I had no thought what to call this publish, however I do not need to maintain making an attempt to think about one thing else, hahaha.
Final week, I used to be actually desirous to get out of the home and simply go somewhere–anywhere. My mother and father, in addition to Jeanie and Shawn, are in Hilton Head, South Carolina proper now. My mother and father go down yearly to get pleasure from nicer climate within the chilly months of Michigan.
They’ve at all times wished Jerry and I to go down there (with the children after all) for every week or perhaps a few days, however we’re not “seashore” folks and it simply is not a spot that we have had curiosity in visiting. (Noah and Eli have gone, although.) Final week, the thought simply popped into my head to go down there (alone) and shock my mother and father. Since Jeanie and Shawn are there now as properly, I requested Jeanie if they may decide me up from the airport if I used to be capable of go. She appreciated the thought too, so the subsequent step was to ask Brian for a buddy go to fly.
The price of a ticket was insane–about $1000–so that was out of the query. Being a pilot, Brian has “buddy passes” that he can let mates/household use to fly for affordable (to go to Hilton Head is $187 with a buddy go). The most important downside with utilizing a buddy go is that you do not have a confirmed seat. One of the best half is that you do not have to plan forward; you’ll be able to actually determine proper earlier than the flight if you wish to be listed for standby. It is type of enjoyable to make use of for last-minute journeys!Â
Sadly, Delta does not fly immediately into Hilton Head anymore, so I would should fly into Savannah. And there aren’t direct flights from Detroit to Savannah, so Brian stated I would should go from Detroit to Atlanta, after which Atlanta to Savannah (the place Jeanie would decide me up).
My bank card would solely get charged after making the flight, so if I did not make it on, then I would not should pay for it. I would deliberate to move down on Thursday and the flight was wanting an increasing number of full. By Wednesday evening, Brian stated that he was very assured that I’d *not* make it on the flight (which means there weren’t many open seats and the checklist of standby passengers was lengthy).
On Thursday, Brian stated the whole lot was wanting okay for the primary flight (5:20 am) on Friday. The issue was that flights from Atlanta to Savannah have been full for the entire flights besides the primary one (which might be my connection). That meant that if I did not get on the primary flight in Detroit (to Atlanta), even when I took a later flight, I’d probably get caught in Atlanta.
I understand that is all complicated, haha. Anyway, I made a decision to go for it–Brian stated it could in all probability be *very* shut whether or not I acquired on the flight or not, however I used to be actually hoping I would be capable to go. So I left the home at 3:45 am for the airport (Jerry dropped me off after which went out for espresso to attend and listen to from me whether or not I made the flight.
Once I acquired to the gate, I nervously watched the app, seeing my identify manner on the backside of the checklist. Because the flight stuffed up, among the standby passengers got seat assignments. Primarily based on the variety of seats open and the variety of folks on the checklist, it began to appear like I may not make it. Nonetheless, issues change proper up till the final second.
Finally, I used to be third on the standby checklist. And there was solely ONE seat open. I observed that the 2 folks forward of me have been probably touring collectively (identical final identify) and I hoped that since there was just one seat left, they’d go it up–and then it could be ME that acquired the final seat!
Then it acquired complicated for a second. After checking with the couple, the gate agent really gave me a seat project after which the second my identify got here from her mouth, a flight attendant got here out and stated that there was yet another open seat… so there have been really TWO out there. And naturally, the couple on the checklist forward of me acquired the seats.
I used to be so bummed. Flying on a buddy go isn’t a assure, so I knew I many not make it–still, it was disappointing to be *that* near getting on the flight! It did get me to begin fascinated about going elsewhere, although. I could take a spontaneous journey quickly 🙂