Mahhaapp.. baru posting dalam bahasa indonesia dan dengan tema cerita lain yang agak gak nyambung dari postingan yang ada di backpacker girls. Tapi dah pengen banged nge "bitching" about tiger airways kapan lageeh...
So trip terakhir adalah weekend kemaren. Berhubung temman yang punya asuransi yang mewajibkan dia berobat di Singapore (hehe standardnya beda--dont ask). Jadilah menemani dengan tiket gratis untuk follow up dentist appointment.
Belajar dari kesalahan pertama (hahah seharusnya gue tulis juga), gara2 ngikut kata si "pasien" yang baru balik dari trip ke Thailand dan pake Tiger. Dia berangkat dari T3 dan waktu itupun gue ikut ngantar ke airport... kita berangkat ke T3 dengan pede dengan waktu less than 90 minutes before departure/keberangkatan--KESALAHAN BESAARRR... pertama untuk percaya sama si bule gila, kedua nurutin untuk berleha2 sebelum check in... gak banget dah! ternyata Tiger di pindah dari T3 SOETA ke T2!!! jadilah kita lari2 berasa ikutan amazing race, pake bus gratisan antar terminal dan sampe check in terakhir sebelum counter closed!! that was close--huammpiirrr sajah beli tiket ulang!
Anyway kita langsung ke terminal 2 dan everything quite smooth. Bahkan punya waktu buat nyoba "AutoGate" fasilitas yang udah ada dari awal tahun 2013. Berhubung sudah check in dan si "bugil" lagi sibuk nulis "immigration card" yang notabene masih wajib bagi pemegang passport selain passport RI, ya sudah iseng patut di coba.
Di pintu masuk autogate hanya ada dua orang yang queue alias antri sementara di pintu imigrasi manual waduh bujubune panjang-lebih dari 10 orang tiap line nya. Ya udah... ngelipir (sukur gue kaga ngesot hikhikhik) ke meja yang ada tulisan "pendaftaran autogate". Cuma ada dua meja, yah sutralah saya coba salah satu bapak yang lagi kaga ada pasiennya.
"Daftar autogate pak" si bapak mukanya kagak menyenangkan gitu ya.. tapi standar kali buat "penampakan imigrasi" ntar kalo kelewat manis dan ramah dikira sok ramah pulak... "...gratis kan pak??" si bapak melongo, "iyaaa" hohoh legalah hatiku... si bapak minta passport. Trus minta scan 3 jari kiri dan kanan. Nggak lama kok prosesnya, kurang dari 5 menit kok.
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| Pertamax scan Passport di meja "pendaftaran" Autogate |
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| Scan jari-cuci tangan dulu yah hikhikhik! |
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| scan passport dulu-kasus gue riweh banget sumpah!! |
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| scan jari di scanner sidik jari |
Trus dia kasih stempel di halaman paling belakang passport mungil di ujung bawah "AUTOGATE". "Nih mbak dah selesai... di coba aja" hohohohoh..... ibarat kata wong ndeso, senangnya ikutan coba sesuatu yang baru.
Oh ya proses daftar ini cuma sekali aja, jadi besok2 datang ke SOETA bisa langsung ke AUTOGATE aja.. hohoho!!
Antrian autogate kosong, ya eyalaaahhh... keknya pada kaga kepikiran buat coba ya....
Ada satu petugas yang standby di sana. Oh ya... siapin tissue basah kalo pake nih autogate kadang sensornya kaga bener! kali ini alhasil scan berkali2 passport setelah yang ke 3 kali baru bener!! gyaahh.. semaput juga kalau misalnya waktu mepet yah....
Ada dua jalur pintu AUTOGATE di imigrasi SOETA. Di tiap jalur ada dua pintu otomatis yang bakalan membuka dan menutup secara otomatis--wakkss... ati2 kejepit ya mbok! Kita masuk melewati pintu pertama yang berada dalam kondisi terbuka sampai melewati tanda garis (ada lah di sana itu liat ajalah--Batak mode on). Trus, tempelkan paspor halaman yang depan, yang ada foto dan identifikasi kita ke kaca mesin scan yang berada di sisi sebelah kanan.
