Airport Purgatory: What I Learned from my Buddy Pass Debacle

{The Four Stages of Airport Rage: Irritation, Contempt, Delusion, Violence}

So this wasn’t quite the debauchery I expected when I set out bright and early, 6am to be exact, on an unseasonably warm February day to travel to Florida to see my good friend Angelica. Like the procrastinator that I am (what can I say, I’m creative) I waited until the very last minute to get my ticket, when airline prices are akin to the price of a Ferrari.

In the clutch, Angelica pulled through with an airport connection and a buddy pass for less than a pair of Sam Edelman’s was delivered. It all seemed so easy and being my first time using a buddy pass, I was seduced by the allure of inexpensive travel. Well when they say “you get what you pay for” they never lied. During a busy holiday season, all the flights were overbooked and a having a buddy pass is a good as used toilet paper in trying to secure a flight.

Needless to say I never made it to Florida and after spending several hours with strangers and florescent lighting, I began to wonder what the lesson in all of this was (aside from never listening to Angelica again).

{Impromptu Photoshoot… Why Not?}

Ain’t No-Half Steppin’

There is something to be said for being a spendthrift and pinching pennies, but in the end you get what you pay for and cutting corners is a surefire way to get burned.

Can’t put a Price Tag on Peace of Mind

When if comes down to shelling out a few bucks for convenience, I’m normally all about it. If trying to save money will cause you unnecessary stress and strife it’s not worth it.

Airports really are the Gateway to Heaven

Being in an airport always reminds me of Love Actually. People watching, I got to see all of the families happy to see their loved ones or sad to see them go. Airports are full of people rushing off to some destination and it felt like being in a different world.

Read the Fine Print

Sure a buddy pass is inexpensive and is technically a plane ticket, however you spend all day waiting for an opening. I’m normally a patient person, but this was an ultimate test. Had I fully understood the circumstances I was entering in to I would have thought twice.

Your Attitude Dictates your Circumstances

In the end, not making it to Florida wasn’t the end of the world. I got to carve out much needed time to work and save money. Clearly there is a silver lining to this debacle.

What experiences do you have where you had a life epiphany?

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