The check in
- What do you mean with the check in desks are closed? - Gomes asks the lady behind the check in counter to go to India.
- Exactly that sir. - replies the lady behind the counter - The check in desks are closed one hour before departure.
- It's only 10 minutes past the time! I'm sure there must be something that we can do? I can run very fast to the gate and get there on time. What do you say?
- I'm sorry sir but that is not possible. The only option is to rebook your flight.
- I mean.. Common! For10 minutes? Gomes can't believe the situation he is in. He just lost his flight to India.
- Sorry sir, those are the rules. The lady replies in a controlled and calm voice.
- How much will it cost to rebook the flight ?
- Just a moment sir - the lady behind the counter says. I will check for you.
After a few minutes the lady says: 400 pounds.
- Seriously? I mean.. Wow.. What does that include? Gomes asks
- Includes re-issuing the ticket, taxes and the no show fee.
- No show fee? I'm here! I'm talking to you. I'm right here! What do you mean no show fee? Gomes says in his natural lack of clear thought.
- Sir, it is past my hour to close this counter and go home. Shall I rebook the flight for you or will you comeback tomorrow?
- I need to talk with my agency first. Gomes replies.
- Very well. I wish you a pleasant evening. The lady replies.
Gomes says to himself : pleasant evening in the comfort of this marvellous airport. I feel like Tom Hanks already! Let me call the travel agency.
Gomes dials the number for the travel agency..he hears the tone.. Tuuuu... Tuuuu.. Tut and then nothing.. What the..?? Gomes says. He tries again... Tuuuu... Tuuuu.. Tut. Same thing.. But, what is this? Haaa, I'm in the UK, I need to dial the code from NL (Gomes recently moved to the Netherlands due to some, let's say, unfortunate circumstances that happened while living in Portugal. But more of that later. Let's get back to this situation) .. Ok - says Gomes - 0031 and this strange number and here we go.. Tuuuu... Tuuuu.. Tut.. Motherfucker!! Gomes says!
- What did you said sir? A man asks
- Hum? I'm Sorry? Gomes looked surprised to the man and moves is attention again to the number he dialed completely.
The man stares at him for a moment and then Gomes says looking back at him.
- Ok , I know what to do.
Gomes grabs his laptop from his bag and tries to connect to the airport Wi-Fi to no avail.. Haaaaaaa.. - Gomes exclaims! - no Wi-Fi signal. Dammit!
The man obviously left after realizing that Gomes was just stressed out.
Humm.. What else? Gomes says .. Humm.. Ok, let's switch on roaming on my phone, then make it a hot spot and then I will connect my laptop to it. After a few minutes.. Yuhhuuuu... And you shall have Internet! - Gomes says. Ok, now to the site, get the number from the UK, let me see.. Netherlands, Portugal, Quénia, UK... Hahaaaa, here we go! - Gomes starts dialing the number and then he hears Tuuuu... Tuuuu.. Tuuuu.. "Hello! thank you for calling our travel agency help desk. At the moment all our offices are closed." Gomes hangs up the phone and says - I can't believe this!!! - sounding like a young child that dropped his ice-cream. After a few minutes he says - There must be a 24 hour service number somewhere !! Gomes goes back to the website and he reads the text under the title 24 hours service "first call the office number then you will be redirected to the 24 hour service line" - I mean, seriously? Gomes is very upset with all of this. He starts dialing the same number he dialed before, he listens to the same lady with the same text and then he hears a tone Tuuuu.. Tuuuu.. The redirection is happening.. "Service desk good evening this is John speaking how can I help?" Gomes explains the whole situation back and forth and answers all the questions and after 15 long minutes John says "Atchimmm (John sneezes) .. I'm so sorr.... Atchimmm(and again) ... I'm so sorry sir but this cold is getting the best of me. As I was saying I would accept the atchimmm...offer they have.. atchimmm.. It's way cheaper compared to what I have to offer you atchimmm..
