Back to a Very Hot Paris…After a Crazy Travel Day
Bonjour on this Sunday morning,
Well, the best I can say is that we are home after a very frustrating travel Saturday out of Norway. We all know how frustrating one person in an organization can be in the circle of travel, how bad customer service can derail everything. Such was the case yesterday out of Harstad.
We left at 7:00 for the airport without breakfast which didn’t open until 8am on the weekend. As we checked in at SAS airlines, we asked that our bags be checked through to Charles de Gaulle in Paris, and were adamantly told by the check-in clerk that this was impossible to do. She informed us and Pierre and Laurie that we would have to claim our baggage in Oslo, recheck it with Air France, go back through security, and proceed onward. She also mistook Laurie’s bag as our second bag and mistagged it, only to have to run outside and correct the problem or so we thought. She never even asked to see Pierre’s passport! Laurie who has flown this route literally dozens of times over the years knew that the lady was mistaken. We left for our flight in a frustrated huff, to say the least. At this point ignorance was bliss.
In Oslo, we had a little over an hour to make the shuffle, only to discover that we arrived in an international terminal and had to be bussed to a domestic terminal for baggage claim…time wasted with this transfer. Laurie and Pierre’s bag arrived to our surprise; ours did not. My heart sank as I stood at the belt and watched it go round and round, hoping against hope, that suddenly my bag would pop up and out. We found the lost baggage counter and showed our claim check. They examined it and said, “Oh, here’s the problem! Your bag is checked all the way through to Charles de Gaulle.” What, how can this be? We were very frustrated that we had done this unnecessary shuffle. We realized the result of what the lady’s incompetence in Harstad had done to us. We then had to find the Air France counter, check in, get boarding passes because our phone passes weren’t being recognized by the scanners, go back through security, and try to find Pierre and Laurie who were having their own problems. The queue was long and I said to Bernie, “We’re breaking in line” and I just ran up to the counter with great apologies. Better this than to miss the plane.
So still ignorance was bliss. We reconnected with Pierre & Laurie, decided that the two gals would sit together so we could visit. Of course, in front of us was a mother and child, about 2 years old. The child literally screamed the entire trip. The mother had no control at all. I’ve never seen anything like it. To talk to each other, Laurie and I had to scream. The only saving grace was that we weren’t the poor lady sitting right next to them.
We went to baggage claim with great hope, but once again, I was standing there after everyone else had left, watching the belt go round and round. No suitcase. It took an hour to fill out all the lost baggage paperwork, and we have no idea if I will ever see my bag again. It’s the weekend and nothing works in Paris very well at any time, but certainly not Le Weekend.
It was in the low 90’s when we arrived to see that new electrical work has started on our street. By tomorrow, both the road and the sidewalks will be a disrupted, dusty mess. After an attempt at dinner and a quick trip to the grocery, I just crashed in utter frustration thinking that I have no way to do my hair (the hair dryer in the apartment is broken!), thinking that my brand new 3-set matching luggage is now missing its middle member, that my new $120 black shoes bought for the trip to Norway are gone as well as the other warm clothes, not to mention all the toiletries, medicine kit, and make-up. Just called Air France, and they don’t have a clue. Advised me to contact SAS! Oh-là-la.
Perhaps I’ve made you laugh, but somehow I’m not able to get into the fun of it. We did have the nicest and safest taxi driver back into Paris yesterday so all was not lost. Sorry, no pics today.
L & B
July 1, 2018 @ 8:54 am
What a frustrating trip!
July 1, 2018 @ 2:00 pm
Yes, indeed and very expensive now to replace so much.
July 1, 2018 @ 10:59 am
Gosh. Hope today is a better day. Frustrating end to what seemed like a great trip.
July 1, 2018 @ 2:00 pm
My sentiments exactly!
July 1, 2018 @ 11:05 am
No laughter here. There’s no excuse for an employee being paid a salary and receiving benefits for being incompetent. You don’t have your missing luggage, but you have our sympathy. M & M
July 1, 2018 @ 1:59 pm
Thanks to you both!
July 1, 2018 @ 11:06 am
What a nightmare! Hope to hear your luggage as been found, at the very least.
July 1, 2018 @ 1:59 pm
Merci, not holding out much hope.
July 1, 2018 @ 11:46 am
What a bad way to end a wonderful trip. Hope you will be able to reflect on the good times and that your luggage shows up SOON !!
July 1, 2018 @ 1:58 pm
Merci!
July 1, 2018 @ 12:10 pm
I didn’t laugh; just felt your pain. We had a similar incident through Spain several years ago. Airline caused use to miss the flight home and we had to spend a night in Madrid, with no luggage. Back in the states our luggage arrived the following week. At least we were home and had extras, but it is all soooooo very frustrating.
