When the Unexpected Happens
Imagine my excitement when I was asked to be the keynoter for the Martin King lecture at Smith College, a place I had been trying to make inroads. Scheduled to speak at 4:30PM, I agreed to take an early flight (7:00 AM) to arrive at the airport at noon. After a 1-hour drive to the hotel I would have a couple hours to relax.
My flight from Sarasota, FL left on time, scheduled to arrive in Atlanta at 8:43 with a connecting flight at 9:40. Just before we were to begin our descend into Atlanta, the pilot announced that we were in a holding pattern because of fog in Atlanta. Fifteen minutes later we were cleared to land only to be told a couple minutes later that we had been put in another holding pattern. I was now concerned about my connecting flight but assumed that because of fog planes were not taking off either. Fifteen minutes later we were cleared to land. I walked into the airport at 9:10, 30 minutes before my connecting flight. Hurriedly I checked the monitor for the gate of my departing flight only to see in big red letters CANCELLED. What do I do now?
I contacted my speakers bureau to advise them of the situation. The next scheduled flight was at 12:25 PM – 25 minutes after I was scheduled to arrive. The new arrival time was 2:51PM. An hour’s drive to the hotel would put me there at the about 4PM. My two hours to relax was now gone. Here I was in Atlanta, dressed in a jogging suit, sneakers, a cap and no makeup. My mind went to work. With no time to go to the hotel, where do I change clothes? I attempted to get a pass to the airline Sky Club but was denied. My only option was the restroom. I had been given a meal pass for breakfast, so after eating I went to my dressing room – the handicap stall in the women’s restroom. I did not feel guilty using the handicap stall (there were 2 vacant) because at that time I really felt handicapped.
After my quick change, I waited in the waiting lounge to board the overly booked flight which left on time. Arriving on time I sprinted through the airport to meet my limo driver. He was nowhere in sight. After playing telephone tag for awhile we finally found each other. Once in the car, I asked where he would be taking me on campus. His response “I’m taking you to the hotel”. I explained there was not enough time for that and asked him to call his contact at the school to find out where to deliver me. I, in the meantime called my speakers bureau to have them also make contact with the school. We finally worked it out and I arrived on campus at 4:15.
With the exception of my contact person at Smith no one knew what had happened. I delivered my message, had dinner with students &staff, and finally made it to the hotel at 9:30PM. I had gotten up at 5AM. The school had a fruit basket awaiting my arrival. That was my breakfast the next morning when I got up at 3:45AM to catch a 6:15 flight.
By the way, the reason my flight was CANCELLED was “That plane was not available”. Explain that!!
