Up Up & Away!
My big girl
comforted me as I cried by the gate 228 of Hong Kong International
Airport.
Why did I
cry? Ah, the frustration, self-disappointment, tiredness,
anticipation of home, the many duties that beckon, and the defense mechanism to
my stupidity. We missed our flight!
What do you do when you have a flight?
Check tickets, check passport, check baggage weight, check IDs, wallet, meds, check currency for the next destination & check the boarding gate number.
We were early for the flight. In fact, the night before we were so ready. We even bought extra baggage to be sure. At the airport, we had brunch since we will arrive in Manila by 2pm. Airplane food is not cheap and not sure if it will be good. We were relaxed and traversed the many walkways of HKIA.
Then I suddenly felt something amiss. Panic button! I do not know how I flew through the long walkways of HKIA and shouted for the elevator to hold so we can go down. To my surprise, we were to take the train to the gate! Stupid me! I knew there was a train but I thought it was not for all the gates. Running to it, forgetting that my big girl was running too behind me, I was like a predator after the prey. Heavy breathing, panting and all! With a carry on that felt light as a paper, I ran like my life depended on it!
Finally, off the train...up the escalator where I almost pushed everyone out of the way. O my, three flights of these escalators! Kidding me? From time to time I checked on my big girl. But determination to get to our gate was more powerful than checking on her. I thought I was Hermes with winged heels or Flash or the wind!
Thank God I saw the huge sign to our gate 228 as we jumped off the last escalator step which opened to a huge lobby of gates, shops and the airline service help desk!! In frenzy, I asked the airport guy where it was. He said we were called but I did not wait for him to finish as we dashed off to the gate. What?! Another flight of escalator going down!! I ran down literally dragging my carry on. When I saw the closing gate of 228, I showed our tickets and the ground crew said we cannot enter anymore. The plane left!
I was out of breath apologizing for being late and forgetting about the flight time. He told me to calm down. Then he turned to my big girl and gave her instructions on what to do next.
I believe he reckoned that she was the adult then. I was a lost child.
I found a quiet spot beside the escalator where a few minutes ago I almost jumped from to reach gate 228.
I sat and big girl quietly followed me pulling her own carry on. She sat beside me as I loudly caught my breath and tried to stop the tears from falling. I whimpered and then felt her little hand pat my back.
" It’s ok, Mom. There is a first time for everything. God must have a reason. "
That jolted me back to reality.
I was crying because I was so ashamed of myself. I always reminded everyone of these things. I was always in control and following rules so nothing can go wrong. Days before, we brought my husband to the same huge airport so he will not miss his flight. Imagine, I missed ours! Over confidence? Negligence? Or distracted by the duty-free shops?
I called my hubby who sounded irritated at my stupidity; but comforted me when he realized I was in despair. I called my daughter who laughed at me and assured me all will be ok.
“We will just have to re-book.”, she said in jest.
What do you do when you have a flight?
Check tickets, check passport, check baggage weight, check IDs, wallet, meds, check currency for the next destination & check the boarding gate number.
We were early for the flight. In fact, the night before we were so ready. We even bought extra baggage to be sure. At the airport, we had brunch since we will arrive in Manila by 2pm. Airplane food is not cheap and not sure if it will be good. We were relaxed and traversed the many walkways of HKIA.
Then I suddenly felt something amiss. Panic button! I do not know how I flew through the long walkways of HKIA and shouted for the elevator to hold so we can go down. To my surprise, we were to take the train to the gate! Stupid me! I knew there was a train but I thought it was not for all the gates. Running to it, forgetting that my big girl was running too behind me, I was like a predator after the prey. Heavy breathing, panting and all! With a carry on that felt light as a paper, I ran like my life depended on it!
Finally, off the train...up the escalator where I almost pushed everyone out of the way. O my, three flights of these escalators! Kidding me? From time to time I checked on my big girl. But determination to get to our gate was more powerful than checking on her. I thought I was Hermes with winged heels or Flash or the wind!
