What happens when you get mobile notifications that your flight is delayed for the fifth time? And you are ready to get home so you can chaperone your son’s field trip the next day? Something quite unexpected. In fact, it’s so good I have to blog about it. These things don’t happen often. Heck! This one definitely goes down on my bucket list.

As usual, I was traveling back from a business trip and had everything planned out. I would arrive home as my kids were getting out of school and I’d have a nice rest before the adventures that lay ahead. Before returning my rental car I filled the tank up, and unbeknownst to me I received the first flight delay of two hours. In fact, I didn’t check my phone until I was on may to check in my bags. I was already at the airport and I now had no mode of transportation so I figured I’d stay. After all, I never have this much time to spare so I decided to take advantage and catch up on some reading.

Upon making my way through a short line at the TSA security point, I made my way to my gate. Instead of reading, I called a few people and caught up on some much needed conversations. After all, I needed to fill the time doing something. My phone vibrated again, this time with an extra 3 hour delay. It was the weather. A huge Nor’easter was causing all kinds of commotion and on top of that, one of the planes they had sent needed repairs. Goodness.

I started seeing people line up. The gate agent was offering a paid-for overnight stay at a hotel to accommodate those of us who were tired of the inundation of delayed flight notifications. Others were offered a possible flight change to get them on a connecting flight that may take them home. I was so tired and I didn’t feel like entertaining either options. I just wanted to go home, on my non-stop flight, and be done with it.

So, I patiently waited and killed some more time by going to a Mexican restaurant to eat. I even walked away with a complimentary Tres Leches cake. By this time it was super late and my flight had officially been delayed a fifth time. The last text I got was, just one more notification, stating my flight had actually been moved up 30 minutes. Whoo hoo! It was only like 6-7 hours later than the original departure time. My gate was changed and I made my way to it.

When I got there it was like a ghost town. I was starting to feel like I somehow jacked up the gate number and was now at the far end of the airport with only 30 minutes to sprint to the other side to make my flight that I had waited for all that time. I checked the monitor. I was in the right place. But, where was everybody else? We were supposed to be boarding any moment now.

I checked with the gate agent to confirm we would be boarding soon. He said yes and offered to check me in. I provided my name and the next phrase that came out of his mouth had me dumbfounded.

“Looks like you are the only one on this flight.”

No way! This couldn’t be right. Would they seriously still fly me home? I started to question what was going on and then asked if this was the plane they were doing maintenance on earlier. He settled my doubts and gave me comfort in knowing this was an entirely new plane. Okay, so maybe there were other passengers on board waiting to connect to their final destination.

Nope. The gate agent asked if I was ready to board, since they weren’t waiting for anyone else. I said, “Yes,” and giggled. He then offered me the option to sit wherever I wanted since every seat was vacant. I, of course asked to sit in First Class. I mean, go BIG and go Home, right? I got on board and it was so surreal. The crew was there and we were all in a state of shock. I asked one of the flight attendants if she ever witnessed something like this before. She had not. I asked the pilot if this is what it felt like to ride private. He informed me that this plane was bigger than a private jet. Upgrade.

I was stoked and kept taking selfies and videos, trying not to be awkward. I couldn’t miss documenting this event though. It was one I would forever tell during an icebreaker where you have to share something unique about yourself.

The pilot was cool and casually stopped by to introduce himself and to let me know the length of the flight and that we would experience some turbulence for the first part of our trip. Then the flight attendant offered me something to drink. I opted for an orange juice with mineral water. Fancy, right? It was so odd being the only person the crew was providing service to so I kept it simple. I had my drink and my pretzels and I was a happy jet setter. When it came time to watch the presentation on safety, I studiously pulled out my brochure and followed along. After all, I wasn’t going to get caught for playing on my phone instead of paying attention.

Then it was time to take off. We even left early. Once we were up in the air the pilot checked in over the intercom and politely said, “Shawnta, we should only experience turbulence for the next hour and then the flight will be smooth, okay?” I mean, the level of service was astounding. All I could think is, “I could get used to this.” I made it in at midnight the next day, but was super grateful I was afforded such an experience.

My takeaway was that my unwavering patience gifted me a greater reward.