This kind of thing happens and it's happened to me before. So here are some tips, coping strategies, and suggested activities for you, the stranded birding traveler, the next time you find yourself in an airport with a loooooong delay.
Pro Tips for Dealing with Flight Changes & Challenges
1. Calm Blue Ocean. Don't let this unexpected wrinkle rattle you. Say your mantra. Count to 10. Do some yoga breathing. But don't lose your cool because that helps exactly zero percent.
2. Take Action Immediately. Often the first folks trying to re-book are the lucky ones who get a satisfactory result. Find an actual person at the airline's help/service desk. Then...
3. Be Super Nice & Cheerful. The folks at the counter or gate hold you destiny in their hard-working hands. Upset travelers are almost never nice to these professionals, so if you are, they are more likely to empathize with you and help you to solve your travel dilemma.
4. Ask for Advice. I've had several trips saved from oblivion by throwing myself on the mercy of an airline gate or ticket agent. This is helped mightily if you can abide by #3 above. They can use their computer wizardry to find alternate flights, routes, and solutions to your travel dilemma.
5. Stay Informed. I keep abreast of flight delays, gate changes, and other curveballs via my airline's app and other helpful apps, such as FlightStats. I'm often the first to receive updates—sometimes even before the gate agents.
6. Long, Unexpected Layover? Buy a magazine or newspaper (I treat myself to the New York Times when traveling). Buy some WiFi and download a movie or TV show. Get an airport massage.
7. Rest & Recharge. Find an unused gate with a quiet corner seat and an electrical outlet or charging station. You can recharge your electronics and yourself. I recently did this in Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam and the nap completely saved my day.
8. Use Yelp for Food. I use the app Yelp to find the best non-chain airport restaurants. So what if you need to go to another terminal to get the best shrimp-n-grits? That beats eating a hotdog that's been in the weiner broth since the Wright Brothers took flight at Kitty Hawk.
9. Avoid the Bar. I know a beer or bloody Mary would taste super right now, but airport bars are great places to have one too many, lose track of time, and miss the announcement that your flight is boarding. "William Thompson, William Thompson! Please report immediately to Gate Z-74. Your flight to Oskaloosa is ready for immediate departure!"
10. Bird the Airport! If you're birder like me, you're never not birding. Believe it or not there are birds inside most airports the world over. And there is often good birding outside the airport windows. Walk around, find the best habits and start watching. NOTE: Some international airport security officials may not understand that you are just birding. You may want to tell them in advance just what you are doing. Showing them your field guide helps.
11. Accept Your Fate. If the travel gods are frowning upon you, don't rage against the machine. If you're truly stuck, you're stuck. Inform your peeps what's happening, find a hotel room, and live to fly again tomorrow. And get that bloody Mary.
find another nearby city you can fly into and ask the agents to change your routing no charge. for example, bill, there is manchester nh and boston. just rent a car it can be a shorter drive than the wait for a flight.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI was searching for something else, but found this post. To be honest I have tried all these tips in my experienced. Trust me single tip doesn't work me there: s
ReplyDeleteWhen passengers are stuck at an airport, it creates little frustration so there should not be any delay in flights.
ReplyDeletecheap stansted airport parking
https://digitaltrendsandit.blogspot.com
Delete
ReplyDeleteThanks for showing that kind of knowledge on your portal.You have done all good.I love to see you again with some new content.
Cheap Flight
Hey! This website helped me for getting for real knowledge information to the travel related. Thanks for that and apart from that My Flights always late and I never got Cheap Flights. Can I compare flight tickets online and book within a minute?
ReplyDeleteGreat Post
ReplyDelete123 HP com Setup
Nice blog here! Also your website loads up fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my website loaded up as fast as yours lol
ReplyDeleteGTSCab
Luxury Airport Parking provides multiple safe, secure, and convenient parking options to its travelers. We believe in providing the best and high-class services for high-class travelers for their luxury cars. Book your parking space at the best airport parking in FLL.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post! Looking for the best airport parking in FLL? Luxury Airport Parking takes care of all the traveler requirements, due to this, it is well-known as the best airport parking FLL. If you're looking for parking space for your vehicle, then Luxury Airport Parking is the perfect solution for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing nice information. I love this kind of blogs.
