I had no concept 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 eager to get out of the home and simply go somewhere–anywhere. My dad and mom, in addition to Jeanie and Shawn, are in Hilton Head, South Carolina proper now. My dad and mom go down yearly to get pleasure from nicer climate within the chilly months of Michigan.
They’ve all the time needed Jerry and I to go down there (with the youngsters after all) for per week or perhaps a few days, however we’re not “seaside” folks and it simply is not a spot that we have had curiosity in visiting. (Noah and Eli have gone, although.) Final week, the concept simply popped into my head to go down there (alone) and shock my dad and mom. Since Jeanie and Shawn are there now as effectively, I requested Jeanie if they might decide me up from the airport if I used to be in a position to go. She preferred the concept 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 drawback with utilizing a buddy go is that you do not have a confirmed seat. The perfect half is that you do not have to plan forward; you possibly can actually determine proper earlier than the flight if you wish to be listed for standby. It is form of enjoyable to make use of for last-minute journeys!Â
Sadly, Delta does not fly straight into Hilton Head anymore, so I would should fly into Savannah. And there aren’t direct flights from Detroit to Savannah, so Brian mentioned 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 trying increasingly full. By Wednesday night time, Brian mentioned that he was very assured that I’d *not* make it on the flight (that means there weren’t many open seats and the listing of standby passengers was lengthy).
On Thursday, Brian mentioned every little thing was trying okay for the primary flight (5:20 am) on Friday. The issue was that flights from Atlanta to Savannah have been full for all the 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 seemingly get caught in Atlanta.
I understand that is all complicated, haha. Anyway, I made a decision to go for it–Brian mentioned 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.
After I acquired to the gate, I nervously watched the app, seeing my identify means on the backside of the listing. Because the flight crammed up, among the standby passengers got seat assignments. Primarily based on the variety of seats open and the variety of folks on the listing, it began to seem like I may not make it. Nonetheless, issues change proper up till the final second.
Finally, I used to be third on the standby listing. And there was solely ONE seat open. I seen that the 2 folks forward of me have been seemingly 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 truly gave me a seat project after which the second my identify got here from her mouth, a flight attendant got here out and mentioned that there was another open seat… so there have been truly TWO accessible. And naturally, the couple on the listing 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 start out serious about going someplace else, although. I’ll take a spontaneous journey quickly 🙂