Ikuti petunjuk yang muncul di monitor kecil di atas mesin scanner itu agar mendapatkan posisi paspor yang benar. Kadang memang butuh berkali-kali maklum masih "premier" jadi butuh 3 kali scan sampe berhail. Naaahhh kalo paspor sudah berhasil didentifikasi, trus pintu yang tadi terbuka di belakang kita akan otomatis menutup--jlebb (atau gubrak ya suaranya? gak ada alusnya deh suaranya).
Setelah itu, letakan SATU jari kita (whats your lucky finger? hehe)di atas alat scanner sidik jari yang ada di sebelahnya-yang kecil itu lohh. Lihat monitor kecil di dekatnya, kadang kita harus geser2 dikit kadang posisi jari nggak pas!! Tradaaaa!!! gue cuma butuh satu kali buat scan. Kabarnya kadang mesti cuci tangan dulu sama tissue basah baru kebaca--hadoohh.... rempong juga! Setelah sidik jari kebaca...tadaa! pintu selanjutnya yang dari awal tertutup akan terbuka secara otomatis! dan selesailah proses imigrasi!!
Tapi berhubung panik gara2 scan passport kaga kebaca si bugil dah selesai aja! ya eyalah antrian dia lebih dikit ketimbang antrian passport indonesia!!
Begitulah pengalaman soal Tiger yang ganti tempat kek kucing gue mau beranak-kalo gak 7 kali pindah kaga afdol. Pengalaman autogate yang wajib di coba--jangan lupa tissue basah--halahh latah gue ikutan si bapak!
Mudah2an semua bisa belajar dari pengalaman gue---waspadalaaahhh!! happy traveling!
Tambahan:
Waktu baliknya ke Jakarta rada cemas juga sebab waktu itu aku cuma tau nih autogate cuma ada di T2. Lhaaa trus gue mau masuk gimana dunks??? kaga ada stempel kaga ada apa2nya kecuali tulisan "autogate" di lembar belakang.
Ternyata sama aja. Lewati Imigrasi queue alias antri sebab gak ada autogate. Gue cuma bilang ke petugasnya "ini lewat autogate" dia cuma senyum aja--kaga ngerti gue apa perlu di jelasin apa kaga.... cuma passport langsung di stempel sama doi.
Jadi yah kalau pulangnya masuk dari airport selain Soeta T2 seharusnya ngga masalah, and kaga usah khawatir deh.
Mudah2an autogate di tambah jumlahnya dan ada di Terminal2 lain dan di airport lain juga di seluruh indonesia (belum gitu perlu kali ya di daerah... yuk seep!)
Jun 4th, 2011
Aku sampe di Singapore jam 3 sore waktu setempat (jam 2 siang di Indonesia). Campuran jet lag sama capek luar biasa gara2 liburan yang panjang dan di geber abiss tuntasss demi keuangan dan pemenuhan hasrat (ciee.. berasa apa aja kaleee).
Di Changi aku baru sadar kalau airport ini baru selesai di renovasi. Bagian sebelum imigrasi (ke tangga turun ke pos imigrasi di bagian transit itu loh) berubah tempat.. sampe nyasar.. atau akunya aja yang udah lama gak ke Changi kali ya? jadi sedikit nyasar (dikit doang!--hehe hampir ke stasiun kereta antar terminal dikitnya.. hohoh).
Setelah imigrasi, aku ngambil bagasi, duduk2 bengong sambil baca2 peta gratis yang aku ambil di rak dekat pengambilan bagasi aku baru ingat... poster dari museum Porsche ku yang tercinta TERTINGGAL di PESAWAT!! HUAAAAHHHHHHH!! padahal dah selamat dari Stuttgart ke pesawat, kanapa juga bisa tinggal!!! padahal aku dah dobel check, sumpah! dobel check compartemen di atas tempat duduk itu loh, memang SUDAH TIDAK ADA BARANG lagi yang tertinggal di sana.
Campuran bingung, plus capek sama jet lag, aku dapat tas ungu dengan pita kuning norak yang segede gaban itu... langsung cari "Lost and Found" masuk ke sana langsung di ladenin sama mbak2 dengan logat malaysia... tapi doi cepet juga. Aku bilang keknya tinggal di pesawat. Cuma poster tapi aku pengen kasih buat oleh2... hiks hiks.. secara budget kalo ada yang gratisa lumayan buat oleh2 mahluk2 yang cowok di Indonesia. Jauh loohh....
Nunggu kira2 setengah jam buat ngambil barang itu aja, ternyata petugas di sana mesti hub security dulu baru pihak security hub petugas Lufthansa yang masih ada di pesawat.. haduh ribeeett...
