Travel Alignment

Yet again, I'm amazed about my good luck traveling - at least this time. I'm on a flight from Boston to NYC that I thought I was going to miss. I had driven into work this morning for some meetings and to get work done before my 1 PM flight. My plan was to leave at 11:30 to give me travel time and give me some contigency for what ifs. The weather is rainy and poor, I was leaving during lunchtime traffic, parking headaches at Logan (they've been running out of spaces in central garage and you get kicked to satellite lots which adds a half hour), security lines, and after last time, incomplete ticket bookings. 

I'm giving direction to some staff when I glance at the clock and see it's 11:45!  I hoof it to my desk and scramble to grab necessary papers and shut my computer down since IT has to work on it - and I have a lot of things open. I fly out the door, hoping no one parked behind me in the temporary work spot we have (tandem parking), which would block me in and take time to hunt them down to move their car. 

I race to the airport, minimal traffic, but tons of rain.  So far so good.

I get to central parking and there are signs that it is full and you will be redirected. Oops

I follow the half dozen attendants directing us through the maze set up in the garage and end up parking in the central garage.  So far so good.

I jog to terminal A and get my ticket.  No problem

Security line doesn't exist and I breeze through. Looking good.

I swing by a Legal Seafood and have time to order some lunch to go.  Looking good.

I'm sitting down for a breather at my gate to enjoy my lunch before my flight. Life is good.

And it's only 12:15!  I really love having the airport so close to work. 

And then the desk attendant announces the option for people on the 1 PM flight of boarding the earlier flight.  How sweet is that?!  I walk straight on and grab a seat. 

And that was where I was going to end my story.  Of course mentioning how I was dubious how long I could keep this good streak up considering I'm catching the last flight back to boston tonight and 1) that has never gone well for me when flying out of laguardia and 2) it's a rainy, foggy day that will probably delay flights even more. And I have an 8 am tomorrow so no sleeping in. Ugh. 

Well it looks like the run is done as I sit here on runway waiting to take off. The announcement said there is a line and we're scheduled to take off at 1:05. Which is in 30 minutes. Not looking promising, especially for tonight's flight. 

But I'm good for now. I've got my lunch, a good book, a bunch of work and my meeting isn't until 6 PM (I'm literally flying to NYC for dinner - crazy! - it's a work thing), so no rush on my end.  I can relax and enjoy my afternoon. And hope for the best tonight. 

UPDATE:

You won't believe this. So I booked the last flight back in the evening which was at 9 PM.  It was a bit on the early side and might cut my discussions over dinner short. So when I got a message mid-afternoon that my flight was delayed until 9:50 PM I thought this will work out.  I don't have to rush out at dinner and I'll still get in before midnight- barring any further delays. We wrap up dinner a little after 8:30 and I grab a cab to head to Laguardia. 

Fingers crossed the traffic would be good and it was fairly smooth sailing. As an added bonus the driver was listening to WNYC and the Moth was on. It was a very enjoyable ride and I figured I had a little cushion of time and could finally enjoy the luxurious waiting area that Terminal A Delta has - big leather comfy chairs, papers and magazines, etc. No line at security which is just for the three shuttle gates. As I'm putting my shoes on I hear, "Boston!?  You better run."  Now I'm a bit confused since I thought I was all good and I'm booking it to the gate in heels.  Turns out that with the weather things have been delayed all afternoon and it was the 8 PM shuttle they were closing the doors on as I board at 9 PM. 

 I literally run on (they let me board the earlier flight). And grab a seat as they shut the door behind me. Isn't that crazy good?  No waiting around for 50 minutes at the gate. No matter how comfy the waiting chairs are, I'll take it. I think this is my third time flying through this terminal and I have yet to sit in one of the seats - always walking straight onto the plane - talk about timing. 

And now I'm experiencing a little déjà vu as I sit and write this. The captain just announced there is a 30 minute wait to take off due to limited runways at Logan - there is a backup. Sounds like I wouldn't make it home to my comfy bed before midnight with my original scheduled flight. 

Not quite done with the day, but all in all a good day and worth the tiredness I'll have tomorrow.  I got into our NY office and spent my entire afternoon in impromptu meetings with key staff. I didn't even have a moment to check email before heading off to my dinner meeting and didn't make it through all the people I should have touched base with. The dinner meeting went well and fingers crossed results in my desired outcome.  

Signing off to enjoy a short nap and hoping I'm in bed in about and hour and a half - we should be taking off soon. And fingers crossed my good luck continues on future trips.