Let’s face it-with increased flight delays, decreased perks (like food), added charges for extras (like luggage) and the ever-looming threat you could get stranded on a runway for eight hours-traveling can kind of stink. And if you are traveling for business, add to that the stress of time away from family, juggling office obligations with meetings and worrying about making it to all your appointments on time.
Did we mention traveling can kind of stink?
When hit with the inevitable bumps in the travel road, one can grumble and moan or one can take lemons and make lemonade. So let’s try to find some of the silver linings in an otherwise gray travel sky.
Lost Luggage Silver Lining: Reimbursed Shopping
Sometimes you have to check a bag. Which means you are putting yourself at real risk of losing your bags, if only temporarily. During a recent trip to Prague, Kristin’s parents’ luggage was lost for nearly a week, leaving them with very little clothing. Certainly not enough for the length of their trip!
So, in addition to exploring the local sites, they found themselves checking out the local shopping destinations, where they bought new clothing and other necessities. The silver lining? Because they booked their airline tickets using their credit card (not sure which color), their checked luggage was covered for loss and damage up to $500 per bag-which covered most of what they needed to buy on their unplanned shopping spree.
Flight Delay Silver Lining: A Moment of Peace and Quiet
Last month, Erin found herself stuck at Logan Airport due to a bevy of delayed flights. Did she panic or get upset? Of course not! Instead, she pulled up a chair at Legal Test Kitchen in Logan Airport, ordered a meal and a glass of wine, and enjoyed a leisurely meal reading a good book-something any crazy-busy parent will tell you is the ultimate luxury.
Overbooked Flight Silver Lining: Free Plane Tickets
One unfortunate side effect of all the reduced flights and increased delays is that the flights that do make it off the runway tend to be jam-packed with people and luggage. And, all too often, the airlines are OVERBOOKED, leading to desperation and insanity at the check-in desk and calls for passengers willing to give up their seats.
If you have the flexibility, being one of those volunteers can pay off big in the shape of round-trip vouchers for a later flight. Talk about a silver lining! (You can find out more about the rules governing seat bumping here).
Cancelled Flight Silver Lining: One More Night Away
Cancelled flights, whether due to mechanical failures or weather, can throw anyone’s schedule into chaos. But also consider the opportunities-if you are doomed to spend the night in a strange city, without kids, meetings or other obligations, what else could you do? How about rent a movie in your room, go out for dinner at a new restaurant, or just go to bed early and get a good night’s sleep. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it?
Damaged Luggage Silver Lining: Fame (??)
How many times has your luggage come out of the carousel looking a little worse for wear? Most of us can’t do much but complain, but a few can turn disaster into fame, and maybe fortune.
Take, for example, the story of Dave Carroll, a musician whose $3,500 Taylor guitar was damaged by luggage handlers for United. He was so unhappy with the response he received from the airline that he wrote a song and released a music video about the situation. As of September, the video has been viewed over five million times on YouTube and put Dave Carroll on “Good Morning America.”
Silver Lining: Misery makes good stories
Of course, it’s not polite to talk about religion, money, politics or sex-which leaves us sharing our tales of weather and travel nightmares! Whether traveling for business or pleasure, everyone has a story to tell about a trip that went badly. Embassy Suites actually just wrapped up a contest where the winner was the poor soul with the best business travel blunder story. We still share our story of trying to get back from California during the Valentine’s Day snowstorm, only to find ourselves renting a car in New York City and driving back to Massachusetts with the snow nipping at our heels. And that was almost two years ago!
Have you discovered any silver linings to your recent travel nightmares?
