Were all aware that just like life, travel
isnt perfect. As a matter of fact, it can be downright stressful at times.
Cancelled flights, late hotel check-ins, long security lines, a disappointed
room location, losing luggage and juggling the needs of travel companions and
family can seem overwhelming.?
And while we see many travelers react to these situations in
an ugly way, I can guarantee that your attitude and approach to handling the
problem at your end will bring a lot more benefits if you take a deep breath
and practice civility and understanding.
First of all, getting your blood pressure up isnt good from
a health perspective. Neither is staying in a negative space that does nothing
but breed more negative vibes. A positive, upbeat attitude is key to combatting
difficult situations.
As a frequent
traveler, Im well aware, that my travel experience isnt always going to
rank a 10 out of 10. And the more you travel, the more you increase the chance
of something going wrong. You may not be able to control the situation, but you
can certainly control how you react to it. And reacting properly can pay big
dividends.
I was on my way back to my hometown from an overseas trip a few years ago when my late evening flight from Houston to San Diego was cancelled. My hubby,
who had been traveling on military orders only had two days in between another
trip where he would be gone for a month. So, getting home was important to both
of us.
As I was standing in line to explore my options, a red-faced
gentleman in front of me was pacing, cursing and using a threatening tone to
the desk agent. Obviously, the flight cancellation wasnt her fault.?
When told there no other options available, he became even
angrier and stormed off. When it was my turn at the desk, I told the agent I
was sorry she had to deal with situations like this, calmly described my
situation and inquired if there was any way I could get on a plane that
evening, even if it was another airline. The next thing I knew, I was holding a
first-class ticket with the comment, Thank your husband for his service and
enjoy your time together. And yes, I enjoyed that complimentary glass of
champagne on the plane.
On a Delta flight, a family of four with two little children
werent able to get seats together. The head flight attendant asked if anyone
was willing to give up their seat. Before I had a chance to hit my call button,
a gentleman in front of me said hed gladly trade seats. The family and flight
attendant were happy, and the gentleman was later bumped to a prime business
class seat which I'm certain made him happy.
Agents and airline staff are far more likely to go the extra
mile to help solve a problem when you are kind, courteous and understanding. Ive
seen this proven time and time again.
Though being nice and courteous wont always get you a seat
bump-up or moved to first class, it just might make someones day and give you
a warm feeling inside. Here are a few small ways to show kindness when you
travel.
- Thank a TSA agent for the work they do. They
hear a lot of complaints, but not enough nice words.
- Ask a flight attendant how his/her day is going.
Say please and thank you when being served. Those little rules we learned
in kindergarten still apply throughout life.
- Help an elderly traveler get that bag lifted to
the overhead bin and offer to retrieve it when the flight parks at the gate.
- If a mom is struggling to keep her little ones
under control, offer your assistance. Just letting a young girl play with my
bracelet for a while helped calm a recent stressful situation.
- Dont forget to tip your bellman or housekeeping
staff. They work hard and dont make much money, so your thoughtfulness helps.
And youll feel better doing it.
- And most important of all C smile often. Its
universally disarming, especially in unfamiliar places.
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