4/16/10

Canceled!

at my apartment

My bags were packed but the plane won't fly. The reason? Some stupid volcano in Iceland with a very tongue-twisting name was spewing ash to the skies which messed up air travel worldwide. Yesterday afternoon, I was at the JFK hoping to catch Finnair flight AY 006 bound for Helsinki. This was a trip that would have taken me to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Things were still promising in the morning when I followed the news at CNN and online. When I called the airline to reconfirm the flight around noon, the agent said the flight, which was scheduled to depart originally at 5:40 PM, was rescheduled to 6:30 PM. A check at the airline's website confirmed that the plane originating from Finland was actually en route to New York. So I took that as a sign that maybe, just maybe, we'll be able to fly.


I grabbed my backpack and daypack and took the subway which connected to the Airtrain, reaching JFK with plenty of time for check-in. Lo and behold, there was already a long queue at the check-in counters. Apparently, all passengers were aware of what's happening in the skies above Northern Europe and everyone's minds were focused on making it to this flight. The Finnish guy standing before me said he's only taking a chance on the wait-list hoping he could go home earlier than scheduled. Finnair agents were behind counters but were not checking-in passengers as they await final word from Helsinki. A female supervisor with a phone in both ears (!) was looking seriously at her monitor, telling anyone who can hear her that we have two hours to wait before any confirmation could be made.

Everyone surprisingly was patient enough to wait. When the female supervisor finally announced that the flight is canceled, there was a loud gasp but none of the shouting and cursing I've previously seen on a TV footage. It took awhile for me to digest the reality of a canceled flight. I shook my head. This is the first time it has happened to me - and a volcano had to do with it! My mind was swirling with things to do now and calls to make - canceling my unspent vacation days, canceling my hostel reservations, rescheduling my flights. I couldn't even reschedule my flight for next week as there's no way to know when the volcano will stop its menace. Which means my trip to the Baltics has to be postponed until later this year. If there's any consolation to this, at least I'm still in New York and not stranded in another city. And more importantly, we're all safe on the ground and not on some plane that's eating dust in the skies.

e-ticket to nowhere

22 comments:

  1. too bad it was cancelled... but at least you're safe :-)

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  2. i didn't realize i knew someone who was affected by all these canceled flights.

    sorry about that. i'm sure you were looking forward to this trip. try to find the silver lining.

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  3. it is really a heart wrenching experience whenever a cancelled flight arises but at least you're safe. just think that you're not up in the air when the volcano threw some ashes.

    btw, i like the map in your wall!

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  4. sorry to hear about it, but still I'm excited for your post about the Baltics. It's in my bucket list also, hope matuloy na next time.

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  5. so sorry to hear that but you're safe though which is a good thing. hope you'd be able to take your vacation soon.

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  6. yeah it's very quiet since yesterday... the airport here in frankfurt too closed yesterday at 8am... and a lot of tourists stuck in the city :) good for local economy?? haha

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  7. may ibang araw pa naman, sisiskat parin ang araw sa silangan.

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  8. At least you were not on your way back! Can you imagine being stranded in a foreign airport, uncertain on when you can take the next flight out, and you assured the head honcho at the office you'll complete the vital project within a few days after you return from your vacation?

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  9. Oh no, sorry to hear this. Tsk. But yeah, at least you weren't stuck in some other airport - AND safe!

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  10. Sadness.
    But it's better you're not there, baka hindi safe yun for sure.

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  11. a canceled vacation is a big disappointment. but it's a volcano, what can you do?:p

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  12. Oh no, I never thought one of my blogger pals was affected by the cancellation of flights. Fortuitous event eh!

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  13. Anonymous4:39:00 AM

    we can't do anything with forces of nature. that volcano really made headlines and a lot were affected including your flight. what's best is you're counting your blessing that you remain safe in your place. imagine the experience that could have been if your flight went through...

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  14. That is bad... seems it will take some time before everything will be back to normal.

    It is good you can postpone your travel...hopefully without too much trouble !

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  15. Chinacks7:27:00 AM

    Hi Dens! We're stranded in Athens!!! We were supposed to fly back home last Friday. Our route was Athens - Frankfurt then Frankfurt to New York. Twing! Most of the flights were canceled. The earliest flight back home we can get is Tuesday. But the airline was generous enough to give us free (five star diamond) hotel accommodation with buffet breakfast/lunch/dinner included. Our room has a view of the Acropolis. Nice kaayo siya especially sa gabii. Weeehhh...

    I read your blog. Wala gihapon ka nadayon. But at least naa ra ka New York. I am supposed to go back to work on Monday. I already emailed and called my supervisor and co - workers about what happened. Aguy, aguy, aguy...Pagkapa - it bah...

    Hala oi, I really hope we can fly on Tuesday. I'm praying to Zeus to blow the volcano ashes towards north.

    Na hala...I hope everything is well with you.

    Mwah,
    Chinacks

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  16. This is the first time it has happened to me - and a volcano had to do with it! My mind was swirling with things to do now and calls to make - canceling my unspent vacation days, canceling my hostel reservations, rescheduling my flights.>>> kakatamad nga isipin to. ako nga madelayed lang medyo naiinip na ako. pero tama ka... buti na lang ang ligtas.

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  17. Nakita ko yun sa TV.tama sinabi mo sa last line.

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  18. Anonymous7:18:00 AM

    magpasalamat na nga lang tayo at wala ka sa taas ng sumabog yun, kundi nalintikan na. next time na lang!

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  19. oh bummerr... do they compensate under such circumstances? so what have u got planned for the rest of the week then? a road trip perhaps?

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  20. that's a bummer but do make the most of it :)

    pre, thanx for the scanned page. its the first time i saw it and it made my day! hehehe

    more travels for you in the future, volcano eruptions or not :)

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  21. So sorry to hear about your canceled trip but on the brighter side, you're safe. :)

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  22. @lechua
    No compensation at all especially since I had a free ticket. I had to cancel my unused vacation which means I'm back to work:(

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