Anger & Friends: 5 Things You Might Feel During A Long Delay
So, in case you hadn't heard, a Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas, Nevada to Baltimore, Maryland took 24 hours. If you are wondering, both of those cities are in the United States. Oh, and also, the flight should have only taken 4.5 hours!! Yes, that is 19.5 MORE hours than the original flight was supposed to take. If you're anything like me, this would have probably angered you. Fortunately, I'm here to walk you (and myself) through anger and 4 other things that might try to overtake you during exceptionally long flight delays.
Anger
This one is obvious. You can not believe that a routine thing has taken such a drastic turn. Are you serious Southwest Airlines?! Are you serious airport?! Are you serious air traffic control? Absolutely not! This is unacceptable. Let me see a supervisor.
Response: Allow yourself to feel a reasonable amount of indignation, but then try to calm down. Vent to friends and/or on social media; Breathe deeply; Meditate; Listen to music; Take a walk around the airport; Just don't keep complaining to the employees because they don't want to hear that s*it repeatedly and their indifference will anger you further. Trust me on this one.
Denial
At some point you will start to doubt that the long delay is real. An inner voice will tell you, "It can't reeeeallly be 19 hours." You'll try to convince yourself that the airline is overestimating the delay so the passengers will be delightfully joyed when the flight leaves earlier. Better over than under, right?
Response: Let yourself live in denial if that helps you get through the delay. However, if you become delusional and try to board a completely separate flight without a proper boarding pass, snap yourself out of it. Don't be that person. Denial that lead to delusions are not good. Ever.
Suspicion:
You will undoubtedly think that the employees know more than they are telling you. You will think that their given reasons for the flight delay are untrue. Other passengers will also become suspicious to you. Why are they queuing? Are they privy to information that you aren't? Did that guy get a voucher? Oh, hell no!
Response: You may or may not be correct about all of your suspicions. The employees probably are telling half-truths with their "need-to-know basis" selves. That guy probably did get a voucher. Or maybe none of it is true. Either way, its best to stay in your lane and try not to think about everyone else's ulterior motives.
Sadness:
After a few hours of waiting with no departure on the horizon, you will start to feel sadness. Your phone battery is down to 15% and people are hogging the outlets. How will you call your airport pickup? You've already spent 85% of your allotted food and beverage money and you haven't left the airport yet. Man, a hug or some kind of pick-me up would surely be good for your heart right now. Sigh. These are all strangers and hugging them might be weird so you sulk.
Response: DO NOT cry in front of everyone. If you do, everyone will know you as the weirdo that burst into tears for no apparent reason. You literally could be "the cryer" for the next 15-20 hours. Don't do that to yourself. Please. Bright side: you may end up with an empty seat next to you because no will want to sit next to "the cryer." But, seriously, if you feel the urge to cry, go the restroom. You have time.
Acceptance:
Ah, acceptance is a beautiful thing. It is a (bittersweet) reality that hits you when you realize it is what it is. The flight isn't leaving and neither are you. And that is ok. The universe works in mysterious ways. You are exactly where you are supposed to be in that moment of time. Yes after thinking and/or muttering these adages to yourself, acceptance finally hits you and you are as ok as can be with the situation even if it is hour seven.
Response: Wallow in the acceptance. As I stated above, it is truly a beautiful thing. 😊😊
Bonus tip: Try to rest during your 19 hour delay. You will need all the reserve energy you can muster when you get to your destination because you'll already be behind schedule.
Hopefully, this has been as helpful to you as it was to me. If/when delayed, reading this post should help us all remain clear sighted as we wade our way through the different emotions of a long interruption in our travel plans.
-FLI