Hampir satu jam-sampe sempat ke toilet buat cuci muka sama pipis (cewek, beser bo...) balik lagi aku dah liat poster itu dah ada di meja belakang cewek itu.. wahh syukur deh...
Langsung ke terminal MRT yang menuju ke kota. Aku masih simpan kartu MRT Singapore yang aku sempat tukarkan tahun 2007 dulu. Masih ada kredit kira2 S$19 masih cukup lah buat transit. Oh ya buat ngecek jumlah kredit bisa pake mesin yang sama buat beli tiket MRT itu. Gampang kok buat top up/isi ulang...
Dari stasiun Changi Airport, kita naik dan setelah melewati stasiun Expo kita turun di stasiuin selanjutnya yang merupakan "interchange" Tanah Merah. Setelah itu ganti lagi ke MRT yang menuju JOO KOON (line nomor 2 yang warna Hijau).
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| Singapore MRT Map 2011 |
Berhubung aku dah booking
A Beary Good Hostel di Chinatown (dengan pengalaman yang lalu) jadi aku turun di stasiun
Outram Park (stasiun ke 11
setelah Tanah Merah) dan ganti ke
line 7 yang mengarah ke
Punggol (warna ungu cuy!) dan turun 1 stasiun berikutnya di stasiun
China Town.
Keluar dari exit A MRT dengan selamat, langsung menuju Hostel yang jaraknya kurang dari 100 meter dari exit MRT tersebut. Tapi perjuangan bo! tangga untu ke resepsionis yang ada di lantai 2 cukup lumayan apalagi kalo lo lagi ngesot pake tas koper 22kilo plus satu ransel 5 kiloan sama tas baju ganti yang kira2 1 kilo!!! gilaakkkkk!!!
Sampe di resepsionis gue lega banget... tapi you know what this kid say about? errh have you check your email? we sent an email said we are over booked. Eh?? masih gak nyambung, sumpah gue sampe bilang sorry gue rada slow, jetlag plus 13 jam di pesawat nguras energi terakhir gue.... dia bilang over book? WTF emang masalah gue apa??? gue bilang i book this room since months before, how come its over booked??? emangnya gue care gitu?? emosi gue naik sebab capek sama ngantuk!!!
Dia minta maaf sambil bilang soal bakalan bantu ke hostel cabang mereka yang satunya lagi di Chinatown juga. Gue bilang, yes i know the other one BUT I WANT TO BOOK THIS ONE. Gile apa!! gue maunya di sini kenapa gue yang di oper ke sana???!!! dia bilang, i already sent mail yahhh... they should think that NOT ALL people could check their FREAKIN MAIL every single day during their trip!!
Gue nunjuk tas koper gue, sorry gue gak sanggup lagi bawa tas ini turun ke bawah, gue dah capek banget!!
Dia keknya ngerasa bersalah (yepp he should!!) dan bantu gue bawa tas. But sorry guys, i had to give you bad review. I never book anything like over 500 meter from the MRT, i could book other hostel if you OVER BOOK!!! gue muaraah!!
I cooled down, check in at
Beary Nice hostel. i
CARELESS if this hostel had elevator, had separated toilet between sexes, had bigger room etc, this is not what i book, end of story.
Masih aja jaraknya hampir 800 meter dari stasiun dan gue harus melewati emperan toko. Kebayang besok gue bakalan lari2 ngelewatin toko2 ini sambil bawa semua barang gue menuju MRT. SIALAAANNNN!!!!
Gue kecewa banget sama A Beary Good Hostel, i am very disappointed..... seharusnya kalau mereka over booked, mereka liat dulu dong who comes first/book first they will got prioritized. How come i book from long time and they told me to go to other hostel?? and such short notice/within 2/3 days???
Belum lagi..kok suasananya beda banget ya... lebih banyak "Asia"nya... i don't know about you guys... gue ngerasa lebih asik aja kalo dengan bule2 sebab mereka lebih friendly dan cuek, dan TIDAK NGE GAP/NGELOMPOK!!
Ini yang paling aku gak suka apa lagi dengan turis yang kulit kuning, napa juga bergerombol gitu dan bicara dengan bahasanya sendiri>>>sirik dot com... gue sama kak Mari kalo jalan malah sering ngobrol bahasa Inggris... tapi lain orang lain prinsip.. ya ya i know....
