Advice for Connecting flight passengers.

Travel is such an incredible thing to experience when you go from one place to another and there are some pros and cons about connecting flights versus direct non-stop flights. Although its great to see different airport hubs and to fly with different aircraft, however there can be some stressful yet frustrating moments when it comes to layovers when it comes to delays and even worse, cancellations. It is something that we do not want to hear, but sometimes it is out of our control due to discrepancies with the weather, runway delays, an unruly passenger, late passengers, aircraft issues. Whatever the case maybe.

I am here to give you advice on what to do when you have a flight that is delayed and you have to make it to your next flight within the hour or 2. whatever duration it maybe that cuts very close to your departure time to your final destination. It can be a nerve-wrecking, panicky moment when you hear your flight is delayed for 2 hours and you have to make it to your next flight and you have about an hour or so time gap in between. It makes anybody nervous and anxious.

When you know you are going to be delayed, right away without waiting, go to the desk counter where you see staff from the airline and explain your situation to them that I have I connecting flight, I will not make it for that flight because of the delay. You must do something for me, reissue another boarding pass for a later flight from that Airport hub. When you do that, your flight is automatically protected and they will know you are connecting.

Always show the airline staff your travel itinerary and give them an understanding of your situation. It can save you hassle in the long run and you are secure to arrive to your final destination on the same day. It would be terrible to lose time during your travels due to connecting flight delays.

That is why I mostly recommend people taking direct non-stop flights rather than layovers. I have learned from experience twice and both times were so stressful and my palms were sweating. I know sometimes people have no choice but to have layovers whether or not its one stop, two stop, 3 stop connectors. It is absolutely exhausting to find terminals, gate numbers, and you have to literally run because you are on a tight schedule. I can definitely relate. It is not a pleasant thing to go through, especially when flights are so close with each other in time.

I remember once I had 50-55 minutes to make it to my next flight when I flew to USA. The airports in USA are so spread out and huge, I had to switch terminals because one was from international to domestic, took a shuttle which took about 5-10 minutes to get to, and then followed by a long hallway to my gate and then I had to stop for a bathroom break, then by the time I got to my gate to sit down, not even 1 minute later they started to board my flight. I was completely exhausted, hungry and frustrated. I was almost going to cry. I was by myself which stressed me out even more.

Since then, I have never taken connecting flights and always looked for itineraries which has direct. I don’t care. I will pay more for my airfare, I will not go through what I went through. It was absolutely crazy.

Have you been through nightmares and frustrations with Connecting flights?

Safe travels!

Avoid Flying on United Airlines

Avoid United Airlines and Star Alliance at all times if You can.

On August 22nd, 2013, I was at Toronto’s Pearson Airport YYZ, and I was ever so excited to board my plane to head to Boston where I had a layover in Newark, New Jersey first. I had arrived at the airport about 3 hours before, and I had seen that the Gate for my flight had not been announced yet until about an hour and a half before, so I went to my gate F89, and then I got hungry so I got myself a bagel with jam which is the safest thing to eat at the airport, so as I came back and ate my mini breakfast, I saw that my flight was on time 10:59am which I said ok thank goodness. As I took a bite and turned my head away from the UNITED FLIGHT Screen, I take a look and now my flight is at 11:20am. I said ok, no big deal 20 minutes is not all that bad, then I had a conversation with one of the other people who are boarding my plane and killed time that way.

I look again and it said its delayed again until 11:50am. At this time I got so angry, my patience ran thin and marched right to the United Counter and I said I hope you know I am not going to make my flight in Newark, New Jersey to go to Boston which was supposed to board at 2pm, the attendant didn’t give a hoot what happens to me the way her expression was, so then I was yelling at them and fought with them, I said you better get me to Boston today, I said I do not care how you do it, but I demand to get on a plane. After fighting with them for almost 20 minutes they got me on a 4pm flight from New Jersey to Boston. I said to them I have a reunion with my beautiful ladies in Boston and I am the last one to get there, I said I better get there before it gets dark. So in New Jersey, I only waited an hour, but that hour felt like 8 hours to me. I just want to get there and be in the arms of my sisters. I am never connecting flights again and I am never flying with united again. They are so unprofessional, its not even funny, the flight attendants don’t even smile, they don’t even care and are rude to the passengers. If it wasn’t for us passengers and people booking flights, these airlines would not be in business, so they better take good care of us. I do not know how United Airlines and Star Alliance are still in Business. for the life of me. Passengers shouldn’t have to fight, and they shouldn’t demand to be taken care of to where passengers are going. So after I fought with them, they protected my airfare. I told them that I was going to write about united airlines and the poor service I received.

In the end I am happy I got to Boston and I got there safe which is the most important thing and I am not complaining about that and I know the scenario could have been worse, but the principal and the point to the matter is that, they should handle things in a more professional way and give passengers more options of a safe and quick way to get to peoples destinations and be humble, patient and understanding. That was my last time with the airline. They need to get pointers from Air Transat, Westjet, Jetblue, Delta, Sunwing, Emirates. Thats all I know.

Oh yes and I forgot to add that they had to shut off the whole plane and restart it again due to a faulty wire for the air conditioning which repaired itself. THATS COMFORTING. So another 15 minutes was gone… I was so angry.  They can delay and cancel flights all they want, but when you are late for your flight or when you just make it in time, they make such a big deal, but if its their fault, they do not care. Craziness. If you want to travel on a hassle free airline, contact me. I have been on many many different airlines.