You, Me and Flight Delays
New York in October. There’s nothing like it. The leaves are falling in Central Park. Rain is pouring down, making the city more charming than it already is (and yes I did indeed see a rat and wasn’t fazed in the foggiest) and the creeping cold weather hits you hard as you walk in Little Italy making you giddy as it means Christmas is just around the corner. After a week of family reunions and exhausted days of New York Comic Con and sightseeing my whirlwind week came to end and it was time to pack my mess of a suitcase, stuff it with touristy gifts, get my butt on the MTA and head back home.
Look see how much fun I’m having outside of the Ghostbusters Fire Station? So here I am in the city that never sleeps on my last day only to find myself lacking just that whilst waiting at Newark Airport with I don’t know how many other people just as miserable and sleepy as I was and rather regretting bringing a NY cheesecake for the ride (maybe that was just me*). Earlier that day, cue running around New York on the day of the flight, getting update after update from United Airlines saying that the flight was delayed and trying to make the most of the delay whilst simultaneously anxious the whole time.
What’s that famous saying about flight delays? Oh yeah...UGHHH!
Luckily I’ve only ever experienced the 1- 3 hour delay, and I can only imagine that it must be a pain for it to be longer than that. So I can only speak to a few helpful notes that I’ll take me with on every flight that might just save me, and hopefully you, some worry.
I know, I know. It’s just that simple!? No it’s not. I’m the one that wants to get to the airport earlier than early, the one who double checks that everything is correct and organized. Although it does come in handy at times, being like this whilst you’re already stressed is not a good way to let your anxiety subside. Here’s the thing, it’s done, did and done. There’s not much you can do about the situation and you’ll be getting more annoyed just by thinking about how annoying it is. Unless you’re on a business trip and need to get somewhere ASAP (that’s why EAs are amazing, they figure all that out) then take it easy.
Just do it. Text and App alerts are great. It’ll save you the hassle in the end of clicking on the app because you’ll instantly get to see the updates. I have an Apple watch so for every text alert I got from United it was a little sigh of relief of knowing what exactly is going on with this bloomin’ flight.
Our flight was scheduled for 6:30pm and our actual flight was closer to 9pm. We had checked our luggage into a storage close to Penn Station so we could have the morning to roam around as much as we could before we left. Here’s where my pesky travel anxiety kicks in. I told my boyfriend that in order to do stuff we have to leave by this time, get to storage by so and so and that gives us so many minutes to get to the airport. Then as we’re musing at the MET I get an alert saying the flight’s been delayed. I’m still in the mind frame of being everywhere at a certain time, until he reminds me that it’s fine to have an extra couple of hours to stay in the city. Organized me would have said “We are leaving at that time no matter what!” but being handed with a flight delay me wanted to stay in NYC just a teensy bit longer so that’s how we ended up in Times Square once again to eat, drink coffee and sit and watch people come out of the NASDAQ and take pictures with their faces on the screen. It all worked out in the end and I felt more free without the rush of being somewhere. Taking your time to enjoy your surroundings pays off.
4) PRE-DOWNLOAD MOVIES, BOOKS, EPISODES, PODCASTS ETC.
Looking over at my boyfriend’s phone watching his Netflix shows and realizing my mistake was the ultimate “Why didn’t I do that?” moment. I was too busy getting everything ready the night before that I forgot. On long-haul flights I’ll bring my book with me, but for my small trip I didn’t think I would need it. Big mistake. Now if you don’t have the luxury of having a later flight then this comes in handy in case of a flight delay. Keeping yourself busy makes the time go by faster. That means don’t look at the dreaded clock, keep your time filled with doing something and wait until you can get on your way. Coloring, writing, watching shows, puzzles, portable travel size games (Can I recommend the fifteen minute Monopoly card game please? High-pressure monopoly is the future!), you name it you should do it!
That’s right! Explore the heck out of that airport! Go window shopping, find new products and magazines, maybe try out one of restaurants or get that one beer for the road. Either way it’s better than sitting down and just waiting, plus you get some exercise which will make sitting in that little seat for hours more bearable. My vice is magazines and I could stand in that Hudson News and read all day till the airport goats (for my fellow Chicagoan) come home. If you’re on a tight budget then window shopping is the game and exercise is...also the game. Win, win.
6) HEY, Y’AH DON’T DO THAT!
It goes without saying, but here I am saying it. Don’t hassle the service desk. It won’t get you anywhere quicker. Be polite and kind, because these people are just doing their jobs. You never know who had a bad day, just a down right terrible customer or heck even not enough sleep, a little kindness goes a long way. Obviously every situation is different, but just stick to what Monty Python taught me ‘Always look on the bright side of life’ even when life’s a piece of...you get the point. It’s basically an English motto we all adhere to.
So there you have it. Frustrating as they are, delays are inevitable but wouldn’t you rather have a safe flight than not? Safe and happy travels and remember to not let those pesky delays get you down.
*I was asked by TSA if they could inspect my cheesecake. My genuine thought was they would confiscate it and eat it. Turns out it was because I had a plastic fork. I got my cheesecake back thank heavens and it was gurddd.
