Well, this post belongs in the rant/vent category, on the troubles trying to get out of the "Best City in the World".
After spending Friday assisting with an internal Architecture conference at The Swiss-Grand on Bondi Beach.
Things where going well, until the end of the day that is. Here is a long history of events:
- 1730 - sms notification our 7pm Flight Cancelled
- 1815 - next flight is 9pm
- 1945 - Electrical Storm Hits, buckets down
- Hail taxi, didn't take too long, except for treading water to get bags in the back
- 2030 - board our doomed flight
- 2115 - our plane is broken and we get kicked out
- 2215 - at the other end of the airport we get shuffled on to a shiny new plane, when does that takeoff curfew end???
- 2300 - crap the curfew is till 11pm, we are still on the runway, and my socks are really wet
- phew, there is some other runway we can use that goes over the bay
- boo, now it's windy
- boo, now planes need to land
- boo, now it's still windy
- 23:?? - everyone gives up, we're screwed
- 00:25 - we are back at the terminal and were stuck in the entry walkway, the doors are locked shut somehow and they can't open it up...
- 00:40 - ok, we're inside. hmm, what is going on now, will virgin be finding us a hotel, now, since we are out of towners and they are partly responsible - No apparently not, they recommend we all line up and stay in the airport unless you have some friends you don't mind waking up and as long as you don't mind paying for a cab. 300 people, 1 staff member to reschedule everyone, that's going to be quick
- hmm - we weren't the only plane, there are a few others around and about 3 qantas planes as well
- 00:50 - we grab a cab, the first 3 hotels near by are chock full, apparently ppl have been grabbing accommodation for hours, BOO
- We start ringing ahead for known hotels, hmm, still full
- yay, finally we have a bed
- 01:48 - yay sleep time
- 07:30 - I ring virgin and arrange for another flight, bit of a problem, as far as they know I boarded
- First flight I can get out is 1300, boo
- 10:45 - Surely Virgin will give us complementary Lounge visit for our troubles
- BOOO!!! - Virgin says No
- Thumbs down to virgin
For me, besides missing my fam, I can just laugh it off, I feel really sorry for the unaccompanied minor who was also staying in Sydney for the night, poor little guy must have only been about 10.
What's going on with Sydney airport, how much slack is in the system for schedule slippage?
What were the real Cascading Failures (see Release It Post) , that led to the late night chaos, will I ever find out?
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