You would think what with all the aviation security these days is would seem impossible to get onto an aircraft without the correct documentation … Right? WRONG!
Let us explain how to get on the wrong plane in very simple steps.
Language.
Your’e probably like a lot of tourists and travel to exotic places that have an entirely different culture to you own. After all this is one of the top reasons to travel right? To experience new places. However if you don’t understand the local language then any announcement in the airport is going to mean nothing to you.
However, numbers are universal and finding a gate number should be easy.
Airports in Colombia are really not that different to anywhere else in the world, after all we’re seasoned travelers and have spent the last 20 years getting on and off planes in some of the busiest airports in the world.
Checking in is the same, there are cues at the Air Colombia counter as this new airline offers some of the cheapest flights in Central America. Now with boarding passes in hand we have passage from Cartgenga to Bogata, it’s time to make our way to gate 22 and head to the countries capital city.
It’s standing room only at the gate and we’re early, so we grab a coffee and burito wrap form the kiosk, for once the prices seem realistic and the time passes quickly.
The announcements to board cracks through the speaker and because this is a domestic flight there is no second announcement in English, here if you cant keep up with the fast speaking Spanish you’re literally lost in translation. Walking toward the the counter the attendant tears off a portion of the ticket of the boarding pass and we’re now onboard scrambling to find our seats.
We’re fortunate what we travel light and only have a couple of small back packs to stow in the overhead lockers and with these tightly packed there comes and announcement in Spanish – “Señoras y señores bienvenidos a este vuelo con destino a Medillin”. (Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to this flight to Medillin)
Initially, we thought we thought we heard it wrong, then came the second announcement. Again with the same message. It’s now dawned on us that we’re on the wrong plane!
We frantically grab our bags and make for the front of the plane, all the while the cabin attendant tries to get us to sit down. Getting to the door and exiting just in time we’re now wondering where our aircraft is. By good fortune there’s someone to help in and speaks a little English, as we now rush toward another gate and board.
Trying to explain why we have a ripped boarding pass to the cabin crew of our aircraft was stressful but by our urgent demeanour, we were ushered into our seats.
Remember, English may well be the language of the sky but when you’re in a foreign country sometimes the rules don’t apply on the ground. A close call indeed but just another story to tell family and friends of out crazy travels.
What’s you most stressful experience with an Airline? – comment below.
