The Unexpected Day of Travel.

The airline told me that I was too late.

"But my flight doesn't leave until 6:10," I protested, looking at the ticket in my hand with "Late Check-in" clearly displayed and "Please report to the front desk for assistance." As time passed waiting in line and I was already running late, I thought something could be changed so that my flight was achievable.

"The computers are down ma'am. You can no longer check-in for your flight."

"But, I checked in online!"

At 5am, I had no way of letting these emotions of frustration NOT be expressed. It was too pressing. Another woman leaving for Atlanta (in a group of four other women) verbally bantered with the airline attendant.

"We have been here the whole time! We now have been waiting for half an hour when we could be boarding our flight!" She was not happy. And, at this point, neither was I.

Later I heard from her friend "You let other people go past us even though we were here on time!" and "You're telling me that if I had checked in online just before getting to the front counter, I would have been able to board the flight? Why hadn't you told me about that? Why wasn't that a priority with the line attendant?"

Irritation filled her voice as the woman behind the computer murmured to herself as she punched on the keyboard, "I am beyond stressed." With six people standing in front of her demanding to see a manager already, add four more for those missing the Chicago flight, I completely understood her stress. But where was the manager? When I asked to talk to one, she had already reached the point of frustration and said there was no one else to reach. I could not believe how unfair this was not only to these paying customers, but also to her.

So I took action.

"If you aren't going to find a manager, I will."

I walked over to the security guard across the terminal and asked her what to do in an assertive voice. She motioned to the landline phone and pointed on the sign to which number I needed to dial.

In the continued dissatisfied state, I talked with the woman on the other end, trying to find a manager for this paritcular airline. Then she interrupted me.

"Ma'am, that is not part of the procedure."

"Well, this woman clearly needs help so that she can help the 10 people waiting on a flight and she should be able to call them and receive the help that she and we need."

No apology on the other end, no "you're right" from this voice, but rather, "Maybe you should call the corporate office."

"Fine, I will." Angrily hanging up the phone, I walked away, smartphone in hand. Within seconds, I had found the number and was calling. Talking to Carmell.

"What can I help you with today?" she cheerily greeted me after receiving my confirmation code and full name. I began my explanation and she expressed her concern.

I told her of missing my flight and the details of my experience. Then, I focused in on the women behind the counter who looked like they were staring off, dazed and confused and seriously stressed out. These women were not receiving the help they deserve. They needed someone to override the system because these Atlanta women had done everything right and so had I... or so I thought.

Helpful Carmell directed me to file a complaint online and I quickly figured out what to do.

Now that I had some ammo and the emotions had settled just slightly, I was able to communicate my concerns with the manager that appeared from the back. 6:01am. There was no way I was gonna make it on that plane.

"Ma'am, if you had checked in beforehand, I could have just printed your boarding pass for you and you would have been on your way."

Oh no, that's what was missing. The confirmation email! Checking my phone afterwards, I was reminded that I would have recieved a confirmation email. Silly me. I definitely didn't get one of those. I had forgotten about the confirmation email before my trip to Denver but had realized it before making it to the airport. I had a computer then and a printer because I was at home.

Both of these cases were not true after spending a week with limited phone service. Oops.

"So then," pausing to take a deep breath, "When can I get home?"

After that realization and another 10 minutes had passed with the computer lady helping other on-time airport people, I was finally ready to commit to whatever they needed to do to get me home.

"Do you have to get home today?"

"Yes, I would prefer that."

"Well, you're going to have to take a flight to...and then...and then to Chicago arriving at 9pm. Or there's another option to go to ...and then...and then getting to Chicago at 9:55pm. Which would you like to do?" All I heard was the end times and I quickly responded.

"The one that gets me back sooner."

She printed off my boarding passes. I double checked that I wouldn't have to do anything else for these flights (like check in online or get something else printed, etc) and then walked away with three slips of paper in my hand.

Philadelphia to Myrtle Beach.

Myrtle Beach to Fort Lauderdale.

Fort Lauderdale to Chicago.

I adjusted the handle on my carry-on and walked towards the security line.

I guess traveling would be my day. I sighed as I realized I would be visiting two more states than I had originally planned on.

There could be worse things.

**The above picture is my feet in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where I spent $20 to spend an hour and a half at the beach. Completely worth the money I for the happiness I had in swimming in the ocean, jumping in waves and still getting back for my flight in time.**

#beach #party #traveling #airlines #fuckairlines #experiencing #byyourself #inspiring