From Me to You (and to Me, too): The Plane Truth
It’s easy to give advice. I think I find it easy to take advice too.
But for me to heed the words that I say to others? Not so easy.
So this one is for both of us.
Here’s how I celebrated my 60th birthday.
After having a fantastic time with old and new friends at the 2024 Marketing Management Association Conference in Santa Fe last week, I stayed one more night so I could have a nice, relaxing day of travel flying back from New Mexico to Chicago.
When I got to the little Santa Fe airport, I realized I didn’t have my wallet. I must have put it in my suitcase. I got to the airport about 90 minutes before departure, so I weighed my options.
The most obvious, look through the suitcase.
But what if it’s not there?
Call the hotel?
But maybe it’s in my suitcase?
I had the boarding pass on my phone (yup, right here in my hand) so do I even need my driver’s license?
But what about the other stuff in my wallet, you know, like credit cards?
Just open the suitcase!
Wait… let me check with TSA to see if I need my license. It’s a small airport and everybody seems so nice.
(clock’s ticking)
“No. Go back to your hotel and get your wallet. You have time and I can’t let you on without it.”
I guess that makes sense. But if I DO have my wallet, I don’t want to pay a cab to go to the hotel and back again.
Am I doing this right?
Okay, I’ll check my suitcase. Oh, here’s a handful of bills I meant to pay while at my conference, and they have my address on them!
But no wallet.
Call the hotel. No wait, check with the TSA lady to see if my bills will prove that I….
“No. Go back to your hotel and get your wallet. But now you better hurry.”
(clock’s ticking)
Call the hotel.
Wait, I’d better see what happens if I don’t get back in time. Is there another way to get home?
Got in the one line to talk to Aran (no relation), the one agent working in this little airport.
But the woman in front of me is having her own connection issues.
And the woman behind me needs immediate attention so she doesn’t miss HER flight.
(clock’s ticking)
I’m going to miss my flight.
Can you get me to Chicago?
Yes (short list of options, quickly decreasing as we speak as seats get filled during our conversation).
“Let me get my supervisor.”
Santa Fe to Dallas to San Diego to Chicago. Thank you Aran and Cole!
How much time do I have?
(clock’s ticking)
I call the hotel. No wallet but they haven’t cleaned my room yet.
I call for a ride. I’ll search the room myself. The driver advises me to turn it into a two-stop ride so he doesn’t get called on another job while I’m in the hotel. Thank you driver!
I call the hotel again and they found my wallet. In my room.
We get to the hotel, thank the driver for waiting, and run my 60-year-old legs into the lobby. Thank you Lilly!
I run back to the car and pass my driver as he’s walking into the hotel. What?!?
“I gotta go to the bathroom!”
(clock’s ticking)
“Oh, man, can you possibly hold it? I’ve got to get back to the airport.”
“I guess so.”
We get back to the airport.
The TSA lady remembers me, takes a quick glance at my license (not even noting my birthday), and I get through security.
Well, that was just the beginning. I made my flight but only had about 20 minutes to get across the massive DFW airport for my flight to San Diego (last one to board!), and about 30 to run a refreshingly shorter distance in San Diego.
And I got home a little after 6 am to find my wife waiting for me, sitting on our porch.
I can’t think of better birthday present than… the present.
And the future looks pretty good too.
So what did we learn, other than avoid trying to climb up the down escalator. That’s a metaphor, I didn’t actually do that in any airports.
Keep your cool. Trust that you’ll find your way and ask for help when you need it.
And remember your wallet.
You can do it. You’ll be glad you did.
(And so will I!)
What do you think?
See you tomorrow!