Passenger Mark
09-13-2004, 09:40 PM
Howdy all,
Well as most of yall know I was scheduled to fly from Los Angeles to London on Friday August 6. The day before, work was nuts trying to get everything done. Stayed up fairly late on Thursday night packing etc. But arose on Friday morning feeling confident and ready to go. I took the pets to the kennel, and made a stop at the bank. Upon returning home the Super Shuttle van was early and waiting on me, so I rushed in the house grabbed the luggage and climbed on board. With all the rushing around, I did not eat anything. Arrived at LAX, and checked in for the flight. Went to the gate, and still felt confident about the flight. Feeling so well that day, I did not take the Ativan. I really wanted to do it without it so I could participate in the complimentary champagne!
I went up to the gate, and saw the plane sitting and waiting. Took a seat to await boarding. My cell phone rang, and it was my office with some last minute problems that I had to deal with. Then an announcement that they wanted everyone waiting on the flight to get up and get in a line to be re-screened! Hmmm, my imagination started to wonder if there had be a threat or problem. So I stood in this long line as they checked each passenger's carry-ons, and ran the metal detection wand over each passenger.
This security event concerned me, an about an hour before boarding I no longer felt the confidence I had felt all day. I also began to physically not feel well. Before, on other flights I have felt anxious, but never felt ill. I decided to take an Ativan, but for me it takes about 1.5 hours to kick in. We boarded the plane about 45 minutes prior to departure. I asked to meet the Captain, but they said that due to security I could not do that.
I found my seat, and waited for the take-off. As I waited I began to feel more ill. Dizzy, sick, etc. I thought... no way I can sit on a plane for 10 hours feeling like this. I got up and found what Virgin Atlantic calls their "Flight Supervisor" aka Head Flight Attendant. I had spoken with her earlier. I told her that I did not feel I could make the flight. She tried to talk me into going, but when I told her I felt ill, she agreed it may be best for me not to go. By this time another supervisor came down the jet-way, and agreed. So minutes prior to the door shutting, I came off the plane.
I could not believe I had done that! Man have I fouled up!!! I called Captain Tom, told him I had gotten off the plane, and he said get back on! NOW! I told him that I did not think that at this point they would let me. They were already getting my luggage off as well. I gave my cell phone to the Flight Supervisor who spoke with Tom, she explained that at this point, it was too late for me to go. That the Captain had already become involved, and he finalized the decision I started! I guess in a way I got to meet the Captain after all!
So I went back up the jet-way, and I could see the plane from the gate. I saw the men open the hatch, and go in the hold to retrieve my luggage (how embarrassing)!
The supervisor I was with told me I could go later that night, but it would be an Airbus, or I could wait and go the next day, on the 747. I elected to wait a day.
Went back to the check-in desk where they re-booked me for the next day. Everyone at Virgin was nice, and very cooperative. Found out that I was not the first to jump off a plane before take-off. They told me that just a day prior the plane came back to the gate to let a nervous flyer off.
Grabbed my new confirmation, luggage, and went downstairs to the ground transport. Now I needed to decide on whether to stay in Los Angeles or go home. I was worried that if I went home, I may just find it easier to stay there. So I went to a hotel about four miles from the airport.
At the hotel I called Lynda, and the first thing I said was sorry, but I promise I will be on that next flight. She was not mad at me, and I was really scared she would be! Lynda was very supportive and said she had no doubt that I would do it!
I spoke with Kelley who was and has been a great inspiration! She said, you will do it tomorrow don't worry.
Then I called Tom again. Uh oh!!!! I have not had one of those talks since I was 16 and wrecked the family car! He was very straight forward with me. We spoke for about an hour as to what was going on.
Then he said... I know your problem Mark... you want a guarantee that nothing is going to happen, and it will be perfect. You don't want to put yourself through the uncertainty. Well.. guess what??? It is not going to happen. No absolute guarantees! So you have to accept that, and go!
That talk with Tom really helped. It kind of threw out all the BS, and got down to the brass tacks of the situation.
I then got out my lap-top and signed in with the board. I saw where Leslie and Vester were tracking me! Now I did feel like crap! The comments were great. So I posted that I had fouled up and was not on the plane. Vester cracked me up because she posted back... "ha ha We are tracking random people on a random plane"! Both of them wrote supportive posts back!