ReplyDeleteKnow More : taxi service in delhi
Worried about parking your luxury car? Luxury Airport Parking is the best airport parking in Fort Lauderdale that is always ready to give you all the facilities you required as a traveler. Contact us to book parking at Fort Lauderdale Airport.
ReplyDeleteHey, Ben Anderson this side. I am working in a ticket cancellation department under the Etihad Name Change Policy. If you want to know about Etihad Change Name on Ticket then you can reach there by dialling tel:+1-844-673-0381 you can submit your request for the changes there.
ReplyDeleteI always read between long transit flights. Never thought of bird-watching on an airport though, seems like a pretty cool idea. Mostly it happens that i miss my flight due to the traffic and have to wait a lot. at the airport. Something i found to be a great solution was the LGA airport van shuttle service that kinda picks you up on time and drops you exactly in time for your flight. They helped me greatly by managing my time for me and I get to sit in the back while someone else drives!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great tips! You can also try a New York bus service to transport to the airport.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteAwesome and entertaining article. I like to write a little comment to support you. 카지노사이트
I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. 카지노사이트
ReplyDeleteI wanted to see hope in future you will continue to sharing such an excellent post. 바카라사이트
ReplyDeleteIt was a very good post indeed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it in my lunch-time. I Will surely come and visit this blog more often. 바카라사이트
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing useful information with us. If you want to book airport parking reservations, so you can visit Luxury Airport Parking. We provide you best parking service, that will required.
ReplyDeleteThis is the great information
ReplyDeleteMy network https://digitaltrendsandit.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteRed eye flights, or overnight flights, offer numerous benefits for travelers who prefer to save time and money on their journeys. First and foremost, red eye flights usually have fewer crowds and a smoother check-in process because there are fewer people flying during the night. The seats also tend to be cheaper since most travelers would rather fly during the day. Moreover, sleeping on a plane can help adjust to different time zones and maximize vacation time upon arrival at your destination. Additionally, airlines often provide more comfortable amenities such as blankets, pillows, and hot meals to make your flight as comfortable as possible. Red eye flights are especially advantageous for business travelers who want to make important meetings without disruptions due to transit times or stopovers. In conclusion, if planned correctly with proper rest beforehand and an adjustable sleeping schedule - red-eye flights can be an incredibly useful tool for any traveler looking for a cost-effective itinerary while maximizing precious travel hours.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these tips!
ReplyDeleteLynx Air check-in
Nice blog, If you need to change your flight, it's best to contact the airline as soon as possible to explore your options and understand any fees or restrictions that may apply. Kindly Visit: Airlines Flight Change Policy
ReplyDeleteNice post. Planning to visit India, save big on flight bookings.
ReplyDeleteBook Cheap flight tickets to India and save huge on travel costs
Hi nice blog, Swoop Manage Booking is a convenient online service provided by Swoop Airlines, allowing passengers to make changes or updates to their existing flight reservations easily. Kindly Visit: swoop manage booking
ReplyDeleteNice blog, Book Flight Ticket online offers convenience and flexibility. By following these steps and using a reliable online travel platform, you can easily find and book the best flights for your travel plans. Kindly Visit: Book Flight Ticket
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you sharing this useful information with us. If you are interested in Delta Airlines Tickets, then we recommend First Fly Travel. We provide you Cheap Airline Tickets, which will be required.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keep Posting :)
this is very appealing, however , it is very important that will mouse click on the connection:
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these useful tips. Hope it works well. We can follow these Tips for dealing with Flight changes and challenges. Keep on writing and sharing more informative articles.
ReplyDeleteBusiness setup Dubai | Company formation in Dubai
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the efforts you have put into writing this site.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteonline earning
ReplyDelete