February 4, 2012
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Home sweet home!

Posted on April 21, 2010 by in Travel

Just arrived at the Soekarno Hatta airport safely last night, thanks God — finally I returned back to Jakarta after three days stranded in Frankfurt (well, I have a hotel, instead of waiting and sleeping at the airport…). On Monday afternoon, around 5 pm, the good news has come: Lufthansa will resume flight operations partially, thanks to Twitter. I checked-out the list, and my LH 778 flight listed as one of a few operating flights! Yay!

Frankly speaking, I still didn’t believe it until I got the boarding pass with me at the A55 gate and sitting on the plane. Landed at Changi airport on the next day at 4 pm and waiting there for 45 minutes. The Jakarta flight’s departure has been delayed for 15 minutes since the local authority wanted to check up the jet’s engine — whether the ash clouds affected the engine or not. Yes, the LH 778 is the first flight which took off from the Frankfurt airport after the airport reopened on that evening!

Thanks for the brave pilots, cabin crew and passengers! :-)

Germany allowed some flights to resume, report says

Posted on April 19, 2010 by in Travel

Major airlines just carried out succesful test flight on Sunday and found no damage related to the volcanic’s ash. Germany allowed some flights to resume –hopefully it also included long distant flights like mine. Another good news: airports in northern Spain – including Barcelona – reopened yesterday. 

Is it safe to fly yet? Airline officials and some pilots say the passengerless test flights show that it is. Meteorologists warn that the skies over Europe remain unstable from an Icelandic volcano that continues to spew ash capable of knocking out jet engines.

European Union officials said air traffic could return to half its normal level on Monday if the dense cloud begins to dissipate. Germany allowed some flights to resume.

Today is my fourth days stuck here in Frankfurt — I’m staying in a hotel near the airport. Hopefully I could return back home very soon.

(Still not) Up in the air

Posted on April 17, 2010 by in Travel

Despite I already noticed on Friday morning that there’s a problem on air traffic across Europe, I was still expecting that my flights won’t affected. Initally, I will fly up from Berlin to Frankfurt by LH 0197 at the late afternoon and by LH 0778 from Frankfurt to Jakarta via Singapore at the evening. But around 10 a.m, a friend from Deutsche Welle sent a message telling that the Berlin airport has been closed following the Iceland’s volcano eruptions that affecting the air. Fortunately, at the moment, we’ve got the confirmation from Lufthansa that LH 0778 flight from Frankfurt to Jakarta/Singapore is still on schedule.

 
Mr Yuniman suggested me to take a train to Frankfurt. That’s a good idea, indeed. It’s much more better to wait (and stand by) at the Frankfurt because all the information is there. No wonder ICE train seats are fully booked since all other passengers preferred train to reach Frankfurt. I decided to keep purchasing the ticket and trying my luck to get the seat. Finally, I’ve got the ticket for 13.37; and I also got the seat, thanks to a no-show passenger.
 
The train arrived at the Frankfurt (M) Hbf at 18.00 –15 minutes late from the schedule, then I took another train (which has 18.00 schedule) to go to Frankfurt airport’s station. Again, thanks God, I caught the train after a bit running to reach another track.
 
It just took 12 minutes to get the airport. Arrived at the airport, my first impression: there’s a chaos there. Yes, a chaos. Many passengers talked –complained, or even protested– to the airlines staff. Others are having coffee or meals. Or speaking on the phone telling their families about the cancelled flights.
 
Seems my flight will be surely cancelled, too. I got the confirmation from a Lufthansa staff  at the Hall B, Terminal 1 (and there is no lining up at all there!): “All flights were cancelled, sir. Sorry for that. The airport still closed until tomorrow’s noon, at the earliest. All we can do is, providing you a voucher for hotel and meal, and please take a rest and see you tomorrow. Hopefully you can fly tomorrow.” Lufthansa ground staf’service and smile at least made me feel a bit comfortable (thanks for this, Lufthansa, really appreciated).
 
Then I went to the immigration police inside the airport, asking for help, since my visa validity only until today. Guess what. It just took around 10 minutes, one officer gave me a piece of letter telling that my visa has been extended for the next few days! Again, I’m impressed about the Germany airport’s service.
 
After texting my wife about the cancellation, I took a shuttle bus to Ramada Hotel, which is located 10 minutes drive from the airport. Hitting a shower, having a dinner, then going to the bed early are the only things I want at the moment. Hopefully, waking up in the morning, TV reporters reporting a good news. Wish me luck.
 
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