After some time home I had to return home. Normally that's a simple trip to Airport Sá Carneiro in Oporto and flying with TAP to Amsterdam. Well, is simple when it's simple... I was travelling thursday morning. Woke up at 6am, left house at 7am and arrived the airport at 8am. Did check in, spend some time with my parents, said goodbye and then went to the boarding gate. At 10am, time I should have been boarding the airplane was still not there. A few minutes before the flight to Paris had been canceled... and then I though... oh right, I heard something about a strike... ahhh it started today!!
So, I went to talk with the lady at the boarding gate and she told me that my flight was cancelled! But I didn't have to worry because they will solve it. So, after some discussion, the company plan is to send us from Oporto to Lisbon by bus (+/- 4h) and then in Lisbon we would take the plan that was leaving at 19h... So, we woul arrive at 15h in Lisbon and then wait 4h in the airport for a flight that could also be canceled... of course not! So, I decided to change my flight to friday. However, what really pissed me off, is that after I discovered that TAP was cancelling all flights since 6am in the morning, but no information was given to the passengers about that. And we did checkin and waited at the boarding gate as if everything as fine...
So, I spent the day home and next day headed to the airport. Since there was no need to arrive earlier in Amsterdam I took the flight at the end of the day. Went with my parents again and the same story. Spend some time with them, said goodbye and then headed to the boarding gate. We did lots of jokes that I would not spend the weekend in Amsterdam but in home (which, of course, I would not mind). When I arrived at the boarding gate, I saw a flow of people in the opposite direction and one of the airport ladies giving instruction. When I look to the display with the flight details at the boarding gate "CANCELED". Again??? So, patiently, as I'm always, I went to talk with the lady and ask for more information.
Me: Could you please tell me what is happening?
Airport lady (AL): Some problems were detected in the plane and the flight was cancelled. However, we have a flight that is going to Lisbon and from there you'll have a connection to Amsterdam.
Me: (Guess there is no strike...) Fine, but is the flight from Lisbon really confirmed?
AL: Yes, no need to worry.
Me: (Well, we never know...) Ok, but how long do we have to wait in Lisbon?
AL: 30 minutes
Me: (30 minutes? and they are really boarding everyone plus the luggage) humm, and is 30m enough for boarding the luggage or the baggage is going later?
AL: No need to worry, it is enough to change the luggage also.
Me: Ok... let's see how it goes.
So, I went to the airplane and I was already sitted I decided to check whether I had the luggage ticket. And for some reason I had lost it. So, I went running to a flight attendant, explained her that I didn't knew what happened to my luggage ticket and if I could go back to ask for it. I was told to run a to please return... So while everyone was already sitted and the plane was almost ready to leave, I was running like crazy back to the airport to talk with the people from the boarding. No luggage ticket but at least I was able to get the reference number. (explanation, if my luggage for some reason is misplaced or if it is not sent in the same flight, because there was not enough time to change all luggage, or because in hurry somethign could go wrong, without the luggage ticket or the number is almost impossible to track down my luggage)... So, with the number I was much more reliefed and then ran back to the airplane. Of course my parents were waiting that the airplane took off and saw me running back to the airport and then back to the airplane... They laugh...
So, the flight went smoothly to Lisbon. Is 20 minutes trip anyway... and then we arrived and were asked to change plane. In the airplane field there was a person with a plate saying "Amsterdam" in a front of a bus. So, we headed to the bus and then the guy started to ask for our tickets. So, instead of checking the tickets at the boarding gate, we were checked at the door of the bus. Funniest boarding I ever had. We went in the bus for 5 minutes and then we were at another plane. Once there I asked when is the plane supposed to leave. The answer was "We don't know... we are waiting for passengers from other flight. But once we leave 2h20m after we're in Amsterdam"... The flight attendance was really sweat and had a great smile and I really couldn't resist laugh. I was also in really good mood which helped a lot! So, again patiently, sitted and started read the newspaper. After 20m or so, I was told that I had been upgraded to first class and I should move place. Nice! :)
I felt a bit uncomfortable then, because I had to take all my luggage that was already organized and open :P So, I closed everything, brought suitecase, backpack newspapers, coat... and then move to first class. I went to the better place in the airplane where you have the extra space for the legs! Really great!
The trip was fabulous. I read all newspapers I have brought, had a really good meal (with starters, main course, excellent wine, desert and tea). I was really starving, but the food was so good that I thought I was in paradise! :)
So, in the end it was one of the most pleasant trips I had... Much later than I was hoping but I arrived well at Amsterdam.
