What? Why in the world would Karla be writing a post? Isn't she suppose to be on a plane . . . HOME?!
Why yes, yes she and Ella are.
But instead we are here at the smoke infested no-tell motel slightly cold and wishing we were home. What a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day!
We made it to the airport and did great in GZ. Ella was
so good before the flight. Even during the flight it wasn't until the
end of the 3 hours she was getting unhappy. Our flight was a little late
coming in but not a huge deal.
They would not gate check my stroller. Mark 1 (of
55123123) against the China airline system. As a matter of fact they
would not gate check my stroller in Nanning either. They do not make
items available at the gate upon arrival. They told me they are "unable"
to do it. Whatever that means. . .
Anyhow, we get off the plane and are the dead last ones
at baggage claim. Ella walks slowly at any rate (and no stroller) and
she decided to have a little meltdown on the way. She insisted that I
carried her, laying on the floor stiff, insisted. I had a huge back
pack and a large diaper bag, but I picked her up and carried her. When I
did, I did something weird to my shoulder. Now I have a tweaked
shoulder and sobbing 3 year old.
We waited and waited, our bags came, but no stroller.
Finally they turned the conveyer belt off. I had to go to the lost
luggage claim to report my stroller. After waiting in line and having
people have no clue what I am talking about, they finally produce my
stroller.
So now I have my
stroller and a trolley with my luggage and trying to navigate both, it
was almost impossible. One vehicle in each hand, pushing. I tried to do
it side by side and Ella kept grabbing the trolley and pulling it
towards her, thinking it was a game. Of course every time she crashes it
makes it impossible to steer and the trolley filled with luggage and
stroller filled with her in any meaningful direction. When we get out of
baggage claim I see a Hainan Airlines sign upstairs. I was thinking I
could check my luggage in this terminal and head to the next for
departure.
I asked an airport employee where Hainan Airlines was, I
told her I wanted to check my bags before I went to T2. She smiled and
pointed to her left. I looked and looked, all the way to the end of the
line . . .nothing. Then this man approached me and I got a creepy vibe.
He asked where I was going. I told him Hainan Airline, told me to go to
Terminal 1 and offered to show me. I said "no thank you." I knew my
flight was out of T2, he then started to follow me. So I turned in the
opposite direction, he followed me again. So the third time I turned to
the opposite direction he left me alone. (No small feat with all the
luggage.)
Finally I asked at the information desk. She said to
take all my luggage to T2, they would not check it here. She pointed me
in the direction of the shuttle. I was on my way and saw a sign that
lead me to believe I was in the right direction. Then there was a
security screening for the train. I had seen some trams and thought this
must be what she was telling me about. There are lots of airports with
trains between terminals. . . but THIS was not one of them.
After
I had been screened I asked where the shuttles were for T2. . .
downstairs, just where I came from! By this point I was livid! This
place was a total nightmare. If Dante had been there he would have
labeled this the next level of Hell. I didn't know what time it was,
because my cell phone was tucked away somewhere. I had been wondering
around with tons of crap, one demanding little girl and no one was able
to simply point me in the right direction.
By
the time I did get on the shuttle it took about 25-30 minutes to get to
T2. Where was this terminal? We pasted by restaurants, hotels, regular
everyday street traffic. . . Finally we were dropped off. I rushed (as
fast as I could with all my gear, Ella and a bum arm) to Hainan
Airlines. I asked an Airport employee for directions. She pointed me in
the direction and after several minutes of walking and looking there was
nothing! This place was such a labyrinth of incompetence, I couldn't
stand it! I know not everyone speaks English, but if you have no idea
what I am asking. . . or what you are saying to me. . . THAT IS NOT
GOOD.
Completely at my wits end I remember seeing a Hainan
customer service window when I first got to the Terminal. I did not go
there at first, because they do not check luggage. They just sit behind a
window like a bank teller, and there was a line initially. I asked
where I should check in. He told me it was too late to check in, that
the flight was less then hour from going. I told him I could hurry. He
pointed (in the opposite direction of the other lady) and told me "that
way." I rush and finally found the counter. I was practically frantic.
They were completely unconcerned by me. They said, "Go back to window 16
and get rebooked. You have missed this flight." I told them I could run
I told them I could make it. Not even a shred of concern. "Go to window
16 to get rebooked."
I was feeling completely dejected. How could this
happen? Here I am stuck in a Hell Hole of lost strollers, creepy men,
completely incompetent "helpers," and now I have "missed" a flight that
won't take off for another 40 minutes. I was on the verge of tears. .
Oh well, pull yourself together Sister Bassett and get this problem
solved.
I march back to the ominous window 16 back and tell him
I need to be rebooked. He looks at the computer in front on him and
says. I can rebook you on Monday afternoon.
Monday. Afternoon. January 27. . . 2 days away. . . another 48 hours?
You can only imagine my response.
I
told him that was not acceptable. Could he get me to any US city? Could
he go via Tokyo or Korea? . . . No and No. The ticket was booked
Beijing to Seattle and he could only rebook me Beijing to Seattle and
the next flight was 2 days away. Would I like him to book it.
I told him. . . I need to make a phone call.
I managed to find a spot on a bench, next to a man
sprawled out on 3 seats laying on his side, napping or texting, I have
no idea which. I pulled out my laptop and called Dave (via Skype.) I
know I woke him up, it was about 1:30 in the morning. I tried to be
composed and tell him I missed my flight and that Hainan said it would
be another 2 days before they could get me home. Dave was just waking up
and wrapping his head around the situation and asked me to start from
the beginning. I started to choke up and wanted start from the "laying
on floor demanding to be carried" part. Or should I start from the lost
stroller part? Or from the creepy guy trying to follow me? I was
starting to lose it and had to pull myself back together, it was
starting to worry Ella. I finally said, "I don't want to relive it." I
could feel Dave nodding and saying something like, "It was just a series
of events. . "
One reason I love Dave is that he is a problem solver.
He helped me focus on the solution and move forward. I just couldn't be
here for another 2 days. I have no clean clothes. I miss my boys. Ella
needs her Dad. I hate Hainan Airlines with their smug self satisfying
attitudes. It would be hard to fly them again. So I pulled out Mr. Visa
and Delta is going to get me home. I went to the international ticketing
desk (window 25). I am on the very next flight out. I missed the
Detroit redeye by about 20 min. I leave tomorrow morning 7:50AM. It
looks like I have a 15 hour delay getting out of Beijing.
I
went to the "Hotel Reservations" desk at the terminal and got Ella and I
a room here at "Youth Hostel +." They said it has WIFI and is only 10
min. from the terminal. No other details other then, one bed. It is
fine. The door has a lock on it. But the whole place smells like smoke
(my eyes are burning), the bed it rock hard and the there is one plugin
in the room and one in the bathroom. The room is cold too, it has a
radiator, but doesn't seem to be working. I should have guessed it would
be cold, all the hotel staff in the lobby are wearing puffy winter
coats. It was really cold in the lobby area.
It
is almost 11PM here and my alarm will go off at 3:30AM. So we can catch
the 4AM shuttle. The lady told me the flight is oversold and I should
be sure to get a seat assignment as soon as I can. You don't have to
tell me twice.
Well, I'll be home on Sunday. Sunday. . . better then Monday. . . not as good as Saturday.
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