When flying, I’ve learnt how important it is to expect the unexpected- after all, it’s the gateway to paradise all while having the power to be truly miserable. During a recent trip home from Atlanta, Georgia, I was stunned to see nearly every flight was backed up due to lightning storms in the South Florida area. For nearly an hour, the airport closed all operations, a decision that began a domino effect that would last for at least a full day as planes struggled to catch up.
One flight leaving that day? A plane to New York with an original departure time of 3:00 PM, only to actually leave the gate a staggering 5 hours later at 8:00 PM. I immediately picked up on the restlessness of the crowd, and even some police officers surfaced by the gate to quell tensions while helping passengers to their intended destinations.
As fights continued to be delayed and tensions flared, the screen showed my plane would not leave until 11:00 PM! People lined up to speak with hard-at-work agents in an attempt to rebook.
Eventually, the call came that my flight was cancelled. Chaos erupted so fast it made my head spin. 12 officers emerged to diffuse the situation, with aggravated passengers creating an angry sea.
There was a small bright spot however- the airline agreed to provide hotel accommodations to non-local passengers like myself despite the problem being weather elsewhere.
My lessons of the day?
1- Atlanta’s airport is home to the greatest amount of air passenger traffic in the world! Truly, the levels of organization on a normal day are incredible. As a lawyer, I’ve often stressed to younger attorneys that the key to success is having a great foundation built upon organization, and this is a great example of how that applies to everyday life.
2- Patience and how to handle the unpredictable are essential skills in the world of travel. When delays like this pop up, you must not give in to frustration that leads to a mob. Instead, make sure you are prepared and know how to relax- eventually, you will reach your destination.
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Michael Vater, Esq., Managing Partner of The Ticktin Law Group, has successfully strategized, argued, and won complex litigation cases across the US and abroad. He has been honored as a ”Super Lawyer” numerous times over the course of his career and will be featured in 2025’s The World’s Best Magazine Edition on Law and Innovation.
