We were all upset. It took a few people to start yelling for everybody to do the same. One complains out loud and you get the monkey see monkey do effect. I was nervous and didn’t know where I was going to sleep that night.
At the moment, we associated the people yelling with the smart move. If you yell you get heard, right? The crowd was growing bigger with every second and everybody demanded a way out immediately.
It all started when my flight got delayed. At my second layover, the airport gave me a special pass to make it to my next flight. Since I used frequent flyer miles they made me take tons of layovers.
I took the shortcuts and went through security in no time. I was basically escorted to my terminal. Once there, chaos dominated the scene.
People were not happy. You could see that in their faces, they were desperate to get out of there. Unfortunately, it was not in anybody’s hands to make that happen.
For the last three hours American Airlines had their system down, that meant, no flight could leave. A small terminal full of AA clients and more people kept coming—immediately influenced by our nasty mood.
Clients who were supposed to leave three hours before I arrived were still waiting. There was no chance in hell I was going to make it out of there. Not soon anyway.
You are tired, jetlagged and AA can’t tell you when you’ll be home. You pay for something and got uncertainty. How would you react to something like that?
I don’t know about you, but I was upset, and so was everybody in the terminal. It was not our fault, we woke up early, and were there on time.
The first reaction of the lizard brain is to yell at someone. In this case, yell at the airline representative—because yelling will change the situation. The louder you yell the faster you’ll be home.
I know, as stupid as it sounds I wanted to yell along. I freaked out. Where the hell was I suppose to sleep that night? I had two more flights before home, how am I going to get to my final destination? Crap.
Representatives were going crazy explaining the situation. I might have heard the same story like 50 times. But no matter how calm the guys at AA explained what happened with the system, customers were upset, and it’s understandable.
Even though the angrier fellows were leading us to yell our way out, I realized everybody there was following the wrong leaders.
You can’t react because you feel like it. You can’t just take a loan and buy a Ferrari because you feel like getting one today. Every action brings consequences. You’ll have to pay it back eventually with interests…
Shit happens and sometimes is nobody’s fault.
With a terminal full of desperate people, it’s hard to concentrate. I kept walking like a dumb head from side to side. Should I call AA and reschedule? I did, the waiting was 45 minutes to an hour. Forget about that. I kept walking.
I read personal development every day. Hopefully, when I need it the most I can focus enough to apply what I learned. But during chaos, staying calm is harder than you think.
It took me three hours to realize I was tired of walking up and down the terminal without much progress. I finally sat down. I needed to calm down and think smartly. I prayed as well.
Now, fully aware of my natural instincts and not letting them take over myself, I thought I’m not paying a hotel because I need my money for other stuff, which means I’m sleeping at the airport.
I’ve done it many times. Wrapped the violin around my waist and slept hugging it. Not so comfy but it’s an essential move for a travel hacker.
I remembered having some friends in that city but I hate to ask for favors, especially with so short notice.
On the meantime, I examined my options. I was calm, it felt so good. I was again part of the top species on Earth; I was human again, not a lizard.
After a while the system came up and the people who had been waiting for hours finally departed. Many flights got cancelled and mine was among those.
As I declared my defeated case, I thought of something. What if they have a flight to my final destination from here? I checked the board and yes indeed! I planned to stand around during their boarding time and explain my situation.
There is always one seat available, I thought.
Things settled a little, many flights had left and there were less people in the terminal.
I know representatives can book you on another flight, but only if they feel like helping. I said to one of them:
“Can I ask you a friendly question?” She smiled and I knew that if there was a chance on getting on that flight, the word friendly have gotten me it. (Everybody has questions but only a few have “friendly questions”)
She booked me.
I’m sleeping in my bed tonight, YES!
I would still be rambling from side to side if I had not stopped.
In times of crisis you must be alert. Put it together and relax, calm, breathe. Controlling chaos it’s not easy—it’s really hard—but to find a smart solution you need to be in your best condition, mentally.
Don’t wait three hours like I did. Staying in control will give you a direct flight to success.
For the Empire!
CESAR AVILES