Mungkin aku cuma masih kesal aja dari awal... trus tambah lagi penduduknya mayoritas Asia dengan logat masing2 (Thai, Chinese, etc).
You know whats the other worse thing happens? sekamar sama cewek asal China yang ngeluuuuhhhhh terus. OMG whyyyyyyyy God!!! THIS IS WHAT I DISLIKE MOST!!grrhh!! hobinya ngedumel pelan sama narik napas panjang ya Ollooohhhh ngesalin!!
Aku dah coba buat conversation berhubung aku tidur di bunk bed atas... tapi ketusnya reekkk! bodo lah.. aku tidur jam 1an gara2 jet lag masih semangat aja, cowok2 lain juga tidur sekitar jam 12an.. dia aja gak ada suaranya.
Demi ngejaga perasaan tamu yang lain, aku dah nyiapin pakaian dari malam, sekaligus sama peralatan mandi jadi kalau bangun pagi sekitar jam 6 aku gak bikin banyak suara.
But you know what happen??
I woke up at 6 am, and sit down abit, collect my phone, and charger and jump off bed when suddenly this Chinese girl stood up and say to me "CAN YOU PLEASE BE SILENT?? OR GO BACK TO SLEEP?" udah spaning gue naik!!!!!!!!!!!
Gue bilang "NO" langsung di hadapan MUKA dia. Dia ngeletakin tangan di dadanya sambil bilang "we have to sleep here so please be silent and go back to sleep" pala bapak lo peaaang!! gue bilang "sorry i had to go to harbourfront for ferry, can't go back to sleep" dah sopan gue ya jawabnya, ehh biasa, dia ngedumel belakang pake bahasa cang ceng cong nya!!! bodo amat!!
Gue ambil alat mandi yang udah gue siapin sama pakaian. I don't even made a sound, emang dasar manusia aneh. To all who read this, moral of story??
IF YOU CAN NOT STAND A TINY SMALL SOUND, GET YOUR OWN FREAKIN' ROOM. DO NOT BOOK A DORM!!! OR GET YOUR SELF EYE MASK AND EAR PLUGS PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!End of case.
Mandi air hangat nyenangi ati cuy... langsung sarapan. Gak lama ehh bangun tuh cewek sarap (SAMBIL NGEDUMEL NGELINTAS-cang ceng cong ceng etc.. etc) ya Allah, kasih gue kesabaran, anggap orang GILA aja lah....
Makan roti bakar doi duduk di
DEPAN GUE sambil dengan muka masam pegang hape, cuihhh ngerusak pemandangan... napa juga coba?? masih ada 3 sofa lain depan tipi, ada 5 kursi lain... kenapa dia mo nyiksa gue dengan duduk depan muka gue bangeeettt???? gue langsung pasang ipod di kuping, tapi masih keliatan mulutnya komat kamit ngedumel SENDIRI kek orang gila beneran. Masih muda dah sakit.. kasian...
Udah gitu gue CUCI PERALATAN MAKAN yang gue pake sendiri setelah gue selesai sarapan. Mahluk "antik" itu??? sampe gue check out PIRING SAMA SENDOK yang dipakenya MASIH DI MEJA MAKAN.
Rule buat HOSTEL yang punya dapur ya sodara2 please notice:
CUCI LAH SELALU SEMUA PERALATAN MASAK/MAKAN YANG TELAH ANDA GUNAKAN
Jadilah manusia BERADAT jangan jadi manusia biadap kek satu itu ya... Padahal dah ada tulisan lebih dari satu yang nyuruh nyuci (errhh gue kok emosi banget ya?) gimana gak emosi, resepsionis ngira itu piring gue yang pake!! gue bilang aja, tuh little chinese "lady" yang ngelonyor aja...
Sutralah... segini dulu update penuh emosi gue.... sorry ya guys... gue kalo ingat suka marah soal ini... mudah2an ngebantu... TT.TT maafkan saya yang penuh emosi... (hormon kali...hohohoh)
Its been awhile since my last post, so i better give an update on several things that i've done lately regarding my preparation.
Right after got the visa i plan a "re-route". Originally the plan is go straight to Germany and spent the whole 2 weeks there exploring as much as possible German until June 3rd. But then i saw a discount on flights to Paris. And after comparing the flights ticket it will be cheaper if i fly to Paris from Singapore. And also fount out that Munich to Singapore also not that bad.
