:: travellingcari.com ::

By now I should know better than to fly from Newark on a Friday evening, but it was the best option for this weekend’s trip. This Friday was unfortunately a craptastic weather/traffic day. I knew Flight 2899 was delayed until at least 10pm so wasn’t too stressed when I didn’t make it to the airport itself until 7pm. It was my first time parking in the economy lots but found the shuttle easy and convenient. I was at Terminal C and checked in (I love electronic check in when you’re not checking a bag) by 7:30 and I went to the monitors. 11pm. Ugh. I spotted a flight to Syracuse that was scheduled to leave at 9p so I got through security as quickly as I could and headed for that gate.

I mentioned that I was booked on the ROC flight (gate agent’s comment… “Oh, good luck. The 5PM was cancelled and if that gets any more delayed it won’t make it in before ROC closes.”) and asked about the standby options. She told me there were only two seats available and that there were already 9 people on the wait list, but I was free to hang out. I lurked at the counter for  ~30 minutes and was rewarded when, about 10 minutes before the flight was scheduled to to go she scribbled on my boarding pass. Yes! It was very good that I made that flight because the ROC flight didn’t go. I’m glad I made graduation and today’s return (SYR->EWR) was uneventful save for traffic on the Jersey Turnpike as I drove home.

I hope this summer’s flights are more like today’s than Fridays.