The flight from Heathrow took off almost an hour late because of the crashed 777 at the end of one of the two runways. We had to slot in between landing aircraft on the north runway. Our pilot told us we'd probably catch up time en route because of the jet stream over Europe, and in fact we got to Johannesburg exactly on time the next morning.
I realised I couldn't waste time getting my connecting flight because I still had to go through passport control and check in. I managed to get to the plane door while people were still getting their bags and things. I raced ahead through the confusion at Jhb airport to passport control where the woman at the desk was a bit confused about the flight I was going on, she thought Canada... er... back in SA you know... After I explained I had COME from Canada and Heathrow in London she stamped my passport and told me I had come to the wrong section, and I should proceed to the correct section and pass through permit holders and diplomats entrance and not queue with the other passengers as she'd already stamped my book. Ok I was pleased about that as I could get moving again. Another passenger and his wife from Germany I think, was also concerned about his connecting flight to George which was boarding in about 15 minutes. He said he'd follow me. I explained I had already gone through the entry process and he had to queue with the other hundred or so passengers. I left him with a look of panic and despair on his face, and ran to the domestic terminal which is only accessible by leaving the international terminal and going outside for about 200 metres because of on-going build alterations. I ran! Then it was up about 3 floors to the check in desks. I got through fairly quickly and went to the departure gates and couldn't find my one as it wasn't clear on the boarding pass. I found what I thought was my gate which was actually the flight boarding to George and told the attendant there were people still in immigration wanting to catch the flight. He thanked me for informing him but didn't think the flight would be held that long. Well, I tried. The worst was they'd go on standby for a later one.
I realised I couldn't waste time getting my connecting flight because I still had to go through passport control and check in. I managed to get to the plane door while people were still getting their bags and things. I raced ahead through the confusion at Jhb airport to passport control where the woman at the desk was a bit confused about the flight I was going on, she thought Canada... er... back in SA you know... After I explained I had COME from Canada and Heathrow in London she stamped my passport and told me I had come to the wrong section, and I should proceed to the correct section and pass through permit holders and diplomats entrance and not queue with the other passengers as she'd already stamped my book. Ok I was pleased about that as I could get moving again. Another passenger and his wife from Germany I think, was also concerned about his connecting flight to George which was boarding in about 15 minutes. He said he'd follow me. I explained I had already gone through the entry process and he had to queue with the other hundred or so passengers. I left him with a look of panic and despair on his face, and ran to the domestic terminal which is only accessible by leaving the international terminal and going outside for about 200 metres because of on-going build alterations. I ran! Then it was up about 3 floors to the check in desks. I got through fairly quickly and went to the departure gates and couldn't find my one as it wasn't clear on the boarding pass. I found what I thought was my gate which was actually the flight boarding to George and told the attendant there were people still in immigration wanting to catch the flight. He thanked me for informing him but didn't think the flight would be held that long. Well, I tried. The worst was they'd go on standby for a later one.
In the meantime my flight was about half an hour later at another gate upstairs.... aaaaaagh!
The approach to Durban was the most spectacular I'd ever had. Unfortunately my camera wasn't at hand to take a picture. We arrived at the coast way north of the Umgeni River and flew about 3 km out to sea, did a downwind leg at about 2000ft along the coast, still quite far out, then turned very low over part of Umbogintwini, I heard the throttle open quite a bit as we turned onto a rather short final, with the ground very close!!! Quite interesting!
I think my brown suitcases should go back to the Goodwill Store in Canada where they came from as I think they're jinxed. They didn't arrive on my flight. I wondered where on Earth they had gone. I found out from the Baggage Desk they were in Johannesburg because I never collected them there as I didn't go through customs!!! A woman at the desk piped up that we were told on the plane before we got out that we had to collect our luggage. I said this was not the case. Her next comment really p'd me off. She said there were signboards at the airport. I told her that Jhb airport is such a mess with building alterations and there was no such sign. That kept her quiet! In the mean time the guy attending to me gave me a form to fill in an said my bags would be on the 13:20 flight which was about 3 hours from when I arrived.
Leon took me home and I would return to the airport myself as they wouldn't deliver to my home because they didn't loose the baggage, I had not collected them. OK, OK! Well to cut a long story short I got my 2 suitcases later, and even complimented the old bat at the desk for remembering my name.
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