January 16, 2012

THE ABYSS

ATHENS. Last week we arrived at Atlanta airport one day late for our plane. I had completely messed up the date. I don't remember having ever felt so miserable. It had never happened to me before. I needed to be back in Spain, for work. The tickets were not valid any more. And the next plane was fully booked anyway. Maria and the boys tried to console me, to give me comfort, so close to the abyss they felt me. We could go to a hotel, find tickets for another day and pay for them. It wasn't going to be the end of the world. But I felt wholly abandoned by fate and fortune, unable to react. I couldn't even move.
Then I tried to explain what had happened to the lady in the Lufthansa ticketing office. The truth as the only argument. I had messed it up and I put myself in her hands. Whatever she could do, I  would greatly appreciate.
Then she started calling here and there, even called their Head Office in NY and told them she felt sorry for us. I didn't put any pressure on her, just leave myself in her hands. After two hours fighting our case she ended up finding seats for the very plane then and there. She even apologized for having to make us pay $500 for it - working it as if we did have a ticket that allowed some sort of change - and went as far as to praise my gentleness, complaining about how rude where people in general.
I just couldn't believe we were in the plane. Took me a couple of hours of flight to react. Then at Frankfurt airport I was back myself, convincing a flight supervisor to let us fly to Bilbao on an earlier plane on a "technicality" and the shadow of a possible formal complain. But the real me was the one at the abyss in the hands of the good fairy.


La semana pasada llegamos al aeropuerto de Atlanta un día tarde para nuestro vuelo. No se cómo me pude haber líado así con la fecha. Nunca me había sentido tan miserable. Jamás me había pasado algo parecido. Necesitaba estar de vuelta en España, por trabajo. Los billetes ya no valían. Y además no quedaba sitio en ese vuelo. María y los niños intentaban consolarme, mostrarme su cariño, tan cerca del abismo me veían. Podíamos ir a un hotel, buscar otro vuelo para otro día y comprar nuevos billetes. No iba a ser el fin del mundo. Pero yo me sentía abandonado por fortuna y destino, incapaz de reaccionar, ni de moverme siquiera.
Entonces traté de explicar lo que había pasado a la señora en la oficina de billetes de Lufthansa. La verdad como único argumento. Había metido la pata y me ponía en sus  manos. Lo que pudiera hacer, se lo agradecía de antemano.
Entonces ella se puso a llamar a un sitio y otro. Incluso llamó a su central en NY y les dijo que le dábamos pena. En ningún momento puse ninguna presión de ningún tipo, solo ponerme en sus manos. Después de dos horas peleando por nosotros nos encontró hasta sitio en el avión que salía. Incluso llegó a disculparse por hacernos pagar $500 por ello - haciendo como que teníamos un billete que permitía cambios - y hasta a elogiar mis buenas maneras, quejándose de la mala eduación de la gente en general.
No podía creer que estuvieramos en el avión. Me llevó un par de horas de vuelo empezar a reaccionar. Luego en el aeropuerto de Frankfurt, de nuevo yo mismo, convencí a una supervisora para que nos dejara montar en un avión que salía antes para Bilbao, con un argumento "técnico" y la sombra de una posible reclamación formal. Pero el verdadero yo, era el del abismo en manos del hada buena.

13 comments:

  1. Ya decía mi madre, con buena educación se va a todos los sitios...Bienvenidos !!!

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  2. oh my, i can imagine how miserable you felt... well, you are very lucky meeting this fairy, and also because no one has yelled at you (this is my worst fear...)

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  3. Kindness and a gentle persona will always get you what rudeness and aggressive behavior will not. Working in an airport, I know this happens often. People make mistakes but when they react the way you did, they get results. Your children learned much from the experience. You must be happy to be home.

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  4. Dzień dobry Pet!
    Me alegro de que todo se solucionara, genial la reacción de tu familia...nuestras experiencias con Lufthansa han sido buenas, la verdad es que por aquí también hemos tenido algún momento de bloqueo pero vamos saliendo a flote! Imagino lo mejor llegar a casa...Bye-bye!

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  5. Oh Pet....so glad you and your family finally found a flight home and you are now safely back in San Sebastian! Your sincere approach was rewarded!! :)

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  6. A travelling story you and your family will never forget!!!!

    Welcome back at haome!
    ♥ Franka

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  7. Perdona que no me haya podido pasar antes a dejarte un tirón de orejas pero mi blospot está loco loco últimamente.Así que pasásteis por Frankfurt? La próxima vez avisa y os invitamos a tarta y café, sería una ocasión perfecta no?me sabe muy mal lo que os pasó, menudo agobio no? mira esas cosas pasan.... yo que llevo desde que tenía un mes volando, hace un par de anyos una vez me dejé los documentos en casa y me tuve que quedar en tierra!!! Una experiencia que contar!!!!

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  8. You did exactly the right thing with exactly the right attitude—and good for you! The ex and I once missed a Paris-NYC flight (not really our fault), but the right attitude (and me speaking the local lingo) got us on a flight the next day plus a 1-hour paid phone card, three meals, a hotel room, AND our round-trip airfare completely reimbursed (in other words, our trip was gratis). Pays to keep your cool, doesn't it, Pet?

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  9. airport drama never ends!
    Home sweet home, Pet!

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  10. That is quite a story, I'm sorry that you had the leading role in it.

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  11. I'm sure you are quite easy to help.

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  12. Great approach and a good outcome. I think those admirable traits will serve you well in your new job. Best wishes on the transition!

    Bises
    Genie

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  13. Your post begins so distressingly and finishes with such hope for humanity. I am so relieved for you that you were able to return on time.

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