cnn travel 13 strangers

13 stranded strangers went on a road trip after their flight was canceled. Here's what happened

What do you do when your evening flight is canceled, you really need to be somewhere in the morning and there are no other available flights?

In the case of 13 total strangers in Orlando, Florida, in December, you hire a minivan, form an impromptu community and go on a "crazy" road trip -- taking hundreds of thousands of TikTok viewers along for the ride .

No one's quite sure exactly how it happened.

Michelle says it was her vision, but everyone else made it a reality. Carlos thinks it was Amy's idea, but he put down the credit card. Carlos' partner Laura says she'd never normally do anything like this. Laura's daughter Mikayla was in disbelief.

"When they first told me I looked at them like they were crazy. I'm like, 'You want to get into this big van with a bunch of random strangers?'" Mikayla tells CNN Travel .

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It was at Orlando International Airport in Florida. An evening Frontier Airlines flight to Knoxville, Tennessee had just been canceled. Stranded passengers were searching on their cell phones for other flights and lined up to speak to harried airport staff.

Michelle Miller, an influencer known as @thefarmbabe , was set to present at a conference in Knoxville that Tuesday. Carlos Cordero and Laura Puckering were taking their 17-year-old daughter Mikayla Puckering to tour the University of Tennessee. One passenger was heading to a custody battle. Someone else was helping a friend move to Mexico. Others just wanted to get home.

The travelers were from all over the US and beyond. They had one thing in common: their flight got canceled, and they wanted to travel that evening.

When the idea first started brewing to hire a van and drive overnight to Knoxville, Carlos and Laura said no. It sounded exhausting.

But then the couple saw their daughter Mikayla's face, crushed at the idea of missing the tour of her dream college.

"She had tears in her eyes," says Laura.

They approached another passenger, Amy, who'd been talking about the idea of hiring the van.

"I said, 'I'm down,'" recalls Carlos. "She was like, 'If you're down, I'm in.' Then some other lady came in and said, 'If you guys are in, I'm in.' And then it just manifested into 10-15 people."

They didn't have any hesitations after that, says Carlos.

"We got a really good vibe, because these are regular normal wholesome people trying to get home and having things that they need to take care of."

The gang of stranded passengers went downstairs to the car rental area. Carlos spotted Hertz had no lines, so he headed over. He was offered a 15-person van.

"So we rented it. And the rest is kind of history," he says.

Unexpected experience

As the group waited for the van, one of the passengers, Alanah Story, a twentysomething college graduate who works in media, started filming for her TikTok.

On the video , Alanah asked stranded passengers to introduce themselves and to explain how they'd found themselves stranded, and why they were renting a van with a bunch of strangers to drive across the country.

"If I thought that this was crazy, I knew other people might think it's crazy also," Alanah tells CNN Travel. "And so I just figured, this is a very unique bunch of people, we're all very different. So I don't know, maybe other people would want to see it too, because things like this just don't happen on the regular."

In the end, 13 stranded passengers joined the unexpected road trip.

"Thirteen of us plus luggage, it fit perfectly," says Michelle. "And we all just climbed aboard, and we're on our way."

It was around 9:30 p.m. when the group got on the road. They numbered themselves -- one to 13 -- so that whenever they stopped at a gas station for a bathroom break, they could make sure they'd rounded everyone back up again.

Carlos offered to kick off the driving.

"We made a plan: I was supposed to drive one or two or three hours. And then Amy was supposed to take it over -- number five -- and then I believe Michelle -- number 13 -- she volunteered as well," says Carlos.

In the end, Carlos did most of the driving, fueled by what he calls "the strongest cappuccino" from Dunkin' Donuts. For the first hour or so, another passenger -- Seth -- kept Carlos awake and alert with his stories about his job as a minister. Amy checked in on him throughout the journey, and later took over for an hour or so when Carlos needed a power nap.

In the back, some of the passengers talked about their lives, families and jobs. Other travelers attempted to sleep. But something was happening online -- Alanah's TikTok was gaining traction. People were commenting in droves, intrigued by the strangers who'd banded together to drive across the country. It was like a Hallmark movie, they insisted. The TikTok community was keen for an update.

"We were just reading the comments from people and we were laughing and we didn't expect this. It was like one million views after a few hours," says Laura. "We were like, 'What is going on?'"

On one of their gas station stops, three hours in, Alanah filmed an update . This time, the group leaned into the "this could be a movie" of it all.

