• Missing your plain is not fun!
      So 5 years ago, a group of us girlies (2 x 40 somethings, and 3 x 18-year-olds) went on a birthday trip to Amsterdam. I have traveled frequently by plane and know the score. We were all ready to leave, feeling a little sad that the holiday was over. Arrived at the airport in Amsterdam, head to the access support point and give them a call. The call handler did not seem too bothered and said someone would be with us in 30 mins. 45 Mins later, we called back and were told no one was available, we need to sort ourselves out.
       
      So we join the stupidly long queue, now worried we would miss the flight. We get to the check-in with 45 minutes to takeoff. We load our luggage onto the weigh-in belt,  Then one of the girls’ bag breaks. We rush around trying to fix the bag and get it wrapped, just in case it split again. We did this in 15 minutes, but when we return to the check-in, she had closed check-in for our flight. 

      As the girl whos bag broke was only 18 and all our bags had gone on to the plain, I instructed them to leave, with the only other grown-up in our group and catch the flight without me. After a few tears, they ran for the flight, leaving me alone, in a manual chair, with someone else’s oversized bag.  

      Then it sank in what I had just done. Again, I ask for support and was again denied. I needed to time out and think for a moment, so dragging myself and an oversized bag around the airport and grabbed a coffee to calm the nerves. Think and breath, i reminded myself. After composing myself, I approached the ticket desk to see if I could get a later flight. “Yes, of course, that will be 585 euros”. Well, I was speechless. I tried to explain the reason I missed the plane was down to them asking me to wait for access support, which I was still not receiving. She shrugged and offered the same tickets for a morning flight the next day. 

      Again, I had to recompose. I checked the time and assumed that the others would now be taking off. Another coffee was needed while I checked for more affordable ways to get home. Then a call, the girls had missed the flight and were now on the other side of security, they rang to tell me that they would be out soon and to wait for them. Thankfully, my friend had worked in airport check-ins in the past and had talked them into getting us all on the next flight out, including me, that afternoon for free. I was overjoyed but still disappointed, at the lack of support that Amsterdam staff had shown, given the circumstance. Needless to say, we have decided that our next trip to Amsterdam, will be by ferry!

      Love
      Josh Grisdale
      3 Comments
      • Oh no!  I haven’t missed a flight yet… must have been terrifying and frustrating to be asked to pay seeing it was their fault!!

        That was so heroic to offer to stay!  I’m glad everything worked out 🙂

        BTW, you are a great writer!  Had me riveted!

        Did you ever go by ferry after that?

        • Ahh, Josh, you are too kind. 😊
          To be fair I sent them on the spare of the moment, knowing they would not have the same means as I did to return to the U.K. What I had done, hit me very quickly soon after they disappeared.
          I have not yet returned to Amsterdam by ferry, but still, plan to do so. Fear not when I do I will be sure to record the whole trip! 😉

          • Anyway.  Glad it worked out 🙂

            Looking forward to the video of the ferry when you go 🙂

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