Just need to vent: Airline canceled my trip

[Tink-aholic]

Hi all. I am just here to let it out a little. I am not angry...I am just bummed that it worked out the way it did.

Almost a year and half ago, my son's high school marching band found out that they were invited to march in yesterday's Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California. Since then, the whole town has been excitedly working to raise money to send the kids. I also made plans to go with them as a follower (not a chaperone).

We live in New England, and had a blizzard here last Sunday night/Monday morning. It was over in this area by about noon and we ended up with approximately 4 inches of snow. We are accustomed to dealing with significantly more snow than that on a regular basis, so it never occurred to me that it might cause a problem with our Tuesday flights.

I got a text message about 8PM on Monday night stating that my flight has been canceled and they are trying to rebook us. Luckily, my son is on another airline, so his flight is okay. In fact, the band is taking a total of three planes on three different airlines, all leaving from the same airport and at the same approximate time we were planning to leave. Yet my airline was the only one to cancel. Apparently, my airline canceled far more flights than any other airline that day.

I try to call the airline, and the wait time is estimated over three hours. I leave my number for a call back and figure they will just put me on a plane the following day and cut my trip short by a day. However, when the airline calls back, the earliest flight they can get me on is 3:30PM on FRIDAY. My original flight was 6AM Tuesday, and they are offering 3:30PM Friday. It would have arrived 12:30AM yesterday...and I needed to meet the bus for the parade at 4:30AM. My flight back home would have begun this morning at 7AM. I declined their offer and allowed them to refund my ticket.

So, I am out a lot of money for the parade ticket (almost $250), and I feel like I missed so much. I have never been to Disneyland; I missed the band marching in a parade there, too. I also had tickets to Bandfest, which is an exhibition of all the bands playing in the parade.

Logically, I am grateful it worked out the way it did. It is SO much better that MY plane was canceled rather than one that the band was on. Also, I am a teacher and had this week off anyway...can you imagine if someone had only one week off a year and had this happen?

But I am sad that I was looking forward to this for so long and I didn't get to go. Unpacking your suitcase after coming home is lousy, but unpacking when you don't go at all SUCKS. We gave each other gifts of things we could use on the plane and in California for Christmas, too. I also told everybody at work that I was going, so I'm sure I am going to have to repeat myself many times tomorrow when well-meaning co-workers ask me about my trip.

I have been living vicariously through the videos and photos posted on our band website, and it is far more sweet than bitter. My son is coming home today and I'm sure he'll be exhausted, but I can't wait to hear all about it.

I know I am just feeling sorry for myself. There are so many other people out there with real problems that mine is nothing compared to theirs. I am aware of that. I just need to tweak my perspective a little bit, and maybe start making plans for something else.

After all, there is always something to look forward to, right?

 

[DVCBELLE]

I am so sorry - that really does suck!! I don't really have anything else to say!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

That really is a bummer.

 

[Swimalie]

I'm so sorry. As a former band member who loves to watch the bands and who was in 2 Bowl games (Peach now Chick Fil A and Freedom, now defunct) I couldn't imagine if I was worried about a parent not making it.

 

[kyra's mommy]

Oh, that is so sad. I'm really sorry. Sure, plenty of people have serious problems these days but ofcourse you're upset. Anyone would be heartbroken if they had missed out on such a great experience when they were packed, paid up and ready to go. I feel terrible for you.

 

[SILLYANDI]

What a bummer. Being from So Cal we take all the hoopla for granted but it really is worth seeing at least once. I would be really sad too.

When something like this happens to me I take the time to find the gifts in it. Something a nurse taught me when I was hospitalized for 20 weeks trying to keep my baby alive. Everything, no matter how bad, has a hidden gift in it. Maybe it's that your son still got to go, or you get the airline $$ refunded so you have more money for the next Disney trip..

 

[robinb]

What color does your band wear? We were at yesterday's parade and I can check my DH's photos. He took a LOT of pictures.

 

[Kelrykengab]

I am so sorry. This must have been sooo dissapointing for many reasons. I hope your son had an amazing experience though and that you can enjoy his stories. Maybe there will be a next year?

 

[Tink-aholic]

Thanks for all of the kind comments.

