I hope everyone is having a very prosperous 2018 and that the new year is running smooth and hiccup less so far for all.
My new year started of, well, interesting. Let’s just say I won’t be forgetting this one anytime soon! This would be for more than one reason. Firstly, because I was home with my family in Sedgefield. (My favorite place away from home) Secondly, a story yet to be told.
You all already know the story of my week at home, so I will catch you up on the travels back to Kazan that followed.
Again, the goodbyes were not fun. When are they ever? So, skipping over that. The first flight from SA to Paris was a long one and a bit bumpy, but not too bad.
The layover in Paris was not as long as the layover on the journey to SA, but it was still a few hours too long in my opinion. I spent my time sleeping on a couch seat, (lucky to have found one that made sleeping possible), talking to family and friends at home, reading a book and walking up and down in the small terminal I was in just to get the legs moving.
My flight from Paris to Moscow was delayed so my stay in Paris was even longer than it originally was supposed to be. We were about 30-40 min behind schedule. This started to make me inwardly slightly panic as my layover in Moscow is only about 2 hours. That is just enough time to get off the plane, go through customs, passport control and then make it to my next gate to board in time for the next flight. Oh ja, and when we arrived in Moscow, we could not land for another 30 min, so we were just flying in circles above Moscow to pass the time.
(Circling Moscow)
What I did not mention yet, is that I did not have a boarding pass for my flight from Moscow to Kazan. They could not give it to me when I checked in at O.R. Tambo as it was not yet available for that flight. So, in that mix mentioned above, add having to get a boarding pass and then only being allowed pass security and customs to go find my boarding gate.
(Moscow Airport)
Well I managed to get this all done just in time. But this is not the core part of my story yet!
You see, as I got to my gate, I saw many people already in a really long queue. I decided then to take a seat and quickly let my family know I’m safe. I was talking with them and some friends from home and frequently checked if they opened the boarding, if people are moving yet and keeping my ears open for the announcement saying that we are boarding.
After a few minutes, I started to think this flight is also delayed as I have still not heard the boarding announcement or see the people in the long queue move.
Eventually after another few minutes, 20 min to be exactly, I got up to check because something did not look or feel right. I found someone who worked nearby and asked for assistance. A man in about his 50’s/60’s, he was very friendly and I asked if he knew when my flight will board. He looked at my ticket and said that it’s at this gate but he is not sure. A passenger waiting for his flight heard us and told us there were gate changes and my gate might have changed. So, the older man and I went to my boarding gate stated on my ticket, at the little front desk, and asked about my flight. Only to find out that boarding for my flight is now closed and the next flight is boarding now.
You remember that long queue of people? Ja, not my flight but the next one!
Because I came late, I missed the boarding announcement and did not know we were already boarding, resulting in missing it!
I thought I would have had a more panicked reaction but surprisingly, not. I was shocked of coarse and slightly panicked as I asked what to do and why can’t they let me on as my flight does not leave for another 10 min. The guy and lady working the boarding gates, both young, not helpful, kinda rude, slightly ignoring me, just said no and I need to go buy a new ticket.
The older man walked half way back with me to where I can exit and go buy a new ticket, when another passenger, in the passing, heard as I said my flight has not yet departed so why can’t they be considerate and allow me on? He stopped us to help. Checked my ticket, checked the flight board with all the flight details and said we must go back to my gate, they must let me on.
So back we went, or should I say, back we ran! Typical movie scene! 😀 I got to the counter again and as I did, the old man disappeared, to cowardly to help me. I saw how he secretly tried to get away and succeeded. But not without me noticing. I was pleading with the younger man at the counter and he would not once look up from what he was doing and just said no and that gates close 20min before departure.
So, this meant, all along, I only had 10 min to get on my plane since I arrived at my gate the first time!
All I could do now was to buy a new ticket. I walked back to customs, as that is the only way you could enter this part of the airport. I asked one of the security personnel working, how to exit and he kindly showed me where to go.
I found the exit and went to find the correct airline ticket counter to buy a new ticket to Kazan.
- Quick insert: All my communication with passengers and personnel on the airport was mainly through Russian and very little English as they can neither talk or really understand English. Also, my original ticket from Moscow to Kazan departed 21:55 and landed in Kazan, 23:40 on 8 January 2018.
I found the ticket counter and the lady was friendly but told me I needed to go to another terminal (a 5 min walk from my terminal) to get to the Airfrance ticket counter because we booked my flights through them, even though I’m flying Aeroflot from Moscow to Kazan, they can’t exchange my ticket.
I sprint walked that 5 min walk as fast as I could. Arrived there and after explaining my situation again, the lady redirected me back to the counter I came from in the other Terminal and said I will just need to buy a new ticket from them because they can’t exchange my ticket, or something like that. Like I said, I had to communicate in Russian (Explain that I missed my flight, need a new ticket, answer their questions, ask questions back to understand what I needed to do and where to go.) I don’t understand every single word yet, but I do grasp the context of what they are saying, sometimes. 😀
I sprint walked the 5 min walk back to the Aeroflot ticket counter. This time another lady helped me. I explained my situation AGAIN, and told her that the lady at the Airfrance counter sent me back and I just need to buy a new ticket. She was even friendlier than the previous lady. (Seems like the elderly people in Moscow is 50 times friendlier than the young people.)
She helped me and even complimented me on my Russian. She put a smile on my face in this time of solving, what could be seen as a problem, and kept me focused on sorting and solving, instead of shutting down and panicking. That would not have solved anything.
The next flight from Moscow to Kazan was only the next morning at 6:25. Meaning I would spend the night in the airport. But seeing as it was already so late, I just had about 5 – 6 hours before boarding time.
There was also the matter of sorting my bags. She said not to worry, my bags will be sent to this area where they send missed flight baggage. She explained where to go and I gave a her a big thank you.
When I got to the place where she said my bags would be, they have not yet arrived as my flight practically just left. But after asking for information so that I could be sure and understand correctly, I was directed to another lady. This time a young lady and she could understand little English. So, for the first time I could use some English and it would be understood. I could see she was actually tired, but she still helped and sorted my bags in a way, more than needed. To cut it short, instead of telling me to wait for my bags and re-check them in, she arranged that they will go directly on my new flight. She did warn me that if they did not arrive with me in Kazan, that I will then need to go to the lost and found.
I thanked her and went through customs…again!
This time I could not find any comfy chair/couch to sleep on, so I slept in one of the normal chairs they have at the boarding gates. (Tried to sleep is actually a better description)
But this time I would not miss my flight!
To cut an already super long story short, I made my flight, arrived in Kazan just after 8 on Tuesday morning (9 January), and my bags were some of the first to come out on the conveyor belt. I quickly got an Uber and arrived at my hostel at 9:30. The rest of the day was spent sleeping (and unpacking), as I practically spent 3 days travelling with very little sleep!
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Sho! What a long one!!! Congratulations if you made it to the end!
I hope your new year started off less eventful in the sense of unneeded events happening.
But hey! They usually make for the best stories! 😀
Talk to you all next week. Have a good one!
To Live is To Dance
xoxo
