Photos curtesy of Hussein Kozhaya
By 18:30, the crowds taking the Germania ST-4008 to Beirut were back in the hall. By 19:30, the desk was open for us to check in our luggage and we were given new boarding passes. We went through all the controls again and made ourselves comfortable by the gate. I distanced myself from the crowds. I needed to be away from the negative chattering. The counter to the plane was at the end of a corridor. By 21:00 passengers were gathered at the counter and I was fighting off the presentiment that that flight would also be cancelled. By 21:30, still no one was at the counter to let us in. We could see the plane from the glass and people were discussing the "absurd" possibility of the flight being cancelled again. Someone said, well it is a starry night tonight, and it ain't snowing. What would be the excuse for not being able to fly out? Icy runways? Uncomfortable smiles followed and I augmented the volume of the music I was listening to. Shortly before 22:00, a representative came to the desk and announced that the flight was cancelled. Passengers started bombarding him with questions about compensation, what to do, etc. I had already figured out what I had to do. I texted my manager that the flight was cancelled again and jumped forward towards the man. I am usually collected and stand politely in line but at that moment, I needed to get thru and pushed away several people to ask my question: where can I collect my luggage? I needed to get out. And fast...
We were ushered once more through passport control and out to collect our luggage. I had already booked my Middle East Airlines (MEA) ticket from Frankfurt to Beirut online. And it was too late to take a flight from Munich to Frankfurt. Yeah. Night time was a strictly enforced rule and I could hardly fly out on a cargo plane. A couple of people had asked me what I intended to do, since I seemed determined and knew my way out. I simply replied, "I am not spending another unnecessary minute in this airport. I'm going to Frankfurt and flying out from there". My friend had meanwhile texted me that Germania had filed for bankruptcy, which meant we would not be compensated for the repeated delays nor the tickets. I didn't worry much about mine: it had cost less than 80 euros and it was the waiting and the waste of time that was getting on my nerves. Our group of three headed to the railway station, where we purchased our train tickets to Frankfurt. It felt good to be doing something at last! We stopped at Starbucks for something warm to drink then boarded the night train. We arrived in Frankfurt as scheduled and sat at a cafe near the counters for breakfast. Once my luggage and boxes were checked in, I felt lighter and started looking for some fine lingerie shop until it was boarding time.
Eventually, the MEA flight took off. It was on time and when we landed, if the passengers had clapped, for once, I would have joined in, instead of just raising my eyebrows and muttering to myself “when will the Lebanese ever stop this ridiculous custom”? I guess most of us were too tired and simply eager to arrive to destination. The usual rush to dart out of their respective seats and head towards the exit seemed to be in slow motion. I had slept less than a 5-hour total since Saturday and it was Tuesday afternoon. I still had to collect my car at my parents, and drive home for the long awaited shower/bath. I don't think I ever spent that much time in the bath, just relaxing and pushing away any kind of thought that would cross my mind. I even laughed at that bizarre adventure and scribbled some notes about what had happened. I texted my manager that I would be in the office the next morning, reassured my friend in Germany and R. who had reached the USA from Paris even before I had departed from Frankfurt, that I was finally home. I decided that laundry and putting order to the house could very well wait and marched towards my bed confidently... and slept for a straight 7 hours, which is kind of a record for me. And I as I rushed to work, I swore to myself, no more low cost flights ever! Well, I will do my best :)
Comments
A good read! And a real test
A good read! And a real test of ones patience!
Add new comment