February 5th, 2010 | 3 comments | Unfiltered

So as it turns out, there are travel gods, they just happen to present themselves at what seems to be the most inopportune time. As my parents dropped me off at the airport on Sunday, we realized that we didn’t know when I’d be back down. What was the timing looking like? Who would be buying a flight? Would I do the one-way thing and drive my car back? There was a lot of unknown about when I’d be seeing them next. Which brought on my dad getting choked up which sends me into an emotional tornado, because when my dad cries, it’s something serious. And I lose it.

So the story goes, I check my big cruise luggage, get to the desk and the flight is overbooked. REALLY overbooked. I got bumped from my flight on Sunday. The one time I don’t have flexible travel plans (I had a doctor’s appointment Monday morning and I’ve been out for a week – I NEED TO BE IN THE OFFICE) is the one time I get bumped. They are so overbooked that they are bumping people (me) and asking for volunteers. So naturally, they offer up a complimentary roundtrip ticket because of the inconvenience. Then somehow one ticket turns into two. My mind is spinning because my cheeks are still blotchy because just minutes ago I was having a very ugly cry in the bathroom because I didn’t know when I’d be able to make it back down to see my family. Then, by some grace of the travel gods, I’m offered TWO roundtrip tickets.

The first flight out is at 11:34 Monday morning. Cue panic attack. I had been out for a week and now I can’t get on a plane until MONDAY? So they are ready to coordinate a hotel room for me. I tell them I don’t need the room because my parents or sister can come get me and the guy says to me: “oh, well, we’ll just give you another roundtrip ticket. We want to be fair.”

AM I FREAKING DREAMING? IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING?

I have begged and pleaded and prayed for flights to be overbooked when I had flexible travel plans (New Years, graduation weekend, etc) and nothing ever happened. The one time I need to get back to Chicago, I can’t get on the plane. But somehow, the overbooked flight is an answer to my travel woes. Now I don’t need to worry about whether or not I can get down to Florida. When I have the time, I’ll have the means.

Can you say total relief? Silver lining much??

I tend to panic when it comes to thinking about when I’ll get back down, but I’ll be fine. I always am. Everything always works out.

Any travel miracles/disasters for you lately?

Tags: 28 Day Blogging Challenge