Gomes was in a call for 15 minutes listening to a guy sneezing every one minute or so, just to get the same information he already had. - Wonderful. Thank you very much for the help John! Take care of yourself!
Gomes hangs up, closes the laptop and puts everything back in his bag. - What shall I do now? It's 21:30 and the ticket service counters will open tomorrow at 06:00. I guess I will try to find a hotel. Let's see if there is any hotel indications somewhere.. Hey.. There you go, Hilton for 84 pounds! Sounds reasonable.
Gomes starts to walk in direction of the hotel through a tunnel with no end in clear sight. After a few minutes there's a sign: you will be at the Hilton in 6 minutes! Gomes keeps walking, very tired and thinking that he had nothing to eat or drink for the past 6 hours. You will be at the Hilton in 4 minutes - A new sign.. - I hope to see a Las Vegas sign at the end saying : you have arrived at the Hilton! - Gomes says. He keeps walking, sees two other similar indications and then the Hotel. - Haaa finally.. Need food! - Gomes says trying to sound like Homer Simpson . After looking around he finds the reception counter but while walking to it he sees a bunch of people going back from where he came from. - Good evening, I would like to book a room for tonight please. - Gomes says.
- Certainly - the receptionist says. Let me check what i have available for you . Humm.. I have a king size standard room for 150 pounds.
- What? I mean, sorry, but I just saw a sign outside that says 86 pounds. - Gomes says.
- Which sign? Where? - The lady asks
- Right next to the check in desks. It says 86 pounds!
-Haa.. I see. That is the rate if you stay from 09:00 am to 18:00 pm in one of our basic rooms.
- I can't believe it. Wouldn't it be great if you guys were honest and add that additional "detail" to the sign so that people wouldn't have to walk all the way down here for nothing?
- I'm sorry sir, I don't make the rules. Shall I book the room for you?
- No thanks. I'm sure there are some comfy benches at the airport.
Homes walks back the same way he came from and he now realizes why some people were going back when he arrived at the hotel. After a few minutes Gomes was exhausted, he needed to eat and drink something. He sees a Costa and buys some sandwiches and a tea. After eating his meal, and with more energy, he decides to stroll around the airport to find another hotel. And hold and behold there's another hotel! Youtel is the name printed on the sign. Gomes goes down the stairs and sees a weird reception counter with a purple light. It reminds him of a half train wagon with no Windows. He walks to it and asks the young guy laughing behind the counter, probably chatting with someone on Facebook. I'm sorry - Gomes says - I would like a room for tonight. How much is the rate?
- A cabin. - The young guy replies.
- I'm sorry?
- You mean a cabin, not a room.
- Right - train wagon is a cabin, Gomes is connecting the dots. - How much is it?
- 86 pounds.
- Per night?
- The young boy looks strangely to Gomes and says - Yeah, per night.
- Alright. I would like a cabin for tonight.
The young boy starts doing stuff on the computer. Meanwhile Gomes reads a sign that says : "We have earplugs. You never know when that little sound can disturb your sleep" - Please don't let this be one of those hotels where people go to have a good time - Gomes thinks to himself already regretting having payed for the cabin.
- Here you go sir. Cabin 21 is all yours. Internet is for free and open. Checking out no later than 07:00 am.
- Fantastic. Thanks.
Gomes turns right and then left. As he walks by the corridor he sees squared windows pretty much like train windows and people inside their cabins. But.. What? No curtains? Says Gomes to himself. He keeps walking and sees some closed windows and he starts to relax. He arrives at Door 21. Here we go! Gomes opens the door and he can hardly get inside! He steps in, closes the door and stops. To his right there is the toilet, the sink and the shower at a distance of his arms length. On his left there is a high bed also at an arms length and a small step to go up the bed. In front of him at two arms length he as a mirror and a folding table. And that his is cabin for the night!
- This could only happen to me ! Gomes says!
Nighty night. Sleep tight Gomes! Enjoy your cabin