If this was charged to experience, I paid bucks.
The plane back to Davao was huge. I'm sure I have not ridden anything like it. Not once. 40K, there goes my seat. Wow, I thought, this is a huge aircraft.
I got hold of Jonathan Safran Foer and read away. This is going to be a great flight. I'm sure it would be cloudy, which is always a sight I like to behold. The safety instructions card indicates the plane is Boeing 747. I felt weirded out.
Fifteen minutes or so after, the pilot apologizes for the delay of the departure. He said they're still waiting for some passengers. Stupid, I thought, thinking about the late passengers and the discomfiture they're causing to the early birds.
No wait. I'm dead sure it was just about 4pm. How come they're late. The plane should leave 430, it's still 30 minutes early. Ok, I think they're just trying to be cute. Are there VVIPs in the aircraft?
I read. More minutes ticked.
Another announcement from the pilot. He says with finality that really, this is the final boarding on the flight to Mactan International Airport Cebu. Hahaha, the pilot's got to be kidding, right. Is he drunk? It's a bad joke, come to think of it.
I laughed in my mind. Imagine, if I landed in Cebu, I would finally see Aina and Roan. But then I can't text them because my bat is empty.
"Sir, excuse me, tama ho ba yung narinig ko? Mactan, Cebu ho itong flight na 'to?" I asked feeling like an idiot, but asked anyway.
"Sa'n ka pala?" "Davao, ho." "Naku, pa-Cebu ito." The man sitted next to the empty chair beside me frantically called the attention of the steward. "May naiwan dito, Davao daw flight niya, baka maiwan ng flight 'to."
What the fuck. This isn't happening.
"Sir, dali po kayo baka maiwan na talaga kayo, sunod po kayo sa'kin," the steward, trying to be concerned. I tried my best to explain that I entered the correct gate. The plane switched gates. I didn't know. Perhaps I was still outside, had they made an announcement. But what the fuck, I tried to calm myself because I was goddamn sure it wasn't my fault.
"Naku Sir, kakalipad lang ho nito," the pretty stewardess said, in a voice, which I thought was trying to mock me and my stupidity. The other steward said, "Sir, baba na lang po kayo sa runway, baka tinatawag na po yung pangalan niyo." This is an aircraft full of fucking jokers.
Is he serious? Now he is really embarassing me. I didn't have lunch and breakfast was eons ago and I swear I could've passed out at that moment. I felt dizzy but I ran like I've never ran before. I can see a plane closing its doors and the tube slowly pulling away. Could it be it? Am I doomed? Am I stuck in this jungle full of demeaning looks?
It was not. I am saved. It's a good thing I don't like to sleep in airplanes.
wala nako ma-get ang ending... hehe. anyway, in relation to that PAL experience, here's my share of story pud: http://reclamador.blogspot.com/2007/12/pal-fuck-2.html
ReplyDeletehttp://reclamador.blogspot.com/2007/11/pal-fuck.html
jay, i thought i'd be laughing upon reading this entry of yours, as you've told me you were writing about it. but no. i was like... "huh?" PAL should not have lapses like that. yes, it's their lookout--- their passengers, that is. bakit nakalusot ka sa Cebu flight kung ang ticket mo (na dapat ay chine-check nila) ay Davao ang nakalagay? pati flight number dapat nandun. nagpalit man sila ng boarding gate, responsibility ka nila bilang pasahero at customer nila.
ReplyDeletetsk, tsk.. salbaheng PAL yan.
he he. totoo ba ito? di ba dapat tinitingnan nila ang boarding pass?
ReplyDeletearyo, dapat talaga.
ReplyDelete