LexieCat

The OP has probably made her flight by now, but for anyone else with this issue: I've yet to see an airport that didn't ALSO have a restaurant. Try ordering a meal with a soft drink. I like to sip iced tea, personally. Pick up a book or a magazine, have a bite to eat and lose yourself in a good story. The flight gets called before you know it.

PurpleKnight

You can do this Lola, there are plenty of things to keep occupied with at airports!!

gippy1968

Page "Friends of Bill" to an area/gate near you. You will be happily surprised - I promise!

determined99

Man I get this thread... I don't remember entire flights.. Thank god I didn't run into coworkers in that state. Talk about luck.

Tried to board in New Orleans with a beer in my hand. Have had stewardess say that the pilot wanted to ensure I was not driving when we land. Woke up minutes before a presentation, not knowing where I was, not remembering checking in, and looked in mirror and had a cookie smushed on my cheek... I always thought I was mr. Continental traveling guy. Yeah, right...

Skip the bar, nothing there but regret and trouble my friend.

By the way, I notice they morning drinking too now. Saw a guy, normal looking business guy walk in at 7am, do two shots of whiskey and leave. Many AM beer drinkers too.

Glad you posted this, I thought I was one of the few with travel as a major trigger.

happyandfree

Ice cream in airports tastes especially good! Treat yourself lola-

Lola23

Thank you for everyone's encouragement and for sharing your similar stories. It is so comforting to know I wasn't alone and it brought me strength. All of those things you all posted of what you "used to do"....yep. Me. All of them.

Anyways made it! I did do a lot of what you all suggested and ATE. Like, kinda sorta A LOT. Ha. I've actually been making healthy eating a priority the last few weeks and have noticed some slimming down but today...I just had to put sobriety first and had candy, snacks, meals, more meals...you get the idea. But it's all good.

Thanks all!! I'll be flying back later this week so you might be seeing a similar post in a few days.

Lola23

I googled this b/c I had no idea what it was.

Urban Dictionary: Friend of Bill W..

Anyone try it?? Did it work?

afloatsober

I was once so drunk on a transatlantic flight that when I came round I was told by the cabin director that if it ever happened again she would ensure that I never flew with the airline, or any other , again. Ever.
More shame fear and humiliation for my (ex) wife and I brought about by my rationalising a few drinks.
You don't need to go there.
Have a good one then home safe and sober...
G

Nuudawn

Someone JUST mentioned this at a meeting the other day regarding ya airport travel and delays etc.. I had never heard of it before..nor had anyone else at that particular meeting.

And oh Freeowl..good thought re bookstore. They are my new "clubs". Chapters, Indigo, Barnes & Noble..oh how I love thee.

When visiting Oregon, I went to Powell's City of Books...

I think I wept a little. I could spent EVERY Saturday night there.

chickippo

yep. i travelled a lot for work (before i drank my way out of the job) and i have been drunk in a lot of airports.

i once woke up in an airport hotel in Bergen, Norway, 30 minutes before a taxi was due to take me to an all day client meeting. i vaguely remember being on the plane the night before but after that? nothing. my room service bill was horrible.

i haven't flown since getting sober but i know the airport would make me more nervous than any flight.

huge congratulations Lola on doing it sober. that's it now - you've broken that 'first' and aced it.

gippy1968

I travel frequently and have been to a number of meetings in airports. Just google "AA meeting" with the name of the airport you'll be in. They aren't that frequent but sometimes they fit perfectly into a layover or long delay.

Carlotta

I just learned about it in this post but if I was in an airport and heard that announcement, I would definitely recognize the code that a fellow alcoholic is in trouble and I would head for the desk.
For some reasons, air travel is a trigger for many.

SoberLeigh

Totally cool, gippy!

Even though I don't utilize AA,mifnI I heard that announcement, I would understand.