but pre-rona it appeared that just about everyone applying for ad-hoc dispensations late at night were having em granted.
Well, they wouldn't give me one.
I was waiting at KSA for Tom Cruise to arrive in his Gulfstream from NZ, to carry him to the Boss's farm in the boonies. Tom was due at 2130, and Boss was getting impatient - he didn't like waiting for anybody. Customs and Immigration were waiting around too. Late departure, headwinds, it looked like I might not get out before 2300. I rang the dispensation people and asked for permission to leave after 2300.
"What's the reason?" she asked.
"Plane delayed, headwinds, not his fault."
"Sorry, no dispensation."
"But it's Tom Cruise!"
"Doesn't matter" she said, "Unless it's a medical emergency, you will stay on the ground."
"It WILL be a medical emergency!" I replied, "If we don't take off, my Boss will tear my @rse out!"
"OK, wait till he does that, then call me, but otherwise, you stay on the ground."
Luckily the plane arrived, Customs and Immigration did their thing in a blur, and we taxied at 2255.