Up at 5am this morning to catch our flight to Athens then Madrid. Caught a taxi and got to the airport at Rhodes and was sniffed enthusiastically by several dogs just wandering in and out. Thought they must have been sniffer dogs but no- just strays lol!!
We went to check in and then we told “oh your flight to Madrids been cancelled, go over to the ticket office to sort it” WHAT????
Go over and a very unhelpful braun Hilda greek woman tells us that Olympic airlines has been sold and is no longer a public company, it is private, but they will put us on an Iberian flight in 11 hours time @$#%!!!! (that’s swearing!) Then she suggested it was OUR fault?? Cant believe this? but then I asked her who we see to get food and sort this out, she tells us to go to the hotel desk at Olypmic airlines in Athens. If we hadnt of asked she wasn’t going to offer.
The 1 hour flight over was smooth as except we are feeling a big dazed by this sudden news. This airplane has been by far, the most leg room we have had since business class!
Land and go to the desk and luckily got a very nice lady who takes our new flight booking we were given and ends up in her office on the phone for 20 mins. It turns out she can see we were not notified by either the email or cell phone numbers I had supplied on booking and we are the ONLY passengers they didn’t notify when the company was sold and the flights cancelled! The airline stopped flying to Spain when it was sold 3 weeks ago. The lady said- had they told us we could have got a flight over from Rhodes at 2pm but the Rhodes office did nothing, so she got on the phone to their supervisor.
She ended up putting us up in a hotel with food for the day, way out in the boonies overlooking the sea, so that’s great (especially since they don’t usually do hotels) but still cannot do anything about the fact that we have lost our only day in Madrid and our shuttle etc. We will get there at 8.30pm instead of lunchtime and then fly out again to Casablanca tomorrow morning as there are no flights to Casablanca from Athens instead.
Had to be us huh?? Luckily we are assertive enough to go and ask to sort it out or we would have just sat in Athens airport for 9 hours and they wouldn’t have known we were there because the Rhodes staff said nothing to the Athens staff! Bizarrely, last night we watched a programme on when flights go wrong and what your rights are, how to get noticed etc. Must have cursed us as I thought we have been so lucky after watching that?
We will laugh about it sometime in the future! But we have flown them twice and had problems both times- last time with luggage and its not like they are a budget airline either!
Anyhow, we ended up enjoying the rest of the day at the hotel- you will think it is so flash from the pictures (2nd and thrid pics) and it was nice but very tired close up and everything was sticky, had flies and every piece of cutlery was slightly dirty. I think it had been a flash resort once and now felt like a club med! However, we later discovered there was a huge pool- argh! This is what happened to us last time in Kuala Lumpur when they checked our bags to the wrong place- No Togs!! Torture- went to the hotel boutique and it had just shut but walked up the road and found a little dairy that yay! Sold them.
Were able to get a pair each and go down and lay in the sun with all the dancing 20 somethings! Danni, you would have LOVED the pool, it was big but so so cold, it caused a pain in my head at first but was just what we needed.
Dried off and then had lunch in the restaurant they supplied- very nice and then back onto the bus- just for us! To Athens airport. Checked in to Iberian, sounds like a full plane – and we are now waiting to board to Madrid. Then to bed, up again and off with easyjet tomorrow- fingers crossed!
We went to check in and then we told “oh your flight to Madrids been cancelled, go over to the ticket office to sort it” WHAT????
Go over and a very unhelpful braun Hilda greek woman tells us that Olympic airlines has been sold and is no longer a public company, it is private, but they will put us on an Iberian flight in 11 hours time @$#%!!!! (that’s swearing!) Then she suggested it was OUR fault?? Cant believe this? but then I asked her who we see to get food and sort this out, she tells us to go to the hotel desk at Olypmic airlines in Athens. If we hadnt of asked she wasn’t going to offer.
The 1 hour flight over was smooth as except we are feeling a big dazed by this sudden news. This airplane has been by far, the most leg room we have had since business class!
Land and go to the desk and luckily got a very nice lady who takes our new flight booking we were given and ends up in her office on the phone for 20 mins. It turns out she can see we were not notified by either the email or cell phone numbers I had supplied on booking and we are the ONLY passengers they didn’t notify when the company was sold and the flights cancelled! The airline stopped flying to Spain when it was sold 3 weeks ago. The lady said- had they told us we could have got a flight over from Rhodes at 2pm but the Rhodes office did nothing, so she got on the phone to their supervisor.
