Can I share my utter stupidity here?

[Chatterbait]

I’m too embarrassed to tell anyone in real life and I need to vent - I’ve even make changed because I feel so stupid!

Due on a flight from Stansted at 4. Got to Liverpool Street for my train in loads of time, because I’m sick of rushing about for things. Had so much time that I went to M&S for a sandwich and a drink. Took longer than I thought, so had to rush for the train.

Running along looking at the departure boards as I go. See a train for the time line is due with Stansted Airport listed as a stop. Run to the ironic platform 13. Get on train. Relax with said sandwich and drink. Wonder why we are stopping at Billericay. Panic slightly. Look at screens. Suddenly realise in horror that, from a distance, Stansted Airport and Southend Airport in small writing on departure boards look very similar 😳

I’m now in a £90 Uber, desperately hoping I make my flight. Send good vibes to a stupid woman 😥

Glad you made it OP.

I've just been panicking because I couldn't hear anything on my phone, it was ultra quiet even at full volume. Turned it off & on again, started googling what might be wrong - can't afford a new one right now.

Then I checked my Bluetooth settings. I'd accidentally connected it to my headphones which are in my bag.

Speaking as stupid bloke I think I have you trumped. I once got to check-in with DW passport. It has my name in it as next of kin, and this is what I'd looked at when I picked it from the drawer. I looked at check-in clerk, they looked at me, for a fleeting moment I wondered whether I could get away with it - we're both blonde. I drove home and went back the following day.

Congratulations, you made your flight!!!

I was stressed, visiting a dying relative in hospital 40 miles away. I had two toddlers and had to wait for DH to get home from work before I could begin the drive. When he finally did, god knows why but I drove 15 miles in the wrong direction before realising and driving 55 miles to the hospital. 😬

I was on a work team's call this week, came back after a break and said to my boss I couldn't hear him very well. Started looking at my settings and then realised I had headphones plugged in. My whole team were laughing at me! Very glad you made your flight OP!

When DH and I went on honeymoon, we did the ESTA beforehand to get into the USA. I hadn't noticed one of them had not gone through so only I was valid for travel.

We got to the airport with loads of time to spare then realised the error. We had to run to the in airport computers and try and apply for one. It came through luckily with half an hour to go before check in shut.

Not me but DH - arrived back from holiday into Heathrow and went to pick up his car to drive home. Realised he'd flown out from Gatwick and his car was in the car park there. He had to get the bus between the two airports 😂

Rocked up at Luton airport in good time for a flight , no flight listed. Checked with the airline help desk.

Should have been at Gatwick.

I won’t have a word said against Easyjet. Not only did they not laugh but they transferred me to another flight the next morning and didn’t charge me.

(As it turns out I did myself a favour, I would have arrived in Venice in the dark and would never have found my hotel , it is more than likely I would have been pushed into a canal by a small figure wearing a red coat………)

DS went to the wrong airport a few weeks ago - bearing in mind he likes to cut it fine and saunter through the gate just before it closes he was very lucky to be able to jump in a taxi and make it to the right airport in time. That was on top of going to download his boarding pass and realising he’d booked completely the wrong day for his flight.

@viques I’ve had similar with EasyJet - was stuck on the motorway due to a big crash, finally managed to get to Luton airport, slung the car in short term parking and rushed in to see my plane taxiing.

EasyJet staff were great and offered to put me on the next flight at no extra cost (and this was at the time of the TV programme about EasyJet at Luton which always made the staff look stroppy).

Years ago, when I was very junior at work, I was supposed to be flying up to Edinburgh from London. 3pm flight.

Except it wasn't. It was a 13.00 hour flight. I'd totally got the 24hr clock wrong

Fortunately - after the panic rush to Heathrow - I was able to transfer to a British Midland flight, from a BA flight, with no extra cost. (No idea how that was possible).

I ran from one end of Manchester Picadilly to the other in order to try and get on the train that was supposed to have departed a minute earlier.
I made it! Opened the last carriage door and jumped in, just as it pulled away.
It was a long train, and as I walked through totally empty carriages trying to find my booked seat (!), it started to fawn on me that something wasn't quite right.

I did stumble across 4 rail workers who shared their flasks of coffee and a ham sandwich with me as we made our way into the sidings at Darlington........

I eventually arrived home 3 hours later than expected 🤣

DH's best friend came to visit. Very experienced international traveller, lived all over the Middle East, still based out there.
Still, visiting us by train, got Maidstone and Maidenhead confused, and so was a teensy bit late

I will make you feel better by telling that I missed the flight to get to MY SISTER's WEDDING because I misread the departure board at Stansted - there were 2 flights, different airlines, going to the same airport with very similar flight numbers. I went to the wrong one. £260 later I made it to the evening reception.
Sending you all good wishes that you get there on time.

Hope you made your flight OP. This year I gave gift cards as teachers’ pressies. Leaving the school this year so there were lots of gift bags/tissue/cards/pens etc on the kitchen table.

Tbere was a gift card for an activity (not school) teacher among it all.
It’s not in our house now.

I don’t mind the amount so much as the fact that one teacher might think they are so much more thought of than the other(s) and there’s no way I am ever going to ask.

Just happened in the confusion.

Better thought of, I think I mean. 🙄

Thank you all - I’m glad I’m not alone!

I’m about to turn in for bed after an evening of cocktails 🍹 All is well again!

All the best op, mission impossible style.