Stranded San Francisco Musician Hits Right Note To Snag Flight Home From New York
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - Jeremy Korpas had been couch surfing for days after the blizzard canceled his Dec. 26 flight home.
"The most amazing thing that I saw was the two-mile line for McDonald's. That's when I realized nobody was going anywhere," he said.
So the guitarist left John F. Kennedy International piled with stranded travelers asleep on the floor, not sure when he would be flying back to the Bay Area.
The first flight he could book was Jan. 6, days after his next gig.
KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:
Back at the terminal a few days later, he stayed on his best behavior in a sea of frustrated travelers.
He was patient and kind to the ticket agent as he waited at the airport.
"When everybody was yelling at them, I was just being nice. I just stood there and smiled and didn't say anything and didn't complain."
Korpas wound up with the only standby seat on a Virgin America flight to San Francisco International on Wednesday night, with an upgrade from a ticketing agent who appreciated his gentle demeanor.
"She upgraded me to first class and I had drinks on the plane... it was great."
"I gave her a big hug and now I'm home," he said.
So Korpas is back in time to play guitar with Big Light at Cafe du Nord on New Year's Eve, proof it often pays to be kind.
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