The estimated reading time for this post is 5 minutes
Early last month I set out for Alaska, tech tools in hand, fully prepared for my journey, or so I thought… The travel time was bound to be more enjoyable with my iPhone, iPad and Kindle fully charged. Just in case, I had my spare battery packs fully charged and at the ready.
To be extra sure that I departed with my iPhone fully charged, I plugged the phone into the car charger for the drive to the airport. I wanted to board the plane with as close to 100% battery power as I could get.
I tucked my phone into my purse with the cord attached and placed my purse on the floor of the car. Arriving at the airport, we were pleased to see the parking garage was nearly empty. We got a primo parking spot close to the elevators and grabbed our luggage out of the car. We whizzed through security and arrived at our gate with plenty of time to spare.
When the time came to board, the plane was not at the gate. I reached for my iPhone to check for delays using the Flight Update app, only to discover the phone wasn’t in my purse. I asked my husband to call my phone. I listened for his ringtone (theme from Mad Men) and felt for a vibration in my purse or luggage.
Nothing.
I whipped out my iPad and opened the Find My Phone app. The app confirmed what I feared:
Sure enough The Force (a/k/a my iPhone) was in the airport parking garage. My iPhone was still in our car.
☞ Don’t miss: Find My iPhone – The Very First App You Should Get
New Plan
Since the plane wasn’t yet at the gate, our flight must be delayed, I reasoned. I wanted to go back to the parking garage and grab the phone, but that meant waiting in a lengthy line to pass through security again. I figured I needed at least 45 minutes to retrieve my phone.
My husband checked the Flight Update app on his iPhone — no luck. The app showed our flight was on time. I looked to see our plane had arrived at the gate.
Did I panic? Did nomophobia afflict me?
I hadn’t traveled without my iPhone since I got my first one in 2009. Traveling to Alaska from Philadelphia would put over 4000 miles between me and my phone, the farthest I would have been from my phone in 4 years. How would I react?
I waited.
No panic.
I realized the tech alternatives I had at my disposal:
- My iPad
- My husband’s iPhone
- My daughters’ Android phones
- My Kindle
Somehow, I would survive.
I again opened the Find My iPhone app and located my iPhone. I activated Lost mode and added a passcode along with a message. If anyone broke into the car and stole my phone they would have to hack the phone before they could use it.
Adapting
Instead of panicking, I realized I faced an intriguing tech challenge: see how I could cope without my iPhone during my journey.
Having an iPad with a data plan put me at a huge advantage and helped ease my stress. Having a data plan on my iPad allows me to access the Internet without relying on hotel and public Wi-Fi. I realized any app I had on my phone I could add to my iPad. My biggest loss would be my music. I don’t keep my music on my iPad because I don’t have enough storage space, but I quickly downloaded podcasts and Audible audiobooks to my iPad before I boarded the plane.
I notified loved ones back home not to call me on my phone. They could use iMessage, Facebook, Google Plus or email to get in touch. I use a voice mail app that emails me when someone calls or leaves a message on my phone so I wouldn’t have to worry about missing a call.
My travel plans (flight times and rental car and hotel reservations) were all in the TripIt app, but I was able to access them from my the app on my iPad.
My iPhone also functions as my camera. My iPad would have to suffice, no matter how silly I would look taking a picture with a tablet. I didn’t want to miss capturing Alaska scenery.
Lessons Learned
1. Don’t leave your iPhone charging in the car when you leave on a trip (you probably knew that already).
2. Don’t panic if you do leave your phone behind. You will be just fine. At least I hope you will…..
3. The extra money for my iPad with data was worth it (this might not apply to you if you don’t violate rule number one).
4. Nearly any app you can get on an iPhone you can get on an iPad.
5. It’s worth it to look goofy when you’re taking a picture with an iPad if that’s the only camera you have.
6. Other apps can supplement your communication. I used iMessage, Facebook, Google Plus, and email to communicate with others. Come to think of it, that wasn’t so different than what I do in a normal day…
Over the years people have speculated about having devices such as an iPod Touch, iPad or other tablet with a data plan. With that, and a phone replacement app such as Google Voice or Skype, perhaps you wouldn’t need a smartphone or a carrier plan. In five years will there still be smartphones?
