Dion's random ramblings

Monday, December 03, 2007

I'm leaving on a jet place - why flying isn't as fun as it used to be


It's just after 4am and I am on my
way to OR Tambo international airport
to catch a flight the Cape Town at
around 6am.

I used to enjoy these little trips to
the 'motherland'. Now however,
there are a few good reasons why I
no longer enjoy them.

1. I have a family... Traveling is not
such fun when you do it on your own,
and it is even less fun when you leave
people that you love behind.

Today I know that I'll be in Cape Town
while my little boy is in hospital in
Pretoria... Not so good.

2. The South African airline industry.
I travel a lot (at least one day a week).
Sadly, I have been able to see the slow
collapse of our airline industry over some
years now. The airports are not coping
with the number of travelers (Cape Town
least of all). It is routine for flights to be
delayed at least and hour - I was once
delayed by 5 hours because a toilet
burst on a kulula.com flight as it was landing.

On that note, I have given up flying on kulula.
They seem to be the worst of the budget
airlines when it comes to customer
service and time. Last week Friday
as I was flying to Cape Town, there
was a flight to George that had been
delayed twice because of ground staff
errors (over filling the plane with fuel!)

A woman on the flight missed her father's
funeral as a result...

They were supposed to leave JHB at
7am. When we took off just before 2pm
(we were supposed to leave at 12noon)
they were still on the ground.

Not so good...

But, let me say, a few hours in the traffic
to and from the airport. A few hours delay
at the airport, and the pithy and snide
comments of budget airline staff still beat
a 13 hour drive to Cape Town....

So, here I go. Lord give me grace, and love.

Oh, and please let my flights be on time
today! Thanks!

2 Comments:

  • Mmmm the joys of flying!
    Praying for Liam the Great! And for all of Forsterdom!
    Will e-mail you a photo - or 3 of the wedding. It was SO awesome. I could really feel the presence of the Holy Spirit! Thank you for all your prayers!!
    Travel safe.
    Love and blessings to you on this overcast Monday in the Cape! Janet

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:10 AM  

  • Hi D

    Thinking of you all today and praying that Liam gets better and comes home soon:)

    Charlene & John

    By Blogger Charlene & John, at 2:00 PM  

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