
Travel Project First Quarter 2024: Week 2
My second week of traveling and it’s something else. It’s Friday and I am at the airport to return home but there was a surprise waiting for me on this return trip. Yes, when you travel for work, just expect the unexpected. Anything can happen.
It’s a small airport with 6 gates. We actually taxied backward, like it does before the plane take off but then it was announced that there is a mechanical issue so we had to deplane and had to rearrange alternate options. This is the last flight for this airline out of here. Everyone lined up to talk to the gate agent. There was just one agent available for about 30+ people. It was a long wait. I tried to call customer service but they said my flight already took off then was told that it is only delayed so the representative says is not able to select another option so she can’t help me make alternative arrangements. After about an hour, another agent was available to help onsite. I was the last person in this line. The gate agent couldn’t put me on any other airline so she said I would not be able to get home until 5:30p the next day with the same airline The agent said I could go pick up my checked bag then I should get vouchers for hotel, meals, Lyft, etc on my phone since it’s a mechanical issue. I went to get my luggage, which was the easiest thing so far in all this craziness. This check in agent then tried to get me on another airline so I can get home earlier. She was able to get me on another airline with arrival home by 11:30a. She also sent me the link to hotel, meals and Lyft. I was very grateful. I thought now I just have to get to hotel, eat dinner and get a good night sleep for my early flight out tomorrow. Of course, that would be too easy.
First issue, using the Lyft link that the airline sent to me, I am not able to edit the address so the Lyft driver had to edit the hotel address in order to get me there since the current address was in the middle of nowhere per the driver.
Second issue was my meal voucher. The hotel restaurant was not able to use my code so I gave up and confirmed my early morning flight then went down and the front desk staff was able to charge it to my room with the amount on the voucher so now I am waiting for my dinner at 8:13p.
Third issue, since I was using the link sent by the airline to request my Lyft, I am not able to schedule my pick up in advance to go to the airport for 4am the next morning so my plan was to get up extra early and hope that I will be able to get a ride in the early morning. First Lyft attempt, the driver told me that the address is incorrect so he told me to cancel my request. Second attempt, I quickly messaged the newly assigned driver about the incorrect address. Luckily, after a few corrections, the driver found me and I made it to the airport without any more issues.
Yes, traveling for work is full of surprises so go with the flow or else you will go crazy. Fortunately, I made it home on Saturday morning.

