed, made it to Atlanta and got on last flight out that night to my hometown just as it was closing. all of this would have been a bit less challenging had I not needed to depart on a flight to Ireland the next day. I was covering back to back events, and in the end it all worked out quite well– but boy was I tired the next day!
I had a bummer trip last week from Palm Beach to Laguardia, NY, and then back again, only worse! 4 hour delay one way, 5 hours the other with lame excuses on both legs. I spent 9-10 hours for what should have been a 2.5 hour flight getting to each destination. The industry really needs to shape up!
Twitter: DonnaLHull
July 17, 2009 at 8:54 am
I agree, Joan. But when an industry is in the driver’s seat they have no reason to change unless it benefits them. I sure miss the days where customer service counted for something. Although a few airlines give it a valiant effort, Southwest for one.
Ugh, Donna, sorry you had to deal with this! I had a similar string of disasters a couple of years ago. I actually paged the flight attendent before we landed to ask if they would ask passengers without tight connections to stay put (one time I did this and they moved me to the front of the plane so I could run to catch a connecting flight to London – love that!). This time they repeatedly told me that I would not miss my connecting flight and to please stay seated until the people in front of me were deplaning. They insisted that I would NOT miss my flight, so pipe down!
We landed and sat on the tarmac for, oh, 30 minutes. During this time I called Delta to check the status of my connecting flight. “Don't worry, your flight has not departed yet, and there are several people on your flight going to Boston.”
“OK, but just in case miss it, when is the next flight to Boston?”
“That is the last flight of the evening, but we will pay for your accomodations if you miss that flight.”
I thanked him and hung up. Sure enough, all 15 or so of us missed our flight and the airline blamed the airport so they could get out of paying for our hotel accomodations. I told the Delta representation that a phone representation had promised me 10 mintues ago that the airline would pay for a hotel if we were stuck in NYC overnight. He asked me for a confirmation number on that call, and I didn't have one, so I ended up paying $70 for a cab to stay with a friend in the city. (No way was I sleeping in an abandoned airport terminal with 15 strangers!) Delta eventually reimbursed all of my expenses for that missed flight, but now I ALWAYS ask for a name and confirmation number after speaking with phone representatives.
Twitter: DonnaLHull
July 17, 2009 at 8:53 am
Susan, what a mess. Thanks for giving us the tip about taking down the agent’s name and confirmation number. I’ve always wondered why Alan is such a stickler for doing this, no matter what type of call he’s making. It sure makes sense to me now.
I particularly agree with the “Don't ask the gate agent when you alight” advice. Same thing happened to me on a connection and the agent told me to take the handicapped car to get there faster. Since I had to wait around for the cart I would have gotten there faster–and made the plane–had I walked. Instead I missed the flight (They had just closed the gate and although it was 10 minutes until take-off, would not let me board) and had to overnight unexpectedly, making me miss the beginning of a tour the next day.
Donna-
A similar incident happened to me changing planes in Atlanta going home from Tampa last year. There was no gate agent to help, they'd already changed my gate, and I had no idea. No notice on my cell phone until hours later. So I had to run from terminal to terminal trying to find the correct gate. Finally did but much confusion. Not fun. I hope to never have to change planes in Atlanta. The worse airport ever!!
This sounds so frustrating. Sorry it happened. I have some flights coming up and I'm DREADING the flying part. Not just the hassle — the whole thing… I wish there had not been so many crashes lately. It makes me (completely irrationally) even more fearful than I already am…
Argh. I feel your pain and so appreciate that you added “lessons learned”. So often we rant about what went wrong without considering what we might do to change the situation in the future.
Glad you made it back safely…
Argh. I feel your pain and so appreciate that you added “lessons learned”. So often we rant about what went wrong without considering what we might do to change the situation in the future.
Glad you made it back safely…