After an unexpected round of unforeseen accidents, I missed my initial flight from Yakima to Seattle by just a couple of minutes. What a great way to begin a trip… I quickly decided to take the charter bus to Seattle anyway, hoping to transfer to a different flight schedule. It wasn’t until I was halfway to Seattle that I realized my passport was left at the Yakima Airport. After many rounds of phone tag, I managed to have my passport forwarded to Sea-Tac airport on Horizon Air’s next flight to Seattle (which eventually got delayed to a later departure).
Once I arrived at Sea-Tac Airport, I stormed through a whirlwind of phone calls. I had to get a hold of my travel agents (Orbitz), my airline representatives (Delta), one of my professors at Rome (Lisa, though the call was unsuccessful), the UW Rome Center (left a voice message), and my peers (via text message) that I was going to be on a postponed flight schedule. I was literally on the phone for at least four hours this afternoon, trying to get a hold of multiple parties at once! An international flight representative initially said I had to pay around $2,000 extra to change my schedule on short notice. My jaw dropped, and I was about to lose my sanity… However, I wasn’t willing to accept this option and sought other ways to change my schedule. My persistence finally paid off when I found a more experienced travel agent who changed my schedule WITHOUT having me incur any additional fees. The only consequence would be that I would arrive a day later than expected, at the earliest. I was really depressed to hear this, as I did not want to miss out on anything important that may be covered on the first day abroad. However, I knew the situation could have been worse; I’m glad to have found an alternate route.
I am truly the epitome of Murphy’s Law.
Once I arrived at Sea-Tac Airport, I stormed through a whirlwind of phone calls. I had to get a hold of my travel agents (Orbitz), my airline representatives (Delta), one of my professors at Rome (Lisa, though the call was unsuccessful), the UW Rome Center (left a voice message), and my peers (via text message) that I was going to be on a postponed flight schedule. I was literally on the phone for at least four hours this afternoon, trying to get a hold of multiple parties at once! An international flight representative initially said I had to pay around $2,000 extra to change my schedule on short notice. My jaw dropped, and I was about to lose my sanity… However, I wasn’t willing to accept this option and sought other ways to change my schedule. My persistence finally paid off when I found a more experienced travel agent who changed my schedule WITHOUT having me incur any additional fees. The only consequence would be that I would arrive a day later than expected, at the earliest. I was really depressed to hear this, as I did not want to miss out on anything important that may be covered on the first day abroad. However, I knew the situation could have been worse; I’m glad to have found an alternate route.
I am truly the epitome of Murphy’s Law.
Seriously, wow. Nothing in the email about all the troubles, just that you had a delayed flight. I'm not sure how you were able to do all of that with a phone that isn't even fully operational. Always persistent. =] Hopefully the next post will be filled with only positive reflections considering all your bad luck should be out of the way. Have an amazing trip, can't wait for your next post. =]
ReplyDeleteSorry about the craziness! Hope you are enjoying Rome!
ReplyDeleteAwww~!! But this just means that things will go up from here right?? :) Can't wait to read more!! :)
ReplyDeleteThats a cheap way to start your break oh well you should able to enjoy the rest of it with no problems.
ReplyDeleteWow... you must have been tired... in you vid it seemed like you haven't slept... And phone tag doesn't sound that fun anymore... lol.
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