Help me to have dinner!

January 10, 2009 5:05 PM

I'm in the Atlanta airport, penniless except for a memorized credit card number, expiration date and security code. Is there any way I can eat dinner?

I just got back from Brazil with only Brazilian currency in my possession (I packed my cards and dollars in my checked luggage, stupidly by accident). My flight was late, I missed a connection, and now I am booked on a much later flight than expected. The currency exchange here in the airport refuses to exchange my reais.

Other than trying to sell one of my possessions to a unwitting stranger, which I doubt would work, can anyone think of anything I can do? I just seems wrong that I can buy overpriced airport on-line access using my memorized card number, but not food.

posted by umbú to grab bag (23 comments total)

Ask your airline for meal vouchers.
posted by Orinda at 5:11 PM on January 10

Have you tried asking a restaurant hostess if they can run your card by you giving them the information?

Is there a flight about to depart for Brazil? Maybe someone will give you cash for your Brazilian currency if they are heading that way?
posted by Pater Aletheias at 5:14 PM on January 10

Or, find the departure lounge for a Brazil-bound flight and see if any of the outbound passengers there would be willing to do an informal currency exchange with you. Give them a good rate, of course.
posted by Orinda at 5:14 PM on January 10

You could ask the airline to let you into the club/lounge area. For example, if it is Continental airlines, ask to be admitted into the Presidents Club Lounge. They have free snacks and drinks.
posted by Houstonian at 5:20 PM on January 10

Have you tried asking a restaurant hostess if they can run your card by you giving them the information?

Technically speaking, this should be possible. All terminals I've dealt with have the option for manual entry in case the magnetic strip is shot.
The trick is getting someone to do this for you.

I suppose you could always eat at a restaurant, and pull the "CRAP, I must have accidentally left my CC is in my checked luggage!" card and give your info then...
posted by jmd82 at 5:20 PM on January 10

Hmmm, could you call a restaurant at the airport, place an order and pay for it over the phone and then go pick it up? If they seem reluctant you could say you're not actually at the airport but are on your way, are worried you're going to be late for your flight and just want to swoop in, pick up your food, and run to your gate.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:23 PM on January 10 [3 favorites]

Can you order a pizza online to be delivered? Pick it up at the baggage claim or something? You'd have to go through security, though.
posted by Stewriffic at 5:24 PM on January 10

Here's a list of the lounges and their locations in your airport. Surely they'd give you a day pass in, as it costs them nothing, if their flight was late and caused the problem.
posted by Houstonian at 5:29 PM on January 10

If you have a sufficiently long layover (I'd want to allow at least 2 hours before boarding for this scheme) you MIGHT be able to order food online or over the phone (chain pizza, for example) and get the delivery driver to meet you at a specified point such as "just outside the first door on the arrivals level." You must make sure, though, that the driver is willing to go along with this plan. And you must tip well. Note that this plan will require you to go outside security and re-enter, which is one reason to allow plenty of time for it.

Pater Aletheias also had a potentially workable plan. Have you tried asking around to see if anyplace is willing to run your card by punching in the digits? I think most if not all credit card terminals allow this, in case the magnetic stripe on a card is damaged. (Or in case of phone/internet orders, at some businesses.) The question is whether any place is willing to do that for you. It may be against the rules. (On preview, jmd82 and Lentrohamsanin have some slightly underhanded but possibly effective ideas for getting around the rules.)

Really, though, if your airline screwed you over by making you miss your connection, THEY should be the ones solving this problem for you.
posted by Orinda at 5:30 PM on January 10

Yeah, these ideas are good ones. I think the hump that I have to get over (and probably I'll get to a point where my grumbling stomach will make it easier to overcome) is that I'm afraid that going to a restaurant would risk appearing to be a scam.

My layover isn't quite long enough to do the "deliver to the arrivals level" idea.

Hmmm...
posted by umbú at 5:36 PM on January 10

I'd certainly try the airline and ask for meal vouchers.
posted by arcticseal at 5:51 PM on January 10

Complain to your airline about the late flight/missed connection and they should feed you.
posted by nowonmai at 5:52 PM on January 10

What's the risk in appearing to be a scam? It's not like they'll arrest you.

Offer to sell another passenger 10 minutes' use of your internet for a cheeseburger?
posted by autojack at 6:55 PM on January 10

Ask for vouchers first!! Easiest and most straightforward option. Only try the others if that doesn't work.
posted by mingodingo at 7:03 PM on January 10

It would cost you of course, but you could wire yourself some money.
posted by dawson at 7:11 PM on January 10

If asking for a voucher doesn't work (and I totally agree that you should try that first) and you can't con your way into the lounge, you may be able to purchase a day pass for the lounge on the airline's website if you have a frequent-flyer account.
posted by cabingirl at 7:17 PM on January 10

Can you get a cash advance on your credit card?
posted by JayRwv at 7:27 PM on January 10

Hey, thanks all. I pleaded for a voucher, and ended up getting one. Crisis averted.
posted by umbú at 10:01 PM on January 10

For future reference, another possibility would be to call your credit card company and ask if they can help you. They might have some sort of travellers assistance for situations like this.
posted by zippy at 10:35 PM on January 10

You could also convert your currency
posted by amtho at 3:30 AM on January 11

amtho, from the question: "The currency exchange here in the airport refuses to exchange my reais." If one Travelex desk refuses, probably the other will, too.

umbú, I'm glad you got fed.
posted by Orinda at 5:45 AM on January 11

maybe you dont need it any more but you could call Western Union and send some money to yourself and collect it at the exchange (you will need passport/drivers license or other valid ID.
posted by london302 at 6:08 AM on January 11

Reading this post late, but glad you made it back to New Orleans okay!
posted by radioamy at 2:56 PM on January 11