A Series of Unfortunate Events

I know, I'm not the only one who had some delays during flights, buts this was almost comedy what happened to me.

My intention was to fly back from a business trip in Slovenia. Scheduled flight: 15:15.

Everything was running smooth, no queue at check-in, no queue at the security check, free seats at the gate, at this point I should have become suspicious.

Event 1: change of boarding gate

Event 2: First delay message

Event 3: at departure time message: next update available at 16:15, my question, oh, are you then able to tell when the plane will arrive? Answer: No, at this time we will be able to tell you if the plane has started!

(sidenote: my next connected flight at boarding ending scheduled for 20:45 in Paris, nothing to worry about)

Event 4: The plane arrives at 18:15

Event 5: Plane lands at 20:30 in Paris => running to the next gate, arriving at 20:45

Step 6: Question: is there still a chance to board the plane, confused look, the plane is delayed, don't you know? Happy news for me, high-five with the stewardess!

Event 7: Explanation for the delay, Thunderstorm in Hannover (my wife tells me at the phone, Thunderstorm? we had the whole day 34 degrees and no rain), Boarding at 21:45

Event 8: Everyone on the plane at 22:00

Event 9: ?

Event 10: 22:20 Another passenger stood up, gets her coat and luggage and is preparing herself

Event 11: ????

Event 12: 22:30 Pilot cabin is opening, the captain announces: my start window is in one hour, which means that we will land in Hannover to much to late! Everyone is confused, night flights are allowed for Hannover Airport. Looks like, the lady who has prepared herself for leaving the plane was a frequent flier and new Air France.

Event 13: Information, you need to go to the main counter of Air France to get support

Event 14: Waiting at the counter for the things that will happen. Meeting a lady from the US, telling her my story, she told me, could be worse. I'm asking, how? She: for example, being a teacher with 30 students and missing the connecting flight to Phoenix/Arizona, she had won that round!

Event 15: Someone arrives and is explaining: the earliest flights to northern Germany available will be Bremen or Hamburg => confusion, the riot was short before starting! Question from someone, what about the TGV? Reply: We are a plane company, not a train company, the riot was shortly before the outbreak!

Another explanation, everyone will be transferred by a bus to Hannover, the mood in the crowd still not lifted up

Event 16: Lady is coming and is telling the people in the other queue, you can't use this queue, this is for Gold and Platinum Members only! My question was: How many Gold and Platinum Members are been expected at 1:00 in the morning? Reply: I'm only doing my job, and she is trying to support us. Got the part of doing my job, missed the support part, nevertheless peace offer from my side, peace was accepted, another German-French war was avoided!

Event 17: Finally, got my taxi voucher for my trip to the hotel, my hotel voucher for the Asterix Hotel, my taxi voucher for the trip from the hotel to the airport, new flight ticket, and my bus ticket from the French lady at the service counter(the lady at the counter is my hero in this story, she was really nice and helped with her suggestions). She also booked the taxi for the next to the hotel. Information: your taxi driver will pick you up at the exit at gate 16. I'M asking for my luggage, no need to worries, yes, what about fresh closing and my other stuff? Received a small package with a "lost traveler survival kit" and a lunch package

Event 18: Waiting at the exit at gate 16 for a taxi, 20 Minutes later, French man is running around in the dark and is yelling my name

Event 19: Taxi driver is asking why I was standing there, he is parking over there (500 meters away from the exit), walking to the taxi, the driver is asking for my destination, my answer Asterix Hotel, his reply:?, there is no Asterix Hotel, discussion back and force, I show him my voucher, still confusion, then the discovery, there is no address! My suggestion, there is a telephone number, why not call? Call, discussion in French, confirmation, there is a Hotel in the Asterix Amusement Park outside of Paris, and we had a direction. We could start.

Event 20: After some stops AT THE MOTORWAY, losing track in the park, more phone calls with some yelling involved, we a arrive at the hotel

Event 21: Checking in, asking for a wake-up call for 5:30 because my taxi will pick me up at 6:30. Call noted, question, 6:30? Yes! The answer, how unfortunate for me, breakfast starts not before 7:00, who lucky I was to have the Air France lunchbox!

Event 22: 1:?? I'm lying in a bed

Event 23: 5:35, of course, no wake-up call, I'm waking up, looking at my watch, ok, time for breakfast. Another day, hopefully, less eventful. Opening the lunchbox: Pasta with Olives and Tuna, delicious eaten cold! At least something to eat. Shower, opening the survival kit, white T-Shirt, walking to the reception, 6:30

Event 24: Taxi driver with a tablet in his hands with my name on it coming to the reception, handing over my voucher. I'm asking: could you drop me at the correct terminal, he is entering the flight number (on the motorway while driving) in his mobile phone, OK to Hannover! No, to Bremen! Entering the flight again, Hannover, Bremen, no Hannover, no Bremen, I'm passing him my flight ticket, of course, different flight numbers on ticket and voucher! Yes, I'm flying to Bremen, drops me at the correct terminal, everything is fine

Event 25: Long waiting queue at the security check-in, this is looking promising!

Event 26-....: ..... Bremen Airport, luggage is there, at the exit lady is waiting and is directing us to the bus, bus ride, Hannover Airport, 11:30!

For me, some of the events during this travel have been hilarious, I have met a lot of interesting people, a father with a three-year-old daughter coming back from Disney Land with no English skills, an older Spanish Gentleman with missing English skills also. Amazing was how all passengers helped each other with translating and supporting, this was a nice experience.