How I turned a delay into a win
A few weeks ago I had a transcontinental journey ahead of me which involved a short 1 hour connection in the Midwest. I was concerned weather could jeopardize it, and as feared the morning of my flight a nasty storm was pounding the area. To my surprise, my flight was scheduled on time. In the pouring rain, and as the plane shook at the gate from the wind, we loaded up to depart. To my surprise we departed on time.
That came to an end a few minutes later as we taxied to a stop before reaching the runway. My first thought was the airport had shut due to weather. After a few minutes, I heard planes landing and taking off, so that wasn't the case. At this point, the captain came on to say we had a mechanical issue and would have to return to the gate.
Immediately -- I pulled out my phone and started checking flights.
Key tip 1: Call and check flights while you're still on the plane or waiting in line.
This is the first critical step to making a potential delay into a better situation. If you're at the gate and the agent is busy, use your phone to call reservations. They can rebook you.
I knew I would miss my connection, and the next flight out of my connecting city would have led to a 12 hour+ delay so I immediately looked for alternatives using my phone's browser. If you don't have a mobile phone browser just call the airline.
I quickly found a flight that departed a bit later on the same airlines, but went to an alternate airport that was actually closer to my intended destination.
Key tip 2: Conisder nearby alternate airports
When we reached the gate, the crew opened the door but didn't inform passengers. The only reason I knew this was because I was at the front of the plane. So, I informed the flight attendant I had a connection, and fortunately the gate agent was at the door.
Key tip 3: Ask to get off the plane if you have a connection you may miss and an alternate flight is available
The agent went up to research the flight I requested, and came back a few minutes later with a boarding pass. I was set, and went to the lounge to work while the other passengers waited out what ended up a 2 hour delay on the ground.
But there's more...
Due to the storm, I later double checked the status of the inbound plane of my new flight. You can do this by asking the agent as this isn't always on the monitors.
Key tip 4: Check the status of the flight that is delivering the plane for your flight
Turns out that flight was late, and I would have missed a connection again. There weren't many options out of my present airport, so we got creative with the agent and checked flights out of a nearby airport. Sure enough, one was available that saved a stop on another airline. The aircraft for that flight was already on the ground, so no concern of a late arriving plane. We booked it, and the agent reserved a taxi paid for by the airline to take me to the other airport. Why? My delay originally started with a mechanical delay.
Key tip 5: Mechanical delays mean the airline has more responsibility to get you out on time
With a mechanical delay, airlines are forced to accomodate you quickly not just on their own flight, but of that of any major carrier (unless you are on a low cost airline like JetBlue or Southwest, which does not have such arrangements). In addition, they must provide overnight lodging if you have to wait a day, and in some cases will furnish ground transportation.
Always double check whether your delay is due to mechanical issues or not. If any one of your flights is delayed due to that, you can ask for these special provisions.
So, I got in the taxi, we fought traffic and I got on the new flight which departed on time. With the one less connection I ended up at my destination just a couple hours late.
Not bad for what could have been a terrible travel fiasco. Oh, and they even booked me into first class.
That came to an end a few minutes later as we taxied to a stop before reaching the runway. My first thought was the airport had shut due to weather. After a few minutes, I heard planes landing and taking off, so that wasn't the case. At this point, the captain came on to say we had a mechanical issue and would have to return to the gate.
Immediately -- I pulled out my phone and started checking flights.
Key tip 1: Call and check flights while you're still on the plane or waiting in line.
This is the first critical step to making a potential delay into a better situation. If you're at the gate and the agent is busy, use your phone to call reservations. They can rebook you.
I knew I would miss my connection, and the next flight out of my connecting city would have led to a 12 hour+ delay so I immediately looked for alternatives using my phone's browser. If you don't have a mobile phone browser just call the airline.
I quickly found a flight that departed a bit later on the same airlines, but went to an alternate airport that was actually closer to my intended destination.
Key tip 2: Conisder nearby alternate airports
When we reached the gate, the crew opened the door but didn't inform passengers. The only reason I knew this was because I was at the front of the plane. So, I informed the flight attendant I had a connection, and fortunately the gate agent was at the door.
Key tip 3: Ask to get off the plane if you have a connection you may miss and an alternate flight is available
The agent went up to research the flight I requested, and came back a few minutes later with a boarding pass. I was set, and went to the lounge to work while the other passengers waited out what ended up a 2 hour delay on the ground.
But there's more...
Due to the storm, I later double checked the status of the inbound plane of my new flight. You can do this by asking the agent as this isn't always on the monitors.
Key tip 4: Check the status of the flight that is delivering the plane for your flight
Turns out that flight was late, and I would have missed a connection again. There weren't many options out of my present airport, so we got creative with the agent and checked flights out of a nearby airport. Sure enough, one was available that saved a stop on another airline. The aircraft for that flight was already on the ground, so no concern of a late arriving plane. We booked it, and the agent reserved a taxi paid for by the airline to take me to the other airport. Why? My delay originally started with a mechanical delay.
Key tip 5: Mechanical delays mean the airline has more responsibility to get you out on time
With a mechanical delay, airlines are forced to accomodate you quickly not just on their own flight, but of that of any major carrier (unless you are on a low cost airline like JetBlue or Southwest, which does not have such arrangements). In addition, they must provide overnight lodging if you have to wait a day, and in some cases will furnish ground transportation.
Always double check whether your delay is due to mechanical issues or not. If any one of your flights is delayed due to that, you can ask for these special provisions.
So, I got in the taxi, we fought traffic and I got on the new flight which departed on time. With the one less connection I ended up at my destination just a couple hours late.
Not bad for what could have been a terrible travel fiasco. Oh, and they even booked me into first class.
posted by MileCards Captain @ 7:30 PM
