My friend, Keith was flying from Louisiana to Cambodia via MSY, George Bush, SFO, and Incheon, with several layovers along the way.
He planned to spend ten days in Phnom Penh before taking a low-cost carrier to Singapore via Thailand.
Turns out, his layovers were a lot longer than expected.
You see, Keith was supposed to change planes at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
And like many people, Keith fell asleep on the flight from Louisiana to Houston.
But, unlike everybody else on the plane, he woke up and his wallet and plane tickets were gone when the plane landed.
Keith woke up to an empty row, with no overnight bag and no wallet.
Inexplicably, none of the cabin crew or other passengers noticed Keith’s things walking away as he sat alone in a window seat near the rear of the airplane, sound asleep.
No one could help him. And worse, he couldn’t remember if he left his wallet at the bar back at the airport, or had someone pick-pocketed him.
“I searched the plane high and low, but there was nobody who saw anything,” Keith said.
“I was on my own, with 17 days of travel left on my itinerary.”
Keith admits to being a heavy sleeper. He was even sometimes careless and absentminded with his things.
So, he wasn’t surprised that he didn’t wake up while someone pick-pocketed him.
“That’s the norm for me. A little jolt wouldn’t bother me.”
He said his biggest concern was that he would miss his connecting flight. He had a short layover and wasn’t sure if there was enough time.
Thankfully, Keith had everything he needed on his cell phone—credit Cards, eTickets, his ID, etc.
Next, Keith used his cell phone to call the airline and explain the situation with his tickets and ID.
He was told to “Keep your eTicket. We will verify your ID at each layover to confirm it is you.”
Keith called the Airline in Louisiana where he had originally boarded the plane, but he was told that there wasn’t a wallet turned into Lost & Found at the terminal.
Getting frustrated, Keith thought about canceling his plans altogether.
“So many things go through your head and you realize there is so much work to do. I grabbed my phone and dialed the number for American Airlines reservations. I thought: Let’s give them a chance. “
After about 30 minutes of internal debate, Keith made a decision.
He was a member of the airlines’ frequent flyer program. He joined two years ago and had several long-haul flights and status under his belt.
The airline had a copy of his passport on file. Plus he was a member of STEP, the U. S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
A STEP representative said, “We will alert the U.S. Consulates in each country on your itinerary. They will assist you in getting a replacement passport.”
Keith explained that he had a high-resolution copy of his passport bio page and his driver’s license on his phone.
He was able to use that copy to get flared for continued travel.
Unfortunately, Keith missed his connecting flight to SFO and had to spend the night at a hotel near the airport.
The airline apologized for its role in this inconvenience – how often does a person get robbed on a plane?
To compensate Keith, they gave him a $250 voucher and arranged for accommodations in a four-star hotel.
The next day he continued with his flight with assurances that the airline would allow his passport-less travel to his final destination of Cambodia.
Obviously, airline travel is not perfect and has the potential to be downright awful.
In 2022, while U.S. airlines carried 853 million passengers, about 23% of flights were delayed.
That’s over 200 million flights!
And remember the Southwest Airlines debacle during the 2022 holiday season when they canceled thousands of flights?
If we learned anything about air travel since the pandemic, it’s that you can (and should) expect delays and cancellations.
This is why it’s important to be prepared for an unexpected extended stay at the airport – like in Keith’s case.
One good way to prepare is to have a small airport go bag. And here are a few things you want to have in your bag.
Cash:
Cash is crucial, especially if you’re stuck somewhere.
If you’re stranded at an airport, you might need to grab a cab or even hitch a ride from a stranger.
Waving a $50 bill might convince someone to give you a lift to safety.
At the very least, stash $300 in your airport bag, in different denominations, so you can use it for various needs.
Food/Water:
Airports have lots of food spots, but they don’t stay open 24/7.
If your flight’s delayed and you arrive when everything’s closed, you’ll be out of luck if you haven’t eaten.
Pack at least two energy or protein bars with some nutritional value.
Bring a refillable water bottle and consider a small water filter for iffy water situations.
Charger and Power Bank:
Always have your phone charger handy at the airport.
Airport outlets are hard to find, and using them can be risky due to hackers.
Carry a slim, streamlined power bank in case you can’t find an outlet; they’re compact and fit easily in your bag or back pocket.
Tools:
Since guns and knives are a no-go at airports, I always carry an easily concealable tactical pen.
It looks like a regular pen if you cap the pointed end and comes in handy for note-taking.
Include a small flashlight in case you find yourself in the dark or if the power goes out.
Toss in a small emergency blanket; airports get chilly, especially overnight.
Add more gear based on your needs, like medications.
Keep your airport bag small enough to carry on and customize it for your situation.
Flight cancellations or delays happen, and these basics can make it more manageable.
An airport bag is just one thing you can do as a Passport Bros to smooth out the rough patches of long-distance travel.
Have peace of mind knowing you are ready to go in a crisis.