Originally Posted by
Justapax1
- Running across the apron at LIS with 90 kg of luggage being gestured at by the departing aircraft to hurry. 90 kg didn't go in the hold, it got stashed somewhere in the galley. In 40C heat. Closest I ever had to having a heatstoke/heart attack event.
- Being held up by my boss until 20 minutes before departure time in Hanover, getting to HAJ just as the plane was due to depart, only to find that he'd used his Lufthansa Black Card to hold the flight, just to point out to me that he had ultimate power. We missed our slot at LHR and landed 30 minutes late. I was not popular.
- Flying out of NSN, I was lecturing an audience which included ATC. There were a lot of questions, and the flight was due to leave. I asked nervously if we could wrap up as I had a plane to catch. Nah, said one, and left the room for an instant. 'I've switched off the VOR/ILS'. I answered questions. On boarding the flight, there was an apology from the captain because there had been a delay in departure due to ATC issues.
Any other stories from the era when rules were made to be bent?
Speeding up to LHR from Arundel to catch an early BA flight to Brussels for a meeting at the airport hotel, as I'd woken up late (long night in my brother's pub).
Secretary calls me in the car (before hand phones) to say that she has BA on the line saying that they're boarding my flight, how far am I from the airport, 'cos they need to release the flight.