Traveling is in my blood. I start to get twitchy if I do not go away a couple times a year. I have always considered myself a smart traveler who know the tricks, after all I was a flight attendant for many years. I know everything right?…Boy was I wrong!
Last week, I went to Minneapolis for a NYE adventure. I got more of an adventure then I bargained for. My flight was supposed to leave Ottawa at 7 am with a connection in Toronto and then a flight to Minneapolis. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, throw in an epic snow storm, a cancelled flight, a delayed flight and a missed connection and you get……lessons learned at the airport.
1. Always, and I stress always, check your flight status before leaving for the airport. I signed up with the airline for text notifications but my gut told me to call the airport anyway. At 1:40 am I called and found out my 7 am flight was cancelled. Want to know what time I got my text notification???? 5:40 am!
2. Pack your medicine in your carry on bag. You do not want to put your important/valuable items (medicine, jewellery or travel documents) in your checked bags. You never know if your bag will get lost and you may need your items at the airport. I had a mini panic attack before my flight to Minneapolis. I blame fatigue and stress. I needed an Ativan and I needed it right then and there. Luckily, I had it in my purse. On my return flight I was not as smart. I forgot and packed my medicine in my checked bag! WHAT WAS I THINKING! I almost had a panic attack worrying about my panic medication being in my checked bag……oh, the irony.
3. Read the flight time on your ticket and make sure you are reading the correct time. For example: 22:00 is 10 pm and not 8 pm. I must enjoy running through airports as it appears I did it for fun last week. I got off my flight at 7:30 pm and proceeded to run through the airport to go through customs for my “8 pm” flight. I ran up to the customs desk, huffing and puffing, trying to formulate a sentence. I muttered something about my flight leaving in 20 minutes. The nice customs lady told me to relax and that my flight was at 10 and not 8. I was so embarrassed yet relieved as I no longer had to run through the airport like a mad woman.
4. If you have a connecting flight, make sure you have access to your checked bag BEFORE you buy that $50 bottle of Vodka. Last month, when I had a connecting flight, I had to pick up my checked bag and bring it with me through security during my connection. Guess what happened last week! Yep, you guessed it, I did not have access to my bag. You know what happens when you buy duty free and do not have access to your checked bag? You have to surrender the bottle to security as you are not allowed bottles of liquid on the plane. A very expensive lesson to learn. (The airline rep did suggest that I could buy a suitcase for my bottle and make sure that I wrapped it well and checked it in. Yah, I am going to buy a suitcase for my bottle and then pray that it does not break during the flight…..no thanks).
Despite being a seasoned traveler, I am still laughing at the things that went wrong during my recent trip! Hopefully my trip to Detroit next week goes much smoother.
Have you learned any lessons while traveling?
Ann
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Kerrie says
Love this article! So true that no matter how often you fly there are always some things you forget or don’t know about travel.
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Ann says
Thanks Kerrie! I learned many lessons on that trip and almost cried about the Vodka 🙁
Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says
These are all really great tips! I agree with everything – especially checking your flight info ahead of time.
Margarita Ibbott says
I still cannot wrap my head around the bottle of vodka. If they knew you were in transition why could you not bring your bottle with you?
Margarita Ibbott recently posted…Organize your Homeschool in 20(ish) days January Challenge–Starts January 4–Enter to win Organizing Your Life from @DKCanada
Lian says
Loved this post, Ann! On my very limited experiences with air travel, I learned that comfort always trumps style. I always carry my stylish shoes with me so that when I am close to where I need to go, I can quickly change into my stylish cute shoes from my super comfy ones! I did the cute option once, and it was not a fun time. Thanks for sharing this post with us!
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Aeryn Lynne says
Oh GEEZ! I entirely feel for you hun! <3 I am such a nervous traveller at the start of any trip. Doesn't matter if I have to catch a bus/train/plane, I get jittery until my butt is sitting in a seat (and then I'm fine,) lol. I would have been running for the next gate right along with you, even if I knew that I had two hours to spare! 😉 And WOW, I had no clue about liquids bought at the airport not allowed on unless checked in. I was under the assumption that if its bought while in the airport, you're fine to bring it with you. That is such a good thing to know, thanks for the heads up!
