Here’s the scenario: you arrive very late at an airport you haven’t been to before. Security takes forever, but the flight is on time—which means you’re even more rushed.
You walk into the terminal and look for your gate: A70. Damn… you’re currently at A18. Above you is an “Express Train” that runs between A1 and A75 with an unknown number of intermediate stops.
You know if you take the escalator up to the train and catch a ride it could be faster—but remember, you’re unfamiliar with this airport.
Will you have to wait for the train to arrive? How much faster will it actually be? Might it be better to hoof it?
You can’t just stand there and think about it forever… remember, time is short. You have only ten minutes to get to A70 before they close the flight.
It’s up to you… what do you do?
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UPDATE: Thanks for all the fun answers. As is often the case, we could have chosen MANY winners… but we had to pick one, and we picked Grace’s comment from all the ones below.
*Free prize! We’ll choose one answer from the comments and award a $50 gift certificate to Unconventional Guides. All answers must be in by Friday at 9am PST.
*The Unconventional Guide to Publishing, our first guide in 16 months (!) launches next Tuesday. If you’ve ever wanted to write a book, this is for you… more news on Monday.
Image: W3Y
January 5, 2012
Fyodor
1st of all – contact the airport services for the further information and then take a decision. Fairly speaking, il worth to calculate the time better before precipitating to the trip.
January 5, 2012
ballerina girl
‘This train is leaving the station. Either you’re on board or I’m leaving you behind…’ Keep moving. Get on the train.
January 5, 2012
Michelle
Walk fast and pray for slow boarding.
January 6, 2012
Archer's Mom
Hurry up, slow down! When you rush, you risk poor decisions, mistakes or accidents. Sometimes, a combination of those three can result in a positive outcome (ie, business or personal matters) but not in this scenario. Have pep in your step and walk, but don’t be rude to others in your efforts to get to the gate, and don’t expect any favors getting there (I’ve enviably eyed those ‘assist carts’ that go 30 mph). Dignity is all I have to offer and in self reliance, I’ve never let myself down. Get there graciously. Know your style in doing so will be enough karma to either make your flight or make up the consequences for missing your flight. But if I learned one thing as a New Yorker, it was this, NEVER get off a train that is moving in the direction you want to go. That express train might sound better than the local, but it could always go out of service. Whatever you choose, certainly don’t saunter within sight line of A70′s gate agents.
January 6, 2012
Robin
I would run!
January 6, 2012
Adelina
I would probably run as far as I could, then walk the rest of the way. Waiting while in motion makes time go faster. At least you are doing something. Whereas just waiting for the train makes time go slower and makes you feel like you’re doing nothing to help the situation. I rather be in control then to leave it up to the train.
January 6, 2012
Jørgen
OK,
I’d start speed-walking, and trying to keep track of how fast I was advancing. As it has been said here, you can walk faster, but you can’t wait faster….
If it turned out I was still running behind when the minutes started to tick down, I’d run the last few gates. I prefer making my flight and being the somewhat sweaty guy, than missing my flight.
In my experience, when in a rush, you see what at the surface looks like quicker ways all around you. But in the end, only a handful of these actually are, you just tend to forget about the drawbacks when you’re looking to speed up.
January 6, 2012
Dave
First thing I’d do is check my bag, if they take that bag then you just bought yourself at least an extra 10 minutes before they decide to offload your bags.
After that take the train, either the train gets you there really quick (awesome) or it’s a slow train in which case jump off at the very next stop then hoof it. For extra points find a way to get a ride on one of the golf buggy’s they use.
I’ve used combinations of all of the above during my travels & if you do miss it ah well, you now have time for a beer!
January 6, 2012
Eva
Walk quickly, keeping an eye open for any airline personnel who might be able to let the departure gate personnel know I’m en route. Average walking speed is about 3mph – so 10 minutes worth of striding out will get you pretty far. Those 2 gates aren’t that far apart, and moreover airlines are reluctant to ‘really’ close gates if passengers are missing, because they have to go through the palaver of off-loading that person’s luggage. Also, if I were running that late (unlikely) I’d have given the airline personnel a heads-up at check-in.
January 6, 2012
Jasley McSaveney
Start running…
January 6, 2012
Rui
Walk for it is something I can do right way about it that will put me closer to where I wanna go.
January 6, 2012
William
Gather the data:
Train:
Is there a stated frequency of trains?
Is there a transit time stated?
