When Travel Is Interrupted

When you travel as much as I do, and in the wide variety of ways that I do it, there are bound to be hiccups in the plans. You have to start solving common travel challenges. How I deal with these issues is dependent on several factors, but one thing trumps all of the others: How much time do I have? If I am quite pressed for time, I am definitely going to have less patience, and less options, when dealing with unexpected problems. That’s why, whenever possible, I try to give myself additional time on either or preferably both ends of a trip.

Dealing with a quick weekend or long weekend trip is much harder for me, since I tend to leave right from school, and come back late Sunday night. That doesn’t give me much “wiggle room” for problems. During the summer, however, my time is my own, so I am significantly much more flexible—and patient—with problems.

The other important factor is, as always, my pocketbook. How much I have invested in a trip also leads me to be more or less tolerant of disruptions. 

Let’s get into some examples, and how you can mitigate these unexpected blips in your travel plans. Let’s talk about solving common travel challenges…

Flight Challenges

12:40 pm Sunday. Text from my favorite airline (hint: it’s Southwest!) that my 6:05 flight was canceled. End of text. Beginning of sweat. This scenario is unfortunately quite common these days, as airlines struggle to get back up to speed following the long Covid problems. How they choose which flight gets canceled I have no idea, but if you fly enough, the wheel of fortune will land on your flight eventually. 

While I was able to rebook onto the 6:45 option, my BFF was given NO option until the following day. Not acceptable. Despite both of us calling, the only advice was to go to the airport and ask. We hightailed it out of a theme park, Ubered from our hotel to the airport, and got there around 1:45. The very kind and patient agents were able to get me on the 3:20 flight (thank you TSA-pre!), and BFF was number one on standby. Fortunately for us, all of this finagling worked out and we got home by 8 pm that night. 

This is better than last summer, when a flight delay left me stranded in Dallas, where I spent the night sleeping on a table, waiting for the first flight the next day. I know—ME, sleeping in an airport!!! Did not change my opinion about Southwest Airlines, though.

Your Recourse…

The airlines are struggling through every day now, not even considering the considerable weather delays in certain parts of our country. We all must bring our patience and a smile when using air travel.

But…if it happens…what are your options, really?

How do you start solving these common travel challenges?

Here is what my extensive experience has taught me: They want to get you to your destination as quickly as possible. They have absolutely no reason to want to inconvenience you or make things more difficult for you. All you need to do is be reasonable. Unfortunately, I’ve witnessed people being quite ugly to airline personnel, and it absolutely won’t get you anywhere, and can truly work against you. Would the check-in agents worked so hard for me and BFF if we had walked up to them yelling and complaining and demanding? Heck no—I know I wouldn’t! 

Airlines will, of course, make that same-day or even day-after change for you at no cost, and allow you to try your hand at standby if you’d like. What I’m not seeing anymore are vouchers for meals or hotel rooms. Remember—I slept on a table in Dallas—not by choice. 

What you need to do is be prepared for any eventuality. I’m at the point now that I always carry substantial snacks (cheese sticks, apple slices, Goldfish) in case I’m stranded and all of the restaurants are closed for the night (I’m looking at you, Dallas!). Further, I use a small rolling carry-on for every flight now, and in it is a complete change of clothes, deodorant and other hygiene products, and a jacket. Am I overpacked the majority of time? Yup. Do I feel more prepared than I found myself in Dallas? Definitely. 

Car Problems (Rental And Your Own)

I’ve been stranded on the side of a dark desert highway with the cool wind in my hair, and I’m betting you have been, as well. I had three young kids and a jam packed minivan at the time, and it was a nightmare. My own car problems are frustrating, and I’m a proud decades-long member of AAA. If you are planning any level of car travel, I feel it’s imperative for you to have some type of roadside assistance program. 

I have never had a rental car break down, but fortunately if that happens to you, the company will come out and trade the car for you. This is the biggest reason I only rent from national companies I can trust. The problem I have had with a rental car is it not fitting our needs. One year, we rented a car that had such a bad blind spot I wasn’t comfortable driving it—all we needed to do was return to the airport and they traded out the car. While it was a two-hour loss in our vacation, it was totally worth it to me for peace of mind. 