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Ana De- Jesus says
Holy s**t sorry to hear about your cancelled flight. You are right its best to check before you leave.
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Angela at Daysinbed says
A great article to read. I’ve had some moments at the airport where things have gone wrong and it was really stressful. I enjoyed reading your experiences.
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Mardene Carr says
Whenever possible I check in online. Great tips
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tara pittman says
My husband forgot to pack a bottle of vanilla from Haiti. So I did not get my gift.
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Beth@FrugalFroggie says
I think it is the Atlanta airport that I ran through to get to gate 89. When we got to gate 88 and didn’t find gate 89, we were told that it picks up on the other side of the airport. So I learned to have a sense of humor.
Elizabeth O. says
Those are definitely helpful! Thanks for sharing your experience, you’re going to help a lot of travelers this year.
michelle says
i have learned my lesson about checking on flights by calling because you are so right they don’t notify you early enough. great lessons to help others
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Tisha says
I enjoyed this post Ann! I also travel a lot and I never seem to get everything perfect! One thing I really struggle the most is how to pack light on each and every travel…
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Lexie Lane says
This is very useful tips, I’m so glad that you shared your experienced and you’ve learned.
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Edwin Lao says
Its a very interesting story. Yes you should check everything first before leaving. I guess your just to excited for NYE. hehe Happy New Year.
Rachel Mouton says
These are such great tips! I have had almost all of these happen at some point.
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Liz Mays says
I’ve definitely been stuck at the airport because a flight was canceled. I could have been at home! It’s so frustrating. Great advice here!
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Louise says
Great tips here! I re-learnt #2 over the holidays when our bags didn’t make it all the way to destination until the next morning. Not too urgent, but enough of a reminder.
As for checking our flights – our last one didn’t exist! Which we didn’t find out until we got to our second to last stop. Still showed on the United App, but – nope! – they had cancelled it months ago, although they kept sending us updates listing it. Stuff happens, so staying calm about it all is key.
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Nicole Escat says
I’m so thankful that I haven’t tried to have flight or enter in an airport all by myself, thank you so much for sharing your experienced.
Dogvills says
I hate it when you have to wait for hours at the airport because of flight delays. These are great tips.
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Dhemz Apdian - Dias says
Great tips from the expert…:) I learned my lessons over the years since we traveled a lot.
Lisa Bristol says
It is a good thing you called the airport to check on your flight. You would think they would send the text as soon as the flight was cancelled. I always carry my medicine in my purse when i am travelling.
Shaylee @ Data Nerds says
I used to travel quite a bit and learned a lot of these lessons the hard way! One time I was stuck in the Calgary airport for 12 hours because of a snow storm 🙁
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CourtneyLynne says
Ughh I can’t tell you how many friends I’ve had that don’t check there flight statuses and show up to the airport when there flight is delayed! Always check. Save you’re self from sitting for hours lol
angie says
some lessons are learned the hard way and then we want to share all that we have learned. I am sure someone will find your tips very useful
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Teresa Bowen says
Just booked our first flight of the year. Will be keeping your tips in mind when we fly to Portugal in February.
Urvi says
Great lessons.. Very 1st lesson flight cancellation happened with my friend. He was waiting as his flight was delayed. Than Suddenly they cancelled it. If you are flying from O’hare airport, Chicago than beware of flight timings.
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Bismah says
I don’t think there is anything worse than flight delays during traveling especially if you have small children with you. I feel that airports should offer more comforts for passengers having to wait long hours.
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Ann says
I agree. It is frustrating enough when you are alone. I always feel bad when I see young kids that are sitting through delays.
miranda says
ive taken note of all these lessons, am keeping them in mind for future journeys. wheres been your favourite place to travel