In his new role, my boss frequently travels internationally.  He’s been gone with other executives in Europe for the past week and so far, so good.  Until today.

Why volcano eruptions ground the airlines

The international air traffic system is in disarray today because a volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent an ash cloud into the path of jetliners. So many flights have been grounded.

What’s the problem? Capt. Eric Moody of British Airways has the answer firsthand. He was at the controls of a Boeing 747 which inadvertently flew into a volcanic ash cloud. All four engines quit and the plane dropped from 37,000 feet to 12,000 feet.

How do you announce that to your passengers? He told the BBC:

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are all doing our best to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress.”

I’m sure that went over real well.

And so the may day calls from my boss began this morning because of rumors of the Amsterdam airport shutting down and, thanks to our amazing travel department and emergency international line, I was able to secure seats for all said passengers while they were en route to their next destination.  By the time their intercontinental flight landed in Spain, we had new itineraries, flight numbers, departure times, and other pertinent details nailed down.  I exhaled a sigh of relief once I had reported in via international phone, relayed this new information, and assured him that yes, he would get home within an hour of his original arrival time in Minneapolis.  Disaster averted.

Meanwhile, as I tried to get seats on these flights before the other million people currently traveling in Europe did, two new co-workers were trying to reach me via company IM.  The conversation went down like this (all while I was on the phone with my new best friends, Allie and Cathy at Travel):

Coworker-Who-Shall-Remain-Nameless #1

they still have her info in outlook wrong

Coworker-Who-Shall-Remain-Nameless #2

Hello?

Hello are you there?

knock knock

knock knock pudding head….

CWSRN #1

ha! ha!

I just im’ed her

separately

Hey

CWSRN #2

oh /bonk

never mind puddinghead… /giggle

CWSRN #1

hey

CWSRN #2

us girls down here are trouble.

ME (after all of one minute and 26 seconds):

Hello!  I’m actually trying to navigate a travel situation right now… sorry, not trying to ignore you.

CWSRN #2

gotcha.

CWSRN #1

no worries.

Can you just get to me when you have a second.

Thanks

The item in question?  My new phone extension.  And for the record, it was correct in Outlook.

Moving day = March 8th.

What else you got, March?  More please.

As much as I loved my job last year, there are several pluses about my upcoming “party” this week: no protesters, no Secret Service, no hurricanes, and no sleeping in a hotel for two weeks. 

And so the day rolls on.  It’s a busy one at that, with three more to follow.  But if the party on Thursday goes okay — speakers show up, power point doesn’t crash, catering gets delivered, nametags aren’t misspelled, and my boss leaves with a smile — all will be most well.

Now onto those placecards.