Nightmare on AF5167: Chapter 2 - "Twelve Angry Men"

I use the term 'men' generically - there were (IIRC) 4 ladies among us - and to maintain the pun on the old Tony Hancock episode.

To resume: The twelve of us were now standing resolutely around the AF desk in the departures lounge. Another lady traveller (who had maybe picked up the BA info from Ma'am) was talking to the AF girl about the possibility of a transfer to another flight (we would now be arriving in EDI at least 1½ hours late, and this makes for considerable inconveience for those travelling onwards from EDI, such as myself), but seemed to be making little progress.

Then Ma'am and J started taking turns to (1) point out that there was the up-coming BA flight and (2) explain that all of us and our luggage had been through security, so it was possible (in theory, at least) to transfer to BA without breaking any regulations or laws. We also 'knew' now that the BA flight was at the adjacent gate - so transferring luggage shouldn't be a problem - and that the flight was far from full: both planes were Avro-RJ85s (90-100 seats, AFAIK) and that the BA was nowhere near full (we saw the pax walking down to Gate 10 as we were walking back from 9).

But we were simply given the "no can do" party-line from the AF girl. So, after some increasingly bitter exchanges, Ma'am said that she no longer wished to talk to 'her' and wanted to see the manager - where could he/she be found? The reply was "she's downstairs, by the check-in counters." Then J suggested that she phoned through and ask her to come up to talk to us. She duly picked up the phone and made a call - we assumed this was to the duty manager, but we may very well have been wrong (vide infra)!

The wrankling continued. I was, at this point, standing a little way off (but still obviously in the group), as were most of the other 12 - a wonderful display of solidarity! I had also learned (or been reminded) that it's generally a good thing to listen to fellow passengers when trouble starts brewing, because there's always something somebody knows that you don't, no matter how much of a frequent-fyler you are.

Nightmare on AF5167: Chapter 3 - "Aux Armes, Mes Citoyens"

While we were waiting for the manager (and increasingly eagerly watching the BA boarding status on the screen), the BA helpdesk girl (sitting right next to the AF girl, as it happens) was looking on the proceedings with some considerable interest; I looked at here (rather passively, I thought) and shrugged my shoulders, which prompted the riposte, "BA has no obligation to you, and we don't delay our flights for other airlines." Rather uneccessary, I thought, but made nothing of it.

While we were waiting for the AF manager, the helpdesk girl gave us all some refreshement vouchers - presumably to help pacify this 'angry mob'. I was absolutely overwhelmed (not!) with the generosity: £3.50 each!!! (Although "J", who had been one of the most vociferous, was given two vouchers - so much for being Mr Nice Guy!)

When I recovered from the shock of this (unprompted) display of AF kindness, I looked up (expecting to see the AF manager) only to find two heavily armed (sub-machine guns) airport police standing at the desk, between us and the BA girl. Wow! "Ma'am" and "J" had obviously really made an impression ... the BA staff had probably thought we would, en masse, storm the gate and board their aeroplane!

After a few minutes of Mexican Stand-Off, I overheard one of the storm-troopers ask the BA girl, "Is the gate closed, now?" When she replied, "Yes, and the plane's away!" the two of them went away quietly - presumably to be debriefed on their recent, highly successful counter-terrorism operation!!

So, nothing to do now but wait, so I trotted off to the bar, where I was mildly peeved to find that the cheapest pint of beer was £4.50 - but the bartender was happy to take our vouchers in part payment. With the (first) drama now in the past, "Honoured Sir," "J" and myself resigned ourselves to the complimentary drinks and waiting to be called for our (now much delayed) flight, and started up one of those 'shared crisis' chats.

... coming soon: Chapter 4 - "Champagne Supernova"

--Henry