Farmer TT’s Travel Nightmare…
As you may know, our daughter moved to Florida from Iowa. Which, by the way, I’m very proud of myself for making it almost two months before visiting. I’ve had a few experiences where flights have been delayed or cancelled so I usually am pretty mindful of a well packed carry on. But this particular set of flights took the cake.
I was suppose to connect in Charlotte, NC on Thursday night. While I was en-route to Charlotte, my connection was cancelled. Ugh. I was rebooked on a flight the next morning. Yes, the NEXT MORNING. I asked for accommodations and was told it was due to “weather” (which is sus…but who am I to argue?). When flights are cancelled because of weather, no hotels are provided. I had a few choices to make. I could stay in the airport, I could snag a minute suite, or I could take a shuttle or an Uber to a hotel. I ended up staying overnight in the airport. It was definitely an experience. I based my decision on a few things. The first was that a hotel is pretty pricey and I hadn’t budgeted for that. The other was that I didn’t feel comfortable navigating myself to a hotel in a different city, alone, near midnight. The Minute Suite was an option, but both of them were full (insert sad face here). So, Gate B31 it was.
Think that only happens once in a while??? On my way home I was notified that my connecting flight (also in Charlotte) was cancelled! Thankfully I got that message early and spent an extra night at my daughter’s house.
There are staff shortages everywhere. This impacts EVERYTHING including flights. Be prepared for flight delays or cancellations. Also be prepared for cancellations to be because of reasons that do not require them to provide accommodations. Here are my travel tips after this recent trip (and the checklist I created so I’m never caught unprepared again):
If your flight is cancelled or delayed I encourage you to talk to an actual agent and get a paper ticket. There were a few people on my “adventure” who spent the night at the airport and had updated reservations on their phones. It turned out, those reservations were not registered even though they got the notifications. These people had spent the night in the airport and were STILL stuck.
Have your record locator with you all the time. I have it in emails, in my phone notes, and written down with me. This is a 6 letter-digit code and can usually be found on your ticket or somewhere in your online reservation. It can also be helpful to keep your flight numbers with you as well.
Be mindful of the rules about leaving security. If your original departing flight is delayed until the next morning and you want to get your checked luggage, you might not be allowed to re-enter the terminal until the next morning. And believe me, that part of the airport is even more uncomfortable.
Have snacks with you. You can bring food through security, just not liquids. You can bring an empty beverage container and fill it after security. Most airport shops close at 10pm, so if you find yourself stuck after 10pm, you likely will have a very difficult time finding food or anything other than a drinking fountain until 6am or 7am the next morning.
Make sure your devices are charged and you have the chargers in your carry on, not your checked back (ask me how I know). Most airports have plenty of outlets, and a few have the surface chargers, but its not a given. The surface chargers where I was were super finicky and only charged my phone about 30% overnight.
Download content on your device. This can be especially crucial with kids. If there is no internet or if downloading isn’t cooperating in the airport, you may find yourself close to the end of your rope.
Dress in layers. I started with a tank top and shorts and ended with joggers and a sweatshirt. This served me VERY well. It can be cumbersome, but I was very grateful to have these choices.
Are there things that you don’t like to be without? If so, stash those in your bag. Some examples are disposable toothbrush, travel sized deodorant, extra hair ties, chap stick, gum/mints, first aid kit, extra contacts/solution/glasses, a pair of socks if you are prone to cold feet (something you might not think of in the summer), emory board, and feminine hygiene products.
A blanket. I almost ALWAYS travel with a blanket, and usually one of those C-shaped neck pillows. I wish I had one of those pads that gardeners use for their knees when I spent the night in Charlotte. The carpeted floor is definitely not cushioned, and my hips hurt so bad. I ended up emptying my Vera Bradly purse and using it as a pad. Sometimes you gotta get creative. I don’t think I will start bringing knee pads or yoga mats with me, but it is something I will be mindful of. If you’re traveling with kids they may be able to fit under the arm rest on the seat and actually lay down. You can try to make it fun by making a blanket fort with the blanket that you will sure to carry from now on. Right?
Bring out your own hand dandy Carry On Checklist
