1 Year On: The Life-Changing Journey of 13 Unlikely Travel Companions
13 strangers, stranded and bound by fate, embarked on an unforgettable road trip after their flight was canceled A year later, their incredible journey has forged unbreakable bonds, creating a heartwarming tale of friendship and shared experiences
Last December, when their flight from Orlando to Knoxville was suddenly canceled, 13 stranded strangers banded together, rented a van, and embarked on a road trip to reach their destination.
One of the passengers, Alanah Story, documented the spontaneous decision through a series of TikTok videos. The relatable nature of the situation, combined with the lively group of people on the journey, quickly captured the attention of social media users.
Passengers from around the world filled the van, each with their own unique reason for traveling. Carlos Cordero and his then-fiancée Laura Puckering were taking their daughter Mikayla on a tour of the University of Tennessee, with Carlos serving as the group's main driver and de facto leader. Alanah and her mother Renee Fortner were returning from a beach vacation, while influencer Michelle Miller, also known as @thefarmbabe, was racing against the clock to present at a conference in Knoxville. In one of their TikTok videos, the group played into the idea that their journey could be the plot of a movie.
One passenger, Q, playfully mentioned that he, as the only Black man in the group, would probably be the "first to go," in a reference to horror movie clichés. Michelle declared that she was only interested in the snacks, and Renee joked about making a pit stop at the liquor store.
Many of the stranded strangers, depicted here in an illustration by CNN's Leah Abucayan, ended up staying in touch.
Leah Abucayan/CNN
Social media was excited about their journey - it felt like everyone could connect with someone in the van. As Alanah's TikTok videos gained popularity online, the strangers in the van bonded during the long, overnight drive.
"Everyone was amazing. It felt like it was almost too good to be true," Carlos said last year.
The group arrived in Knoxville exhausted but content. Afterwards, they bid farewell and vowed to keep in touch as they pursued their individual endeavors.
And they actually did.
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The group established a chat under the name "Not fast, just furious", a nod to their driving roots and the car-themed film series. As media attention swirled around their adventurous trip, the majority of the passengers remained in touch even after the buzz faded.
The night they spent in the van had quickly strengthened their friendships, leading to weekend stays at each other's homes, New Year's Eve parties, Super Bowl Sundays, and fun nights of bowling, mini golf, and karaoke. Earlier this year, when Laura and Carlos got married, they invited everyone to celebrate with them.
Now, one year after their memorable van adventure, Laura, Carlos, Mikayla, Alanah, Renee, and Michelle gathered on a Zoom call to share with CNN Travel how they had transformed from strangers to "family."
"Its just really cool that this happened out of a fluke of a flight getting canceled. We met these great people that were legit still friends with," says Alanah.
Staying in touch
Many of the stranded strangers became good friends. Pictured here: Renee, Laura, Alanah, Seth and Carlos.
Rewritten
As we followed the journey of the stranded passengers last year, one of the most captivating parts of the story was 17-year-old Mikayla's determination to make it to her University of Tennessee tour.
Mikayla defied the odds by making it to the college tour. Upon her arrival, she was treated like a celebrity, leaving her and her parents, Laura and Carlos, in a state of disbelief and gratitude. Although she enjoyed visiting the University of Tennessee, she ultimately chose to attend Penn State University and is absolutely loving it.
During her time at Penn State, Mikayla has never been acknowledged as one of the viral stranded passengers. However, when her roommate searched her online before they moved in together, she discovered numerous articles about Mikayla's van adventure and sent them to her in disbelief.
"She was like, 'Wait, did you do this?' And I was like, 'Yeah, that was me,'" Mikayla says, laughing.
Mikayla fondly recalls the spontaneous road trip last December, where she and her parents encountered a warm, fun, and genuine group of people, reaffirming her belief that "Everything happens for a reason."
This belief has been the theme of the past year for the once stranded strangers turned friends. It was on display at Laura and Carlos' wedding, where Alanah and her mother Renee celebrated the marriage of a couple they had not even known six months earlier.
