choices

After a great VoiceStory show last night, I went home and packed a bag in preparation for my 6:45am flight this morning.

Wake up at 4:30am to have some breakfast, clean out the fridge, throw out the garbage and walk to the airport express train. I arrive at the airport, go to a self serve kiosk to print my boarding pass and am unable to.

I try again and it fails.

An agent comes over to help me and says “Sir… you need to be here at least 45 minutes before the flight. So the system has cut you off for boarding.”

A look at my watch and it reads 6:05am, so I’m 40 minutes out.

5 minutes.

so what are you going to do…

No point in griping about something I can’t change, so I walk to a ticketing booth to see what can be done to get me on another flight.

The agent pulls up my details and says “Unfortunately your ticket can not be adjusted, so it has been marked as expired. You will need to purchase a one way ticket as your return flight is still valid.”

Me: How much is a ticket?

Agent: The next flight is at 8:00am and $475.00

Me: Ouch! Where can I get a coffee and think about this?

what do you need to think about…

The cost of this flight obviously! I am reconsidering going as I don’t NEED to go, but then I have already purchased that Gala ticket.

OK. Let’s think this through… what is my time worth?

As I mull this over I add up the costs, if I toss the airmiles I used out the window, it would end up costing me as if I paid a normal fare.

What is my intention in going?

I was going to the Gala to connect with people, to share my vision and find those that align with me.

Me not going doesn't open any possibilities, me goes does.

So I decide to go walk back and buy a ticket.

Agent: Sorry Sir… but I am unable to book you onto the 8:00am flight as it is now 7:30am and the system has closed off that flight. The next available flight is at 9:00am and it is $629.00

Unreal!

My hesitation has not only cost me time, but now potentially an extra $150.00!

so what are you going to do…

Well I have 40 minutes to decide, so I walk away and decide to fire up the laptop to look online and see if there are any options that these airline specific agents can’t provide me.

And I find one!

There is a non-stop flight at 10:40am for only $379.00!

So I walk up to this airline's kiosk to buy a ticket and I am informed that they don’t have the ability to sell me a ticket. I have to call in or purchase it online.

I call in and put it on speakerphone while I am on hold, then try the airline's website and can’t book a flight the same day!

So I try a flight booking website that lists the flight. Fails.

Click a link to book on a different website. Fails.

Another website. Fails.

so what are you going to do…

I choose to try this last link shown the page.

This website connects.

This website confirms a seat.

This website processes my payment!

I receive an email that shows my booking is “pending”.

So I take a breath and decide that if this doesn’t go through, it’s either go home or buy that $629.00 ticket.

I decide that I’m not going home.

I receive an email that shows my booking is “confirmed”!

I crack a smile knowing that while things didn’t unfold as I planned, I am learning something from this experience.

So as to not tempt fate, I decide to go clear security now and just hang out at the gate.

Security was a breeze.

Get to the gate.

The large monitor shows my flight is delayed an hour.

so what are you going to do…

I can’t help but be entertained by this now.

#chasingbutterflies