Never Stand In Line Again

You know the scene. You’re waiting for a flight that has already been delayed three times due to a non-descript maintenance issue, and the time for departure is quickly approaching. With no evidence to suggest that the flight will actually leave, you notice a line forming in front of the gate agents, and a mass of people who are quickly gathering their belongings to join them. Now you are left with a choice. Do you sit there and wait for a flight that might be canceled or do you join them in line to secure your spot on another plane. The answer is neither…

Your logic is not far off, but there are better options. Number one, typically any agent whether they are working at your gate or not can help you with your issue. If they are moving passengers to another plane at your gate, they can do it from another gate as well. The other nice thing about this is that the agents not manning the gate with 30 angry passengers in front of them will normally take the liberty to do things for you that their unfortunate counterparts will not do for others. Case in point, I was recently waiting for a plane to Los Angeles when this exact scenario arose. Knowing that I would receive faster service from another gate, I stepped to the one next to it and asked the gate agent to help me. By this point I had already purchased (with points) a free upgrade on the flight I was booked on. READ THIS CAREFULLY:

I asked him to secure me (or book me) for the next flight out to Los Angeles, but allow me to keep my seat on this flight just in case it goes.

He gave me a First Class seat on the next flight (which he should not have done without charging me for the upgrade, which he didn’t), and I was also allowed the option to stay and see if this one left as scheduled. It did not and I enjoyed my First Class seat for free.

Your other option is just at your fingertips. If you have a cell phone, which most people do, you can call the phone number for your air carrier and the agent on the phone can do the same thing. I find that they are more likely to stick to the rule book when securing you on the next flight, but they can do everything I mentioned above for you.

To conclude, it pays to stop and think before you jump into a line that appears to be your only option. You may get varying results depending on the size of the airport or even the mood of the agents you are working with. If you have choices, go to one that’s smiling and don’t forget to smile back. Happy travels.