Last night the suspense was killing us. My Aussie parents and our two new 'homeless by Fiji Airways' clubhouse members waited by the gate in anticipation. The manager told us that our chances were looking good, and that because they only overbooked by 3 people instead of the usual 25 we had a shot. We watched as the gate got more and more full. Instinctively my Aussie mother and I both started counting, knowing that there are 247 seats on that plane.
We waited three hours, which is nothing compared to living in the airport for three days and having to line up at 3pm for a 9:30pm flight everyday. By boarding time our chances looked slim, the gate was very full. I felt my eyes well up with tears knowing full well I was not getting on that plane. My Aussie father looked at me (well technically he's from Sri Lanka) and said "Tonight, we fight!"
They boarded the last few people of the plane, then approached my Aussie parents. They gave them two boarding passes, and got them on the place. They both turned to me and said "You're getting on too! We know it!" I gave then my email and wished them a great trip home, but they wouldn't leave me until I finally gave them a smile that held back my tears and said "see you soon!"
We had already lost a clubhouse member who was given a direct flight home to Aukland, so now we were two. (Along with 8 other stranded people but they weren't in the club.)
They came out and announced that there were no more seats on the flight and we would have to come back tomorrow. At this point I collapsed on the floor in tears. I don't give a shit that these people are watching my breakdown, I live in an airport! I was stripped of dignity and pride long ago. (I'm not really sure when I crossed that line, but it's safe to say it was around the time I got lost looking for puppies and security knew me by name.)
I waited and asked anyone and everyone working for the airline what I could possibly do, I had a flight to make on the 23rd to Auckland. I was offered (rather condescendingly) two choices: pay $3500 dollars to upgrade to business class whose seats they leave open, or take a business card to call Fiji Airways and see if they could help me get to New Zealand. I needed a phone, a bed, and a shower so I checked into a sketchy hotel (seriously there's a window into my room with a very sheer curtain and I can hear the person above me taking a bath).
Upon arrival into my room I dumped my stuff and called Fiji Airways, this was around 11:30 Pacific Time. My Dad was up in Toronto (2:30 Eastern) trying to make things work for me as well. I won't bore you with the details but I will tell you that I talked to 9 people from 6 different departments from both Fiji Airways and American Airlines. Each airline said it was the other ones fault and out of their hands.
Finally, around 2am my time and 5am at home (my Dad was still up calling and emailing anyone and everyone to help, including the high commissioner of New Zealand) I had one amazing woman from American Airlines listen to me tell my story and start to cry. I was waiting for the common reaction of "Miss there's nothing we can do it's *Insert Other Airline Here*'s fault and our hands are tied" but instead I got her thick southern accent saying "You've been living at the airport!?? Oh no you poor thing! This might take a while but I am getting you on a plane!" I was on hold for about ten minutes when she came back and told me she tried to get me something for free but could only get me on a flight tomorrow for a price. I expected this was the same as the previously mentioned option of $3500 for business class, so I asked the price. She said $200 plus the difference so about $650 after taxes.
WHAT!? After everything I've been through I could have chosen this option three days ago and nobody told me! Sold! Freedom for the sweet price of $650! I booked it on my mom's card (sorry Mom, I'll pay you back every cent plus interest) and was emailed my ticket. At 2:30am I finally went to sleep and instead of dreaming about missing my flight, I dreamt about walking into that airport today and rubbing my boarding pass all over that smug little manager's face! (Or as my Aussie mother would say "That stupid cow!")
And you can bet your buttons I'm writing a scathing, nasty review for Fiji Airways while I wait at the airport today. The only word to describe this experience is "un-fucking-believable".