Was I happy to be reunited with my iPhone? You bet.
Will I be canceling my cell phone plan? No way.
Will I be more careful the next time I leave on a trip? Absolutely.
What Would You Do?
If you were in my position and discovered your phone was still in the airport parking lot as you were about to board a plane for a long trip, what would you do?
Your Thoughts
Have you ever left your smartphone behind on a long trip? Did you panic or suffer from nomophobia? How did you adapt? Do you think smartphones could be replaced with a device that has a data plan and apps? Any guesses as to why I named my iPhone The Force? Let us know in the Comments section below!
*Head Smack image by hobvias sudoneighm
** Don’t Panic image courtesy of Johan Larsson
Hi Carolyn,
Welcome back from Alaska 🙂
Lovely post indeed, and something so many of us can relate to too! Well, as you know I rarely use much of the iPads and iPhones as my kids and hubby have theirs, while I just have a simple one that’s mainly used for simple calls as such, or shall I say that most of my work is always online so one really doesn’t miss them much.
When we travel, we do have the Internet access on all the phones that travel with us, but again, they aren’t very much used as we prefer to remain without any tech gadgets and just relax and be in the moment. Yes, I am guilty there because I carried my work and laptop with me when we went for our recent vacation and that was a lesson learnt! But other than that, we rarely carry anything else.
I simply loved the pictures clicked and I do hope you all had a lovely time and get-away. Would love to hear more of what and how was Alaska, whenever possible too. Nice get-away indeed 🙂
Thanks for sharing this with us. Happy weekend as well 🙂
Hi Harleena, Excellent point! Some people choose to unplug entirely for their vacations. Cutting yourself off from the outside world can be very relaxing. Other people would become very stressed with no way to communicate with the outside world.
I really enjoyed Alaska. It’s a very different culture than what I’m used to but I loved meeting the people there and greatly respect their way of life. It takes a special person to live there and I met a lot of special people during my trip. I want to go back there again soon!
Hi Carolyn,
Woohh what a headache these phones can cause. Just as well you had all the other devices to fall back on.
I’ve only been using an iPhone since Christmas and already couldn’t be without it, it’s like my mini PC for when I’m away from the grown up one (PC) 😉
Your post has come as a great reminder to install the Find my iPhone app.
My family and I recently had to take my mums ashes back to Ireland and as there’s so many spread around the UK we took different flights and planned to meet up in Dublin.
My group arrived earlier than the other group so when they landed they called and asked where to meet. We were on the outskirts of Dublin at a market so the group jumped into a taxi and made their way to us.
Upon meeting up they paid the taxi and just as they got out another bloke jumped in. Two minutes later my brother announces that his iPhone is still in the taxi. We called the company, no joy. We called the phone, no joy.
My younger brother asked whether the phone had the Find My iPhone app installed, no! Do you have a lock code activated, no! So your iPhone is wide open with all your details and contacts etc? Yes.
We cancelled our plans and made our way back to the city centre, where we’d just come from 45 minutes earlier, so we could find a Vodafone shop to make arrangements to cut the phone off. They couldn’t do it as it was now international and they didn’t have the facilities to do that.
Luckily my sister is on that network so they were able to contact support, who checked and said the phone was in use as they were speaking. So they cut the phone off there and then, which left my brother unable to control his business whilst away. He owns a garage with 3 or 4 staff and couldn’t do anything whilst away.
I can only imagine the panic going through him during our time in Ireland, all his work accounts, his contacts and everything else he uses for his business were on the phone and he’d lost it.
He obviously had to buy a new one and then download a back up so all wasn’t lost in the end but if he’d had the app installed we may have caught the thief in progress.
I’ve just plugged mine in and am going to install the app right after this comment.
Thanks for the reminder Carolyn. Hope you hade a great time anyway 😉
Barry
Wow, Barry, what a story! You’re right, it’s a great lesson to have Find My iPhone installed on your devices. I really should write a review of that app because it does come in especially handy in cases such as your brother’s incident and my forgotten phone.
Good point about him backing up his data on his iPhone too. That way not all the information is lost.
I’m glad you’re downloading Find My iPhone, Barry! :-bd
Ahhh … I would panic. Exactly I would! Sorry, there is no way I can smile.