One passenger, Q, joked that he, as the sole Black man in the group, would be the one to "die first," a nod to horror movie tropes. One of the passengers, Mexican farmer Adolf Froese -- who, along with his colleague Johan, had been dubbed "definitely Russian spies" by the commentators -- spoke entirely in Spanish.

Meanwhile, Michelle said she was only here for the snacks, and Alanah's mother Renee joked about stopping at the liquor store. The video started racking up views. It seemed like everyone could relate to someone in the van. Everyone was invested in their journey.

"We all were so different. And I think a big part of why people like it so much is because you could literally see our differences in real time," says Alanah.

"We were like a big dysfunctional family," says Michelle. "It was fun."

From strangers to friends

Several hours later, the group arrived in Knoxville -- tired, but happy.

"Everybody was so awesome. It almost went too perfect," says Carlos. "There was no traffic. Everyone got along, everyone pitched in. It was just seamless.

"It took collective effort. Everybody really had their own thing going on. But everybody cared about one another's ventures and responsibilities."

The only bump in the road was Michelle insisting on multiple bathroom breaks, which Alanah's mom Renee joked about in Alanah's final TikTok.

"That was all in good fun," says Alanah.

When they pulled up in Knoxville, the group went their separate ways.

Alanah and Renee headed back home. Michelle realized she was actually attending the same conference as not-actually-spies Johan and Adolf. And Mikayla, Carlos and Laura made it to the University of Tennessee just in time. They were greeted as minor celebrities -- many people at the college had heard what happened and followed the online updates. The college treated the family to lunch on the house.

A couple of days later, the group are still processing what happened. Laura says every time she thinks about the way the 13 strangers came together, she finds herself tearing up with gratitude.

She does caution that it's important to follow your intuition and exercise caution in this kind of situation -- "I don't want to make people think they can just get in a car with strangers," she says -- adding she felt more secure in the situation because she was with Carlos, and he was driving.

But she says she's heartened by the experience.

"I take away the fact that there are some really good people in this world. We were all different cultures, we were different backgrounds. It couldn't have gotten more perfect. So I don't have any regrets. No regrets whatsoever."

Her words are echoed by Alanah.

"I feel like this situation for me specifically kind of restored my trust and humanity a little bit," says Alanah. "There's definitely hope for people -- people, they can be good. And also, if you get the opportunity to go on a crazy adventure, you should take it, because you never know what's gonna come out of it."

Meanwhile, Carlos suggests the experience is a reminder of the importance of trying to "roll with the punches" when you can, especially while traveling, and to take a positive outlook on the tough and unexpected situations which will inevitably crop up from time to time.

"Things happen that none of us want or can control," he says. "Don't let the small stuff affect you. And you make the best of it."

After all those hours in the van, the group went from strangers to friends. Alanah is going to karaoke with Q on Thursday. Michelle and Laura hope to hang out next time they're in Orlando. Amy invited all 13 stranded passengers to visit her at her home in Mexico.

"Throughout the ride, I kept on saying, everything happens for a reason," says Mikayla. "If we would have went on that plane, none of this would have happened, we wouldn't have met these people."

Editor's note: This was originally published on Dec. 7, 2022.

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13 stranded strangers went on a road trip together. Here’s where they are a year later

I n December last year, after their flight from Orlando to Knoxville was unexpectedly canceled, 13 stranded strangers desperate to reach their destination rallied together, rented a van and hit the road.

It was a spontaneous decision that one of the passengers, Alanah Story, chronicled via a series of videos posted on TikTok . The relatability of the situation, teamed with the enthusiastic cast of characters along for the ride, quickly captivated social media users.

The van passengers hailed from across the globe, and everyone had a different reason for traveling that day. There was Carlos Cordero – who became the group’s main driver and de facto leader – and his then-fiancee Laura Puckering, who were taking their teenage daughter Mikayla Puckering to tour the University of Tennessee. Then there was Alanah and her mom Renee Fortner, who were on their way home from a beach vacation. Meanwhile, Michelle Miller, an influencer known as @thefarmbabe , was set to present at a conference in Knoxville and the clock was ticking.

In one of their TikTok dispatches , the group leaned into the whole “this could be a movie” vibe.

One passenger, Q, joked that he, as the sole Black man in the group, would be the one to “die first,” a nod to horror movie tropes. Michelle said she was only here for the snacks, and Renee quipped about stopping at the liquor store.

Social media was invested in their journey – it seemed like everyone could relate to someone in the van. And as Alanah’s TikToks gained traction online, the strangers in the van got to know one another during the long, overnight drive.

“Everybody was so awesome. It almost went too perfect,” said Carlos last year.

