Long haul to Lisbon
It was Christmas and we were going to visit the Mr Freepen's family in Lisbon, Portugal.

In usual circumstances the flight from Gatwick to Lisbon takes 2 and half hours, ours took longer.

It was winter and it had snowed – delay number one. 1 and half hour wait in freezing cold for the coach to airport. I was thinking, it’s not so bad at least the coach turned up and we plenty of time before our flight goes anyway.

It was winter and it had snowed – delay number two. Easyjet flight delayed by 3 hours, I was thinking 3 hours in departures it’s not so bad at least I am not one of the package deal travellers who’s flights had been cancelled, the would be holiday makers had congregated around the information desk chanting ‘We want justice.’

It was Easyjet – delay number three. Easyjet had some trouble matching the head count to the number passengers on the flight itinerary (in short too many people for the seats booked). I thought, its not so bad at least we are on the plane. The flight crew had to manually check all boarding passes, it took an hour and half to do this, everyone must stay in their seat while it is happening. They had to do it 3 times each time it took an hour and a half – passengers could not use the toilets and refreshments were not offered. The flight was originally an afternoon flight, so there were families with children on the plane and the poor kids just had to wait. This all got a bit much for one man, who ended up getting a police escort off the plane. The flight was further delayed as his luggage then had to be removed.

Finally 4 and half hours later the pilot requested the plane be taken to the runway. 3 hour wait in departures plus 4 and half hours wait in the plane plus 2 and half hours fling plus luggage collection in Lisbon, Lisbon airport had closed down for the night. From crossing the door at Gatwick to waiting for a taxi in Lisbon it took just over 12 hours.

I have promised myself never to travel at Christmas again, Mr Freepens, his family nor wild horses could drag me from my home.
(Free pens 100, 101, 102 is still counting on, Fri 15 Jul 2011, 13:32, Reply)