Boston, June 23.
So just as we thought our flight to Iceland was finally going to take off... we had another think coming...
*
A bus had been sent to our hotel to collect us and we arrived at Boston International Airport, along with all the other stranded travellers, at 7.00pm. 30 minutes of queueing later, and the lady at the check-in counter handed us our boarding passes. "So your 8.30pm flight is boarding at gate 8B at... oh. 1.30am" "Um, what!!!!" Turns out our flight, which was already 24hrs late after the diversion (which we understood was just one of those things) was now going to be delayed for another 6 hours! I was slowly starting to get annoyed now. The airline didn't know about this delay before sending buses to pick everyone up, of course - so a 6hr (actually 7hr)
wait at the airport it was to be. We went to collect our complimentary meal vouchers and to seek out a bar.
Sitting at a bar in the airport we got chatting to other passengers on our flight. It turns out, the captain had actually given more information in his Icelandic speech, than in his English one. "Technical problems" with the engine had actually been engine failure, and in an aircraft with only 2 engines to begin with (not 4, like the bigger jets), with a heavy weight, and in terrible weather conditions, our Icelandic pilot had informed all passengers "there's no way I'm flying this plane over the atlantic." I was glad not to have understood this whilst in mid air! He also informed us that there would be emergency teams waiting on the runway "just in case"
but not to be alarmed! - I'm glad I didn't know that at the time either! We also found out from another passenger (who had heard via an Icelandair employee) that our aircraft had been struck by lightning - so the burning smell was likely not "just gases from the electrical storm," it was likely the heat of the aircraft after it had been struck. Yet another fact I am glad to have discovered, on the ground, not mid-air!
Anyway, after three or so hours, a few glasses of wine, a pizza, much discussion about yesterday's diverted flight, and some time on facebook - we made our way through security checks and found our gate.
So just as we thought our flight to Iceland was finally going to take off... we had another think coming...
*
A bus had been sent to our hotel to collect us and we arrived at Boston International Airport, along with all the other stranded travellers, at 7.00pm. 30 minutes of queueing later, and the lady at the check-in counter handed us our boarding passes. "So your 8.30pm flight is boarding at gate 8B at... oh. 1.30am" "Um, what!!!!" Turns out our flight, which was already 24hrs late after the diversion (which we understood was just one of those things) was now going to be delayed for another 6 hours! I was slowly starting to get annoyed now. The airline didn't know about this delay before sending buses to pick everyone up, of course - so a 6hr (actually 7hr)
wait at the airport it was to be. We went to collect our complimentary meal vouchers and to seek out a bar.
Sitting at a bar in the airport we got chatting to other passengers on our flight. It turns out, the captain had actually given more information in his Icelandic speech, than in his English one. "Technical problems" with the engine had actually been engine failure, and in an aircraft with only 2 engines to begin with (not 4, like the bigger jets), with a heavy weight, and in terrible weather conditions, our Icelandic pilot had informed all passengers "there's no way I'm flying this plane over the atlantic." I was glad not to have understood this whilst in mid air! He also informed us that there would be emergency teams waiting on the runway "just in case"
but not to be alarmed! - I'm glad I didn't know that at the time either! We also found out from another passenger (who had heard via an Icelandair employee) that our aircraft had been struck by lightning - so the burning smell was likely not "just gases from the electrical storm," it was likely the heat of the aircraft after it had been struck. Yet another fact I am glad to have discovered, on the ground, not mid-air!
Anyway, after three or so hours, a few glasses of wine, a pizza, much discussion about yesterday's diverted flight, and some time on facebook - we made our way through security checks and found our gate.
There were considerably less people than yesterday - many had cancelled and rebooked with other airlines, either from fear of reboarding the same aircraft, or in order to get to their destination quicker, as most were flying onwards to Stokholm, Amsterdam, or Paris and had therefore missed connecting flights and the like. We of course did not have that luxury - we could have bought a ticket for a different flight, and claimed it back via our travel insurance - but that would likely take a couple of months to be processed and paid back to us, and the money/credit I have right now - is just enough (if that) as it is. So stuck we were, praying that today's flight would go and we wouldn't loose anymore of our Iceland time.
My prays were futile.
A chap came over to me, seeing I had a laptop on my... lap (hahaha) - and asked if I would check the icelandair website. I was SHOCKED to discover that online our EDT was now 7am, even though the electronic boards in the airport still said 2am. We all marched off to the Icelandair counter to demand answers. Icelandair staff were there, waiting for us.
To cut a long story short - we were told that the aircraft had just been fixed (just!), but that air pollution regulations meant the engines couldn't be tested until 8am the next morning. Taxi chits and hotel vouchers were once again issued, and Karlos and I were sent off for another night in a luxurious hotel, just like the rest of them.
I was now officially annoyed. An entire 24hr delay I was ok with - shit happens, we were at least alive etc. But anything after 24hrs, and we did board our flight (eventually) at 3pm on day two, was just ridiculous. The amount of money that would have spent on taxis, hotels, and food for all of the stranded passengers, for two days - surely could have been spent on renting an aircraft from elsewhere? I just didn't get it. That the ONLY option was to keep us waiting for two days whilst the aircraft is fixed? That Icelandair didn't have access to another aircraft to act as a substitute. There are no backup planes? It was ridiculous.
Anyway, we did eventually board our flight (2 days late) and - even though the engines had to be manually started, as the starter motor was faulty (oh dear lord) - we safely arrived in Iceland, 4 hours later, in a burst of cheers, smiles, and excitement.
*
Karen was there waiting for us at the airport - and I ran towards her for a welcoming hug, almost smashing my bottles of dutyfree in the process. Oh how good it was to be in our destination at last! Iceland was currently in its days of 24/7 sunlight - making us realise
that 7 days could well and truly we squeezed into 5... no worries.
And so, the travellers' adventure continues...
~ Comet xo
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