My oldest son goes to college in Rochester, NY, and since he moved there last year, I’ve only been able to see him once. We made a deal: if his grades stayed solid, I’d fly out to visit. The plan was to go during his spring break so we could spend a full week together, but life shifted and I had to cancel. The next window I had was mid‑April—just enough time for a quick one‑day visit. In the end, I spent more time in airports than I did with my son, but I wouldn’t trade it.

I took a red‑eye out of SMF on Tuesday night, arriving at the airport around 7:30pm even though my flight didn’t board until 11:20pm. I wanted to spare my wife from driving late, so I got there early, settled in, knocked out some overdue work, and spent time reading my Bible and praying. I tried to take photos and videos for social media, but I looked like I hadn’t slept in a week—bags under my eyes, skin struggling—so those clips never saw the light of day.

I slept the entire flight to Chicago, which helped, because I had a seven‑hour layover waiting for me. I wandered the airport, got more work done, and picked up a great leadership book that kept me company until it was time to board for Rochester.

Once I landed, I grabbed the rental car, dropped my luggage at the hotel, and headed straight to campus. After a few minutes of trying to find each other on the massive grounds, we finally met up, hugged, and he gave me a tour. The first stop was his dorm room. I won’t embarrass him here, but let’s just say… it had “lived‑in” energy. We didn’t linger. Thankfully.

The rest of the campus was impressive—especially the underground hallway system. Murals, storage rooms, laundry, game rooms, a gym, classrooms, stores, even a post office. It’s like a small city beneath the snow. Upstate NY winters demand creativity, and this campus nailed it.

After the tour, I did what any dad would do: got him a much‑needed haircut. Then we grabbed dinner and headed back to the hotel, where he stayed with me for the night. He fell asleep instantly—hotel beds will do that—but it was good just having him there.

The next morning, we ate breakfast together, I dropped him off at school, we hugged again, and then I headed back to the airport… ten hours before my flight.

This was my first time in New York, but sightseeing wasn’t the mission. My friend suggested I catch a movie or explore the city since my flight wasn’t until 7:50pm, and honestly, I should’ve listened. I arrived at the airport at 9:30am and waited until evening. Ten hours is a long time, even for someone who doesn’t mind airports.

But I learned something valuable—both as a travel agent and as a traveler. With airlines shifting their tier systems, flexibility matters. I’m naturally frugal, so I usually choose the cheapest fare. This time, that worked against me. I tried to switch to an earlier flight, but because I booked the basic tier, it would’ve cost over $300 to change—just to get home two hours sooner. If I had paid the extra $30–$40 for the next tier, the change would’ve been free. This is exactly why I recommend the middle tier to my clients. And yes, I should’ve taken my own advice.

So I waited. And during that long stretch at Rochester International Airport, I booked travel for clients, explored the terminal, read more of my leadership book, and wrote this blog.

It was a short trip, packed with long flights and longer layovers, but it was absolutely worth it. I got to hug my son, see his world, and be present—even if only for a day. I’ll probably be doing this again next year, and honestly, I’m already looking forward to it.

I was able to package flights, a hotel, and a rental car to New York for just $538.68.

Travel doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. With the right support, it becomes simple, affordable, and actually enjoyable.

If you’d like help planning your next trip—or just want me to see what kind of deals I can find for you—reach out anytime. I’d love to support you however I can.