Boxing Day
Our hostel was really cold and without hot water (and a bathroom light) so we decided to grunge bus it to the airport and shower once we'd arrived in London. The bus to the airport was packed shoulder to shoulder. Mark and I barely got on and once we did we were sandwiched between suitcases and smelly passengers. I was praying the entire 30 minute ride that the man standing right over me didn't lose his late night snack because the signs of his hangover were all too apparent. When the bus stopped the doors opened inward and sent me and my backpack flying into the man's stomach. I braced myself for the inevitable. But, instead of getting stuck I bounced off like I had hit a trampoline and made it out the doors before any projectables flew. We arrived at the airport about 10:15 AM but the check in counter for WizAir was not yet open. The boards said the counters would open at 10:30 so a large group of us made a clump near the WizAir signs. Unfortunately there were no lines set up, so when the counter did open agents had no idea what to do. They started randomly selecting people from the clump to check in. What? We moved from one end to the other in hopes that we would be in the "chosen" spot. It was absolute madness. We were finally selected for check in at 11:30am. The woman behind the counter informed me that I was checked in but that Mark was not. She didn't understand how this was possible because both tickets were on one itinerary so there was only one check in option. She said that there must have been a malfunction within the system. She explained that in order to check Mark in we would have to pay an airport check in fee of 60 euro. WHAT?! No. That's not possible. We checked in online. The proof is right here. The woman explained that she is employed by the airport, not by our flight operator, WizAir so there was nothing she could do about the policy except refer us to email WizAir directly (hmm... sounds familiar, doesn't it?) To make matters worse, we had to move to another line to pay this fee and then move back to this woman for check in. We asked to speak with a manager but were told that if Mark wasn't checked in for our flight by 11:50am he would not be able to board AT ALL. But we're right here! At the airport! Isn't this what airports do? Check people in for their flights? We were livid. What about ALL of these people behind us, still waiting to check in for this flight? If they didn't complete online check in they won't board the flight? The woman told me I was correct. Dear God what a nightmare! We paid the fee and Mark's ticket was printed at 11:48am (Phew!) However, our plane was now boarding but our gate number wasn't printed on our tickets. The desk staff couldn't help us, so just advised us to 'check the boards'. We ran to security only to be greeted by an incredibly long line. We explained our situation to the line attendant but she wouldn't allow us to jump the line. To add time we didn't have to the ticking clock my bag got flagged, as did the bin with my coat and passport. I'm asked to remove my shoes while Mark is allowed to pass through with his on. What is happening?! We are now sprinting through the airport only to be stopped by customs counter. One of the passengers in line took pity on us and waved us to the front of his line. Thank you, sir! "Last Call" was echoing from the overhead speakers. How were we going to make it? We ran and ran and ran to the gate just as the gate attendants were closing the doors. "Quickly down the stairs. You still have to get on a bus," they called. OH MY GOD. This saga is never ending. We haven't eaten today, didn't get to change money and aren't sitting together but we are both physically on the airplane. Somehow, by the grace of something, we have made it onto this plane. WizAir does not do food or snacks on their flights except for purchase. Well, we already gave Wiz 60 additional euro today, what's a few more? Unfortunately, the heating and cooling mechanisms for food storage and preparation were not working properly so we had no hot food options and oops the cold food options had accidentally frozen. After 45 minutes I ended up with a bag of peanuts that I happily inhaled and as a bonus, a Nesquick Bar, courtesy of WizAir, because the flight attendants didn't have enough change to give me. Once our plane landed we had a nice leisurely 30 minute sit while we waited for the correct deplaning stairs. But wooo! We were in London! We had made it! We waited about an hour to get through customs but the agents were some of the friendliest I've ever encountered. Mark had a conference call scheduled for 3:45 so we hunkered down in an airport cafe and had something to eat before embarking on the second leg of our journey. The airport trains were not running because of Boxing Day so we had to take a bus to our hostel. Because the number of passengers far exceeded the number of buses there were incredibly long, unorganized lines winding around the outside of the airport. Thank God Mark and I got a pro tip to buy our tickets online as opposed to waiting in the indoor ticket line only to then wait in the outdoor bus line. We boarded a bus at 6pm and were dropped off around 7. The walk to our hostel was about half an hour so by the time we arrived we were exhausted. The hostel staff made pasta and garlic bread for dinner which Mark and I happily ate. We met some really friendly travelers who told us to forego our showers and hang downstairs with them instead, so we grunged it up while playing cards against humanity and eating delivery pizza until one o'clock in the morning. It was a great end to a very hectic boxing day.
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