So my final route would be: Singapore-Paris-Munich-Singapore. I fly with Lufthansa Airways.
Is this going to affect my visa since i got it from Germany Embassy?
No, since the longest stay will be in Germany, i think i will be all right. Beside that... on my way to go to Paris, my flight had transit in Munich. So i got my first Schengen stamp in Munich Germany! so its all right because my first entry will be from Germany! and i got the multiple entry visa too! so its very convenient!
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| one of Munich airport picture that i like |
Why i fly with Lufthansa? well after several days juggling between the needs of cheap flights also considering the dates and the "lay over" time that will consume my short holidays... it was between Qatar Airlines and Lufthansa. But then i see the Qatar lay over was in Doha and its for 8 hours!
Read again the reviews about Doha, i simply pick Lufthansa, and spent more time in Singapore rather in Doha! Doha seemed out f nowhere airport, pretty small and i read not much people like it! if i had to spent sometimes in airport it better had at least clean and good toilet!
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| Hope i wont missed this sign at Munich!! |
But the crazy part is..... my layover in Munich to switch flight to Paris would be only 30 minutes! i was un aware of this! this is he very first time i book flights with connections! so this is a very good lesson for me!
But then i read about Munich airport its basically the home of Lufthansa Airlines. And they claim they could possibly do the 30 minutes connecting time because thats how the Munich airport designed (for a smooth connections??). Wow... that would be a "sprint" event for me! why this could possibly happens?
First they claim that they had an easy orientation. Well.. ok if they had all of the board signs and everything.. i know.. but then when we panicking we tends not to see details and end up lost easily because we missed just 1 turn! also how do i run with my luggage?
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| OMG!! hope i wont mistaken the terminal directions |
Then they also add this; high speed luggage system. I don't really know how this work, its just said they had this "modern" luggage system with high speed conveyor and monitored by their employees around the clock. So the 30 minutes is enough for all the security check that needed and to get the luggage from one to another flight.
They also had the Hub Control Center (HCC) and a key element of the HCC is the Connex Center, where a team of experts is in charge of ensuring that passengers and their baggage reach their connecting flights. They maintain constant contact with air traffic control, can request priority landing clearance and reassign gate positions to minimize the distance that connecting passengers have to cover. So i hope these guys did notice that someone from Singapore is going to be on one of the less than 30 minutes flights to Paris!! please do arrange my plane right next to my next plane hahahah!
Oh.. another thing is...Even when incoming flights are delayed, leaving less than the required 30 mins. to make connections, the HCC team pulls out all the stops, dispatching the special "Ramp Direct Service" (RDS) to pick up passengers and their luggage right at the gate and drive them directly to their connecting flight!
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| I think when i arrive i wont had chance to look around :( |
When incoming flights are delayed, RDS picks up passengers and their luggage directly at the aircraft. The driver welcomes the passengers at the apron, checks the tickets, registers the luggage numbers and drives passengers directly to their connecting flight.
If customs and passport control are required, RDS drives the passengers directly to a special RDS ramp-side check-point. In the meantime the Ground Handling Service delivers the luggage directly to the plane.
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| Terminal 2 Where Lufthansa based in Munich Airport |
With Gate Direct Service (GDS), transfer passengers are met at their arrival gate and are escorted to their connecting departure gate. Both RDS and GDS emphasize Munich Airport’s reputation as the most advanced and fastest hub airport in Europe!!
Ok.. i think i will be all right with the 30 minutes transit time to switch the flight... huff.. i should write the experience tho... i tried to browse google about this but oh my less information! i believe that its not only me who experience this!
I will write down my own experience with Munich airport and its facilities soon! let see if they could super fast check me in to my flight to Paris!
Been there done that...
I want to be that person who say those most of times.... and traveling gave me chance to kept saying that to my friends--maybe in the "quite annoying" level. Hehehe... i am glad i did traveling that i had chance to do things i haven't done, or things that i thought i wont be done.. errhhh not necessarily against law of course!!
I had those lovely memories, lots of new friends.. and its all precious!
But sure i had bad experiences also.... things i don't want to remember.. and just want to forget soon as i was on holiday and don't want to think (or using my brain accordingly!) just trying to relax and away from trouble!
What happens to me most of time.. and prob happens to other traveler to is getting late to get to the air plane!!
