Flight Anxiety: Making the Connecting Flight
If you’re a traveler like me, you are constantly comparing flights through the various airline sites. At one point a few years before the pandemic, I would wake up in the middle of the night mid-week to search for deals. The good news is, that I am getting better at planning my trips more than a few days in advance, so there is less of this middle-of-the-night behavior. I also have a little more money. Adulting.
Nowadays, Priceline has my travel in a chokehold. It is my go-to site to look for deals. The deals seem to reside in the connecting flights vs. direct flights, especially since I currently do not live in a major city where a major airline has a hub.
Deep. Ass. Sigh.
In May, I caught a few flights. By a few, eleven flights. My mind and body are used to the travel, but let me tell you what will interrupt your travel zen: Bad Weather x Flight Connections. Oh. My. God.
As a result of these mini tsunamis that wanted to show up and show out in May of 2022, the following experiences became my own:
I missed watching my Godson’s Mother walk across the graduation stage in person. I wanted to yell loudly and be ‘that’ person. It’s one of my favorite past times. I was put up in a nice hotel for the night though. It helped me push through my sadness. (Congratulations Annie!)
I documented the airline crews working under inclement weather conditions, and got emotional in a good way. (No, I didn’t cry.) Instead, I thanked the ones that I came in contact with them twice for their patience. The stillness of watching them work in the pouring rain made me think of Angie and how she would share the details of her long days as an Operations Supervisor for Southwest. I always listened to her stories, but watching them work under the heavy rains made me REALLY see them. I remain grateful.
My sister and I sat on the tarmac of our flight for 90 minutes in Newark, NJ while a storm passed, and landed in Columbus, Ohio with only 97 minutes to get home and get dressed for our childhood friend’s wedding (#hiphipturay), and we arrived ON TIME! I repeat! ON TIME!
I have mastered the art of connecting from flight to flight even if the terminals are completely different (and far) without breaking a sweat.
One thing that bothered me tremendously was watching others become incredibly anxious about making their connecting flight. I know many of you have seen footage of people getting up from their seats as soon as the plane lands and pulls up to the assigned gate. For those of you reading this and realizing that you are one of those people, those that hastily stand up and just… stand. You all actually are stepping on my nerves when you do that.
Let me tell you something…
I realized that many of you that do this are literally being taken over by Connecting Flight Anxiety. A few things that I noticed about y’all:
You believe that standing up immediately as soon as possible (even though you know that the doors are not open and that there are at least 47 people ahead of you that are not concerned about you) will be of value and help get you to your connecting flight faster.
You start to lose control of your breath.
As soon as you find an opportunity to fast-break from the crowd offboarding, you do so, but you don’t pace yourself. You end up sweaty and stressed TF out. It’s horrible to see.
You have a tendency to end up confused while you are running to the other gate. This requires you to ask people around you for assistance which actually delays your ETA to the next gate.
You become a shit show.
I’m not judging you. I’m sharing my concerns.
The reality is, that your connecting flight crew is actually WAITING for you. Here are a few facts:
This is a real text from my airline folks. I felt like you needed a reciept. You’re welcome.
They know that you are coming from a flight that was delayed.
They would prefer that you and the other 50 people that are connecting from a delayed flight make it. They do NOT prefer to put you up in nice hotels at their expense.
Airline companies profit when flights are full. They are waiting for you. Relax.
Travel Shenanigans Lesson: You don’t have to suffer from Connection Flight Anxiety. Please relax.