"They're like family now," Alanah explained. "We always have a blast when we're together and really enjoy each other's company. The wedding was no different - we had an amazing time."
"It was wonderful that they were able to make it," Laura commented. She took Carlos' last name when they got married and became Laura Cordero.
Here's Alanah with Laura, Mikayla and Carlos at Laura and Carlos' wedding.
Per Laura Cordero's request:
Unfortunately, Michelle was unable to attend the wedding, but she did join the group for Super Bowl Sunday. Renee generously offered Michelle her bedroom for the weekend, joking that it was a true sign of friendship.
Meanwhile, Alanah and Q celebrated New Year's Eve together and frequently enjoy karaoke sessions.
"I talk to him at least two or three times a week. He's like a brother to me. I care about him a lot. We're really close," she explains.
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.
Here's Renee, Alanah and Michelle on Super Bowl Sunday.
Courtesy Laura Cordero
Seth also shared some of his poetry with Carlos and Laura.
"Carlos says he made us cry. He's such a kind-hearted guy, I love him," says Carlos.
Some of the van passengers, like Mexican farmers Adolf and Johan, live further away, making it a little harder to stay in touch. Nevertheless, 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.
"Theyre the kindest people," adds Alanah.
13 stranded strangers went on a road trip. Heres what happened
Cinematic story
Here's Michelle, Renee and Q hanging out.
Laura Cordero, with the company of Carlos, played host to Michelle for a movie night. The group's choice was a new Hallmark film that they believed might have drawn inspiration from their own experiences.
The movie "Holiday Road" follows a group of strangers who, after their flight is canceled, opt to rent a shared van and embark on a road trip to their destination. Asked for a comment, Hallmark disclosed to CNN Travel that the film was influenced by various news stories of strangers coming together during travels, and clarified that it is not based on any specific event and all the characters are entirely original.
The real-life van passengers were both flattered and amused upon learning about the film, which they claim to have been unaware of prior to its release. While there is no obligation for production companies to consult with real-life subjects of fictional movies or TV shows, they do so on occasion.
"I suppose we felt like we could have been involved in it," Alanah remarked. "It's pretty cool, because not everyone can 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.
Michelle's enjoyed staying at Laura, Carlos and Mikayla's house.
Courtesy Laura Cordero
Some members of the group believe that the real-life passengers should have a more active role in any future movie, while others think that the actual events were dramatic enough on their own. Alanah recommends that a documentary would be the most effective way to share their story.
She says, “Our stories are entertaining without any need for dramatization. I want them to be appreciated for what they truly are.”
Two strangers who shared a hotel room became lifelong best friends.
One year on
The group think it would be fun to go on another road trip together -- a planned one this time.
Laura Cordero
The group commemorated the one-year milestone of their initial meeting, which took place when they were stranded at Orlando International Airport.
As the anniversary of their van ride came and went, the friends contemplated the possibility of embarking on another group road trip - one that was well-planned and did not involve sleep deprivation from leaving at 10 p.m., as Mikayla expressed.
Renee suggests, "It would be fantastic to have a specific place to visit. Let's go somewhere we can all relax and have fun, like a resort."
Meanwhile, Carlos prefers the idea of going to a location where they can participate in a "team activity."
The group is grateful for their unexpected but long-lasting friendship, no matter what the future may bring. "I never would have imagined us becoming so close. I'm really thankful because they're all truly amazing," Laura expresses.
For all of us to have become as close as we are, I mean, Id never have guessed it. Im very thankful though, because theyre all just amazing
Laura Cordero
"We are incredibly fortunate. It's not just one or two, but pretty much everyone in the van that we have found to be good people," says Carlos.
The experience has reminded Carlos to not "lose faith" in strangers and to 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 important to understand that regardless of our backgrounds, we thrive best when we're part of a community. That's something we were able to cultivate among ourselves," Alanah acknowledges.
"There's a sense of community for everyone. Even those who are very different from each other, we can still connect and come together."