Just happened to me 2 days ago, I was in a hurry to meet someone and headed out. 3miles later, just 3 miles …. realized that I left my iPhone charging at home. Oh no! I considered between reaching few mins late to a mtg with a phone, than reaching on time without a phone. Took the next u-turn to get back and pick up my phone …. Panic over, I am relaxed!
And you’re talking 4000 miles … your story gave me a chill, even thinking about what you’d have gone thru.
It shouldn’t be this way, we shouldn’t be so dependent on our phones, esp the smart ones. But heck, I really am! Even when I go out of country, I neither have roaming data or coverage, yet it feels just nice knowing that my iPhone is in my pocket!
Hi iRewardChart, Wow, I didn’t mean to upset you, sorry about that. 🙂 Yes, believe it or not, traveling a short way without an iPhone can be more of an issue than traveling 4000 miles if you don’t have any other backup gadgets. If you’re depending upon your iPhone to connect with someone and you don’t have it with you, well, that’s a problem.
When I was out of the country recently, I signed up for some data internationally so I could communicate. It wasn’t a lot of data but it was money well spent because I wasn’t totally out of touch. I’m happy to report that I remembered my iPhone this time! :-bd
When I saw the list of gadgets you did have, I thought, wow, you have plenty! Seems like a good excuse to write about your experiences. And that you did. I like how you had your phone set up so you could locate it, even if you could not reach it.
Hi Leora, Yes, without those additional gadgets, it would have been much tougher to communicate with others. I was in Alaska for a wedding so staying in touch with the bridal party was essential. I was able to do that with my iPad so all was good.
I had the idea for the blog post on the flight to Alaska and was able to type it on the WordPress app on my iPad. That was a great way to pass the time! 🙂
Hi Carolyn,
A fascinating tale – I don’t think it would bother me much at all. I’m thinking of ditching my smartphone next year because I hardly use it – the reception for mobile in our area is absolutely hopeless, and I really resent paying my monthly fee – it’s a waste of money.
I think it’s a shame we’re so attached to all this technology – I’m sure we miss out on a lot of ‘life’ while we’re glued to our screens. I don’t even take many pictures when I’m on holiday, because I’d rather just enjoy it and log the images in my memory banks than spend the time trying to line up shots 🙂
Sue
Hi Sue, That’s great that you wouldn’t be bothered at all by leaving your phone behind. I know that some people get by quite well without a phone, but I didn’t think I was one of those people. I guess you never really know until it happens to you.
It’s a shame you don’t have Ting in your country. My daughter barely uses her phone so I only pay $6/month when she doesn’t use the phone. I still like her having one for times when we need to stay in touch but I didn’t like paying high monthly fees when she barely uses it!
Besides two women discussing the gory details of child birth, I can’t think of anything that made me as uncomfortable as reading this post.
I’m glad you didn’t panic, but I was ill at ease all the way until the end. I still am.
I’ve gotten my own iPhone and set it next to me. It seems to be saying not to panic, too. It’s such a smart little phone. I do love it dearly.
Hi Brian, Lol, sorry, I didn’t mean for this to be a disturbing post, but I guess it can be…
Isn’t it amazing how dependent we can become on something that’s smaller than a deck of playing cards? How did that happen? 😉
You can always purchase a cheap disposable camera while on a trip. Or, frankly, buy a point-and-click that rivals (or probably betters) your iPhone’s camera and keep that tucked in your bag. Some of them have wi-fi capability now, so uploading is a snap.
The question is whether you’d be missing the *primary* function of the iPhone; namely, the *phone.* Sounds like you had more than enough alternatives that this wasn’t really an issue. So, the real question is: could you have survived without *any* gadgets? Now that would be something to write about.
Hi Rick, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! You’re exactly right. As a card-carrying polygadgetist, I shudder at the thought of taking a trip without any devices. I don’t even want to try that out, so writing about it probably won’t happen. 😉
Having my iPad along really made the journey quite bearable, especially with its data plan. Having my iPhone with me is ideal, but leaving it behind isn’t the End of the World after all.
Great article Carolyn I was chuckling as I read it wondering if people would really panic if they left their iPhone. Then I read the comments. Wow, I guess some would. Keep em coming…oh I loved that “Don’t Panic” on the iPhone picture so I had to pin it.
