I had bought FlyAsianXpress (aka FAX) ticket since it was the only direct flight from Labuan to Miri. Malaysia Airlines do fly to Miri but there will be a transit in Kota Kinabalu, usually a four hour wait. I am not that patient, especially considering there is an alternative, even if it means my flight risk being delayed. You see, Fax is under AirAsia, notoriously known for their ‘now everyone is late’ reputation.
I thought I was a few minutes late for check in when I read a note at the check in counter saying the flight is delayed for one hour; a minor relief since I didn’t have to rush like mad anymore. I studied the departure schedule to double check.
One hour had passed, it was 1.10pm, and there was still no sign of the plane, let alone arrival announcement. As if cued, the ground staff came to the departure counter pushing a trolley.
The chime rang and her announcement went “Dear passengers of flight D7 2243 to Miri, the flight has been delayed due to a technical problem in Miri. As of now, the estimated time of arrival is still not known. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. Meanwhile, we invite you to the counter to receive your snack attack. Thank you.” As we collected our snack boxes, our cell phone numbers were recorded.
And so we waited.
Two aircrafts came and gone but our departure was still unknown
At 3pm I overheard a person at the other bench answering his phone. “Yes…. Yes…. Okay… So this six thirty, is it confirmed?... Ok then. Bye.”
“Huh, must be the call update. Ahh…So that’s what the phone number was all about. So they can face passengers individually instead of risking life and limbs with the whole mob” I thought.
15 minutes later the expected call came. I was not going to let go that easily.
“Hello, Mr. Agustus. This is Natasha from Fly Asian Express. I’m calling to inform you that your flight will be expected to depart at six thirty” she informed.
“Is that six thirty tomorrow morning or six thirty this evening?” I asked.
“Six thirty this evening sir.”
“Did they tell you what was wrong with the plane? What kind of technical problem are they fixing in Miri?” I asked.
“No sir, they only told us they have technical problem in Miri. And the flight is expected to arrive in Labuan by six pm. You can check back in around five thirty”
“Six thirty. That’s three hours from now. That’s a very long time to wait” I hinted desparation.
“Yes sir”
“Then I will have to wait. Thank you.” I ended the call.
So I grabbed my luggage and took a walk around the airport. Not that there is much to see but like the rest of the ‘waiters’, I needed some fresh air and bigger space than the departure lounge.
Around five pm, another announcement regarding my flight was aired. We were invited to collect our meal from the airline counter. It was the colonel himself.
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By six, I paused typing this post and headed to the departure lounge. Metal detector and X-ray scan only; no one was feeling frisky. We waited patiently.Six thirty in the evening, no sign of the aircraft. Not a gust of wind, not a hum of sound, not a freakin FAX. It was going to be another long wait. Some ‘waiters’ have inside information that the latest departure time will probably be nine thirty. People started talking. Some went down to the check in counter to get clarification. The ground staff should consider themselves lucky. People know they have done their best to cope with the situation, and there is really nothing they can do except keep pushing for current updates and get a firm result to report to the waiting customers.
Tired of just watching from the lounge, I went down to join the crowd.
A lot were exchanged. The ground staff kept repeating their incomplete and uncertain reports, like a broken record of a horrible song they go. The aircraft under repair remains just that. Another aircraft from Kota Kinabalu had to be deployed to the rescue. But not before picking up passengers from Miri bound for Labuan; our stranded counterpart. The first group of waiters of the day. We were all part of and an ugly chain of events. And the evening flight scheduled at 8.30pm, the one using the same ill fated aircraft was simply cancelled. Passengers had the option to fill in the remaining seats in the replacement. First come first served of course. Otherwise, a reschedule or a refund is in order. Some of the morning passengers opted for a refund, only to find out that their money will only be returned after 30 days. Now that’s classy. Must I tell you they were fuming mad?
I hung around the check in counter for quite some time, watching people scanning their luggage and proceeding to the check in counter only to be told their flight was cancelled.
Facing the entrance, I saw two familiar faces pushing a trolley each. They were the ground support staff.
Well, well, well, look what the wind rolled in; more dead chicken, to appease the frustrated gods. Could we take another chicky meal?
As I was typing this, it was already 9.20pm. The ground staff were getting nervous. Another promise undelivered, it would seem.
“But wait! I hear a buzz. Zee plane! Zee Plane!” I got mildly excited.
The chime rang and she went “Announcing the arrival of Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur.”
Ah, false alarm. Not the FAX we were waiting for.
Soon came another announcement “Passengers for Malaysia Airlines flight MH2624 to Kota Kinabalu, please proceed to the departure hall, thank you”
“This is not going to end so soon is it…” I thought.
At 9.40pm, there was another hum. The chime rang yet again and she announced “Announcing the arrival of Fly Asian Express from Kota Kinabalu”
And,
“Passengers for Fly Asian Express flight D7 2243 are invited to the departure lounge for immediate departure”
And I started singing Daughtry’s ‘I’m going home’. I feel like an American Idol ready to be faxed home.
At 9.45pm we were ushered out of the terminal building into the waiting aircraft.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain speaking. On behalf of Fly Asian Express, I would like to apologize for the very, very, verrry long delay. Your high patience means a lot to us... blah blah...."The apologies were again repeated by the flight attendant.
Upon landing, the flight attendant went "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment we have been waiting for. We have landed at Miri Airport. ...blah.blah..."
After this delay of epic proportion, you can only ask, could they screw even deeper?
Just you wait.