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| RRRRUUUNNNN to the gaaattteee!!!! |
It happens to me twice.. and uncountable "almost" left by the plane. Some happens when i went to airport at very last minute, another time happens when i got lost in airport--yepp pretty silly indeed!!
But hey.. thats what experience is!
I try my best to made that not happen, wake up early, get to airport early... try to wonder around too far.. but..TT.TT it happens!! the plane gone...
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| ...its like watching horror movie when this is happens to you!! |
But once i got left by Sriwijaya flight from Jakarta to Jambi, they change my flight ticket for free for noon flight. I think its because i already check in.. and late for 5 min from the departure.. erhh long story that related to J.CO at terminal 3 and the free shuttle bus of course!!
Another time, i was late at Jambi airport when the plane is actually ready for take off.. it back again... wow... amazing.. i beg them because its the last flight from Jambi and i actually did use the excuse they change the flight time! and no sms or any phone call saying it was changed! so... they back again for me.. i had to run to run way with a guy carry my bulky backpack! it feels like joining the amazing race!
I never plan that and i don't want that to ever happens...
If i look back again.. this hobby also started wrong... wrong in terms i did start it that way... first time traveling in January 2007... i was 15 minutes late that i also had to run to run way.. where the flight is waiting, i rush i run, and on board... there he goes..
MY BOSS at one of the passenger seat.. i said "..uuuhh hi boss!!" he hide his face under newspaper that he read!! hahahahahaha....
When i arrive in Jakarta.. and get my luggage he was there standing next to me and whisper... i don't want to know you because you are very late arriving! i didnt know that we were waiting for you!! hahaha i don't know if we were on the same flight because i don't even notice the flight that he request few weeks ago before i went on my days off!
So.. i think i need to say sorry to all those passengers that wait for me.. and most of indonesia/domestic flight attendant that already very patience waiting for this girl with her huge backpack... i am so sorry guys...
I will keep trying not to be late when ever i travel.. i just hope that i wont be on the same flight with one of my readers here (hehe di lempar sama sandal jepit gue huahauhaua! maaf kan sayaaaaaa!)
Eventually there are few reasons why passenger could possibly late for their flight and missed the flight!
There are 8 top reasons why people actually late for their flights! and i found few tips and solutions for those.. i hope this could help you all out! because missing a flight could possibly very expensive mistake for a budget traveler!
These tips should help you get where you’re going on time.
Problem: Misread and misspelled documents
Solution: On receipt of your documents check the name, spelling and flight details are correct.
Problem: Flight schedule changes
Solution: Check your latest paperwork for any changes. Remember the times on the ticket will be written using the 24 hr clock.
Problem: Traffic delays caused by road accidents and road works or engineering works on railways
Solution: Check with local authority or just radio broadcast, accidents or engineering works that may affect your route and if need be find an alternative route.
Problem: Denied permission to travel due to incorrect passport or expired passports
Solution: Review your passport in advance to ensure it still has six months to run after your return to the UK. Also remember to pack your passport in your hand luggage.
Problem: Essential medication needed urgently is packed in the hold luggage which has been checked–in
Solution: If your bags do not join you on the aircraft you run the risk of missing your flight. Make sure any prescribed medication is packed in your hand luggage just in case you need it before the flight departs. Most airports have a chemist but they may not stock your particular prescription.
Problem: Too late to check-in
Solution: Add more time – Airports are big and somewhere you might not be familiar with. Never under estimate your timings, make sure you have left plenty of time to get from the airport car park, (which may require a transfer service) to the terminal and into the correct check-in zone. Remember there may be a queue at check-in. Make sure you know which terminal as some airport have more than one and airlines can also fly out of more than one terminal.
Problem: Not allowing enough time to get to the departure gate once checked-in
Solution: Airlines are requiring their passengers to arrive at the gate for their flights earlier than in the past. Plan on getting to the gate at least 30 minutes before your flight departs and remember some gates can be as much as 25 minutes away from the main retail area. If you’re late they won’t wait.
Problem: Flights not connecting
Solution: Connecting flights are the most difficult to negotiate. If there isn't a nonstop flight, then build extra time into your itinerary for the connection. Don’t take the connecting flight that gives you just 45 minutes to change planes at a busy airport; instead, ask for a 2 to 4 hour layover to make the connection. You may not be able to do this online, instead call your travel agent or the airline directly. Please remember if you have bought two separate flights your connection is never guaranteed.
