Bombs away!

So after Darwin, I flew into Perth, to be able to catch my next flight to Malaysia, the 4th country on my schedule. I spent a few days in Perth just killing time, wandering around and catching the (few) sights. I spent a significant amount of time haggling with Malaysia Airlines trying to get my ticket changed so I could fly out. Originally, I wasn't slated to leave until mid-July, so I had to update it.

The first agent I spoke to refused to change it, saying I had to call the agent who booked it, and they had to change it. Odd I thought, seeing as it's my ticket and I paid for it. Nevertheless, they wouldn't do anything, citing section so-and-so of the stupid airline handbook, or something similar. So, I decided to try phoning back with another agent and see if they next person had any sense.

Of course, they didn't. Neither did the supervisor I got passed to.

So, left with no alternative, I waited up late to call San Francisco, where my agent was, as the time change was quite different. When I finally got ahold of her and explained the situation, and how the airline wouldn't help me out, and they needed her to change it, she said "Gee, that's odd. It's your ticket, you paid for it" and that I should be able to change it.

My point exactly. So, with some emails here and there and some $$$ to change the ticket, I had it done, ready to fly.

Finally the day came. May 3rd. Flight to Kuala Lumpur. Ready to go.

Things didn't start off right, the shuttle failed to show up at the hostel I was at, and I had to phone their office again to get one to come, even though I had booked it the day previous. Then when the shuttle arrived, they wanted me to hang around for about an hour so they could pick up another person, and avoid sending a second shuttle to get them. As they were already putting me a bit behind, I declined, and we headed to the airport.

When I got to the airport, got in the long line, and after a while, I got up to an agent. I was then informed that I was not on the flight, and she asked to see my ticket. I explained that it was an electronic ticket, and therefore I didn't have one. She went off to talk to someone else, and after about 20 minutes, managed to find that I was, indeed, on the flight. Thank you very much.

So, through security, customs, and nothing to do but wait. Turns out I would be waiting longer than I thought.

Time to board came, and they announced that the flight would be delayed by about an hour.

Then they said that they were moving the gate from one end of the airport to the other. Then they moved it back.

They explained that there was a 'cargo issue' on the plane, and they couldn't fly until it was figured out. That turned into 'suspicious packages', and in came the Australian Federal Police. As soon as I heard that, I pretty much knew the flight was a bust, we wouldn't be getting anywhere very quickly.

As the hours rolled by, they closed half the gates in the departures area 'just in case'. Then the whole area, and we had to go back through customs into the main area of the airport.

Next, we were told to go outside the airport entirely, and wait in the parking lot. After about an hour, they decided to just shut the entire place down, and told everyone to go home, come back tomorrow.

So, with that, everyone who wasn't complaining started looking for a cab or a bus or something to head back into the city. No such luck, they closed the road at the highway, so it was time to hoof it. There was no luggage to take, as they had left it on the plane, so away I went. After about 3 kilometres, I got to where the cabs were held up, and went and spent the night in the Holiday Inn.

The next morning, I called the airline, and they stated they were going to open up check in at 8 a.m., with the flight leaving at 11 a.m. So, I went over to the airport. Apparently there is a lack of communication at Malaysia Airlines, and they didn't open up check in until 9:45 a.m. Still, they maintained they were going to fly at 11, saying it would go faster because there was no luggage to check in.

We flew at 12:30.

Don't ever fly Malaysia Airlines.

To check out the Bomb story, go here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/04/2234646.htm?section=australia

or here: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23643377-662,00.html