It was19th Dec’10, the day we were waiting to come back home - . The flight was at 8 PM and we planned to start around 3:30 PM from our hotel. We did the packing of our 4 bags to keep the entire luggage according to the weight rules. We changed it 4 times in order to balance the weights. Finally our (Amit and mine) cabin bags weighed around 15 kgs. As we didn’t have any option, we felt we have to live with that.
Finally we started from the hotel and it took half an hour to reach the airport. We saw a lot of confused people in the airport. I started wondering as to what it was all about and then Amit told me about the cancellation of flights due the bad weather in London (Europe). So, as expected our flight was also cancelled and we waited in line to check what was store for us, facing such a situation for the first time. We stood in the line looking at the counters and talking to other familiar Indian faces and their plans. We got our turn and the lady who stood over there took our passports and tickets and disappeared for almost half an hour. We were just discussing the options that we have in case we need to take another flight. The lady came and told us that we have got the best booking possible. We hoped that it really was the best and asked her what it was. She told us that it was for 21st evening in Etihad Airways. We have to take a domestic flight from Atlanta to Chicago and from Chicago to Abu Dhabi and then to Hyderabad. We asked her if there was any other option available. She said that there is no other option and that they had booked the best possible one for us. We didn’t have any other option but to laugh at ourselves. She told us that they will provide accommodation for the two days in an airport hotel. Looking at the uncertainty, we thought fine. We stayed in the hotel for two nights updating facebook about our status and agony. We faced some difficulty in getting our luggage to the hotel and to the airport on 21st, however considering that the check-in is through (directly to Hyderabad from Atlanta) we felt little relieved.
We were in airport on 21st by 12:30 PM waiting for the American Airlines domestic flight at 4:20 PM. At 3:30 PM, we got an announcement that the flight is delayed by one hour to 5:30 PM. The next flight to Chicago was cancelled.. We felt happy that our flight didn’t get cancelled. As the international flight to Abu Dhabi was at 8 PM, we thought we can catch it easily as our luggage was already checked in. We got another announcement that the flight got delayed by one more hour and it was now scheduled at 6:30 PM. We thought that with some luck, we will be able to make it as the weather in Chicago was not good and the international flight might get delayed. And luckily our flight to Chicago started on time (6:30 PM) and reached Chicago by 7:40 PM. However because of bad weather, they didn’t open the gates. So, we had to be in the flight till 9:00 PM. Once we reached Etihad Airlines counter, they told the flight was on-time and left already.
Tired of the drama, we asked them what can be done now. She told us that there was no flight to Hyderabad till 28th, but there was a flight to Mumbai on 22nd with a wait list from Chicago to Abu-Dhabi. Left with no option, we agreed for that. When we asked for accommodation, they told that they don’t take the responsibility for American Airlines domestic flight delay. We asked them that as there was collaboration between AA and Etihad, they should be taking the responsibility. They informed us that AA has to take the responsibility but they don’t give the accommodation. They advised us to take the discount coupon and stay in the hotel and try our luck tomorrow and added that, “All the 12 people in the wait list got cleared today and you can clear the wait list tomorrow certainly”.. To rely on the unreliable - luck. The flight is till Mumbai and they won’t book the ticket to Hyderabad. If we need Hyderabad ticket, we have to wait till 28th. So, we left that option and agreed for the wait list.
We were in airport on 21st by 12:30 PM waiting for the American Airlines domestic flight at 4:20 PM. At 3:30 PM, we got an announcement that the flight is delayed by one hour to 5:30 PM. The next flight to Chicago was cancelled.. We felt happy that our flight didn’t get cancelled. As the international flight to Abu Dhabi was at 8 PM, we thought we can catch it easily as our luggage was already checked in. We got another announcement that the flight got delayed by one more hour and it was now scheduled at 6:30 PM. We thought that with some luck, we will be able to make it as the weather in Chicago was not good and the international flight might get delayed. And luckily our flight to Chicago started on time (6:30 PM) and reached Chicago by 7:40 PM. However because of bad weather, they didn’t open the gates. So, we had to be in the flight till 9:00 PM. Once we reached Etihad Airlines counter, they told the flight was on-time and left already.
We went to the airport hotel without knowing what to do - tired and exhausted. We got up in the morning wondering what was going to be in store for us that day. By the time we went to airport, we found many people sitting there looking with some hope at the ticket counters. We happened to talk to them and the story was same. Most of them stayed in the same hotel that we stayed. They informed that they will let us know the wait list position at 7 PM. It was much worse than waiting in Indian banks for loans or train tickets in Indian railway station or waiting for counseling during EAMCET. They called one by one and we saw an ironic smile on their face. Finally called both of our names and we were left with 30 min to board the flight. There was some drama at the counter where Amit was standing to get the boarding pass. And for me, they gave the boarding pass from Chicago to Abu-Dhabi and asked me to collect the boarding pass from Abu-Dhabi to Mumbai in Abu-Dhabi and he didn’t return my ticket also. Finally Amit boarded the flight and sat beside me. The best moment after 19th Evening was to see both of us sitting in the flight to home. I got the boarding pass without much fuss in Abu-Dhabi.
The story didn’t end there. We reached Mumbai around 3:30 AM and it took almost 1.5 hours to get our luggage from luggage claim in the international airport. We had to go to the domestic airport and catch our flight to Hyderabad at 6:20 AM. As we didn’t know whether we would be boarding the international flight or not, we didn’t book the flight ticket from Mumbai to Hyderabad. It was booked by our company (ADP) when we called them after boarding the flight. It took more than an half an hour to get the ticket, and another half an hour to reach the domestic airport.. We missed the Hyderabad flight by 10 min. But luckily with some additional pay, we got the next flight at 7:30 AM and we landed in Hyderabad around 9:30 AM.
So, when it happens – it will happen. Better “let it go” and be serene and look for what is the best that can be done in that situation. If nothing can be done, stop worrying and face the music.
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