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'I had my bags packed': Luke Pell reveals he'd already checked into his flight to LA when ABC 'dumped' him from The Bachelor

Published: 20:40 EST, 1 September 2016 | Updated: 10:23 EST, 2 September 2016

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He was literally ready to go when the phone rang Sunday night.

Luke Pell, 31, reveals he was checked into his Monday morning flight to Los Angeles and was relaxing at home around 10 p.m. Sunday night when ABC producers called to break the news he wasn't going to be The Bachelor.

'They said ABC had decided to quote-unquote go in a different direction...... I had my bags packed and everything,' he told UsWeekly.

Bumped: Luke Pell, seen leaving a gym in Nashville on Wednesday, had his bags packed and was checked into a flight to LA when ABC told him he wasn't going to be The Bachelor after all

Instead, ABC announced that Nick Viall would be the man hoping to find love on the new season of the popular reality show.

Pell, who was rejected by The Bachelorette JoJo Fletcher, had already agreed contracts with the network and exchanged details about the start of production.

It had seemed all set: Pell had even arranged with his sister, pictured with him, to do some filming for the show and come on a date to give advice

'We had planned for intro filming and had planned to have my sister come on for a date and give advice as part of the show,' the West Point alum and war vet explained to the magazine.

'I met with the wardrobe guys. Everything was moving forward. Everyone on the production level was expecting it to be me, as well.'

The entrepreneur and aspiring country star says he has 'come to accept the decision' which, he acknowledges, was 'a huge surprise.'

Unexpected change of plan: The West Point alum and military vet who lives in Nashville, Tennessee, said he has come to accept the decision even though it was 'a huge surprise'

Pell will now focus his energies on his life in Nashville including his songwriting dream.

Entertainment Tonight claimed producers changed their minds and ditched Pell after seeing the positive reaction to Viall on ABC's Bachelor In Paradise.

'ABC called Nick very last minute - just a couple of days before the announcement - and made him an offer, a source told the show.

Last minute change: Pell, seen with JoJo Fletcher on The Bachelorette, was dumped in favor of Nick Viall

Nick has been runner-up on The Bachelorette twice, first on Andi Dorfman's season in 2014 and again on Kaitlyn Bristowe's season last year, before going on to appear on the current dramatic season of Bachelor In Paradise.

On Wednesday, Kaitlyn - who dumped Nick just as he was about to get down on one knee and propose - insisted she's happy to hear the 35-year-old is getting another chance at finding love.

Kaitlyn shared her reaction with Us Weekly after hearing the surprising news, saying: 'I'm happy for him! Everyone deserves to find someone. I hope it works out.'