This is a bit long as it describes the hurdles I had to go through to even get on the plane. WHEW! I’m here, read on…
You can’t get on this plane!
“I’m sorry sir, we can’t allow you to board the plane”. I was stunned! Then, I got annoyed and angry, I quickly assessed my options including going back home. If I was unable to resolve the issue, that’s where I’d be headed. First, I had some work to do in a very short time frame.
Earlier that morning at home, I felt very strange. My pre-trip enthusiasm was subdued. I couldn’t put a finger on it but something felt off. I assumed that once I got in the car for the airport, the feeling would leave. It didn’t.
A sense of foreboding plagued me. Unable to put a label on it or get a clear sense of what it was, I let it be.
The night before, I got online to complete check-in. I was denied because of the length of my trip which surpassed the time allowed by a visa on arrival in Thailand. A number appeared to call which I did explaining the message I’d received. The agent confmrned everything would be OK once I arrived at the airport and attributed the challenge a computer program.
A hug good bye to Marnie and I proceeded to the self-check-in area. I was denied several times, spoke with an agent and was referred to another area with real people. I waited twenty minutes in line, tick tock, and explained what I was told last night asking for her help.
She got a supervisor. The supervisor explained that Thai Airways would not allow a passenger to board a plane if they didn’t have proper visa documents in hand. In the past, the was a request but recently turned into a demand. Regardless of my plans, they had no indication I’d be leaving Thailand within the 30 day window. Allowing me on the plane would cost United $50,000.
By now, it was 1:20. My flight departing at 3:10. TIck tock, tick tock, HURRY!
My heart racing, I found a chair and went to DIA’s free WiFi so see if I could book a ticket online. No signal! Grabbing my things, I lumbered to a coffee shop and sat on the floor. The signal was painfully slow. I didn’t know if the web pages would load before my flight left. Tick tock.
Waiting for the page to open, I review options. Maybe I could get a later flight to LAX giving me more time to book a ticket? At the invitation of Attman, I joined him at his table and explained. The connection was faster, AirAsia’s booking page opened. Picking a random date the end of next week, I worked my way through the pages of information, entered all my personal and travel details arriving at the payment page. I entered my credit card number, clicked continue and watched the wheel spin to complete the process.
I forgot to check a small box and started over. Entering all the information and clicking to complete the transaction, the whirring disc spun once again. I crossed my fingers. Finally, a page appeared that at first looked like confirmation. Then I noticed the very top message: “request DENIED”. Please try another form of payment. TICK TOCK!
I re-entered two credit cards and ATM cards: “request DENIED”.
I went to Malaysia Air, a larger non-budget airline confident it would work. Through their process, clicking on completion for the transaction to purchase the ticket, more hopeful and with both Attman and myself crossing our fingers: “request DENIED”. TICK TOCK!!
Frustrated, heart racing, and running out of options as it was not 2:00, WHAT TO DO? and I was running out of time. Attman offered me his cell so I could call mileage plus, book a mileage trip out of Bangkok which I could cancel. He dialed for me while I went back one more time to AirAsia’s website. The wait for a customer service agent was over 10 minutes. No way!
Trying a different tack, I found a ticket to Singapore March 1, enough time to feel safe booking it. Completing all the information pages once again, I reached the final payment page. I remembered booking a ticket last year in Penang, Malaysia. The debit card worked better than credit card so I grabbed it. The next to last pulldown menu asked for “country issuing the card”. Automatically, I started typing “Unite….” and stopped. Deleting what I typed, I entered Indonesia. It’s a computer right! A computer glitch started this, why not give it a try?
All boxes completed, all fingers crossed, I clicked to complete payment. Once again, the whirling disc and brief glimmer of hope. A window appeared, it was different. I turned my laptop to Attman and asked, “Am I seeing things or does it say Reservation Confirmed”. He smiled! I stuffed things back into my pack keeping the laptop open and raced for the ticket counter.
They accepted the electronic ticket but cautioned me that Thai Air in LAX might not. I had close to five hours until my flight in LAX so thought I could get it printed somewhere. They also told me Thai Airways might require proof of financial ability to pay for your trip. FINE!
NOW YOU TELL ME! Where was all this information for the past month? I talked with Thai Air and they said nothing. United saidnothing, Where were you the past month since I booked my ticket? What about the “customer service specialist” I talked to last night. A brief outburst to myself to get it out. “Larry”, I said to myself, “STOP IT”. (that’s for you Wendy and for real). I had my ticket and headed to security.
Security was suddenly jammed. I left the first area because they said the second was less crowded. A long line snaked itself back and forth 7 times through security. Breathe…patience….flow I reminded muself. A agent opened a gate at the other end pointing to concourse “A”, they had little waiting. I ran! Me and you Heather! I arrive at the gate with about 10 minutes to spare. They were already boarding.
Not quite the relaxing extra time with early arrival so I could read and get a salad or something. I got on the plane with heart still pounding. I ate a sandwich I made and had a reaction to it. Must be developing sensitivity to nuts or some combination of.
In LAX, ahhhh, finally a feeling of ease. Through the terminal, search for ground transportation, find a bus to International Terminal 3, locate Thai Airways (they were closed), go look for help. Breathe, stroll, take it easy, I had five hours.
Customs and Border Protection pointed me back to the first level to be able to print my electronic ticket. Sean, the man there was very helpful and did it for me. Cost me one dollar. I realized I could get account balance information at an ATM, Check!
Back upstairs, the security ladies gave me a thumbs up and a smile when I thanked them. I sat on the floor waiting for Thai Air to open with the line of other passengers. Because I already had a boarding pass issued by United but needed on issued from Thai Air, they put me in the Premier line, the FRONT of the premier line. Things were looking up. People started showing up, a man helping with luggage called “D” hung out and talked with me, and Cynthia from Florida traveling to see family, and more.
I asked directions to the gate and wound up having a long conversation with a lovely lady from Istanbul working with Qatar Air. Passing through screening, the security lady thanked me for smiling at her and asking how she was doing. Sitting at the gate waiting for my flight in two more hours, I had a long conversation with another woman going to Bangkok and looked through photo’s of her family she’s taking with her.
On the plane I met a doctor from Colorado Springs with wife and daughter on their way to Burma. He works for a nonprofit providing medical care there. We talked until it was time to sit.
Now, sitting in my exit row seat, tons of leg room, empty seat behind me and after having many hours of good sleep, NOW….I can feel the energy of the trip drawing me into it. Whatever those initial obstacles were for, I passed. Peaceful and persistent, non-attached and looking for the path of flow, listening and remaining creative, the early challenge compressed all the emotions of this long trip into moments. Whew!
Next stop, in a few hours, Bangkok. And there, the next beginning.
Ciao