Hi Robert, Yes, I was surprised at the passionate responses the commenters had to this article. Clearly I struck a nerve with some people.
Thanks for the pin. Finding an image like that to use with my post is fun!
Surveys show that Android users never leave their phones behind. 😉
Sounds liked you managed quite well. I hear good things about Alaska, have to check it out one day.
Hello Jack, I am now a big fan of Alaska. The people are amazing and I loved the vast landscapes.
I can see why you wouldn’t leave your Note 2 behind. That Alaska-sized phone is a very handy device! 🙂
I think , it depends upon the person ..If he/she likes to blabber with other people , then it wouldn’t be a much difficult journey for him/her ..and it can be really a tough journey for people having opposite nature ..because cellphone is not only used for establishing contacts with others but also used for the purpose of self entertainment .
Hi Pramod, Good point. People may feel very cut off from the outside world without a phone. I was traveling with my family so I didn’t feel cut off at all. Traveling alone would have been very different though!
I think it sounds pretty shameful that we’ve already forgot our mother nature. I mean, we all have lived in ages when there was no cell phone or internet communication, I still can remember when I was a child it was a big deal if you bought a color TV or a HiFi tower. And I always laugh if somebody at my age can’t imagine his life without these gadgets anymore. Are they really important? Or they just make your life easier or more comfortable…are they really necessary for life? Or are they just accessoires for a life imagined and designed by others for the masses…
Hi Peter, Interesting points. I think with any technological advance that drastically changes our lives we struggle to imagine how people got by previously. Think electricity, phones, automobiles, television. central heating, airplanes, etc. I wonder what future generations will wonder about for us. How are we surviving without the next decade’s tech?
Carolyn, great story. Love the pictures of Alaska, especially that moose. Looks like the Ipad did a great job as the substitute.
So glad you enjoyed the story and the pictures. That moose was much friendlier than I expected him to be! The only downside of using my iPad instead of my iPhone was the lack of a flash on the iPad camera. No pictures of moose at night!
I think iPhone don’t have that brand worth, which it was having 1.5 years before. IPhone looks old and with the traditional IOS operating system. I think galaxy S4 and HTC One are good and cheaper options than iPhone 5. Also new iOS 7 is inspired with android OS to some extent and Apple is trying to maintain its success, but almost unsuccessful in doing it. And if i forget my iPhone at home, then i will simply ask my bro to send it to me via courier. 😉
Hi Maddy, Yes, I was only in Alaska for a long weekend, but if I were there for longer I probably could have looked at other options. My phone was locked in my car in an airport parking garage so that wasn’t an ideal location, but it was safe and sound when I returned.
inspiring incident of losing an iPhone while traveling. You have managed the stuff in better way by iPad, Google Plus, iMessages etc. sources. Recent technology has mixed up things on different platforms, and you have utilized that in better way. Right decision at a tough time.
Thanks, Narendra. Yes, my trip would have been very different had I been completely without gadgets. You’re right, gadgets can be somewhat interchangeable so I was nearly completely covered for my tech needs!
expecting the iwatch to replace the iphone and all. easy on your hand and never lost. adding more features like waterproof, more high tech, naked 3d. 😛
Hi Davide, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Yes, the iWatch may only pair with the iPhone though instead of replacing it. I had my Pebble watch along for the trip to Alaska and without my iPhone along the Pebble watch became merely a watch.
Great blog! The information you provide is quiet helpful, why I was not able to find it earlier. Anyways I’ve subscribed to your feeds, keep the good work up.
Hi Ryan, So glad you discovered The Wonder of Tech and have subscribed to the feeds. I hope you continue to enjoy The Wonder of Tech! 🙂
I have so much important things in my phone so forgetting it somewhere would be really terrible. Not sure how I would be able to handle a vacation without my phone 🙂
Hi Johan, Yes, many people keep vital information on their phones so being without their phone can be a big problem. I was fortunate to have other gadgets so I had the information I kept on my phone. Using apps such as Flight Update and TripIt! on both my phone and iPad meant that I wasn’t without vital information.
I hope you never leave your phone behind, Johan!