Estimate worst case time – if you can’t then walk
Walk:
What is the distance from one gate to the next – i.e. how far away is A19 – worst case will be that A75 is 57times (unlikely) this distance/time
Estimate worst case time
Make your decision on the best worst case.
Should take less than 60 seconds.
January 6, 2012
Kerry Murray
Loved reading the comments. Chris, you have smart, savvy and some really funny readers. I love Maria Pere-Perez comment about the height of her heels determining her choice.
My issue would be if I was traveling with my 6.5 year old son or not. With son, I would take the train. Without son, I would hoof it.
On my way back to Cape Town from WDS last year, my son and I were traveling PHX-IAH-LHR-CPT The PHX flight was late AND they changed our gate so that we arrived in a different terminal at IAH then our departing LHR flight. A train would have been great. Instead, me and the freshly turned 6 year old ran as fast as possible to our gate. I had to walk that balance between spurring my son on and not stressing out all over him or scaring him with my urgency. We got to the gate, hot and sweaty but fairly in control, and the doors to the plane were closed. Fortunately, I was in some pretty serious flow from WDS, my son and I adopted our most helpless look, and the senior gate attendant took over from the newbie (who was denying us access and sending us off to customer service) and re-opened the door, walked us to the plane, where they re-opened the plane door for us!
January 6, 2012
John
Always run!
You should choose the option over which you have 100% control.
I face the same problem regularly; I am often in central London for a night out, & need to get to Waterloo train station to get the last train home. I am faced with the choice of getting the tube to the train station (3 or 4 stops), or running.
From experience I know it is usually a much better idea to run. If I rely on the tube, it will often be delayed / cancelled for no apparent reason / the tube drivers might be on strike / etc…
Plus when you do make it you will feel like you’ve had a mini work-out, & will have a greater sense of achievement!
January 6, 2012
alua
Would run. Not patient enough for waiting for the train! And I’m a good runner.
January 6, 2012
Rob Barrett
Run Forest run! Start moving fast, keep your thumb out and try to hitch a lift on the way!
January 6, 2012
Rhodamac
Oh, this senario has happened to me so many times – mostly when there is no train option though – so not quite the same. Hiking to the gate is the only option. funnily enough the only time i’ve ever been bumpfed off a flight for getting to the gate late was when I was flying home to the Hebrides (Scotland) and a number of things conspired against me – my flares which tangled in my legs as i ran/jogged to the gate and the fact that my ticket was booked under Lady MacDonald (i justed fancied picking one of the many titles available to BMI frequent fliers so I became a Lady) – didn’t me any favours and I was told when I got there that my bags had been taken off the flight – goodbye! haha, i laugh now…
January 6, 2012
Shaz
Easy – the night before I’d have sussed out the airport layout and rough timings, and would have map on phone.
On arrival at airport and check in, knowing I was late, I’d ask the staff to call ahead to say I was on my way and asked there the fastest way to go. Probably the train.
I’d take the train, stay chilled, and having planned so well ahead, if the train should break down, then I’d look on that as ‘life’, so would see what ‘life’ had in store for me and not worry about missing the plane.
Possibility A – plane would be delayed anyway, so it’s not an issue, B – plane goes without me but I meet people who change my life, C – I have to get another plane, which leads to another adventure!
So, I plan ahead (thoroughly, so things just flow), and if ‘life’ changes my plans, just go with the new flow and see what happens! No point in stressing about things you can’t change
January 6, 2012
John
First I’d like to say that I like the post of DAVID YAKOBOVITCH and vote for him.
Here’s my answer:
1. Find a wormhole, blackhole, and dark energy and build a time machine.
2. Use the time machine to go back in time and get to the airport ahead of schedule.
3. Get to your flight on time.
4. Make sure you don’t run into yourself during the process as you’ll need to make sure your younger self is late for his flight and sufficiently frustrated so that he can be motivated to create this posting, from which he will get encouragement from me that he should build a time machine.
5. Go back to 1885 to rescue Doc Brown and return him to his own timeline. (optional)
January 6, 2012
Michael Wilson
My experience of public transport is that it can be both erratic and unreliable. The experience of my own two feet less so. I walk, I jog, I run but I get there and adjust my speed based on the distance I am from gate A70 and the time remaining.
January 6, 2012
Bret Shroyer
Take the escalator to the train and look: if the train is there, or if the sign says it’s arriving in seconds, then take the train. Otherwise, turn and run.
January 6, 2012
Cat
I always trust my feet, especially for a distance that can be travelled in 10 minutes or less.
