Blog
Airports and Delays
I've learned through my travels that it's pointless to get mad when flight plans are altered or cancelled. In fact, letting the anger get to you such that you treat airport staff disrespectfully will almost certainly not help you get to your destination any fast. When I was coming back from Greece (already without sleep for a good 36 hours), my flight was cancelled and that threw off the whole plan for getting home. Instead of yelling at the attendant, I politely explained the situation in a way the showed of my dreary eyes and travel-weary spirit. She reacted positively, noting that I was a pleasant antidote to the way most Americans would act in the situation, and she promptly rescheduled all of the flights to get me home. She even gave me a pass to hang out in the "executive" lounge to demonstrate appreciation for my kindness.
Today, I went to the Lambert St. Louis airport at 5:30 AM to catch my 6:50 AM flight. My to my chagrin, delay after delay forced my departure all the way back to 2 PM, which would frustrate even the most patient Lama. My connection to the final destination of Boston was long gone by the time I arrived in D.C.'s Dulles and realizing this, made my way slowly, defeatedly, to the JetBlue gates. I talked to the woman at the counter who, upon my profuse apologies and explanation of the situation, worked the system such that I've procured a seat on the next flight out for no charge. She probably would have done that for everyone, but she didn't have to. If any old angry traveler came up demanding to be accommodated, she could have said no.
The lesson, or at least the clearest lesson I can ascertain on this little sleep, is that you should treat people in the service industry with the respect that you would want to be treated with in the best of situations - even when you are in near the worst of possible situations. Airport workers don't get paid enough to be yelled at all day, but that's what they normally get.
Man, a 20 hour travel day to go less that four hours through the air sucks.
