OK, I didn't actually pay for my business class return to Mumbai, but my client did and I stood to benefit from the flat bed/seat.
The nice soldier with the dark pink rinse (seriously) at the entrance to Terminal 1, Gate 1, Mumbai International Airport was having none of that fancy electronic-ticket-on-my-BlackBerry shite. "Ring British Airways" he said, pointing at a telephone attached to the wall beside a big sign with a list of airlines and phone numbers.
"There's nobody there," I replied after a few minutes of trying "all I get is a recorded voice saying they can't take my call." "No ticket, no entry" mumbled my moustachioed friend firmly - I noticed that even his tache had been dyed.
The long and the short of it is that I missed my flight. I'm now booked on one that leaves at 2am in a 'premium economy' seat, which has cost me the best part of 400 knicker. In order to get Internet access and be able to sort everything out, I've also had to check into a nearby hotel. Including taxis, etc. I reckon I'm 600 spondoolies out of pocket. Thank the Lordy I loaded up my credit card before heading out here.
Time will tell whether my client will get a refund for the two grand's worth of the ticket I didn't use, but I doubt it somehow.
Right. I'm off to try and have the hotel staff print off a copy of my new e-ticket (shouldn't BA warn travellers that the e-tickets they send out are useless unless printed?).
Posted by dompannell at February 17, 2008 12:57 PM | TrackBackEvery cloud and all that, the InterContinental where I booked into today has a top class gym, so I spent the last hour on a treadmill.
This means that Janet my physio is going to be pleased with me for once - I keep promising to get to the gym in order to take my rehab up a level.
It also means that I'm a big step closer to starting the fitness campaign that has been on the cards since before my back went about a year ago.
Posted by: Dom Pannell at February 17, 2008 5:02 PMFunny story (for me anyway)
Hope you get back safely.
Jonny
Posted by: Jonny Bentwoood at February 17, 2008 5:20 PMThanks Jonny. I'm sitting waiting to be called for the second flight. The BA staff member I mentioned my plight to was sympathetic until she found out I'm not a gold or silver club member. At least she made sure I made it past the armed forces this time. I'm in the Clipper Bar enjoying a last Kingfisher (it's all I can afford at 11 bucks a pop...)
Ho hum!
I see by my mapstats and your blog that you may have read about the robins... If so, let's meet for a pint (cobra?) when you're back. My treat.
Adam
So I presume your ticket wasn't a flexible one then?
It's the same story at all Indian airports, if you don't have a paper copy of your ticket they won't let you in - oh the joys of Indian bureaucracy...