My husband and I were finishing up a two-week trip to San Antonio, Texas, and Springfield, Missouri. We were exhausted and ready to get home, and the next day I had a baby shower to throw for my niece. I had perfectly planned it out so that when I got home, I would have everything ready to go, and with the help of my daughter, it should be stress-free. That is when we had an unexpected layover in Chicago, Illinois. While still on the ground in Springfield, Missouri, the pilot notified us that our flight would be delayed because of stormy weather in Chicago, and we could not land. This made us miss our connecting flight. We changed to a later flight that evening and chose to stay with our plan instead of renting a car and driving back home. With another delay in take-off, it would push our time close, so the flight attendant worked with us and got us off the plane as quickly as possible.
Once we landed, we RAN through O’Hare Airport because our gates were from one end to the other, but we did not make the flight. When I stopped running and realized we had missed our second flight, I was tired, frustrated, out of breath, hungry, a little scared, and in desperate need of a bathroom. My husband got us on the next flight to Atlanta, but it was the following day. I booked us a hotel that had a shuttle service to and from the airport.
After my mini-meltdown in the Airport, I called the kids to tell them we wouldn’t be home that night and what time to pick us up the next day. We met the shuttle, and the driver took care of us. He loaded our luggage and drove us to the hotel. My husband figured he would make the best of an overnight stay in Chicago and asked where was the best place to get Chicago Deep Dish pizza. The driver gave us a name of a local restaurant, Giordano’s, close to the hotel, and they delivered. Once we checked in, the hotel staff found us a menu for Giordano’s, and we went to our room, called home, and ordered pizza.
While we waited on the pizza, we went to the lobby and had a drink at the restaurant’s bar and watched a few minutes of the baseball game playing on TV. It was Chicago Bears vs. St.Louis Cardinals. We had not eaten since breakfast, and it was around 9:30 PM. The pizza arrived, and it was the best pizza I think I have ever had. I’m not sure if it was because I was so hungry or it really was the best.
The following day we woke up early, got ready, and headed to the airport. I am so grateful for the shuttle service that the hotel provided. We didn’t know where we were or how to get around, and if we had to figure that out, that would have added to the stress of being in Chicago overnight. We got to the airport, got through TSA, and boarded our plane. I was never so glad to see the annoying Atlanta Airport as I was that morning. Though we had an inconvenience in our travels, it turned out fine in the end, and we learned some great lessons about traveling.
Lesson 1: It’s Not The Airline Attendant’s Fault
We were blessed with one of the best airline attendants in the business. Our delayed plane was tiny, and there was only one attendant, and he rocked. He helped each one of us out the best way he could. He went above and beyond to help one passenger out that was flying internationally. He made sure the passengers that had a short time to get to their next gate were deplaned first. He was under a lot of stress, and he remained cool, calm, and collected. I know this is not always the case with airline attendants, but it is not their fault that there are delays or changes. They are there to help you if plans change, but it is not their fault.
Lesson 2: Always Be Prepared
I have a habit of overpacking, but I knew I needed only to pack the basics on this trip. It was a two-week trip to two different states. We would be flying on six different airplanes and doing three plane changes throughout our journey. We wanted to keep our luggage with us and not pay to check our bags at the airport. We packed, intending to wash clothes on our journey. So with our setback, we did have plenty of clean clothes. The one thing we did not have was toothpaste. When we left Springfield, Missouri, our toothpaste was almost out, so I tossed it, intending to be at home before bedtime. We had money to book a hotel room close to the airport that offered a shuttle service. I always like to be prepared for the unexpected, and in some ways, we were very prepared, but in others, we were not as ready.
Lesson 3: Make The Best Of Any Situation
Things are going to happen when you are traveling. It is all part of the adventure. The best thing you can do is roll with it. My emotions were on a roller coaster because of the unknowns, and I had a baby shower to get to the next day. I had to work on remaining calm. My husband makes the best out of each situation, and he quickly thought about Chicago Deep Dish pizza. After a long and trying day, having the pizza delivered to us was perfect. We didn’t have to use a dinner delivery service or a taxi service in a town unfamiliar with after dark. All it took was us taking a minute to think about things in a calm way to make the most out of our unplanned experience.
In life, you are going to have unexpected turns. With travel, you have to be quick to adjust and roll with it. When you have an interruption in your plans, don’t let that ruin your experience. Your attitude can make the changes positive or negative. Just enjoy the ride.
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Great story about your trip and wonderful advice on staying calm when plans change. This is good advice for travel and life.