We just had ordered lunch, when we received our first (of many) sms: "Can you fly due to the vulcane?" We think: "Vulcano on Java?". Still not really knowing what was going on we flew to Kuala Lumpur.
April 16th - Eyjafjallajokull
Arriving at KL it became clear very soon what the issue was: a vulcano reuption in Iceland had block all european airtraffic. The european airspace was closed! What now?
The message given at the Malaysia Airlines desk wasn't predicting a lot of good: "We are very sorry. Natural desaster. We can't do anything for you. I don't think you will fly toninght". Aftef a few frustrating telephone calls, which didn't get us any further, we decide to leave the airport and go to KL city.
Passed immigration the situation is a lot clearer than inside the terminal. Our luggage, without us requesting it, had already been taken out of transit and where 'waiting' for us next to the luggage claim belt. At the hotel and the taxi desk we are helped quickly and professionally. At midnight we arrive at the 5-start Maya Hotel. Our stay for the next 2 days.
Before we go to sleep I call Malaysia Airlines. After having waitd in the cue for 30 minutes, I am told we are re-booked on the Sunday evening flight (assuming it ..... ).
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| Van Maya - Kuala Lumpur 2010 |
April 17th - Stranded
Breakfast is very good, with huge selection. When checken the website of our travel insurance we conclude we are insured for such an event. We only have to contact them to register, and so we do. Now we are here, let's try to make the best of it.
And that is easier said than done. KL is not the most excting city. After one day - (window)shopping, swimming, eating, browsing the internet and talking to the other stranded tourists - we already striped off most of the 'to do' options.
Last update: MH006 KL to FRA on April 18th is cancelled. So what now? Tuesday? Or even worse? Hmmm, let's not think about that scenario yet.
Calling MA: "you are number 26 in line, you will be served in 72 minutes". Whatever. Let's try again tomorrow, first get some sleep.
April 18th - Sand Tigers
In the morning first thing: call MA. I waited from being number 18 in cue until being number 4 in cue, almost through: disconnected! Try again. Number 22 in cue. After 16 minutes I am through. I am given a reference number (KH79E). But basically they have no updates. I am advised to call back in the evening or tomorrow. I am told we are on the first flight, but they have no idea when that will be.
We added 2 nights to our stay. No issue, they had sufficient capacity. Maya even lowered the price to that for a standard room (395++ iso 495++), despite us being in a Deluxe Suite.
To kill some time we went to the Aquarium. It was very busy, with lots of screaming children. It was also very Asian: "Do you want to touch the Bamboo Shark?". On the other hand, the big tank was super! Especially the huge Stingray and the Sand Tigers (man, I would love to see these in the open ocean).
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| Van Maya - Kuala Lumpur 2010 |
April 19th - KL Sentral
In the morning we head to KL Sentral, where MA has a terminal (yes, you can check in in the middle of the city). At the desk they give us two options A) We can go to the airport to be standbye for a flight to Rome (the only European airport MA flies to that is still open), or B) They call us when our flight is due. As option A) was given to everybody at KL Sentral (so also passengers for Amsterdam. London and Paris) we didn;t epxect to much of it. Conclusion: we are not going to the airport tonight.
Latest update: MH006 KL to FRA on April 20th is cancelled. Tomorrow we must add another 2 days to our stay.
April 20th - Hope
The day passed by like a blur: sleeping, browsing the internet, watching BBC world news, lunch, browsing the internet ....... all the stories your read and hear don't make you feel better. It may take days, weeks, months!
In the early evening we bumped into Rene and Nell (a retired couple from Zeeland) and nice conversation with them. Back at the hotel: talk to other stranded tourists, browse the internet, call MA - unable to get through. It's like on endless circle - going nowhere.
We decided to try again at KL Sentral. There we are told: "you are booked on the Friday flight".
Back at the hotel we alerted the others and advised them to go to KL Sentral as well. It's 23:15 you can still be in time before they close.
