After the last several flights and the last-minute cancellations, flight changes and longer-than-anticipated stays in airport lounges, I have decided that I can no longer leave anything to chance.
I left New York last weekend anticipating that my flight plan that I booked - with one 3-hour stopover in Toronto en route - would have me home and unpacking by 2pm at the latest.
I didn't arrive home until almost 7pm and therefore, I spent WAY more time in the Toronto airport than I was hoping for...
When you think you are just going to be a few hours here and there, you dress differently, you pack your things differently, you prioritize your day differently.
So I have made myself a set of new rules for myself to follow so I can be prepared for any flight bump, change or cancellation the airlines want to throw at me...
1. Always dress like you are going out for a nice lunch.
Although it would normally sound reasonable to wear a comfortable, large-ish t-shirt, and stretchy pants for the flight home, when my flight was cancelled and rebooked for later in the day...I was REALLY wishing that I dressed a little nicer, took some time on my appearance overall so I could go wandering downtown for a nice lunch, drinks or shopping without trying to hide myself from public viewing.
2. Choose your carry-on and personal items to board with carefully.
I didn't have a carry-on and was able to check my suitcase prior to finding out that the flight was cancelled - BUT I had overloaded my purse with my iPad, notebook, some toiletries in a clear bag, sunglasses and case...and since I now have a podcast, I never go anywhere anymore without business cards, postcards and my portable microphone, cords, adapters and portable charger. It was a LOT to be lugging around for the day. I was really wishing for a storage locker at the airport (there wasn't any) or a store that sold those clip-on wheel bases so I could pull my heavy handbag around town with me.
3. Eat when you can.
Depending on the airport, choices of food and beverages may be limited and if security lanes are long or you get stuck in an area for screening or other delay longer than usual, you may regret not grabbing that muffin from the hotel's coffee shop before you left. I plan to start tucking packaged snacks like granola bars in my won't-be-overloaded-for-long handbag so I don't get "hangry".
4. Get out of the airport when you can.
Even if you think you have a lot of work to do or have a book to finish, a few hours or more is a long time to sit in one place - with the same view, same air, same noise and possible large crowds. Find someplace offsite to walk to or take a short cab ride to get a change of scenery, some fresh air or to find some entertainment and distraction. When I found out that we still have almost 5 hours to kill, I quickly found a nearby cinema, booked a couple of really good seats at a just-released action movie and pretended like it was any Sunday afternoon at the movies like at home.
5. Don't plan anything else but travel for the day you are going home.
I had a cooking class scheduled for the next evening and I usually spend the day prior purchasing the ingredients so I can start early the next morning on preparing the demo parts of the recipes. I knew that some of the ingredients required more legwork around the City to find but I was expecting to have the entire Sunday afternoon at home to shop around. Needless to say, I was scrambling late on a Sunday through nearly-empty grocery store aisles. I have also had to, unfortunately, reschedule family dinners and other events that I was supposed to attend because I just assumed I would be home on time. A travel day is now ONLY a travel day.
Please don't think that I am accepting of the airlines' changes and disruptions to my travel plans!
I have sent emails, requested interviews and provided calm feedback when appropriate.
There doesn't seem to be any airline lately that is immune from passenger anger with apparent overbooking or other cost-cutting measures that cause these mostly unnecessary distruptions.
I will update on this blog - or on my podcast - when and IF I ever hear back from any of them about any of my concerns.
...because if you are travelling by air, as well, they are all of our concerns.
