schiphol (mis)adventure

[temperature: 5-12C]
written on 26.05.13

I should have checked-in earlier as my friend Rx had suggested. When I got to Schiphol, I went straight to the Baggage Lockers to pick up my two luggages and to repack my stuff. They were kind of heavy and I was hoping that it won't exceed 23kg for each. Also, I got a big shock when I was charged with 7Euro x 2 luggages x 2 nights for the luggage locker rental (must get the CC pin next time so I won't be charged that much with the lockers!). Since I couldn't bargain there or anything, I just had to pay up. Argh!

The second misadventure of the night is when I couldn't find the check-in counter for KLM's flight bound for Manila. I was directed to one area which was far away only to end up going back to where I was before that. I asked again and found out that check-in is done personally on the machines found all over the place. Fortunately, the attendee was kind enough to direct me step-by-step on how to check-in and directed me to the luggage check-in counter. Here, the next misadventure of my night began.

As the KLM personnel in Stavanger already charged me with excess luggage onwards to Manila, the luggage attendant couldn't figure it out and had to make me wait while she went to an office to confirm that I need not be charged with an excess luggage. When this was alright, she weighed my luggage and saw that it was one kilo overweight. She told me I had to pay for it and the charge was 100Euro. Whattheheck?! So I decided to repack my bag again. I left the queue, found a place where I can seat and just right there, I opened my bag and repacked everything. Makes me remember the time when I was at Ciampino Airport and I had to do the same. Some stuff I placed in my backpack and messenger bag and the others, I had to throw in the trash. It was unfortunate but I had to leave them or get charged with 100Euro. When it was done, I am glad that my repacking worked and my luggage was 23kg flat.

Inside the pre-departure area, I planned to buy a book so that I won't have to carry my Euro coins back home. J.K. Rowling's Vacancy book was already there but I keep on reading and reading the book description but it did not stick. I don't know if I was just tired or just not totally interested so I tended to pick the book up, put it back down, look at the other books and couldn't find one that I like, then go back to that book until finally, I left without buying it or anything else.



Funny conversation at the boarding security check though. While in queue to the xray machine:

Me: Do I still have to take out the camera or only the laptop?
Officer: No, just the laptop. No duty free bag?
Me: No, just this.

I wondered why she asked that and when I looked around, all the Asian (mostly Filipino) passengers where carrying duty free bags. Okay, I think I'm the only Filipino there without one! LOL.

Finally, the plane was ready and we got called to board the plane. See you in a few hours, Manila!

But before that, another stop in Taipei for a security check. Passengers get off the plane carrying all their bags. Passengers get new boarding passes, go through security and x-ray checks, wait for about thirty minutes, only to board the same plane. But this time, with a different crew. How tiring!