That night I went to bed knowing I would be on Saturday's flight.
Well as most of yall know I was scheduled to fly from Los Angeles to London on Friday August 6. The day before, work was nuts trying to get everything done. Stayed up fairly late on Thursday night packing etc. But arose on Friday morning feeling confident and ready to go. I took the pets to the kennel, and made a stop at the bank. Upon returning home the Super Shuttle van was early and waiting on me, so I rushed in the house grabbed the luggage and climbed on board. With all the rushing around, I did not eat anything. Arrived at LAX, and checked in for the flight. Went to the gate, and still felt confident about the flight. Feeling so well that day, I did not take the Ativan. I really wanted to do it without it so I could participate in the complimentary champagne!
I went up to the gate, and saw the plane sitting and waiting. Took a seat to await boarding. My cell phone rang, and it was my office with some last minute problems that I had to deal with. Then an announcement that they wanted everyone waiting on the flight to get up and get in a line to be re-screened! Hmmm, my imagination started to wonder if there had be a threat or problem. So I stood in this long line as they checked each passenger's carry-ons, and ran the metal detection wand over each passenger.
This security event concerned me, an about an hour before boarding I no longer felt the confidence I had felt all day. I also began to physically not feel well. Before, on other flights I have felt anxious, but never felt ill. I decided to take an Ativan, but for me it takes about 1.5 hours to kick in. We boarded the plane about 45 minutes prior to departure. I asked to meet the Captain, but they said that due to security I could not do that.
I found my seat, and waited for the take-off. As I waited I began to feel more ill. Dizzy, sick, etc. I thought... no way I can sit on a plane for 10 hours feeling like this. I got up and found what Virgin Atlantic calls their "Flight Supervisor" aka Head Flight Attendant. I had spoken with her earlier. I told her that I did not feel I could make the flight. She tried to talk me into going, but when I told her I felt ill, she agreed it may be best for me not to go. By this time another supervisor came down the jet-way, and agreed. So minutes prior to the door shutting, I came off the plane.
I could not believe I had done that! Man have I fouled up!!! I called Captain Tom, told him I had gotten off the plane, and he said get back on! NOW! I told him that I did not think that at this point they would let me. They were already getting my luggage off as well. I gave my cell phone to the Flight Supervisor who spoke with Tom, she explained that at this point, it was too late for me to go. That the Captain had already become involved, and he finalized the decision I started! I guess in a way I got to meet the Captain after all!
So I went back up the jet-way, and I could see the plane from the gate. I saw the men open the hatch, and go in the hold to retrieve my luggage (how embarrassing)!
The supervisor I was with told me I could go later that night, but it would be an Airbus, or I could wait and go the next day, on the 747. I elected to wait a day.
Went back to the check-in desk where they re-booked me for the next day. Everyone at Virgin was nice, and very cooperative. Found out that I was not the first to jump off a plane before take-off. They told me that just a day prior the plane came back to the gate to let a nervous flyer off.
Grabbed my new confirmation, luggage, and went downstairs to the ground transport. Now I needed to decide on whether to stay in Los Angeles or go home. I was worried that if I went home, I may just find it easier to stay there. So I went to a hotel about four miles from the airport.
At the hotel I called Lynda, and the first thing I said was sorry, but I promise I will be on that next flight. She was not mad at me, and I was really scared she would be! Lynda was very supportive and said she had no doubt that I would do it!
I spoke with Kelley who was and has been a great inspiration! She said, you will do it tomorrow don't worry.
Then I called Tom again. Uh oh!!!! I have not had one of those talks since I was 16 and wrecked the family car! He was very straight forward with me. We spoke for about an hour as to what was going on.
Then he said... I know your problem Mark... you want a guarantee that nothing is going to happen, and it will be perfect. You don't want to put yourself through the uncertainty. Well.. guess what??? It is not going to happen. No absolute guarantees! So you have to accept that, and go!
That talk with Tom really helped. It kind of threw out all the BS, and got down to the brass tacks of the situation.
I then got out my lap-top and signed in with the board. I saw where Leslie and Vester were tracking me! Now I did feel like crap! The comments were great. So I posted that I had fouled up and was not on the plane. Vester cracked me up because she posted back... "ha ha We are tracking random people on a random plane"! Both of them wrote supportive posts back!
That night I went to bed knowing I would be on Saturday's flight.