Life on the road can undo the best-laid plans

It is a horrible rule of travelling that when plans go wrong, they do so spectacularly. Recently I was flying long haul across the Pacific to Asia when, even before we'd left the gate, the aircraft "went tech". In other words, it broke down and the flight was cancelled. Because I was not on the West Coast where there were plenty of options for transfers or different airlines, I was stranded for 24 hours until they could re-route me. I lost crucial interviews and my schedule was in tatters. My travels unravelled like a woolly sweater caught on a nail.

This got me thinking about the sorts of things we need to remember when travelling. Firstly, it can go wrong, badly wrong. In the old days we would always arrange to leave a couple of days in advance in order to allow for mishaps, jet lag and lost luggage.

Not today. Now we cut things so tight that we are barely off the plane, on the phone and into our first meeting. In this environment it is inevitable that your stress levels go through the roof at the first announcement of "ladies and gentlemen, we seem to have a problem". So instead, when you hear those words, immediately start weighing up your options on how you can get out of the airport as quickly as possible. Don't wait for the flight to be cancelled or help from the airline.

From now on you're on your own. This might involve calling your corporate travel agent to find out other flight schedules, or perhaps using your own knowledge of carriers and potential re-routing options. If bad weather is the problem do your best to ‘get out of dodge fast'. So long as you are still going in the right direction any progress is good progress.

And although there is a spirit of camaraderie, remember that your fellow travellers are not your friends. They are your competitors for that last seat on the flight going where you want to go. By all means share a laugh and a joke, but if you see someone surreptitiously talking on the phone, you can bet they are securing their seat on the lifeboat.

Last week it was fascinating to watch - an entire first class lounge of experienced travellers battling to get across the Pacific - one woman, clearly head and shoulders more experienced than the rest of us, got a brilliant connection to San Francisco and the last seat to Hong Kong. She didn't wait for the airline or anyone else to come to her aid.

You have to be prepared to spend your own money and possibly not get it back from the defaulting carrier. So be it. If you are going to argue about who pays for the new ticket, you are going to be the last one to be looked after.

Before you start your journey warn your colleagues or clients on the other side that "this is going to be a close call which could go wrong". Always tell your client "it's a long shot", and possibly ask, "what's the backup plan if my flight is delayed or cancelled?" They may say there isn't one - but at least they know the risks you are running.

Finally, recognise when the game is up and you have been beaten. If there is widespread weather disruption across several airlines and the carrier still has your baggage, and long queues at all the help desks, then you must face the fact that you are probably not going to get very far at all on that particular day.

But when beaten, make the most of it. Tell everyone on the other side the bad news and then do something for yourself. Relish the fact you have some spare time in a city you hadn't expected to be in and go out for a nice meal.

Make some new friends, perhaps with those other stranded passengers. But then don't forget to be prepared to beat them the next morning in the great game of ‘life on the road'.

Richard Quest is a CNN anchor and hosts CNN Business Traveller and hour-long show Quest.

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READERS' COMMENTS

When travelling plans go wrong.
Posted by Hombil, Muscat, Oman on Thursday 28 June 2007 at 10:00 UAE time


I would like to add to Richard's well written article - always have a travel insurance, which includes cover for your losses due to cancellation of flights.

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