Thank God I saw the huge sign to our gate 228 as we jumped off the last escalator step which opened to a huge lobby of gates, shops and the airline service help desk!! In frenzy, I asked the airport guy where it was. He said we were called but I did not wait for him to finish as we dashed off to the gate. What?! Another flight of escalator going down!! I ran down literally dragging my carry on. When I saw the closing gate of 228, I showed our tickets and the ground crew said we cannot enter anymore. The plane left!
I was out of breath apologizing for being late and forgetting about the flight time. He told me to calm down. Then he turned to my big girl and gave her instructions on what to do next.
I believe he reckoned that she was the adult then. I was a lost child.
I found a quiet spot beside the escalator where a few minutes ago I almost jumped from to reach gate 228.
I sat and big girl quietly followed me pulling her own carry on. She sat beside me as I loudly caught my breath and tried to stop the tears from falling. I whimpered and then felt her little hand pat my back.
" It’s ok, Mom. There is a first time for everything. God must have a reason. "
That jolted me back to reality.
I was crying because I was so ashamed of myself. I always reminded everyone of these things. I was always in control and following rules so nothing can go wrong. Days before, we brought my husband to the same huge airport so he will not miss his flight. Imagine, I missed ours! Over confidence? Negligence? Or distracted by the duty-free shops?
I called my hubby who sounded irritated at my stupidity; but comforted me when he realized I was in despair. I called my daughter who laughed at me and assured me all will be ok.
“We will just have to re-book.”, she said in jest.
My kids told me days after that they were in frenzy where and when to book the
flight.
The airline services desk guy
said we will not be allowed by immigration to go out of the airport.
Panic button. Then calming myself, it makes sense to stay inside the
airport as the kids booked me online. Thank God for internet thru which my daughter,
son-in-law & hubby kept me abreast and comforted me.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE LEFT BY YOUR PLANE?
With 2 other groups of Filipinos who were in my same predicament, these were the things we did and you must do at HKIA when the plane leaves without you ( hope it does no happen to you!):
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE LEFT BY YOUR PLANE?
With 2 other groups of Filipinos who were in my same predicament, these were the things we did and you must do at HKIA when the plane leaves without you ( hope it does no happen to you!):
1. Go back to Terminal
20 where the Airline Assistance desk is. There are 2 from both sides.
2. Tell the person of your situation. That stupid guy #1 told us to book online as we cannot stay in the airport for more than 24 hours. We cannot leave the Airport too. Panic mode again. (He was wrong!)
3. Give your tickets, considered null (what a waste of hard-earned money)
3. Give your tickets, considered null (what a waste of hard-earned money)
4. Give your baggage claim.
5. After an hour, kind airport personnel will assist you to
Immigration Office. It is opposite the immigration
when you arrive in HKIA.
6. Give your passport to immigration guy.
7. Immigration officers ask if you have booked. In my case, we stayed there for 14 days so
they have to confirm if I have tickets and not overstay. He checked the tickets sent via messenger then
left us all. We were still with the 2 groups.
8. After an hour, he returns to allow us all to go back to HK. Guy number 1 was wrong!
9. Kind airport personnel guides us through to claim our
baggage.
10. In my case, he was kind enough to wait till I got our
baggage and showed us where to exit.
11. Then we found our way (by asking all the time) to the blue
taxi that brought us back.
In our flight now, we heard the cabin crew calling names of passengers. Those not yet on board.
"So that‘s how it was to be called when you are not on the plane yet!", I told big girl.
Several acknowledgements and public address announcements. Big girl and I were snickering! Yesterday the cabin crew must have called our names too while we were frantically running to catch our plane, in vain.
When we walked and went to the same motions to get to the boarding gate,
we laughed till tears came. We imagined how crazy we looked to others
the day before. How did we ran so swiftly? Aboard the plane, we can laugh heartily at my folly.
The plane took off and we were in it! Yey. A sigh
of relief. Relieved to be on the way
home - for school, for duties, & relieved to be on the right track and not
mess up the plan! Another lesson learned!
Whereto next, big girl?
