February 16, 2007
Indian Escapades
What
is the point of trying to screen calls when people use private numbers or calling cards to call?
Very sneaky, that. It totally defeats the purpose. And, it's kinda rude to hang up once you've picked up. Maybe next time I should only answer calls from numbers that I know.
Anyhow, just back in town from a quick trip to India. That country is one place that succeeds despite itself, thanks to the private sector. The public sector is a mess but companies continue to thrive and flourish despite the harsh operating environment. Basically, the best thing that the government can do is just stay out of the way and not crap out too much; this is a comment I've heard repeated from many many people.
And, I almost had to face the dire prospect of being stranded in India, thanks to flight delays and stupid travel agents. I caught my flight back home with 5 minutes to spare, just 300 seconds before the flight was supposed to take off. I swear, all this adrenaline isn't good for my heart. Enduring the slowest bus ride in the history of Bangalore International (since the fool of an agent booked me on a turbo-prop plane that had to be parked at a tarmac at the far end of the airport), mad dashes through the airport, serious queue cutting to get to the front of a line of at least 200 people, lots of pleading with various airport staff to get my boarding pass and more mad-dashing through the airport. In 3-inch heels, no less.
Only to find that when I get to the gate, there's at least 20 people in front of me waiting to board. Geez.
But, I'm glad I made it. (Although in the end, the gate didn't close for an additional 10 minutes, and we didn't take off until 30 minutes after the scheduled time.) Being stranded in Bangalore, with Chinese New Year just around the corner, is not the best way to start the year off.
Time to head out. Whoohoo :D Have a good one, folks.
And btw, here's the extended version of the whole flight fiasco.
My original flight, scheduled for 2035 from Hyderabad to Bangalore, was delayed till 2230. My international flight was scheduled for 2310 from Bangalore. So I cancelled one ticket, made frantic calls to make sure that SQ knew I was getting in and wouldn't leave without me and bought another ticket for a flight that left at 2055 and got in at 2225. SQ said, as long as you get to Bangalore by 2245 we will wait for you.
Then, later, while waiting for my flight, I realised that there was an EARLIER flight on another airline that the staff did not tell me about which would have gotten me in at 2200. It was too late to get on that one, so I stuck to my original plan. And when I got to the plane it was one of those fucking turbo-prop planes. And the stupid girl at the check-in counter didn't tell me that it was a turbo prop with entrance from the rear AND acceded to my request to be put right in the front so I could get off first.
Anyhow, I got on the plane, changed seats so that I could be right at the back and just prayed throughout the whole flight that I wouldn't be late. I got to Bangalore at 2230 BUT because it was one of those turbo-prop planes we had to park at the tarmac and take a bus. And I swear, the bus driver was the slowest I have ever seen. He stopped at every bump, every pothole. And all the while inwardly I'm screaming "GET A FUCKING MOVE ON!" and looking at my watch every second. Finally, at 2240 we reach the terminal, I grab my bag which weighed like 8 kg from all the research and sprinted through the terminal to get to the international departure terminal.
Only to find like 200 people in queue, and the security guard would not let me cut queue despite my pleas. By now it was 2245. So I asked some guy to let me cut queue, and I kept cutting queue until I reached the front of the line. I made it to the SQ counter at 2250, and of course the counter's closed. Thankfully there was a staff member in the office so I kept waving at her and when she came out I explained that my flight had been delayed, I'd been pre-checked in and I had no check-in baggage. So she said that she would try to get me on the flight.
5 minutes later, she came out and said, we can only put you on economy because we gave away your business class seat. And I'm like, you can fucking put me in cargo for all I care. So, after another 5 minutes, by which time it's 2300, they gave me a boarding pass and told me to run. With a staff member in tow to help me cut queue, I ran and ran and ran through the whole airport, in my 3 inch heels, and when I got to the gate, there were TWENTY people in line. And they said "Oh miss, you can relax now."
In the end, I got on the plane at 2305, the doors shut at 2320 and we didn't take off till 2340.
:D
Posted by scrabbyfoo at February 16, 2007 04:45 PM