Finding Peace in Turbulent Times: Lessons from a Journey Interrupted

It's July 19th, 2024, the last day before a well-deserved break. My phone keeps buzzing with messages. It turns out, that there's been a global IT Outage causing disruptions since the previous night. And guess what? I have flights to catch. The advice is to delay your journey if possible. But here's the catch—with two transits on different airlines, that wasn't an option. It was a test of patience and adaptability.

I arrive at the Airport. It's not as dreadful as I imagined, but the queues seem never-ending. Surprisingly, there are actual human beings assisting passengers and travelers. It's a sight I haven't seen in ages! Of course, as expected, travelers shouting at them, as if they were the cause of the IT Outage.

Here's a snippet of the conversation I witnessed:

? Agent: "I'm afraid your flight has been canceled and rescheduled for tomorrow. We apologise for the inconvenience."

? Unfortunate traveler: "What??? How??? What am I supposed to do now? Who's going to reimburse my transport fees??? Where will I stay in the meantime, etc....????"

? Agent: "Your flight has been canceled and rescheduled for tomorrow. You'll need to come back then."

? Unfortunate traveler: "This is outrageous!!! Scandalous!!! Blablabla...ous! You'll be hearing from us! I'm going to complain! and blablabla and blablala..!!!."

Sometimes, I wonder what people are thinking. As an elder back home would say, “No matter how your anger boils, it cannot cook a yam.” Is this the point where the human agent would have preferred an AI agent to handle the situation? Not because it would have been better equipped, but at least the AI wouldn't have to cope with people's anger—assuming it wasn't affected by the global IT outage. You could probably prompt it to "repeat same answer" at each question.

The boarding pass and luggage systems are down, adding to the chaos. But hey, I'm keeping my cool. It's Friday evening, and it's vacation time! I need to talk to an agent.

Finally, I managed to check-in. The flight is still on but with inevitable delays. After hours of waiting, we finally boarded. We're almost there!

And then we wait for hours for authorization to take off. (My brain: 'Are the air traffic controls even working? What's the contingency plan in place? Yes, I actually said Disaster Recovery Plan! Why are so many people talking to the pilot? Maybe traveling during a global IT outage wasn't the smartest idea?' Me: 'Don't even think about it!') Eventually, we take off and land safely.

Yes, we made it! Well, at least we did, but our luggage didn't. I mean, none of the luggage. The thing is, I'm not even remotely at my final destination yet. I have two more days in the air... But hey, I'm keeping my cool. It's almost Saturday, the first day of my holiday!

At my final destination, the resort staff kept calling the airport to inquire about my luggage. I must admit, I was impressed. I would occasionally check on it, too. People at the resort kept asking me how I could stay so calm. They were amazed at my composure, especially considering the inconvenience I was facing. It was a good opportunity to share my perspective on the situation and the importance of staying calm in such circumstances.

Well, what do they expect me to do? No one seemed to know where my suitcase was. There are more critical things to worry about. Plus, I'm in a resort, on holiday to relax, not to stress about a suitcase.

There's a happy ending! Not that I was ever in distress. Six days later, my suitcase finally arrived in the other part of the world. I'd never been so thrilled to see a box of clothes, although I had already bought a week's worth of clothing and traveler's essentials. My brain: 'Excess baggage, that is ????????!' Me: 'Let's worry about that later'.

Keep your cool and your calm! There's no point in worrying about something you can't control! Always have a spare change of clothes—no, I take that back—a spare set of clothes in your hand luggage. And it's always a good idea to travel with one— or two—credit cards! These are not just tips; they are your secret weapons for a smooth journey.

As African wisdom says, "Worry does not take away tomorrow's troubles; it takes away today's peace." This emphasizes that worrying, especially about things we cannot control, diminishes our well-being without improving future outcomes. The key is to focus on the present and what is within our control, maintaining a sense of balance and calm.

Kassira Y.

Note:

1. These are my thoughts and perspectives. Article assisted by AI for proofreading.
2. This is my personal profile, and I do not speak on behalf of any affiliated organisations unless specified.