Let me share a little drama from my recent business trip. My flight out of Seattle (SEA) was scheduled to depart at 1:00 PM, and as usual, JetBlue was diligent with their updates, sending me a series of delay notifications—first to 1:40, then 2:00, and finally a leisurely 3:45 PM. With that last update, I figured I had plenty of time, so I arranged my Seattle airport car service without any urgency and took my time getting to the airport. But then, out of nowhere, JetBlue suddenly moved the departure up to 2:20 PM!

Cue the scramble. I quickly wrapped up my work, jumped into the Seattle airport car service, and rushed through the terminal, making it to the gate by 2:00 PM. Out of breath and a bit stressed, I was greeted with the frustrating news that the flight had already closed, even though the plane was still sitting there on the runway. The next JetBlue flight to Tampa (TPA)? Not until much later that night. Just what you need when you’re on a tight business schedule, right?

Not wanting to lose any more time, I quickly booked a last-minute flight on United and decided to deal with JetBlue later. Once I landed in Tampa, thanks to my reliable Tampa airport car service, I reached out to JetBlue to see if I could get some sort of credit for the missed flight. Their initial response? A firm, “Nope, you should’ve been at the airport on time.” Turns out, all those texts did mention sticking to the original schedule—I just hadn’t scrolled down far enough to catch that part.

Determined not to let it slide, I decided to take my issue straight to the top and contacted JetBlue’s CEO. I wasn’t expecting much, but to my surprise, her office responded almost immediately. They not only refunded my missed flight but also gave me a $100 credit for a future trip! Talk about turning a frustrating situation around. JetBlue went from irritating to impressive in no time, and they’ve definitely earned my loyalty for future business trips.

So, Should You Arrive On Time If Your Flight Is Delayed?

Absolutely. I learned the hard way that airlines can change delay times without much notice. One minute you’re taking it easy, and the next you’re sprinting through the airport. Being at the airport early ensures you won’t miss your flight if it suddenly decides to leave earlier than expected. Plus, you'll have extra time to handle any last-minute changes, check your bags, and breeze through security. Consider it part of a stress-free business travel routine.

TUXEDO’s Pro Tip:

At TUXEDO, we often have clients on business trips who request to push back their pickup time when their flight gets delayed. Our advice? Stick to the original schedule. Airlines have a knack for moving up departure times at the last minute, and the last thing you want is to miss your flight because you trusted those delays. Stick to your plan and avoid any last-minute surprises—because, as I found out, “delayed” can quickly turn into “undelayed”!