So the first time I ever got on a plane by myself and flew to another country alone was when I was 14, and I was going to Germany. Basically, I don't know whether I can think of a worse situation that could have happened.
The way there
After having a 10 minute delay - which troubled me as one of the most inexperienced journeyers ever.
This was literally the best part of the two journeys.
When I arrived at the airport, the security guard, on literally the last stop for security, pulled me aside after seeing my passport. Then through very poor English and a strong German accent, I realised he was saying that I shouldn't have been allowed to fly on my own at 14 years old.
So I'm here thinking, well, what can you do now really? Are you really one of those security guards who would make their day more difficult for one stupid overlooked rule that I am 4 months under age, and the fact that nobody else had said ANYTHING to me so far? Yes. Yes he was.
So basically he thought I was a runaway from England and I ended up having to get my parents to send a detailed letter and a copy of their passports.
But what's worse, is that on the return journey, they didn't even question my under-age flying and let me through no problem.
The Return Journey
So what, that was it, I had stayed for a week and now I could look forward to a stress free return home? Of course not.
After a 10 minute delay on our plane, which turned into an hour delay, which turned into a cancelled flight because the plane had broken.... we got given a letter.
It said:
Dear Jet2.com customer,
We are sorry to announce that the flight fromIdon'twanttobestalkedtoStilldon'twanttobestalkedhas been cancelled. We will be arranging for a coach to come and drive you to a different airport, and the journey will take another hour of your precious time, because this is what happens when you buy cheap airline tickets and expect quality. You simple bastard. Sorry for any inconveniences caused.
#ha lol jk have fun not sleeping tonight
Well maybe quite not like that, but they failed to mention that the buses coming to pick us up were going to be a further hour late and that somebody would make us all wait because they couldn't catch up with their suitcase on the belt. Serious.
So upon arrival we received a £5 "we're sorry" token from which I purchased a suspiciously stale muffin and a bottle of warm water. Just perfect. Then to make matters worse, as we got on the bus that drove us to the actual plane, I realised I left my coat by the bar/food area.
I ran fast, I ran far.
I said to the security officer "Please remember my face because my boarding pass is on the bus still". Luckily he wasn't a *insert rude name* like the other one and let me through. I returned home at 3 in the bloody morning. Approx. 4 hours later than expected.
I bloody love flying.
