Once, my ma was on a plane that was due to land at Heathrow - one of London (UK's) five airports - travelling in economy class. Due to land, the plane was circling and circling. Eventually, the Captain came on the loudspeaker and said, "Ladies and gentlemen. There's a problem finding us a runway to land, so we're going to Stanstead [another London airport] where we'll land, refuel, then take off again and come back to land at Heathrow".
My mum pressed the button to call the flight attendant.
When he arrived, she said, "I'm sorry - I must have misunderstood. Did they just say we're landing at Stanstead, then coming back to Heathrow afterwards?"
"Yes Madam"
"But that's crazy! All of these people just want to go to London, they don't care which airport! Both of them are an hour away - why can't you just let us off at Stanstead??"
"That won't be possible Madam".
At this, she leapt up and ran to the front of Business class. She turned around, as if she were going to do the safety announcements, and shouted,
"Listen! They're not going to let us off at Stanstead! You have to kick up a fuss! I'm a woman and I'm in Economy, so no one's going to pay any attention to me. You're all men and you're in Business Class. You HAVE to do something about this!!"
- at which point three flight attendants ran out, grabbed her, and bundled her back to her seat.
A couple of minutes later, she saw a more senior, officious-looking flight attendant with a clipboard, saying something to his colleague, who then pointed over at my ma.
'Oh god,' she thought, 'they're going to arrest me for terrorism'
Then the Officious One came over:
"Ms Shandur?"
"Yes?"
"Do you only have hand luggage?"
"Yes"
"And which bin is it in?"
"It's just above me-" she starts getting up
"SIT DOWN"
When they arrive at Stanstead, the same flight attendant comes over, gets her suitcase out of the overhead locker and asks her to come with him to the back of the plane.
At the back of the plane, the door is open (which usually NEVER happens for landing), and there is a little set of stairs, with a tiny little bus at the bottom.
They push my mum out, send her down the stairs onto the bus, where she is the only passenger as it drives her to the terminal.
Obviously, they decided this was easier than letting all the other passengers revolt.
Thank you, <<FIRST Name>>, for being part of the Advent Family. I love that you're taking the time to read these little stories. If you have any thoughts, I'd LOVE to hear them - you can just hit reply. If you've missed any of the previous stories from the this True Stories Advent(ish) Calendar (including yesterday's, with the story of how i VERY NEARLY DIED), you can find them all HERE IN THIS LINK.
You rule!
xx (Yes Yes) Marsha
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