Another step in becoming a seasoned traveller...

I have been travelling, for work and for holiday, for the past 10 years.

Yesterday, I have another point to clock into my season traveller mileage - I missed my first flight.

I arrived at Taoyuan International Airport on time. I checked in with almost 2 hours to spare. I proceeded past immigration, where I had to consume all my drinks.

(I couldn't remember whether they had another layer of security check at the gate and have taken the decision to go in rather than stay outside. I tried to finish my can of coke, a bottle of H2O and a bottle of mineral water. I can't and had to dump whatever I couldn't finish.)

In I went, then up to the next level and settled for a cup of latte and a croissant for lunch. Light, since I will be having another round of late lunch on the flight.

Then I took out my laptop to play my game (no points for guessing what game I was playing, ha ha.)

I didn't double check my flight time. I kept on thinking it was 2.40pm. So I played until about 2.25, turned it off, and proceeded to the gate. I know SQ closed the gate 10 min before departure. I could make it on time.

As I was walking into the gate, I looked at the signboard and it said the flight time was 2.20pm! I ran down. Nobody was sitting at any of the chairs. One of the staff saw me walking down and apparently know my name. Wow ! How did he know ?

So the plane had just left the gate, and my luggage was in it.

Anyway, to cut the long story short, they arranged me to get on the next flight. Gave me my boarding pass and I have another 4 hours to kill. This time, I found a comfy sofa, sat down and read my novel.

When I arrived in Singapore, my luggage was sitting on a trolley waiting for me already. Nice SQ service.

*~*~*~*~*

So, I have had close-call connections where I had ran from one end of the airport to the other. I have had flight delayed for hours due to weather (though it wasn't snow nor typhoon). I have had stand-by for 4 days at the airport waiting for empty seats on full flight season. I have had incredible flood that didn't stop me from getting back home on time.

Now I missed my flight trying conquer the world in a chair... :)

Only experiences left that I haven't had are lost luggages, missed connections, air accidents and hijacks. I really hope I will never have to live through any of it. Missing a flight is enough excitement. Excitement that did no harm except my kill my time and my mood.

*yawn*... tired... had a whole week of work and late night partying. Going to sleep early so that I can enjoy my weekend.