When Your Travel Plans Go Sideways
Managing Unpredictability While Traveling
Travel is supposed to be an adventure, but sometimes, it’s an unplanned crash course in VUCA—Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. Flights get canceled, plans unravel, and suddenly, you’re navigating a situation that feels like controlled chaos.
The truth? You don’t have to go looking for VUCA while traveling—it finds you. And sometimes, you create it yourself.
The VUCA of Our Own Making
In December 2023, I took a trip through Brazil, Argentina, and Chile with my former husband. He took the lead on booking flights and hotels online, and while his Spanish fluency turned out to be a lifesaver, his lack of attention to detail nearly derailed us more than once.
The first hiccup? We had nowhere to sleep.
We arrived in Buenos Aires for an overnight layover, only to realize that while our friends had a hotel room, we never actually booked one. A mad scramble through travel apps later, we secured a place nearby. Crisis averted, but lesson learned: assumptions create unnecessary VUCA.
The next morning? A travel disaster in the making.
Our flight to Santiago was at 7:00 AM. We got up early, packed our bags, and arrived at the airport feeling smug about our efficiency—only to hear those dreaded words: "You’re at the wrong airport."
Buenos Aires has two major airports, and we were at the wrong one. By the time we got a taxi across town, our flight was long gone. Thanks to my ex’s Spanish skills, we managed to rebook, but not before wasting time, money, and a lot of unnecessary stress.
It was a perfect example of how you can create your own VUCA through poor planning, bad assumptions, and lack of attention to detail.
The VUCA You Can’t Control
But sometimes, VUCA isn’t self-inflicted—it just happens.
Take what happened to my business partner, Javier. He got stranded in Europe for days when a volcano erupted in Iceland, grounding flights across the continent.
Or consider the countless travelers whose plans are thrown into chaos by:
🌪 Storms and Natural Disasters – Hurricanes, blizzards, and volcanic ash clouds can shut down airports instantly.
🛠 Mechanical Failures – A sudden maintenance issue can delay or cancel flights with no immediate alternatives.
📉 Global Events – Border restrictions, strikes, or pandemics can change everything overnight.
These are the wild card VUCA moments—you can’t predict them, but you can prepare for them.
How to Handle VUCA While Traveling
Whether you’re the cause of your own chaos (been there!) or dealing with forces beyond your control, here’s how to stay ahead of travel unpredictability:
⭐Double-Check Everything – Flights, hotels, locations—don’t assume. Verify.
⭐Know Your Airports – Multiple airports in one city? Triple-check which one you need.
⭐Have a Plan B (and C) – Expect the unexpected. Always have a backup plan for accommodations and transit.
⭐Build in Buffers – Give yourself extra time between connections and avoid ultra-tight schedules.
⭐Control What You Can – Language barriers? Use translation apps. Unexpected delays? Have emergency cash and extra essentials on hand.
⭐Stay Adaptable – The best travelers aren’t those with perfect itineraries—they’re the ones who can roll with whatever comes their way.
Final Thoughts
Whether your travel chaos is self-inflicted or just bad luck, the key to navigating VUCA is the same: Stay flexible, stay resourceful, and keep a sense of humor.