Wrong way to Sydney on Air China
Wrong way to Sydney on Air China
A friend flew on Air China on May 22 from Shanghai to Sydney. However, well into the flight, he noticed that the flight appeared to have a different destination...TOKYO, not Sydney, according to the route on the flight map and all the destination details (time to destination, local time at destination) as provided on the same in-flight system.
Here's his Facebook post on the same day. I have a photo of the inflight map which shows the extreme deviation in route from a heading direct to Tokyo towards Sydney (but unfortunately cannot post it due to adminstrator's restrictions on what I can post).
But my question to the experts is.... HOW THE HECK is this even possible ?
This morning. 36,000 feet approaching Japan on glamorous Air China.
Me (pax) to Flight Attendant (FA) :
Me: Excuse me, it appears we might be flying to Tokyo, not Sydney.
FA: No sir, we are definitely flying to Sydney.
Me: So why does the on-screen map identify Tokyo as our destination and we are clearly flying in that direction?
FA: Errr. I will just go and check with the captain.
[5 minutes later we feel the plane gently banking right and she re-appears]
FA: Sir, I can confirm we are definitely flying to Sydney.
Me: Well, yes, we are now; but the plane has clearly changed direction. Why were we flying towards Tokyo?
FA: [Smiles sweetly, backs slowly away]
(10 mins later)
FA: The captain says there are 2 routes we take to Sydney. One being this North East route the other being Westerly.
Me: Ah, of course. That makes sense. Do you always fly in totally the wrong direction to get to your destination?
FA: [Smiles sweetly, backs slowly away, again.]