Angry Flyers Lounge-NEVER take the last flight to Sydney

An anonymous angry, let us say restrained but annoyed flyer, recorded her experience on the run at Melbourne Airport last Friday night. Late, and too late as it turned out.

The most bizarre flying experience I’ve ever had. Virgin flight 899
from Sydney to Melbourne tonight was running late. Like about 30
minutes late. I wasn’t too concerned as all I needed to do was get to
Sydney. If I was half an hour late it just meant that I would get half
an hour less drinking and partying in Surrey hills tonight.

Little did I know about the dreaded Sydney flight curfew. As we were all
informed of this curfew whilst waiting at gate lounge 10 we were
instructed that if we behave and do as we were told we just might make
it. We were consequently lined up in order of our seat numbers to
expedite the boarding process, the attendants making sure that we had
the best chance of making it in time. It was all very funny for most
of us as this sort of efficiency could actually be standard if it was
going to make sure that planes leave on time. Only a few intoxicated
passengers made a fuss as we quietly waited in our lines for the doors
to open on the arriving flight. As the arriving passengers started
waddling in without any hurrydness from the attendants I knew
something was up. The last of them waddled through the doors and they
shut with the force of bank vault behind them. Then came the
inevitable announcement. Please listen carefully passengers (we could
hardly be called passengers at this point) I have some very important
and bad news.

So the flight was cancelled. A few individuals had some pretty
unfortunate stories regarding this situation but on the most part we
were all pretty well behaved. We were ushered down the long, sorry
walk back to the check in counter where we were allocated seats on a
7:15 flight the next day, given credits for this cancelled flight and
put up at the Hilton across the walkway.

It’s a shame that they would not honour cab charges back home and then
back in for those of us that live in Melbourne, but overall I think
that they handled this situation to the best of their ability and
even though some of the staff got a bit high and mighty of a few of
the angrier patrons quips, they were just trying to do their jobs.

I’m totally shattered as I was planning on reuniting with a bunch of
people that will probably not be in the same room
again for a very long time but what can you do?

I avoided the line of angry patrons all trying to check into the
Hilton at the same time to watch some football and drink some G&Ts but
I’m sure that I’m about to check into the cheapest room at the Hilton
and spend a disappointing night at the hands of Branson. That being
said, it can’t be stated that they didn’t try. Or at least look like
they were trying. All I know is that I won’t be booking the last
flight from Melbourne to Sydney ever again.