A few days ago I learned something very valuable about holiday travel that had never been revealed to me before. “We are all in the same boat.” You see I learned all this on my flight out of Chicago into Atlanta where I needed to make my connection to Tampa. The flight into Atlanta was running about 30 minutes behind and once we landed the plane just sat there on the runway until they could get the gate situation figured out. Even though my connecting flight was scheduled to leave in just 7 minutes I remained calm. The flight attendant was kind enough to make an announcement to tell all those who weren’t connecting to remain seated so those of us who were could make a mad dash off the plane. By the time the plane reached the gate and the seat belt sign went off my watch showed two minutes past my scheduled departure time to Tampa. GREAT! My hope did not fade. I was seated only two rows behind first-class and I was sure I could convince a few people to let me slide past. I knew everyone standing had tight connections, but from the sound of things mine was the tightest of all. Everyone was super nice to let me pass with the exception of one first-class gentleman. Here’s what went down:
Adrienne: Excuse me Sir, can I squeeze past you?
First-Class Flier: Where do you think you are going?
Adrienne: I’m trying to get to the very front Sir. According to my watch my flight should have taken off already, but I want to try to run there anyway.
First-Class Flier: Look my plane takes off in 10 minutes and when I get off this plane I am going to be running like crazy to make my flight. We are all in the same boat.
As he turned back around I wondered where this same boat business came from. Last time I checked being on the ‘ten minutes till departure flight boat’ was a hell of a lot different than the ‘your flight is probably flying the friendly skies already boat.’ My boat felt like the Titanic while he was still was being jostled around in the S.S. Minnow. My hope fizzled for a moment and my holiday travel patience was close behind. The doors finally opened and he rolled his carry-on bag off, started in what didn’t appear to be a hurried pace at all and I quickly took off past him. My mind hummed some very choice words as I left him the dust. I made it to the train to get to Concourse B just in time and as the doors were shutting I saw my good friend that wouldn’t let me pass, a moment too short. Wicked fiery flames grew inside and evil laughter rang out as I gave the thumbs-up gesture and waved Sayonara to Mr. Nasty First-Class Flier. I felt like a character in one of those holiday films. Part of me couldn’t believe how I let the gentleman’s enlightening words of travel wisdom reach my boiling points.
When I hopped of the train into Concourse B I had one more leg of the amazing airport race to run. I heard them calling the last boarding call for flight 1093 to Tampa and with beads of perspiration dripping from my brow I handed the gate attendant my soggy boarding pass and shot a slight smile. I made it! I made it! The flight was delayed too and I made it! I was the second to last person to board the plane. As I oozed into my seat I felt myself return to my cool, calm and collected state of being.
The moral of this story people is a raft is not a yacht. Be nice – not nasty and rude during all your travels this holiday be it by car, plane or train and have fun!
Safe travels.