Hong Kong

Saturday, May 3, 2008
Hong Kong

Flight 309
Scheduled departure 11:15 a.m.

9:30 a.m.
Clear security; go to gate.

9: 35 a.m.
Realize that (a) I’m parched, and (b) I have no Hong Kong dollars left. Cave in, go to currency exchange counter, get minimal HK$ plus Chinese yuan to cover taxi ride in Beijing. Go buy water. Hang out in gate area. Nice airport, I must admit. Pretty sure it’s the only one where I’ve seen a caviar bar.

10:50 a.m.
Board plane.

11:05 a.m.
Watch both of my bags load onto the plane. Whew.

11:15 a.m.
Scheduled departure time, but door remains open. Hmm.

11: 50 a.m.
Pilot announces it’s raining in Beijing, and that air traffic control is refusing to clear incoming aircraft. We‘ll stay at the gate until granted clearance.

12:15 p.m.
In spite of being on the ground, at the gate, attendants begin lunch service. Not a good sign.

1:25 p.m.
Pilot announces that we’re still waiting for Beijing air traffic to clear us. The Dragon Air flight just before ours made it all the way there, then was denied landing privileges and spun back to Hong Kong. Passengers told to gather all belongings and get off the plane.

12:30 p.m.
Just as we get into the terminal, airline staff starts hollering “Back on! Back on!” as they rush us into the plane again. Appears we‘ve been given clearance.

1:45 p.m.
Still sitting on the plane, at the gate. Apparently, a couple of passengers didn’t come right back, so we lost our window of opportunity while waiting for them. Occurs to me that I’m looking out the window at the first sunny day I’ve seen all week and that our luggage is cooking in the cargo hold, where it’s got to be over 100 degrees. Beginning to wonder how international law addresses exploding cans of hairspray.

1:55 p.m.
Off the plane again, this time told to completely exit the secure area, just so we can backtrack through security a second time. While in line, a 20-something American guy starts wise-cracking about Chinese efficiency. Those of us who understand English (that would be the vast majority, since English is widely spoken in Hong Kong) are visibly irritated by the inappropriate behavior. After 20 minutes of this, I finally turn around, give him the evil eye, and silently shake my head “No.”

This, of course, has no effect whatsoever, other than to endear me to nearby passengers. He keeps right on going. The rest of us go right on trying to ignore him. I’m sure his mother would be proud (not).

2:30 p.m.
Sit in gate area. Staff begins handing out bottles of water.

3:00 p.m.
Board plane for the third time.

4:00 p.m.
Watch baggage cart return to cargo hold. Cargo hold opens. I hold my breath. Watch other bags come out, cargo hold door closes, and baggage carriers take off. Huh.

4:05 p.m.
Suddenly, without explanation, the attendants kick into hyperdrive, the door slams shut on plane…

4:08 p.m.
… we hurriedly shove off from the jetway…..

4:10 p.m.
…taxi fast enough to practically lift off the ground…

4:25 p.m.
…then whooooosh, we launch off the tarmac like a roman candle on the Fourth of July.

Breathe in……..breathe out……..in………out……..in……..

Only five hours late. Oh well. It’s not like there’s anything I wanted to do in Beijing (not).

(Photo credit: The Daily Mail)

{ 0 comments }