Now I don’t speak Portuguese, but I managed to figure out the untranslated Gol Airlines website well enough to select seats and print my boarding pass for my flight(s) to Florianopolis. However, it seems I am not well versed in reading the western alphabet or numbers.
When it came for me to switch flights in Sao Paulo, I easily found my way to the connecting flights area. I read the departures board, found the flight to Floripa, and made my way to the gate with plenty of time to spare. When they announced boarding, I didn’t rush with the crowd, rather took my time to finish a chapter in my book and avoid the long line. As I reached the attendents, they seemed confused by my boarding pass….
‘Perhaps because I printed it myself?’, I thought. The first attendant began to explain, but my blank stare back told her I did not understand. She signaled for another woman, who signaled for a third attendant who was able to translate…
‘This ticket is not for this flight’, he said.
‘Yes’, I insisted, ‘it is. I am going to Florianapolis via Illheus. This is my boarding pass.’
‘Yes’, he replied, ‘but this ticket is for GOL. This is for TAM.’
$@#$%! Completely wrong airline, and oh, *&#@#^%, my plane was down the stairs! As I already entered the wrong boarding area, I had to go back through security (thankfully no line!), and upon glancing at the board, I saw my flight was on final call for boarding…. I raced down the stairs and was the very last passenger onto the bus….
Close call, but at least I’m not being indicted on murder charges like the billionaire whose family controls GOL -
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/23/world/americas/23briefs-brfBRAZIL.html
Steph, like mother like daughter--sort of. Many years ago i took my first flight alone from Newark, NJ to Jacksonville, FL. I did not even know that there was such a thing as a boarding pass way back then. Being late for the flight, I ran through the airport, got to the gate just in time. There were two gates next to each other and no one at the boarding area. I walked onto an empty plane first. This was not good. I left and walked onto the next "totally full" plan. The attendant asked me for my boarding pass. "My What" said I. She sent me to the boarding area to find someone to print me a boarding pass. All the while, everyone in the plane was in their seats, buckled up and waiting for Nancy. When I finally came aboard with the proper "papers" the whole plane clapped! (And I had no language barrier to use as an excuse.
ReplyDeleteHahahahaha! I remember you with the maps in Barcelona... I don't stand a chance ;)
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