Sometime has to be the first time

Well, the flight to Frankfurt onboard the Lufthansa Airbus A321 D-AIRY was hassle free, and we arrived perfectly on time.

But my mood started to deteriorate quickly when I first discovered an anounced delay of my flight bound for Singapore of one hour. If Singapore would have been my final destination for that day, no problem at all, but I had another flight booked, connecting to Bangkok, and had only planned for 1hour 50minutes of connection time. Of course a start delay can be reduced during a 12hours flight, but I got cautious, so I checked back with Thai (who will provide my connection flight) and found out that my ticket is rebookable without restriction, so in the unlikely event of gathering even more delay and not making the connection I could be on one of the following flights.

As I had still plenty of time - it was around 10.30 pm, flight SQ0025 was scheduled for 12.35pm and now delyed to 1.35pm - i checked on my pre assigned seat for the recline-thingy, and while talking to the friendly Singapore Airlines ground staff she noticed that my seat was already assigned to somebody else (mind you - I already have a boarding pass printed out), so she had to give me another seat, but no more aisle seats are free. Oh how great. So I'll seat 12hours crammed in a middle seat. At least, I was offered the emergency exit row, so I could stretch out. I thought.

I spent some time wandering around in Frankfurt, and as it was about boarding time, I moved through the security check where I had an interesting discussion on my noise cancelling headphones, which have been taken apart by the security officer because they looked suspicious. Why should there be electronic circiutry in a headphone, so it must be something hidden in there. But after all, he let me know as I could reassure him that I won't harm anybody.

Arriving at the gate, we were told that the aircraft that arrived one hour delayed from NewYork had a technical problem which they trie to fix, but don't know how long it may take.

The sign still showed the original delay so I did not think much about it, but as two mechanics started working on one of the engines, I saw my connection vanishing.

So from the initial one hour delay it became a one and a half hour. Two hours. It is the first time that I have more than 10minutes delay on an intercontinental flight. Till now they always ere more or less punctual, and I have been flying a lot, especially to asia, so I did expect the same today. But well. Probably we make up some time, and probably my connection will have some delay. I'll see soon enough.

Finally we boarded.To my great delight i found myself crammed between two guys double my size (and I am already) big, with a smell as if they have not showered for weeks.

Hurray. The aircraft was 100% full (in all classes), so no chance to escape. It can't get any better, can it?

So I crammed myself in as well and held my breath.

Flight attendants were very professional, but it did not feel friendly or family like as I was used to it from other s/e asian airlines, which may be a result of the 100% load.

I spent most of my time sitting in one of the crew seats, it was not very comfortable, but at least the air was not polluted there.

In all other respects the flight was quite un-eventful, but it was the first time that I was more than happy to get out.

Well, sadly we could not make up much of the delay, and also my connection on TG404 was not delayed, so I deboarded the aircraft right when the flight left.

As it was booked as a supplement later on a different ticket, Singapore Airlines declined to help me rebooking, the transfer clerks at Changi could not help me either, so I had to immigrate and work it out with Thai Airlines directly. They were friendly and helpful, but of course the next flight was fully booked, so they guaranteed me a seat on the flight afterwards, with standby on the next.

So now that meant waiting. It was 09.00am, they could tell me if I was accepted as standby at 12.00pm, and the secured flight would leave at 3.45pm....