Mister ehm… F*cker?

Exactly one week ago (Thursday) I was about to go back home to Amsterdam from Estonia. After a deserved lunch in downtown Tallinn with my girl, we headed for the airport around 14:30. After all, my flight was scheduled for 15:45 and I had no luggage to check in. Yes, the taxi was a little late and yes, there was some traffic, but after all, we entered the departure hall at exactly 15:01. Still 9 minutes to go until check-in closes… I thought…

When you’re too proud about the fact that you’ve been flying about 100 times in your life, you can expect some serious revenge from Destiny.<em> “Sorry sir, but people are already boarding. Your flight leaves at 15:25 and check-in has closed already 10 minutes ago.” </em>Excuse me? “You’re excused,” Mari-Leen would say, but the friendly lady behind the check-in counter couldn’t tell me more than where to go: the information desk. And for the record… I still don’t know how that 15:45 got in my head! Drop me a line if you have a clue…

After explaining my situation, the girl behind the KLM information desk told me I could take another flight with either Lufthansa or Finnair, but I preffered to fly KLM the next day. <em>”You will have to buy a new ticket, sir.”</em> Ehm… pardon me? <em>”A new ticket, sir… let me calculate the costs for you.”</em> Where are those good old times airlines (and companies in general) provided <em>service</em>? Instead of changing your ticket, you have to buy a NEW ticket. Damage: EUR 500,-. As they would say at MasterCard: Missing your plane from Tallinn to Amserdam, 500 euros… spending another day with your loved one, priceless!

The girl behind the info desk was joined by a guy, who came from the gate where “my” flight was still boarding. “Ahh, Mister Bakker, I remember your name because we joked about it! Your name sounds like Mister F*cker,” the guy (his name was Merik) joked. If I would have no humour at all, I would write an angry letter about it to KLM (and hopefully get a refund and at least a lifetime Platinum Flying Blue card). But I am not that evil, so decided to leave it to a blog on the world wide web!

So, after feeling really stupid because of missing a flight for the first time (and hopefully the last), we laughed and went back to Tartu by bus (note that Tallinn-Tartu by bus takes longer than Tallinn-Amsterdam by plane). In the end, I managed to change my flight (which is possible if you pay EUR 500,- for a one-way ticket) to Sunday, so I wouldn’t have to travel on a working day again, not to forget that I could also spend some more time with Mari.

On Sunday, I was determined to make it. And yes, I made it – although it does have a sad side! Back to Amsterdam…