and I heard several complaints from friends, especially the cockroach.
I have got back to Malaysia after an eventful journey.
Here's what was going on on May 16, 2010.
It was my summer break in Florida and I was heading back to Malaysia.
The original route I had: DAB-ATL-LAX-TPE-KUL and KUL-PEN on another itinerary
Enoch, a good friend of mine dropped me at Daytona Beach International Airport(DAB) for a flight departing at 4pm local time to Atlanta. We were told that the flight has been delayed to 7.20pm when the Captain found out that the radio system of the aircraft had some defects. He has been talking on the phone with the engineers/technicians in the cockpit for almost half an hour, trying to fix it. But it didn't get solved though. Technicians/engineers were rushed from Sanford Airport and were supposed to be at DAB at 7pm. Everyone was calling and trying to get help from Delta flight interruption service. I called up and was told to wait for further announcement/arrangement of gate agent. But when I went up to the counter around and I was told that the flight has been delayed again because the technicians were not here yet.
Departure time will be further announced, which means, I WILL MISS ALL MY CONNECTING FLIGHTS.
I was traveling international so I got some notice from the gate agent. They rerouted me at DAB-ATL-AMS-KUL. DAB to AMS was on Delta A330 and AMS-KUL was on Malaysia Airlines Boeing 747-400. I got a Ramada Inn voucher, two $6 meals voucher, and transportation between airport and the Inn.
So I got delayed for one day and had to depart at 3pm the next day. I had my sister to buy me another KUL-PEN ticket on our own expense. Right after we bought it, MAS updated that the AMS airport was CLOSED, due to the volcano eruption and its flight to AMS on that day was delayed for 6 hours. WHAT THE F***! I was asking myself, why was this journey so eventful.
"Hopefully the AMS is gonna be opened tomorrow when I'm heading there. "
May 17, 2010.
I had lunch with Enoch and his HongKong friend at Uno Chicago Grill, which my voucher was good at. I went to check in and hang around in my uni's campus till 2.20pm and went back to DAB. Credits to Enoch for dropping me!
The flight was on time and we were told to hold on taxiway at DAB for 10mins due to the traffic flow at ATL. We landed at ATL early and sat on the taxiway and tarmac for over 30minutes. Our gate has not been assigned and was still in used when it was assigned
I talk to the the couples behind me and they turned out to be the passengers who were gonna be on the flight to AMS too. We rushed out the aircraft and you know what, the terminal was partially in dark. Electrical supply went wrong and flight displays were all OFF. Hell yea, they were ALL OFF.
I waited for the couple to deplane and luckily the husband knew that the aircraft was at Concourse E. We, the trio, had to rushed all the way to the concourse E to catch the plane. Yea, we were the last 3 to enter the aircraft. 'Credits' to Delta.
Flight to AMS was uneventful, but our departure was delayed for 20mins as there were too many luggage to be loaded into the aircraft, which some were from the flight of the previous way. Captain announced that the AMS was now opened and we will take the southern route to avoid the volcano ash.
As we were late, my 4 hours transit was shortened to 3 hours. My plan to hang around at Amsterdam Central was screwed! There were crowds at the airport, especially the arrival hall. Every train ticket machine which accept cash was fully occupied. There was long line at every machine. I then headed to the Deli France and had a nice looking yet not good tasting sandwich which costed me 5 Euros.
Now comes the interesting part.
I went to MAS counter at AMS Hall 2 at 10am sharp. The check in crew told me that there was some problems with my tickets and I was told to go and talk to Delta/KLM agents at their ticket office. I waited for 1 hour there at Hall 3, and was told there was NOTHING wrong. It was already 11.25am. My flight was scheduled to depart at 12 noon. I rushed back to the previous MAS counter and a senior agent helped me out. She called to Delta/KLM ticket office at the airport and got hold, while the Delta/KLM agent called to the US's Delta to solve the problem. The problem was found out to be that Delta did not make my ticket an open ticket when they booked me on MAS flight to KUL. So the previous agent couldn't check me in. Credits to Delta, again, for the GREAT JOB.
It was already 11.50am. I had 10minutes left. I asked for flight delay, and she requested it from the gate. 5 minutes were given. YEA, FIVE MINUTES. I was told that it would cost MAS more to delay the flight than to rebook me on another flight later. Agent had kind of given up and told me to stay for at AMS for one night at my own expense or she could rebook me on another KLM flight leaving AMS at 6pm. I shook my head and said NO, I'm not gonna pay for another KUL-PEN ticket again, also the accommodation and transportation in AMS.
Finally a broad smile came up on the agent's face. She got me my boarding pass and told me to RUN. It was already 12.00 noon. I got a airport staff to bring me to the front of the long line passport control. The hilarious thing was that the passport control officer calmly asked me, "Sir are you alright?" Alright I knew I looked pale after running across the airport. Thanks for the warm greet though.
Finally I got myself at the gate C6 and these are the short conversation between me and the gate agent.
"Are you Ong?"
"Yea! Thanks!"
"Are you flying Delta"
"Yea! Delta sucks!"
"Haha. Yea don't take them next time! Sir you can have a good sleep cause seats beside you are all currently empty."
"That's great. Sounds good! Thanks!"
I was assigned the aisle seat and the 3 seats beside me were all empty. I had some good rest onboard and I lay down and sleep straight. Eh, it's not something you would always get in economy class, brother!
The rest of my trip was uneventful and I got back at Penang safe andd sound alter at 10am+, May 19, 2010.
Thanks God I'm back!
