Holiday Travel. Delays and Cancellations Galore
Hi, I’m Jeret Williams, the Director of Creative Marketing for TNB Hotels. Today, I want to share my recent holiday travel adventure—or as I call it, travel nightmare. The holidays are already a stressful time for travel, but when it’s for work, it feels even more chaotic. This is the story of my journey to kick off the TNB Hotels holiday party circuit.
A Whirlwind Start
Fresh off Thanksgiving and returning home to North Idaho from a quick weekend trip to Texas to visit family, I had barely 10 hours at home before it was time to head back to Spokane International Airport. Every year, the TNB Hotels executive team embarks on a two-week marathon to attend holiday parties at each of our properties. It’s equal parts exhausting and fulfilling—but this year, it started with a bang.
First Stop: Bend, Oregon
The first stop on my journey was Bend, Oregon, where TNB Hotels operates two properties: the Fairfield Inn & Suites Bend and the TownePlace Suites Bend, currently undergoing renovations. Bend is one of my favorite cities in the U.S., and I was excited to get there. But Spokane’s smaller airport and the weather had other plans.
The Delays Begin
I left my house at 10 a.m. and breezed through security. So far, so good. Then came the first alert: Delayed 15 minutes. “No big deal,” I thought. Then another alert: Delayed 1 hour. Still manageable. And then, yet again: Delayed 2 hours. Panic started to set in. Would I miss my connection in Seattle?
Finally, we boarded the plane in Spokane. I settled in, optimistic about making it to Bend that evening. Mid-flight, another delay notification popped up for my connection, buying me extra time in Seattle. “Not ideal,” I thought, “but I’ll get there.”
Seattle: A City Within an Airport
Landing in Seattle, I deboarded to find my flight to Redmond delayed again—this time by two more hours. I grabbed some food and waited, trying to stay positive. We finally began boarding, and I thought the worst was over. Then, an announcement from the captain: “This flight has been canceled due to extreme fog in Redmond. Please deboard.”
Disheartened, I headed to the airline’s help desk. They explained the legal restrictions preventing the flight from taking off in such foggy conditions. They handed me a $12 meal voucher (not even enough for a sandwich) and informed me there were no additional flights that night. My only option was to find a hotel and wait for the first flight out in the morning.
After a long wait to retrieve my bag, I got the last seat on the next morning’s flight and secured a discounted rate at a nearby airport hotel—a small perk of working for a hotel company. I grabbed a quick dinner and went to bed, exhausted but determined.
A Rough Morning
The next morning, I shuttled back to the airport only to find a chaotic scene. The weather had thrown everyone’s plans off, and even TSA PreCheck and Clear lines were packed. Checking my bag took 45 minutes. Once through security, my phone buzzed: Delayed 1 hour. Then 30 minutes later: Delayed another hour and a half.
By this point, I was losing my mind. I had left home over 24 hours ago and was still nowhere near Bend. Finally, we boarded and took off for a short 30-minute flight to Redmond. The fog was so thick that the ground seemed to appear out of nowhere as we landed. I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the worst was behind me.
The Final Stretch
Unfortunately, the delays didn’t stop there. After landing, the plane sat on the tarmac for nearly two hours waiting for an available gate. The cabin grew uncomfortably hot, and my patience wore thin. I eventually told my boss, who had been waiting for me at the airport, to leave without me.
When I finally deboarded, I grabbed my bags only to find that an Uber to my hotel would cost nearly $100. It was just one more frustration to add to the list. But eventually, I arrived safely at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Bend. Despite everything, I was grateful to be there, ready to join the festivities and connect with my team.
Reflections on Holiday Travel
The holidays are a hectic time of year for everyone, and travel only amplifies the stress. While my journey to Bend was far from smooth, it reminded me of the resilience and adaptability we all need during the holiday season. It’s not always easy, but the end result—spending time with colleagues and celebrating our successes—makes it worthwhile.
Here’s hoping the next round of flights runs more smoothly, but if not, I’m sure it will make for another great story. Safe travels, everyone!
