AMAZING MH094, GATE C36 AND SINLUKA

September 14th 2008 was a rare day that's going to be etched for good in my memory. Its the day that i was supposed to travel to attend a conference entitled "Innovations in Managed Learning Services 2008" in Clearwater, Tampa Florida, US. The trip was to take me to Los Angeles via Taipei was in the end cancelled because Taiwan is being strucked by thypoon "Sinluka" that forces the closure off all outbound and inbound flights. So there goes my trip.

The beautiful thing about this was that i was given a boarding pass in KLCAT check in counter and set me boarding ERL to KLIA at noon that Sunday. Upon reaching KLIA and passed through the Immigration i headed straight to gate C36 to board. Amazingly no one was around and it was dark. Walking back bewildered i saw a news announcement on TV saying all flights through Taipei has been cancelled and to be rescheduled. I don't know where the other passengers went? A check at flight schedule indicated that it was rescheduled at 3.00am tomorrow. What? What do i do now? they put me in a hotel?

Upon checking at the transit counters it was mentioned that they would'nt know when it will be able to fly through Taipei, but was suggested to come back tomorrow at the same time. They mentioned the same goes for Saturday's flights. Grumbling (@11#???) why wasn't i informed when i checked in? I was advised to get back my luggage back from the Begage Reclaim and headed home while contemplating of getting another carrier that can bypass Taipei. As contacting our Travel Agent (SIME DARBY TRAVEL) was futile on Sundays, another amazing phenomenon (I have more on them next), i have no choice but go back home and wait till the next day assured that i'll be contacted. Sad that no one informed, nobody from our agent available to help, i made my way home...but happy that i have another day to spend with my wife on 'berbuka puasa'. I was worried that i cannot get my connecting flight in the US reconfirmed.

The next day, (Monday) i finally managed to talk to our Travel Agent after 9.00am, and was advised to go to the airpot. At around 11.30pm when i was about to leave for KLIA (which is 2 hours away), and again after the 2nd 'good bye' and 'safe trip' wishes by my wife, a call from our agent through Nani our company secretary informed me that the reschduled is departing at 12.30pm! which made it impossible for me to get on the flight. Too short a notice, i'm still at home. As fate wants it, flight MH094 departed with 265 people onboard without me. I could not 'figure out' why they (MAS) did not see my name on their systems (my boarding pass is the evidence) and could not contact me much earlier (confirmed by my agent - no record of being contacted by MAS on their system) when they say they have contacted all, AMAZING!

Arriving at KLIA later started another drama, the real Typhoon!

rgds

hamid

Alor Setar