I’m not into hyperbole, but “pretty bad flight” doesn’t make for much of a blog post.
My flight from LA to Hong Kong sat on the tarmac for about 2 1/2 hours while an engineer twiddled with one of the engines. I’m of a few minds on this. On the one hand, I’m all for engines not falling off while we’re halfway over the Pacific. On the other, the engineer had been twiddling for 2 hours when the pilot announced that he’d give it another 15 minutes. What exactly can you fix in 15 minutes, a heat shield? Also, why was the engineer and pilot “coordinating with Hong Kong” — did we outsource our engineering supervisors?
Anyway, things were back on course and we had a peaceful 11 hours of nonstop flight when the pilot announced that the weather in Hong Kong was too poor for landing, so we turned around and landed in Taipei. By this point in our intercontinental flight we were all welded to our seats anyway, so another 3 hours sitting on the Taiwanese tarmac was only that much more marginally painful. At some point the crew gave up on us (having exceeded their legal limit for work) and we were bused literally 20 feet to another plane, which finally arrived at Hong Kong at about 2am. There was rampant speculation that the delay was largely due to the airline (Cathay) avoiding the need to put us up at a hotel. Indeed, instead of a hotel, we were escorted to a holding area:
… which isn’t all that bad since there’s free wifi and power outlets galore here. Free wifi… maybe the communists can teach us a few tricks after all. And sleeping on the floor ain’t so bad — in fact, it’s pretty good for the back.
The folks I feel worst for are the ones who were heading to Taipei and weren’t allowed off during our unwilling layover there. Instead of being done with their journey, they were force-marched here to Hong Kong, waiting for the first flight back there again.
(In Cathay’s defense, it does appear that there’s a typhoon making its way up the coast that was hanging out near Hong Kong last night.)
Oh, I should mention that I’m on my way to State of Play V in Singapore. Hopefully, I will be there in time for the planning session we’d set for the workshop I’m helping to run. So much for touring the island tomorrow. I mean, today.
Gene — This sounds like a complete nightmare. Look forward to seeing you when you finally arrive!
Sounds like a long lesson in the discipline of Aceptance!
My secret to long flights: two of those inflatable U-shaped neck pillows they sell for $5 at most airports. One (about half inflated is for the lumbar/lower) back), the other fully inflated to prevent bobble-necking while sleeping the flight away.
From here, the trip can only get better. Looking forward to hearing about State of Play.
RWM
Glad to hear you made it safely. It makes my weekly flight misadventures seem downright delightful. Take care.