sammi needham : cogitate

The most bizarre flying experience I’ve ever had. Virgin flight 899 from Sydney to Melbourne tonight was running late. Like about 30 minutes late. I wasn’t too concerned as all I needed to do was get to Sydney. If I was half an hour late it just meant that I would get half an hour less drinking and partying in surrey hills tonight. Little did I know about the dreaded Sydney Airport Curfew Act.

We were informed of the curfew while waiting at gate lounge 10 and instructed that if we behave nicely, and do as we were told, we just might make it. We were consequently lined up in order of our seat numbers to expedite the boarding process (which i thought was pretty smart, really), the attendants making sure that we had the best chance of making it on the plane and in the air in time. It was all very funny for most of us as this sort of efficiency should perhaps be standard if it is going to make sure that planes leave on time. Only a few intoxicated passengers made a fuss as we quietly waited in our lines for the doors to open on the arriving flight.

As those passengers started waddling in without a care of a hurry, from the look of the attendants I knew something was up. The last of them limped through the doors and they shut with the force of bank vault. Then came the inevitable announcement. “Please listen carefully passengers” (we could hardly be called passengers yet) I have some very important and bad news.

So the flight was cancelled. A few individuals had some pretty unfortunate stories regarding this situation but on the most part we were all pretty well behaved. We were ushered down the long, sorry walk back to the check in counter where we were allocated seats on a 7:15 flight the next day, given credits for this cancelled flight and put up at the hilton across the walkway.

It’s a shame that they would not honour cab charges back home and then back in for those of us that live in Melbourne, but overall I think that they handelled this situation to the best of their ability and even though some of the staff got a bit high and mighty at a few of the angrier patrons’ quips, they were just trying to do their jobs.

I’m totally shattered as I was planning on reuniting with a bunch of people that will probably not be in the same room again for a very long time but what can you do? It was a hopeless and empty feeling.

I rocked up at the Hilton and avoided the line of angry patrons all trying to check in to their complimentary rooms at the same time, i’ll be arsed if i am going to stand in *another* queue on account of this flight.  I headed to the bar to watch some football and drown myself in some G&Ts for I’m sure that i’m about to check into the cheapest room at the Hilton and spend a disappointing night alone, all dressed up and no where to go. That being said, it can’t be stated that they didn’t try, or at least look like they were trying. All I know is that I won’t be booking the last flight from Melbourne to Sydney ever again.

Update: So i got to my room, and ironically it was overlooking the half busted VirginBlue logo outside Melbourne Airport Check-in.  Just to rub it in. And the hallway of Level 9 smelled of human feces!