I missed my flight this morning
By micha5088
@micha5088 (554)
Malaysia
October 21, 2012 8:36am CST
I learned a hard lesson today. I knew that I should start heading for the airport at least four hours earlier or half a day before the boarding time, to make allowance for traffic jams, stops at toll booths and accidents (anything can happen, right) in the city. Unfortunately, the bus that I followed only arrived at the airport around 10am, the time when the airline company closed the gate for the flight that I was to board.
I did not only miss my flight but also became poorer by about USD100. In order to catch the next flight to my hometown, I had to pay that much to get my new ticket. My original flight booking was a promo return ticket. So, when a passenger misses this flight, the original special fare ticket will be canceled and the normal rate will be charged. Traveling can really become a 'nightmare' when you don't make proper planning. Anyway, I accept this as a new experience amid hard to accept, and will always take this as a lesson to not ever miss any flights.
6 responses
@micha5088 (554)
• Malaysia
22 Oct 12
Hi Kokomo,
Yes, experience is always the BEST teacher, but only if we take heed of it.
It's a lesson not just for me, but for everyone.
Thanks for responding.
@Raine38 (12391)
• United States
22 Oct 12
This is one of my fears when flying: miss my flight! And that is why I almost don't have enough sleep the day before my flight. I would rather sit down at the airport and wait than be rushing to board my flight. So far I haven't missed any flight and I sure hope I wouldn't have to experience it.
@micha5088 (554)
• Malaysia
22 Oct 12
Hi Raine,
Oh yea, all the rushing almost made my legs cramped. I thought I never have to do it again. The last time I rushed was at the train station. My family was traveling by train and we had to make sure we got the time right so that we would not miss the connecting trains.
We wanted to have ample of time to get down from the train, walk leisurely and board the next train but...we CAN'T always get what we want right? The train schedules are subjected to be changed whenever they (the authority) think it's necessary to do it. The weather was really bad at that time, so I suppose they did what they think was best for all the passengers.
Thanks for responding.
@leeloo (1492)
• Portugal
21 Oct 12
It is a pity, there are times that if you phone ahead they will delay a flight a few minutes to allow people to still make their flight, but that normally requires a lot of goodwill from the airport and the flight company. At least you were able to make it home though. If the flight had been delayed for another reason like the weather it would have been their responsibility. It is always frustrating to miss something like a flight.
@micha5088 (554)
• Malaysia
22 Oct 12
Hi leeloo,
I was actually hoping for the flight to be delayed. But it didn't happen. The regulations at an international airport are very strict, I think they cannot afford to be lenient to anyone.
I was not the only one who missed the flight. There were two other women. I talked to them, and like me, they're also advised to book for the next flight. I think they had some financial setbacks because they were required to pay more than I did. I didn't see them when I boarded the airplane.
Yea, it was good when I finally made it home. Home Sweet Home! Thanks for responding.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
10 Nov 12
It was a shame that the traffic jams caused you to arrive at the airport too late to get on your flight home. It is a shame they wouldn't just transfer you to the next flight or let you pay the same as the promo cost you payed originally.
I booked a flight to Prague in the Czech Republic in 1996 and the day that flight London Underground went on strike. It was a nightmare traveling by bus changing buses several time. I felt travel sick traveling to all those buses. I used to travel to London by train then take the underground to the airport in West London.
When my oldest son was aged 4 nearly 5 years old I took him on a trip to Sardinia in Italy. We had to wait ages for a circle line underground train. We got to the London train terminal late and ran to get a train to get to that airport north of London. It happened to be the slow train because we had missed the fast train due to the delays on London Underground. We got to the airport and had to rush to check in. Then we had to get on the plane. There wasn't time to exchange money. Arriving at the tiny airport in Sardinia there exchange money office was closed. There wasn't a bus to the place we had booked accommodation. I had to exchange money with another traveler. We took a bus to the main city then had trouble getting in the bank. I had to put our stuff in a locker. Then we were able to take the bus where we were going to stay.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
29 Oct 12
It`s difficult to be able to think ahead about ecverything that can happen between us and any goal we set. But we do learn how long it takes usually to move from one place to another in our home town. Still, it seems that half a day is a long time.
@GauthamDS7 (96)
• India
21 Oct 12
As you said you should have left your home 4 hours early,if so you could not have become poor by $100.Anyway a mistake,it's over if this incident din't take place in your life you wouldn't have learnt a new lesson..everything happens for our good..Good luck..
@micha5088 (554)
• Malaysia
21 Oct 12
Thanks Gautham. Yes, a lesson I indeed must never forget!
From missing flight, then to get poorer...is an experience that anyone does not want to go through. It is so bothersome.
Thanks for responding. Happy mylotting to you!