“It took collective effort. Everybody really had their own thing going on. But everybody cared about one another’s ventures and responsibilities.”

The group reached Knoxville tired but happy. Then they went their separate ways, promising to stay in touch.

And they actually did.

They set up with a group chat – entitled “Not fast, just furious”, a reference to their driving origin story and the car-themed movie franchise. Then, there came a buzz of media interest in their wild journey that the group navigated together. That came and went, but most of the passengers stayed connected.

Their night in the van had fast tracked their friendships. Soon there were weekend stays at one another’s homes. New Year’s Eve parties. Super Bowl Sundays. Nights spent bowling, playing mini golf and singing karaoke. And when Laura and Carlos got married earlier this year, they invited everyone along.

One year on from their wild van adventure, six of the passengers, Laura, Carlos, Mikayla, Alanah, Renee and Michelle jumped on a Zoom call to update CNN Travel on how they went from strangers to “family.”

“It’s just really cool that this happened out of a fluke of a flight getting canceled. We met these great people that we’re legit still friends with,” says Alanah.

Staying in touch

For those following along with the stranded passengers’ journey last year, 17-year-old Mikayla’s quest to make it to her University of Tennessee tour was perhaps one of the most engaging parts of the story.

Mikayla made it to the college tour – against the odds. And she was treated as a celebrity upon arrival, a memory that she and her parents Laura and Carlos still look upon with a mix of disbelief and gratitude.

But while Mikayla enjoyed visiting the University of Tennessee, she ended up going to Penn State University – and she’s absolutely loving it so far.

So far at Penn State, Mikayla has never been recognized as one of the viral stranded passengers. But when her roommate Googled her prior to them moving in together, she came across the myriad of online articles about her van adventure and sent them on, disbelieving.

“She was like, ‘Wait did you do this?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, that was me,’” says Mikayla, laughing.

Mikayla remembers that during the spontaneous road trip last December – as it became clear she and her parents had stumbled upon a warm, fun and genuine group of people– she kept thinking: “Everything happens for a reason.”

This sentiment has epitomized this past year for the stranded strangers turned friends. It crossed Alanah and her mother Renee’s minds at Laura and Carlos’ wedding, as they found themselves celebrating the marriage of a couple who, six months previously, they didn’t know at all.

“They’re like family now,” Alanah says. “We cut up whenever we’re together, we have a really good time. And so that’s what we did at their wedding. We just had a ball.”

“It was so nice they made it,” says Laura, who took Carlos’ name when they got married, becoming Laura Cordero.

Michelle couldn’t make the wedding, but she reunited with the group for Super Bowl Sunday. Renee gave Michelle her bedroom for that weekend – the sign of true friendship, Renee jokes.

Meanwhile Alanah and Q spent New Year’s Eve together and have enjoyed regular karaoke sessions.

“I talk to him literally like two or three times a week. That’s like my brother. I love him so much. We’re pretty close,” she says.

Some of the group also went ballroom dancing with Seth – one of the other passengers who shared some of the driving with Carlos during the van ride.

“It was so much fun,” says Alanah.

Seth also shared some of his poetry with Carlos and Laura.

“He made us cry,” says Carlos. “I love the guy, he’s so kind hearted.”

Some of the van passengers live further afield – like Mexican farmers Adolf and Johan – which makes staying in touch a little harder. But they still share updates on their lives in the group chat.

“They sent a video of them celebrating Thanksgiving at church, which was really cool,” says Michelle.

“They’re the kindest people,” adds Alanah.

Cinematic story

Laura and Carlos recently hosted Michelle for a movie night – the group wanted to check out a new Hallmark film that they suspected was, at least in part, inspired by their story.

“Holiday Road” is about a group of strangers who decide, when their flight is canceled, to rent a shared van and drive to their destination.

CNN Travel reached out to Hallmark for comment. A spokesperson for Hallmark previously told Business Insider that “Holiday Road” was “inspired by multiple news stories of strangers banding together across the country over the years” and “not based on any one story and all characters are wholly original.”

The real-life van passengers were somewhere between flattered and amused to learn about this film, which they say they weren’t aware of prior to its release. There’s no requirement for production companies to consult real-life subjects of fictional movies or TV shows, although they sometimes do.

“I guess we felt like we could have been included in it,” says Alanah. “I mean, it’s kind of cool, because who gets to say they have a movie made about their lives?”

“I was also pretty jealous of their van – it looked a little more comfortable. Ours was not comfortable,” says Laura, laughing.

