Flight number one of your vacation arrived a few minutes early. Whew! A short layover before your connection and you’ll officially be in vacation mode. But somehow, someway, you miss the flight! Did you spend too much time at the bar? Did your pet take too long with their last preflight pit stop? Did you not hear the announcement? HOW? You were sitting right there!
Missing a flight for any reason sucks. Missing a flight to get you to your vacation spot double sucks. Here are five tips to help you get where you need to be and avoid more vacation hiccups.
KCCO
In order to assist with World War II preparations, the English government displayed signs throughout London urging citizens to "Keep Calm and Carry On". Your first step should be the same. Relax. Despite the discomfort you may be experiencing, getting upset or agitated won't help. Pause 10 seconds, take some deep breathes, calm your mind, and get ready to act. By maintaining a clear mind and a slower heart rate, you'll be able to respond more effectively.
Find Help
Regardless of how long ago your plane departed, you need to act fast. Being ahead of just one person in line can be the difference between getting seats on the next plane out, having to wait a few extra hours, or even overnight. Find the nearest airline agent or customer service desk for your airline and get in line. Many airlines have several gates near each other, or a customer service desk close by. There shouldn’t be any need to walk to a different terminal.
Be Nice
In a place where tensions are high, a smile can go a long way. If your incoming flight was late, blaming the gate agent for something they had no control over won’t get you anywhere. If you spent too much time at the gift shop, arguing with them about it won’t help either. The key now is to get you on the next best flight possible. Being an asshole makes that much harder and everyone else who hears you will think you’re the asshole no one wants to sit by.
Cover All Angles
When the customer service agent is considering options, be thorough. Discuss both departures and arrivals with them. The next available flight might depart earlier but arrive at your destination much later. If you can secure seats on an available flight, do so to guarantee you'll be on your way. Additionally, request to be added to the standby list for any earlier flights. Standby lists often carry over, so being on the list early increases your chances of moving up as flights depart.
If the missed connection is not your fault, inquire about alternative airline options. They might be willing to transfer you to a similar seat class on another airline to avoid the risk of providing additional compensation.
Stay in Vacation Mode
Up to 15% of travelers who check-in for a flight end up missing it, so don't worry, it happens. Right after realizing you've missed your connection and have arranged for a new flight, stress levels can be very high. Try to keep in mind that you are on vacation. Deal with the seat reassignment task first, then "Carry On". Enjoy some food, have a drink at the bar, or browse the gift shop some more. Be on vacation. Just make sure you catch your next flight.
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