No matter what, we’re back to our “Emergency Travel Kit” I carry to airports! I would have been lost if I didn’t have adequate snacks, drinks and toys for my kids when we were stuck midway to Disneyland that time. Be sure that—packed in a VERY handy spot—you have everything you will need for a few hours of “shoulder of the road” time. Fortunately, your electronics batteries will last for that time, but you need to be prepared for every eventuality.

Your Recourse…

Fortunately, when solving these common travel challenges, we control the maintenance of our vehicles, so we make sure they have an oil change and/or tune up before any major road trip. While things can go wrong with no warning, in our experience properly maintaining our vehicles has led to our having minimal problems. Don’t forget your tires, either! That time on the side of the road was a tire blowout, and while there was no way to predict it, it has made us more particular with the care of our tires at all times now. 

Renting from a reputable, national company is the best way to ensure your car rental experience goes smoothly. While we have had to wait at airports for the correct type of car to be available (minivans go quick in Florida!), it is always worth it to wait for the proper car, and particularly to do a thorough inspection before leaving their lot. Sweet Husband has found dings and dents in vehicles that he made the employees aware of, so we weren’t charged. 

Cruise Issues

Boy oh boy oh boy…this can be quite a long section given our current environment. Most importantly, all of the cruise companies are being quite reasonable with cancellations and rescheduling cruises right now, so that might be the best thing for you. But even if you decide to take that cruise…sometimes things don’t quite work out…

One of my Favorite Friends is currently on a Scandinavian Adventure cruise (14 nights) with her kids. Her 13 year old just tested COVID positive. They are now in quarantine, and will miss at least four different countries. It’s a sign of the times.

My Alaskan cruise next month was originally scheduled for 2020, and this is the third re-schedule we’ve gone through. With our teaching schedules, it hasn’t been easy getting this one off the dock, but we are now guardedly optimistic. 

Spring Break my flight was canceled the day before the cruise, and we jumped in the car and hightailed it to the port (lucky it was driving distance)!

Our cabins for an upcoming cruise were changed without our notice, moving us three decks from my brother and his family, despite our reservations being linked.

Your Recourse…

You know I love to cruise. Absolutely love everything about it. I’ve got four on the books right now, and I’m already looking for number five. So many different things—large and small—can go wrong when you are getting on a ship for a period of time.

In my opinion, being a well-researched cruiser will help you in any and every situation. Not only considering what can potentially impact your vacation, but also how you will suggest these things be managed, will help you in every situation. By keeping an eye on my reservation, I found the change in cabins, and one phone call fixed everything. If I hadn’t been watching my account, I could have had a stressful situation when boarding. 

Even as an experienced cruiser, I use the cruise line professionals when making all of my bookings. I’ve learned through all my planning that having someone in the company I can reach out to has been quite beneficial when questions or situations come up. I’ve even called my cruise planner for a port to solve a small problem when we were in Puerto Rico! Make that relationship, just in case you need professional advice after you’ve booked your cruise.

Bad Weather

Did you pack your Emergency Travel Kit as explained above? Then you should be just fine! Added to my Kit for Chicago next week is an umbrella, and for Alaska I’ll add cold weather gear. 

Do that research, and keep what you MIGHT need handy. I’d rather have a slightly larger carry-on and be prepared for bad weather than be caught de-planing onto the tarmac in a rain shower (yup—that happened, too). 

My other comment on bad weather: Who cares? This is your one shot at seeing The White House/Tulum/Waikiki/you name it! Wear three layers, or carry extra socks, or grab that umbrella. Get out there and GO!!! Don’t let Mother Nature disturb you!

Adjusting Your Attitude

Positivity is a central focus of all of my blogs. I don’t dwell in the negative, and I certainly don’t plan in the negative. Your attitude is one of the only things that is always, 100% under your own control. Prepare your attitude for travel interruptions and inconvenience and you will weather any storm. I guarantee BFF and I would never have made the 3:20 flight if we had presented negativity and argumentative behaviors to everyone we met. 

So pack the Emergency Travel Kit—it has totally saved my butt.

Pack your patience, tolerance and positive attitude.

Pack me in your suitcase—I wanna go, too!!!

See you at the airport~

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS FAR

Wow! You made it! Thank you for reading about solving common travel challenges!

Hey, since you’re here! You may as well check out some other tips, like how to plan a successful staycation, here, or how to get to Disney this summer, here! Or, check out our other topics here! Either way, I appreciate you!

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