Finally back in Singapore, after 10 days in Vietnam. An extra day in Hanoi than intended (technically it's Noi Bai Airport), courtesy of Tiger Airways.
My flight back was on 15 Dec 9.40pm (sg time), taking the same plane that Rayner took to Hanoi. The plane landed on time at 9.10pm, followed by the herding of Team Singapore and other passengers out of the plane. Although the boarding time was also at 9.10pm, nobody made a noise as we allowed time for the cleaning crew to turnover the plane first.
Only at 10.20pm did the announcement came that the flight has been delayed till 11.30pm due to a 'technical check'. The Tiger crew sashayed back to the plane and was stopped by a couple of irate passengers. Questions were asked and taichi was played followed by a prompt disappearance into the plane that David Copperfield would have been proud of.
At 11.30pm, the gates was still closed. The second announcement came at 11.45pm and that the flight will be delayed further till 12.30am. By this time, the passengers were tired, hungry and frustrated. We were even asked to shift to the next gate as there was another flight due for boarding at the current one.
Questions were asked regarding the delays and the answer given was the same - 'technical check'. Apparently, the engineer was roused from his sleep and had just reached the airport.
For me, I had no frustration with the delay. Unlike some of the passengers with young children or old folks, I'm alone. Unlike some who had connecting flights to other places, I had none. I had also taken an extra day of leave to rest, so now it cuts into it but I still wouldn't miss my work. The entire delay became a circus for my entertainment, and it was really interesting to observe how people react differently and the badgering the innocent airport employees took.
The flight cancellation finally came at 1.50am. Volcanoes erupted, earthquakes trembled and typhoons blew. The gate became a free for all fracas with questions, complaints and threats flying left, right and centre to the airport employees. Apparently a bird committed suicide and the engineers needed more time.
Demands to see Tiger Airways representative was turned down as they do not have one. Demands to see the Captain was turned away as well as he has no authority outside the plane (he probably was on his way to a hotel). As Tiger Airways is a budget airline, it does not cater food and accomodation for its affected passengers as well. There were no more taxis and the airport is closing for the day.
We were in a dilemma and so was the airport employees. After another hour of tussling and conflicting answers from the airport employees, finally they kicked us out of the transit area but allowed us to sleep at the airport with assurance the flight would be on the next day at noon. Me, I had no issue with it and I'm glad I bought travel insurance this time round.