January 6, 2012
Quintin
Train. If I know approximately as much about my ability to run to the gate as I do about when the train will get me there, I’d take the less sweaty option. If the probability of success or failure is the same (equally unknown), then at least I can take comfort in keeping my poise. What’s worse than missing your plane? Being that sweaty guy who obviously just missed his plane.
January 6, 2012
Alex
Will I be feeling lucky? That’s the question. Our decisions vary according to the state of mind we’re in at the time, and I believe that that’s the essence of being unconventional. There is no one answer for anything in life when you have decided to challenge the establishment. Are you in love? Then take the train. Your optimism will energize your brain and save precious seconds which are beneficial in a situation like this. As you’re running, you’re thinking: If I end up at 75, that’s only 4 over and that I’ll be able to run down to A70 in no time.
Alternatively, will your mother-in-law soon be crashing at your place for the weekend? Has your boss decided to express a Julius Caesar complex? Did your partner adopt a baby pig, without telling you; and worse, has the pig made its into your closet and declared it its kingdom? Hoof it. It’ll be an outward expression of the unspeakable frustrations coming from the depths of your soul and if you miss that flight, you can buy yourself a good book and a latte at the airport cafe. During that specific moment in time, remind yourself that the coolest thing about traveling isn’t always getting to your destination, but accepting the journey.
January 6, 2012
Nelu
I would hoof it down to A70 like when Usain Bolt has to go to the bathroom really bad. With the advent of rolly-wheeled suitcases and my dedication to taking a yoga class every 17-23 days, I am pretty sure I would make it as quickly as that train would. Also, if I wasn’t so fast, my loud vocal pleas to hold the plane would carry in the terminal, hopefully landing in the ears of someone who could help me. Like those staffers who drive the golf carts around or a kid with a hover board. There’s no more frustrating a feeling than not being in control of your mobility and even if the train was reliable, I’d still feel agitated as it stopped and waited for people to board, pressing my face to the window with silent agonizing desperation (come onnnnnn!). Until I learn how to master my stress (note to self: take yoga classes more frequently), that’s a situation I’d rather avoid. A better use of my energy would be to be in action, running like the whimsical world voyager I am. The lesson of course would be to let go of any negative thoughts in either situation and KNOW you’re going to make that flight. Intention is power.
January 6, 2012
Lisa
Run! 99% of the time I choose the option I can control, especially in time-tight situations. I can’t control how long the train takes to arrive or how many stops or how long the journey is. But I can run my butt off and at least know that I did what I could to make it happen!
January 6, 2012
Muna Abdurrahman
It’s simple, just ask for direction!
No place in the world doesn’t have a few people to help when you need them.
I think It’s easier to follow your intuition in cases like this one. And trust your thoughts because it’ll tell you the right thing to do in any stressful situation!
So what would I do is to run as fast as I can and take a few seconds to ask anyone how to reach A70 gate!
January 6, 2012
Melissa
I always walk over the train/tram. We did this in Disney for new years. Family insisted on waiting for the tram- three trams came before we even got on, and husband and I had been consistently beating or arriving at the same time as the tram we left behind.
And, if I need to run, I’m a runner. I can do it.
January 6, 2012
Shteffi
A year ago, I would have certainly run like a madwoman. These days, I would simply walk very quickly, maybe jog a bit, and if I saw one of those go cart trams try briefly to convince the driver to help me out. Either way, I would never take an intra-airport train with only 10 minutes to spare. I trust my own two legs more than a train.
I was lucky enough to miss a flight for the first time in my local airport, which ended up being a good experience because it taught me that such a mistake was not the end of the world. Also, it made me miss Day One of my family reunion, so the requisite emotional turmoil lasted one less day
I made so many similar mistakes during my backpacking tour of Europe this summer, nearly all of which ended up making my journey more fun and teaching me some valuable lessons.
If I don’t make the flight, so be it. It’s not worth stressing over, and coming up with plan B will be an adventure! Some of the places I cherish most were seen only because I took the wrong train or made a reservation for the wrong day. Whether you have a good time or not depends largely on how you choose to view these situations… and I choose to enjoy life!
January 6, 2012
Mary K
I always run. I’ve actually recreated the Heathrow Airport running scene from “Love Actually” with the exception of not actually jumping the security guards.
And I did it without shoes on as I heard final boarding call being announced through the airport.
January 6, 2012
Ryan
that’s an easy one: 1) set up your rolling bag so that it rides like a skateboard; 2) grab one of the passing passenger airline golf carts and grab hold of the back of it (a la marty mcfly).