April 21st - Reality
The 'Stick insects club" (a Dutch - Belgian hobby club interested in stick insects) had been to KL Sentral. Obviously transit has priority. So they are not going home yet. We head to KL Sentral to check if all is still okay for us.
No, your on waiting list. Not confirmed ......
We decide not to let get to us (at least for now) and take a taxi to KL Tower. Hmmm, 38 ringit. No way. Let's do the nature trail, it's for free! After having lost 2 liters of body fluid and being stung by 20 - 30 muscito's we return to our hotel room. At these times you appreceate airco .... and a cold shower.
The rest of the day was not that exciting. The manager of the Maya hotel offered to arrange a bus to the airport and help us book a local hotel. He also had connections that had connections at MA. Allthough he appreceated our business he wanted to help us. And according him you needed to be at the airport to grasp the opportunities that arose, if you wanted to get home soon.
Little later Nell and Rene returned from the airport: "choas". So going there doesn't seem to be the better option? The Brits had arranged ticktes (confirmed seats - with seat numbers) at KL Sentral?!
Tomorrow we wanted to get up early and give it a try again. But first I call MA again. No success. It's 02:00 o'clock, we need some sleep.
April 22nd - Free at last
06:00 in the morning: the alarm. Auch, that's early. Bèh, I want to sleep. Petra is anoyed by my 'no actoin': "either we go to KL Sentral or we call NOW". Okay okay.
I am 3rd in cue, woaw that's fast. "I can put you on todays flight at 12:30 o'clock" - am I dreaming ??!! - "just provide your reference number or eticket at the airport, that's it". 15 minutes later we have packed our bags and showered.
Quick webcheck: YES, the 12:30 flihgt is really on!
A few minutes later we are down at reception with our lugage, check out and are in a taxi to the airport. 10 to 8 we arrive at the airport. "Frankfurt is desk E & F sir" Petra doesn't trust it and double checks at another desk. No, E&F is for regular booked flights, you need to go to C17 & 18, around the corner.
In the lines at C17 there are some French, some Dutch, bus loads of British, but no Germans? Still, we are in the line for Frankfurt? Everybody, yes everybody, is offered to be transfered to the Frankfurt flight. "connection from there is for yourself to arrange".
It becomes very obvious that the "we will call you when your flight is due" is a lie. The only way to get home is be in line at the airport when an extra plane is announced - the manager from Maya was right!
Announcement: "We are very sorry MH0004 to London is now closed. The plane is full. ... ''. Shit, I hope we will be at the desk in time - the line is so slow.
Being confirmed on this flight, as I was told on the phone, we don't believe anymore.
After almost 2 hours in line it's our turn: Seat 40A and 40C (the LAST row in the plane)! Also the diving luggage (65kg alltogther) is no issue. Are we really going home?
After pass immigration we look for an internet portal, so we can send a message to Rene and Nell. Unfortunatelly we can't get on our webmail. Little later we bump into a guy who also stayed at Maya. He was only stranded on Tuesday, but was lucky enough to be at the airport at the right time (his travel agent had warned him to be there to be on the extra flight to Amsterdam). He was booked on tomrrows extra flight to Amsterdam (again confirming that first stranded, first returned home, was a lie as well).
Big applause as the cabin crew boars to plane (it was like a rock star entrance). Damn, it looks like we are really goijng home!
Now, 3 hours enroute to Frankfurt, it is almost like a bad dream. As if we are simply returning from our holiday and the "KL episode" didn't really happen. The mental rollercoaster has almost come to an end. Still nine and half hours to fly, followed by three hours by car, and we are back home.
Unbelievable, the FIRST extra flight to Frankfurt, even before the first regular flight, and we are on it.
[following MAS's web it's even more dramatic as this was both the first and the last extra flight to Frankfurt - all others that did were origional from Frankfurt, but didn't catch this plane must have gone home through Amsterdam or Paris - and from there one ..... they were on there own]