Its not once that i read this quote "you're not a backpacker if you never sleep at airport" well.. to be honest there are so many things that made someone qualified as "backpacker" and its so universal that you will find the meanings quiet different to one another.
Ok, lets go back to the topics.
I will say i did once sleeping at the airport. And its in Jakarta, oh yes, i wish its in Changi airport for sure! I never done that before but when i did, i just got off plane at midnight and my next flight at 7am in the morning. I don't think risking my flight ticket would be worthy and i had to go back to work the very next day!
So that time i was on Cathay Pacific flight from Hongkong to Jakarta. I got a high fever, and my head very dizzy. Until 3 days after that i found out that i got typhoid---erhhhh don't ask from where but i guess it could be from work, or from Hongkong! i am not so sure!
But i was so scary when i walk in to the immigration where there usually a body temperature check due to SARS/AVIAN flu check. But omg! they didn't turn the thing on! so just my luck i guess! i think they never check that again, but i see in some other airports they still check body temperature.
I know i wont had chance to sleep if i go to town to my sisters house. It will took like 40 minutes to one hour to get to town and to go back to airport in early morning. Ohhh i can't do that. I just feel my body very weak and my temperature too high that i can't see clearly.
After getting my luggage i start to search for sleeping spot on terminal 2. I went to the first floor but its too crowded with people. All bench are full. And they turn off some of the lights. I didn't see any other western travelers where i could feel safer somehow! But then.. i just think oh well.. i will find a good spot. ASAP!
And then i see this huge lounge where the airlines office are. Theres an announcement said i can not sleep there. But what the heck, its clean, and the lights on, and i could see CCTV there. The airlines office must be closed by now. Then i pick my corner, in front of Emirate Airlines if i am not mistaken. I had two blankets from Cathay Pacific. So i put one on the floor, and another for my blanket. Put my socks on, and glove and put my eye patch on! i just don't care! and i put my luggage trolley next to me to cover my self (i sleep between the wall and my luggage trolley). I put lock and sling cable to my bag and the trolley. I think this place must be safe. I could see some people who works in airlines still go back and forwards sometimes. So its not completely empty.
Beside me i see two other people sleeping not far from me, its like a couple, local Indonesian couple sleeping side by side. So i am not by my self.
I think i was sleeping for an hour or two, when i felt something is moving near me, i move quick and open my eye patch right when i saw a huge man on top of me!!! yikes!!!
I sit down, and look to that guy, he is a mid east guy, still young (and..hehe handsome) he look at me and quickly said sorry, i said sorry back to him and said i thought his office closed already, he smile (yepp he smile) and said yes its closed already and said sorry again for waking me up! haha not his fault, i don't realize i slept right in front of his office door! he must be very confuse to think whether he want to walk above me or to wake me up! hahahaha!
So i said sorry again and he say this "no, no sorry wake you up, have a great night, sweet dreams!" he smiled... i just said "oh ..ok.. thanks good night!" and then he walk away. Cute! but then i remember something! i open my eye patch and ahahahaaha! he reads my eye patch!! its say "sweet dreams!" LOL hahaha!
I was sleeping again until around 5am. I think its because the flu medication that i took. I wake up and wash my face and change my clothes, just simple cleaning up. I took the shuttle bus to terminal 1 for my domestic flight back to Jambi.
I still had chance to get my self a cup of tea and eat bread for breakfast.
I think sleeping at Soekarno Hatta not that bad. Its not convenient but if i had the same flights i will consider to do it again, its not that bad, and the most important i think is to pick the spot to sleep and always aware of your luggage. Also bring some thin blanket and glove mosquitoes are my main enemy! but lucky i got the gloves, jacket and blanket!
Its not that weird thing anymore and it safe money to sleep at airport to wait for another flight! its wort to try!
I missed the zero fare from Airasia last year... so its really sucks not get some discount flying for my vacation... (thinking about trying my new bikini hehe).
Because work load at end of year i rarely open my mailbox, until this morning i saw this
airasia promotion for several destination from Airasia with lower price! Its a great deal for vacation in April until June (thinking about Phuket and Krabi in April!!)
| Booking Period | : | | 27 December 2010 - 2 January 2011 |
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| Travel Period | : | 1 April 2011 - 30 June 2011 |
