On the other side of the great BNE fogging…..
Mrs Ballast drove across to YSCB (about an hour trip one way) to take 2 sons flying to BNE to visit relatives for the school holidays. Delivered Masters 12 and 15 to the flight, waved good bye and headed to the shops for a few things that are harder to come by in the rural areas and returns home. Planning a movie night and dinner.
After 2 hours makes mention, “gee, I haven’t heard from the boys, unusual, they usually call when they get there” then right on que….. phone rings.
The relatives “the airport is closed and the plane is circling, not sure what is going on….”
We jump on FlightRadar to see the boys flight had completed a few long orbits over BNE and was now abeam Walcha tracking south…..oh, this can’t be good….and a procession of a/c following….. airspace over BNE like a ghost town.
Watched as they made one orbit in the Hunter Valley and then turned for YSSY.
Mrs Ballast hit panicked mother mode within 2.5 nano seconds……
Several tense phone calls and Internet searches we are in the car driving to Sydney (2.5 hours’ drive away) to find Masters 12 and 15. Now agitated Mrs Ballast, in stressed Mother mode, was willing the other road users out of our way, and (as one would expect) worried about junior Ballasts.
Long story short – arrive Mascot Domestic, children fine, as expected on the tools of the devil - social media devices - and not a care in the world, “Hi mum, what are you doing here…….” Nothing more than a bit tired after a 5 hour jaunt. Virgin find us accommodation, tell us to wait for a call or text for alternatives and by 1am we are fast asleep.
We took a punt and returned to Domestic @0600 pre-coffee and were lucky to find the next to last seats heading to YBNA where said relatives drove from BNE down to pick up boys.
Speaking to a few of the more unlucky passengers that were behind us, sounds like many will still be in Sydney tonight waiting for flights or other ways to get home.
While it has been a long 24 hrs, 590km drive, 5 hours sleep, cursing everything Sydney – and $200 worth of parking!! Everyone is where they are supposed to be.
Have to also mention, young lady from the cabin crew on the flight, Cassandra,
went over and above what could ever be expected to assist us and Master 12 and 15 – including offers for the boys to use her personal mobile phone for contact and letting us know what was going on 3 times in the space of 90 minutes while we were still on-route, and Cassandra assisted with arranging accommodation.
We know that the flight also had quite a few unaccompanied minors, school holidays and all – not sure what happens in these cases with those children, I assume someone from the airline will stay with the children o/night in accommodation and The Lounge?
I am betting not everyone would have been in the same position as us and able to drive up and be there.
Just out of interest, anyone here have any ideas what the Policy is for such cases?