How My Flight Delay Saved Mothers’ Day

Sometimes award flight availability dictates your options and, therefore, choices. While traveling on a student budget, I need to take the options as they are. Sometimes they work out perfectly, and sometimes less so, but my flight delay saved mothers’ day on a recent trip to Africa.

Here is the story of what happened:

The Original Flight

Since I was planning my trip to East Africa only a few months in advance, I had limited options in terms of routing. Since flying to Africa, particularly Kenya would require one, if not multiple long-haul flights, my goal was to fly business class, especially since I would be flying alone. 

I had a strict arrival deadline in Kenya since I had booked my stay at the JW Marriott Masai Mara a few months prior, and that stay was not flexible. This meant I had to leave Sunday night at the latest to make the safari. However, ideally, I would depart earlier to create a buffer before my safari.

After looking at availability, my only option was to fly Saturday night if I wanted to fly in business, as options were quite limited. This was after returning home from school on Friday, but unfortunately, I would miss Mother’s Day the following day on Sunday.

After discussing the options with my mother, including flying in economy on Sunday, which I was happy to do for my mom, she agreed that it would be best for me to depart on Saturday. We arranged plans to celebrate how truly amazing of a mother she is on another day, a happy solution.

How My Flight Delay Saved Mothers’ Day

Saturday morning, 7 or 8 hours before my flight to Lagos was scheduled to take off, I received an email from United informing me that my flight had been delayed 12 hours due to a mechanical issue with the incoming aircraft. This meant that I would have misconnected in Lagos and had to spend the night in the airport, no thanks. 

In search of other options, I called United. Quickly, the agent suggested a flight via Frankfurt on United and Lufthansa. Perfect. 

However, with the new routing being quicker to Kenya than before due to only needing two flights, IAD-FRA-NBO instead of IAD-LOS-ADD-NBO, the entire itinerary would be about 8 hours shorter. I questioned if it was possible to fly the following evening, on Sunday, instead. 

It was possible, but it was also possible for me to fly on my first 747. Amazing! Unfortunately, I got downgraded on my way to Frankfurt, which is another story.

This meant I could quickly pack a bag and jump in the car with my family, who were on the way to my grandmother’s house for Mother’s Day. I got to spend Mother’s Day with my mother and grandmother before departing for Frankfurt on Sunday.

The Last Point

Sometimes delayed flights come as a significant inconvenience. However, this delay helped, and my flight delay saved Mothers’ Day. My mom was happy with the outcome!