V-Flyer

Sorry for the delay, we’ve been away for a long weekend………

So after 13 lovely nights at the Sheraton Krabi Resort – which I can highly recommend by the way – the first 7 of which were with son and girlfriend who then went off diving with a friend at Koh Phi Phi, we all met up at Krabi Airport for the flight up to Bangkok. They had been there for 6 hours by the time we arrived in splendid isolation in our mini bus at about 1pm. Krabi Airport involves going through a security screening before you enter the airport so it might have been helpful if they’d told us they’d be inside rather than outside and we might have avoided the 45 minute wait in the blazing sun – but that’s another story!

Anyway, eventually we spotted them through the windows and another reunion took place, albeit a little tetchy on our part, as having waited so long we were hot and bothered! So we went off to check-in. The queue was enormous and we walked up and down a little looking for the Business check-in – surely there must be one? Eventually we spotted it and leaving them to queue – well we’d already waited for them(!) we were quickly dealt with. We went through security and into the very nice Thai lounge – a far cry from the one at BKK it must be said. Husband went and spoke very nicely to the lovely ladies on the desk and having told them son and girlfriend had already been at the airport for 6 hours, they agreed they could join us, so husband went to wait for them. As luck would have it, a new queue was opened at check-in and they were directed to it, so they were through very quickly. We were all starving so had a snack and used the wifi and waited for the flight to be called. After it was announced, we thanked the lovely Thai ladies at the desk and went into the waiting area to another massive queue. We waited and waited but nothing seemed to be happening, then an airline staff member yelled out for Business passengers and leaving son and girlfriend we pushed our way through the hoards to much tutting and many glares which we studiously ignored and made our way on board.

We had the same front seats and were given the same geranium juice, water or iced tea and a newspaper. General boarding took ages this time and there was some confusion over a passenger who claimed he should be in our cabin but despite several empty seats was firmly directed back to the main cabin behind! Eventually we were off and after a quick fish and salad meal – yuck(!) we arrived very quickly indeed. We arrived at the airport quickly enough. But were taken to a stand about as far away as it was possible to get, right outside a Thai hanger. The buses weren’t there so we had to wait for them, then although we deplaned from 2 doors, by the time we got on the front bus, it was nearly full from those who had got off from the other door. It was chaos. Eventually we started for the terminal. Well – we must have gone around the entire airport – at least twice! We back-tracked a couple of times until I was convinced the driver had to be lost. Eventually, after nearly 25 minutes on the bus, we were dropped at the terminal door. A L O N G walk followed and then we did arrive at the baggage hall, by which time I need the “ladies” very urgently and of course there was a massive queue there too! The bags took forever to arrive – maybe they’d been on the same mystery trip we’d been on, and ours weren’t quick to arrive, but about 90 minutes after landing, we were met by our driver and on our way to the Shangri La.