Right, I’m on my most absurd adventure ever…
Bit of background: I decided today I’d go back to Hong Kong. Having had so much foresight as to get a super flexible ticket, I was able to call in the morning and get a flight for 13.05. Nice, I'm really getting used to this kind of flexibility.
However, just as I logged out and started packing my stuff, an email arrived in my inbox. My flight had been changed to 12.55 (for reasons too complex to go into here, something to do with the weather). Unfortunately I had only memorized the time of the flight, not the flight name (CX9091).
So when I arrived at the airport, how was I to know that the reason there was no 13.10 flight to Hong Kong was because it was actually the 12.55 flight I was supposed to get on?
To make a meandering story short, I basically checked into the wrong flight. With the wrong airline. I’m just not intelligent enough to understand how on earth a company will let you check in with another company’s ticket. But they did, and took my original ticket, they did.
So, back to here and now: I’m writing this as I am waiting to board the flight, and by now I’ve realized the mistake. But this is so insane, I’ve decided to actually try to board it. Yes I know, its stupid, of course they are going to take me aside and explain to me that there’s been a mistake. But what if they don’t? I know I’m risking everything here, my health, my career, possibly all my earthly possessions. Worst case scenario- they will take my soul. But it’s worth it I think. What if they let me on? What if they let my fly with them by mistake? Surely that will the most ultimate of all amazing airline-messup stories. EVER! It will be the airline-messup story to end all airline-messup stories.
Chances of success are slim though. It will be very embarrassing if I hold up the whole flight because they have to unload my luggage. I’m getting cold feet.
Ok, update. This is turning into some kind of freaky absurdist novel. The flight has been cancelled. I’m still pretending to be unaware of the mix-up, and I’m now writing out of a coach taking us to a hotel. I hope it’s a nice hotel. It would make a good story, wouldn’t it, if they actually check me into a five star hotel because of all this. I can dream. But even a decent four star one would still do for a good story.
My chances of success are getting slimmer though. They’ve taken my boarding ticket (which by the looks of it they were actually going to let me use if the flight hadn’t been cancelled), and return my original ticket- which of course says Cathay, not Dragonair. They didn’t check my ticket when they put me on the coach, but surely during hotel check-in somebody’s going to ask me whether I’m actually supposed to be here.
The plot thickens.
Update from the hotel: I’ve just been checked into a five star resort, which is the funny happy crazy news. But it’s miles away from the city center, so I’m stuck here. I’m wondering whether I’m still having fun enough to try to see if they’ll give me food as well, or whether I’ll just give up on this and call my real airline and get a new flight.
Bizarre though isn’t it? Not one person has asked me whether I actually belong with the group. I wonder whether I could go to jail for this or if I can plead ignorance?
Update from the middle of the night... Yeah, the fun has really worn off now. I hate hotels. I'm trying to get hold of Cathay and see if I can somehow get out of here, anywhere. Don't necessarily need to go to Hong Kong. Singapore would be nice. Ko samui. Siem Reap. Bangkok. Just not this hotel.
Oh btw, yes they did give us food, a really nice five-star buffet.