January 6, 2012
Brent
Google it while walking to your gate. A gentleman will walk but never run.
January 6, 2012
Oliver
I would make a run for it. I rather try it and know I at least tried my best to get to my flight even if I miss it. I’ll just make the best of the situation. Seek out the opportunities that are there and just stay in the present.
January 6, 2012
Lauren
Screw walking – I’d grab my bags and run! These sorts of situations are a great testimony to packing light (my husband and I now travel with one carry-on sized backpack each). It’s also a good reason to stay in shape; not only will all the walking and hiking involved in sightseeing be easier, but you can race the “express tram” to the correct gate Superman-style. If the directional signage is confusing, a quick inquiry to just about any worker will get you pointed in the right direction.
January 6, 2012
Leah McClellan
Run. Run. Run. Even in ordinary situations I wouldn’t bother with a train, except maybe for the novelty of it or if I don’t feel well. A18 – A70 doesn’t sound like a long distance, anyway. Hop, skip, jump. I can’t imagine taking a train for that.
And if I miss the flight? Oh well! I tried my best. As I did at CDG one time, go get a beer and figure out what to do next
January 6, 2012
Joanie
I would pretend a sprained ankle and hopefully airport staff would be alerted and explain my flight problem and get a delay or a ride. LOL
January 6, 2012
Jennifer
Say screw it, hope for a later flight and find a place to sit, get something to eat and relax.
January 6, 2012
Paul Atfield
Get to the nearest desk and tell them you are Richard Bransons PA, he is on the flight under a different name, is on his way and it would be a real disaster if he missed this connecting flight, especially as he is thinking about a possible merger which could be worth big bonuses for all the staff………….so ask if they can delay until he gets there, give them your name and then run like hell through the terminal.
January 6, 2012
Prairie Dawn
I look at the time, give it the old college try, and if I’m late, I change the flight, catch a cab and go sight-seeing for another day. Never question fate. If I were meant to be in that flight, I would have been. (Coincidentally, though…. this is why I drive or rail it everywhere. I hate feeling like a sardine.) So, how’s about that $50… I can use another tank of gas.
January 6, 2012
Juan
Nothing but a swift run will do. I know that I can make it running as for the train…. you just don’t know. I have had to do this in Houston and in Madrid Barajas airport. I made it both times with a little bit of time to spare. I usually carry a backpack and always wear running shoes when I travel since I like to go running in new cities. I enjoy the exercise and I like to see the city from a different perspective. Run Forrest, Run!!!!
January 6, 2012
valerie
i am of the mindset that when two options suck, there is a third and better option waiting around the corner. in this case, i would ask an airport employee what they thought. people who work there will know much better than i if the train runs on time. this worked for me when i accidentally took a bus from nyc to philly instead of to boston, arrived at midnight having no idea where i was. two questions to the bus driver and to a helpful amtrak employee and i was, in the space of five minutes, on the last train out to boston. i made it in just in time to go straight to work the next morning. its amazing how people help once i learned how to ask.
January 6, 2012
djstarr
I´d haul butt like O.J. Simpson, leaping over trash cans and small children and “power walk” myself to the gate. That, or I´d feign pregnancy and commandeer one of the disabled shuttle cart drivers to get me there! Shameless!
January 6, 2012
Elaine
It doesn’t matter whether I choose to run or take the train. What matters is, I know that whatever outcome the decision I made produced, I can accept that it is meant to be.
By having that thought activated in my mind, I let my body decide whether to run or to take the train, in other words, go with the flow accordingly. I would let go of control (of wanting to board the flight) and see what the future enfolds and turn this uneventful airport time into a meaningful life lessons for me to contemplate later.
Who knows, I may be able to board the plane in time and lived happily ever after. Or.. I may have missed the flight, and bumped into someone special who would play a very important role in my life due to the extra time I have in the airport. Or.. I would learn a wonderful lesson in time management, and I may also learn something about budgeting for emergency funds for times like this, which I never master.
Life is a box of chocolates!
January 6, 2012
Joy
I had this happen once in ATL. I took the tram..and it broke down one minute into the ride. I missed the flight and had to leave the next day. I’ve learned through airport confusion that strangers can be a very good resource. I’ve been late to a flight that was boarding to Madrid, I had no clue where my gate was. Luckily a guy on my connecting flight knew and ran through the airport with me to show me the fastest way there. If this happened again I would find the friendliest looking traveler and make a run for it. Since my my tram incident I always ask people when I need help. Just like driving – ask for directions! It will save you time, frustration, and you may also make some new friends.