July 1, 2018 @ 12:29 pm
Definitely not laughing. Been there done that when trying to get from Mallorca to Madrid- miserable overnight stay in Madrid. Also no luggage- no clothes, and of course assigned hotel not in the most respectable area of town, if you get my drift. So we for sure feel your pain. 🙏🏻 for luggage return.
July 1, 2018 @ 1:58 pm
You and Charles definitely understand!
July 1, 2018 @ 12:52 pm
I’m so sorry Linda. I’m not looking forward to Charles de Gaulle. I hope your things are found.
July 1, 2018 @ 1:57 pm
I think it is definitely the fault of SAS at the original airport. Nothing much that the Air France folks can do.
July 1, 2018 @ 1:13 pm
Oh Linda , I’m sorry this happened to you !!! That’s so unfair that they have people working there who don’t know what they are doing !! I’m praying that you get your luggage back that they find it . Thinking of you
July 1, 2018 @ 1:56 pm
Merci!
July 1, 2018 @ 1:47 pm
Oh no! What a pileup of snafus! It’s a good thing you are experienced travelers. If this had been your first trip, you never would have traveled again. I so hope your bag is just waiting for someone to pick it up and send it on to you. What a mess! Perhaps a good night’s sleep will reset your karma clock. Hugs to you!
July 1, 2018 @ 1:55 pm
Thanks, Peggy. I slept for 9 hours last night after not sleeping much from the cold and the daylight. I’m one of those weirdos who has to have total darkness to sleep. And of course, I knew already that flexibility is not my middle name. I hold no expectations to ever get my bag unless it shows up in Huntsville. Trés, tres chaud!
July 1, 2018 @ 1:54 pm
That’s what scares me about traveling overseas, you have no control, luckily Bernie speaks fluent French, but most people would just be lost. I really hope you get your luggage/medicine very soon.
July 1, 2018 @ 2:04 pm
What a mess! Good luck today! Nothing worse than having incompetence ruin your trip! Hopefully it will all work out and become a funny story. Did Bernie’s luggage arrive? How about Pierre’s and Laurie’s? Are you the only unlucky traveler?
July 1, 2018 @ 2:14 pm
Just my bag disappeared. Bernie used my carry-on. That’s why I lost everything. Ugh!!!!!
July 1, 2018 @ 4:08 pm
Oh, my!! No laughing matter to say the least!!! Maybe since you have gotten the worst out of the way (it certainly sounds like the worst) things will take a turn for the better and the rest of your stay will be glorious…here’s hoping!
July 1, 2018 @ 5:46 pm
Merci and I hope you are right!
July 1, 2018 @ 4:32 pm
Oh Linda, what a nightmare of a travel day! I just want to weep with you over the lost luggage on top of all the other dramas. Hoping and praying it will show up somehow (I’m always surprised when it does — but as you say with two different airlines that lowers the chances, I guess). So very sorry you have to deal with this 🙁
Take care and a big hug xx
July 1, 2018 @ 5:42 pm
Merci, Carolyn! I guess my luck with lost luggage has run out! All these years and I’ve never lost any luggage.
July 1, 2018 @ 5:52 pm
So sorry for you travel challenges. Sounds like a total charlie foxtrot (Bernie may understand the cf even though it’s a Navy term). I can empathize with you having experienced the same thing in the US, thanks to American Airlines. As for no photos, the one of you and Bernie at the top is more than sufficient.
I’m praying for the quick return of you luggage all safe and sound.
July 1, 2018 @ 5:57 pm
Yes, I think we understand the code!!!
July 1, 2018 @ 11:22 pm
So sorry! Think good things! Hopefully your luggage will show up! At least you are back there safe and sound. I am enjoying your daily entries so much. Once again, thank you! Sincerely, Melissa Brinkley
July 2, 2018 @ 2:48 am
Merci, and yes, good thoughts!
July 2, 2018 @ 1:46 am
So so sorry. Good luck! Surely it will turn up!
July 2, 2018 @ 2:50 am
We can only hope. I’m pretty resolved to never seeing it again since it’s on neither airlines radar screens. No one has a track on it.
July 2, 2018 @ 5:21 am
Just really one of those things that is hard to let go! A spoiler. Hope you are okay re medicines most of all…getting new makeup might be a treat! At least you won’t be cold in the heat of Paris. Such incompetence but I hope you can think of other things, get well and let your mind ease back into the joy of being there.
July 2, 2018 @ 5:36 am
Great advice!