Hello, fellow travelers.  I am writing from the Outer Hebrides, the Isle of Harris and Lewis, on my dream trip.  On the way over, I learned (again) an important truth.

It could happen.

You just might make that flight, you should run for the train you think you have already missed, and you definitely check just one more time on that impossible reservation.  How can good luck find you if you have already given up?

In planning my flights from Nashville to Edinburgh, I made a mistake. I hadn’t thought about the consequences of booking my connection from London to Edinburgh on a separate booking from my trans Atlantic flight. The BA agent told me that unfortunately I wouldn’t make the connection for my 11:40 flight from Heathrow to Edinburgh.  That would be my non-refundable 11:40 ticket.  I dutifully booked a later flight, losing two hours of my afternoon in Edinburgh.  But, I didn’t release that earlier ticket.

With the bravado of the jet-lagged, I decided to go for it.  The question always to ask is, ‘what do In have to lose?’  The agent that said I could never make it was right except on last Thursday morning.  It appears that everyone had to do a quick run through security before connecting.  This time, no one was in line but our flight and it was efficient and speedy.  On a chance, I ran to the gate, presented my ticket without a boarding pass and, though online checkin had passed, the gate agent was up for honoring the booking and seat assignment.

With fifteen minutes to spare, I made the original plan.  That meant feeling less tired on arrival and getting to have a classic afternoon tea at The Balmoral.  (There was a harpist.  Do this if you have a chance. The haggis puff pastry was delicious.)

This good luck has found me with train connections that were supposed to be lost causes and a wonderful fully booked dinner with a Scottish author.

The question really is about risk.  I certainly booked the back up ticket to insure getting into Edinburgh and if I hadn’t made it, nothing would have been lost but something was gained. It was a treat and a confidence boost!

Learnings

1.  If you can, book through on one ticket.  I did have a struggle with a connection through Barcelona that made it hard to get a boarding pass before I actually arrived in the Barcelona airport in transit. Not worth my indecision about timing!
2. When the flight doesn’t appear to be full on the seating chart, you might want to bypass premium economy and pick a good aisle seat toward the back.  After all the upgrade offers, the small premium coach section was elbow to elbow, but I had a row to myself in the far back.
3. Run for it in travel and in life. Luck may find you.