Thoughts from the Traveler

Printed vs. Mobile
Boarding Passes

1. Mobile Boarding passes
These are WAYYYY cooler than the print out version! I will admit that I was skeptical at first. However the technology won me over when my mobile boarding pass alerted me to a gate change for one of my flights!

Note--Mobile boarding passes can only be used at certain airports. Be sure to check on your airlines website for participating airports.





2. Wait for the signs
Unfortunately my high-tech iPhone let me down in the navigation department. We followed its misdirections to take the Mannheim Rd exit, which sounded very familiar to me. This road was quite deceiving though! We could see O'hare but just couldn't quite reach it. Our navigation began taking us in a distant circle around the airport which ended at Korean Air Cargo. Wrong way? I'd say so.

How could it be this difficult to get to the departure terminals? 
Wasn't this an INTERNATIONAL airport accessed by millions of people? *Sighs*

After passing Korean Air Cargo we made the executive decision to make a u-turn. We were two smart girls with strong directional senses. (Not to mention the desire to see my boyfriend would provide crazy mad woman serious motivation--even if that meant hopping fences at 4am.)

We came back to a fork that forced us to get back on the interstate. While we were still feeling lost we followed three cars going west and crossed our fingers. Sure enough as soon as we got back onto I-90 we saw huge bright blue signs with detailed instructions to get to the terminals!

Wow, so we just took an exit too soon??

3. Security Round Two
In every airport that I've had to make a connection I usually just walk to the next terminal over or hop on a fancy train at the the larger airports. It always seems like a daunting task but ends up being so simple! (Usually that is...)

When I landed in New York, I was dying for some breakfast and a coffee! I almost stopped at Starbucks but then felt the need to navigate my way to my new terminal first. Good thing I did because New York's LaGuardia airport makes you go through security again!! Yikes---can you imagine if my layover had been less than an hour or if I already had my venti coffee in hand?

4. Out of My Control
It is no secret that I like to be in control and struggle with giving that up to others. This does not make for a good scenario then when I see large dark clouds, rain hitting the window, and a shaking plane from turbulence! Well this was my exact situation on the flight to New York. In fact there was a few points where I couldn't see anything out my window--including the wing that was right next to me! However I believe that God used that experience to continue teaching me that He is the one in control and that I need to give everything up to him. 

LET'S RECAP:

1. Do not be afraid of the mobile boarding passes. They are fantastic!

2. If you are going to a popular and highly accessed location, just wait for the signs! They won't let you down like your GPS probably will. 

3. Never dilly-dally or buy drinks until you get to your new terminal gate!

Layover snack!

4. Keep calm and pray on!

XOXO Alexa