After 4 days in Amsterdam and a busy 3 weeks I was really looking forward to getting home on Thursday evening.
I arrived at the airport in good time, only to be told that all flights had been cancelled! Well, anyone that has experienced this knows all of the emotions that hit you at this point. First, anger and rage are immediate but rationale kicks in to look for the ‘best option’.
I stood in a queue with hundreds of other bewildered passengers waiting for news.
For 4.5 hours, I waited and waited, getting no-where fast! Small things started to annoy me, I was losing patience and felt helpless.
With still 150 people still ahead of me, a member of the airline finally arrived but only to hand out meal vouchers! I asked what the options were to get home and it was looking like Sunday / Monday at best. All the local hotels were fully booked, as you’d expect, and the flights were getting further and further away.
I didn’t want to stay in Amsterdam, on my own, for another 3 days – It might have been different if I was there with someone!
I called my Sister and asked her to check things out for me as it’s easier sat at home with a cup of coffee than it is balancing a laptop on your knees, trying to connect with the, seemingly, slowest wifi in the world.
The results were in: It looks like a long wait with no flights available. I didn’t want to wait, I wanted to get home and see my family, relax and get back in the gym.
We then explored the train routes and, although the first train from Amsterdam to Brussels was not until 06:08 Friday morning, it was shaping up to be a better option and I booked that train straight away. I’d have to spend a night at the airport, which, I must admit, I didn’t like the idea of.
Trudi (my Sister) booked the Euro Tunnel from Brussels to Southampton airport and I had my route sorted – I’d be home by 3pm on Friday afternoon. Now I was feeling positive, I had a plan and I felt in control again. I just had 8 hours in an airport to get through!
2 films, and 3 pints later, it was 4am – only a couple of hours to go. Phone fully charged, ready to move!
I got on the train and relaxed, with 3 hours and no changes to make I had time to catch up on some rest. Before I realised it, we had passed through Antwerp and were well on our way. Brussels was easy enough although a slight problem getting my ticket printed, soon I was sat waiting for the train to London.
For the first time I realised that, emotionally, I was tired and slightly edgy! Someone at the port laughed, a few times, and I found him very, very annoying! Time for some food and a coffee.
After getting to Southampton, I picked up my car and I was on my final leg to home. It felt great to have been in a position, where I had no control and was at the mercy of the airlines, and by changing a few things, I was in control and got home 2-3 days earlier than I would have.
I actually enjoyed the feeling of doing something and taking control instead of joining the majority of people who stood and moaned about the situation. They are probably still in Amsterdam….
It’s sometimes like that in businesses I visit. People moan about the company, their boss, the culture, processes, procedures but really don’t want to do much about it. They want to moan, they feel good moaning, and they know, if they moan enough, they can influence other people to join in.
Then you have others that don’t moan much but may express their discontent. They get on and look for solutions and fix or improve things.
What do you find yourself moaning about? How can you fix or improve it?