While there’s still talk of a future movie in which the real-life passengers are more involved, some of the group feel like it’s a situation where the reality was cinematic enough in itself.

Alanah suggests a documentary might be the best format for telling their story.

“Our stories in themselves, without being dramatized, are still pretty entertaining,” she says. “I would love for it to be seen as what it actually is.”

One year on

The group recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of meeting when they were stranded at Orlando International Airport.

As the van ride anniversary passed, the friends found themselves weighing up the idea of going on another group road trip – a planned one, where “we won’t have to be sleep deprived, leaving at 10 p.m.,” as Mikayla puts it.

“It would be great to have a destination to go to,” says Renee. “Let’s go somewhere where we can all hang out, like a resort or something fun.

Meanwhile Carlos is in favor of going some place where they could do a “team activity.”

Whatever the future holds, the group are just thankful for their unlikely, enduring friendship.

“For all of us to have become as close as we are. I mean, I’d never have guessed it. I’m very thankful though, because they’re all just amazing,” says Laura.

“We’re truly blessed. The fact that we did find good people – and then it’s not just one or two, it’s pretty much everyone in the van,” adds Carlos.

For Carlos, the experience has been a reminder to not “lose faith” in strangers, and remain “open hearted.”

“We all need to be a little bit more humble, and more kind,” he says.

His words are echoed by Alanah.

“It’s really important to realize that even though you come from all walks of life, people thrive best, when they’re in a community. And that’s something we were able to develop amongst each other,” agrees Alanah.

“There’s community for everyone. Even people who are super different, we can still find a way to level with each other, and come together.”

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

Many of the stranded strangers, depicted here in an illustration by CNN's Leah Abucayan, ended up staying in touch. - Leah Abucayan/CNN

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After their flight got cancelled, here's how 13 strangers decided to reach their destination

According to a recent Today report, 13 passengers were left stranded at an airport in the United States’ Orlando, which resulted in all of them renting a minivan and venturing on a road trip of more than 10 hours

Delay and cancellation of flights are nothing new in this post-pandemic era. But the scenario is nothing less than the worst nightmare. While waiting for another flight or taking the nearby waiting room appears to be unwanted labour, it seems like the most sensible option which truly every traveler wants to avoid. However, it was an unexpected flight cancellation that scripted a different story for 13 passengers, who decided to go on an impromptu road trip. According to a recent Today report, 13 passengers were left stranded at an airport in the United States’ Orlando, which resulted in all of them renting a minivan and venturing on a road trip of more than 10 hours. The report claimed that a woman of those 13 named Amy came forward and announced “anyone who wanted to try driving north to the final destination” then they may join her and travel in a rented vehicle.

After their flight was canceled late on Sunday, 13 strangers decided to rent a van and drive all the way from Orlando to Knoxville, Tennessee https://t.co/7Eac8JuNSu pic.twitter.com/903o48UxXZ — CNN International (@cnni) December 7, 2022

If you are wondering, all 13 were devastated after the cancellation of their flight as they needed to reach Knoxville for several reasons. Now, reportedly the 13 strangers got together, rented a minivan, and set out to travel on the road for over 10 hours. What appears nothing less than a movie plot, one of the passengers took the opportunity to record their quirky journey on social media, garnering millions of views.

In a conversation with CNN Travel , one of the passengers, Mikayla said, “When they first told me I looked at them like they were crazy, I’m like, ‘You want to get into this big van with a bunch of random strangers?” Despite the fact that 13 of them came together in surprising circumstances, all the strangers, who belong to different ages and backgrounds, started developing a rapport, in a 15-seater rented van.

Speaking to CNN , another passenger, Carlos said that all of them got into creating “a really good vibe” as they all were the “regular normal wholesome people trying to get home and having things that they need to take care of.” Among those 13 passengers, there was a college graduate named Alanah Story. She documented their journey on TikTok, and users were amused by the unforeseen circumstances.

While the video has gone viral, social media users claim it to be nothing less than a script of a film. Alanah was quoted as saying by CNN , “If I thought that this was crazy, I knew other people might think it’s crazy also. And so I just figured, this is a very unique bunch of people, we’re all very different. So I don’t know, maybe other people would want to see it too because things like this just don’t happen on the regular.”

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13 stranded strangers went on a road trip together. Here’s where they are a year later

By Francesca Street, CNN

(CNN) — In December last year, after their flight from Orlando to Knoxville was unexpectedly canceled, 13 stranded strangers desperate to reach their destination rallied together, rented a van and hit the road.