I agree that there are things to be appreciated in this, and I am so grateful that all of the kids made it. My son and I live alone and my flight was expected to leave before his...it struck me days later that if HIS flight had been canceled last minute, I would not have known until I touched down in California; imagine trying getting a flight back then?!? I know friends and neighbors would have taken him in, but that would have been SO much worse.

Robinb: Did you go to the game, too? Do you know someone on the team? His band is the Londonderry High School Marching Lancer Band. They wore White with red and blue. They also each wore a white ribbon to remember one band member who died suddenly of meningitis this year. Even though they are over 300 members, they are a close-knit group.

Anyway, thank you for letting me let this out. I feel better and can't wait to see him.

 

[robinb]

Robinb: Did you go to the game, too? Do you know someone on the team? His band is the Londonderry High School Marching Lancer Band. They wore White with red and blue. They also each wore a white ribbon to remember one band member who died suddenly of meningitis this year. Even though they are over 300 members, they are a close-knit group.

Yes I did . We took the red-eye home. My DH is napping but I'm trying to make it until bedtime.

I'll look though my photos for your DS's band and get back to you. The death of one of the band members is really sad. Meningitis is so nasty.

 

[tink2dw]

Did you see the Rose Parade on TV?? I recorded It On HGTV commerial free and an another channel with with Al Roker.

I wonder how I could record it and get it to you?? It is on my Tivo box, now. What colors did your son's Band wear??

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Sorry to hear about your canceled trip. I would have been really disappointed, as well.

 

[Tink-aholic]

Did you see the Rose Parade on TV?? I recorded It On HGTV commerial free and an another channel with with Al Roker.

I wonder how I could record it and get it to you?? It is on my Tivo box, now. What colors did your son's Band wear??

I recorded it, too, thanks for the offer, though. And the Al Roker version had a close-up of my son! THAT is something I wouldn't have seen from the stands!

Apparently The Hallmark Channel had a really good blurb about our band and our town and even re-broadcast the parade later in the day (so I could have recorded it, too), but I didn't know about it until later.

 

[Tink-aholic]

Yes I did . We took the red-eye home. My DH is napping but I'm trying to make it until bedtime.

I'll look though my photos for your DS's band and get back to you. The death of one of the band members is really sad. Meningitis is so nasty.

Thank you. I'm glad you had a safe trip home.

 

[Tink-aholic]

Something a little interesting I just had to add...I was clicking around the internet and found the Wikipedia article for the Tournament of Roses Parade. My son's band is the band pictured in the article! This is their fourth time going to the parade (last time was 2004 -- that is when the photo was taken). Just a weird coincidence and something I wasn't expecting to see!

 

[amyy]

I kind of know how you feel. We live in New England too. Tues night we were flying out to Orlando and staying until Sat. Really excited to see the Christmas lights, ring in the New Year etc. Keep checking and our flight is on time. At the airport 40 minute delay, 60 minute delay and eventually cancelled because the pilot would have had to many hours to fly. They couldn't rebook us until 1/1 which is when we were coming home. So frustrating because you couldn't call the airline or find anything out on line. At first we thought we might get to go out Wed on the airplane sitting on the runway.
Enough venting-sorry but I bet you understand. Your story is worse because it involves seeing your son in the parade. Sorry this happen to you.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Vent away! You are entitled to disappointment.

I find in this day and age, there are too many holier than thous that try to make folks feel bad when they get disappointed when there are kids starving in Africa and all that. To me--it is disrespectful of others feelings.

After all that planning, I would be upset as well--but just do your best to roll with the punches. I was really pulling for your son when you posted about all the schedule snafus last week. In my heart of hearts--even if I would be crushed to not go as a parent, I would be further crushed for my child to miss out on something that was so diligently worked for.

I'm sorry you had to miss it all. But that small silver lining--your son made it!



I went many years ago as a teen. I was a spectator, but it was a nice experience. I hope that one day you can make it. Maybe watch it with your son on a mother/son trip.

 

[undertheradar]

Sitting here in SoCal and it is 45 degrees and raining! Quite a contrast from yesterday. Count your blessings and be glad you didn't get stranded part way or here and waiting for return flights, there were thousands of flights canceled last week. On the bright side, your son should have some great stories to share. Sorry you didn't get to go!