She ended up putting us up in a hotel with food for the day, way out in the boonies overlooking the sea, so that’s great (especially since they don’t usually do hotels) but still cannot do anything about the fact that we have lost our only day in Madrid and our shuttle etc. We will get there at 8.30pm instead of lunchtime and then fly out again to Casablanca tomorrow morning as there are no flights to Casablanca from Athens instead.
Had to be us huh?? Luckily we are assertive enough to go and ask to sort it out or we would have just sat in Athens airport for 9 hours and they wouldn’t have known we were there because the Rhodes staff said nothing to the Athens staff! Bizarrely, last night we watched a programme on when flights go wrong and what your rights are, how to get noticed etc. Must have cursed us as I thought we have been so lucky after watching that?
We will laugh about it sometime in the future! But we have flown them twice and had problems both times- last time with luggage and its not like they are a budget airline either!
Anyhow, we ended up enjoying the rest of the day at the hotel- you will think it is so flash from the pictures (2nd and thrid pics) and it was nice but very tired close up and everything was sticky, had flies and every piece of cutlery was slightly dirty. I think it had been a flash resort once and now felt like a club med! However, we later discovered there was a huge pool- argh! This is what happened to us last time in Kuala Lumpur when they checked our bags to the wrong place- No Togs!! Torture- went to the hotel boutique and it had just shut but walked up the road and found a little dairy that yay! Sold them.
Were able to get a pair each and go down and lay in the sun with all the dancing 20 somethings! Danni, you would have LOVED the pool, it was big but so so cold, it caused a pain in my head at first but was just what we needed.
Dried off and then had lunch in the restaurant they supplied- very nice and then back onto the bus- just for us! To Athens airport. Checked in to Iberian, sounds like a full plane – and we are now waiting to board to Madrid. Then to bed, up again and off with easyjet tomorrow- fingers crossed!
Later- OMG we are here in Madrid - frickin looooong day, 18 hours hotel to hotel and we are delirious- but the hotel Atlantico have put us up in the best corner room on the top floor as I requested so we love them- have 2 balconies out onto Gran Via- very busy!(last 2 pics)
Graeme is so tired he has gone crazy and is standing starkers on the balcony to see if anyone way below notices- haha, he will cause an accident!
I just had THE best shower- you have the choice of 2 shower heads, one gave me a water blasting, just what I needed!
7 comments:
Bummer bout the flight. Well, just been catching up with your travels - looks like you've been away far too long now - must be getting repetitive always having to have cold beers mid afternoon in the sunshine!
Winter arrived here after you left - cold and wet now, leaving in the morning in the dark and arriving home in the dark too. We really enjoyed Lisbon aswell along with Rhodes - 1 of our favourite Greek islands. The photo of the 2 of you in the plaka - we had dinner 1 night in the restaurant behind the camera! looks like you've been in some lovely looking hotels and having great food too. Michelle likes your terminology "budgie smugglers"!
Keep well Matt & Michelle xx
Yucky day, huh. Sorry 'bout that. Set record hi here of 89 deg. F. (that's hot for this time of yr, so off to beach again tomorrow---free!) You shoulda come here instead! Our "hotel rates" are much cheaper than there.
AND I'd luv to see G "starkers" on our porch, haha!
you poor things, hope all goes well from here on. I want to know if "G" caused an accident or has been arrested??? Try to put the bad happenings behind you and look forward to what is next. take care
Sharon and Peter
Ye Gods, let's hope the camels you booked haven't died
Hi there, so much to catch up on. Have been to sydders for a week and have been without a computer for 4 days either side of that so all a bit slack on the comments front..... I've tried to keep up. Bummer re the day but percentage wise its been all good. Will send some comments when I get back onmy computer as it's all a bit hard onmy iPhone lol.....
ah not to worry eh there was bound for something with all that organising here and there geasus if it were me id be after getting mixed up and find myself at the wrong airport or country even lol enjoy the days that dont go according to plan to though
slainte karl
Matt and Michelle
yes I know the restaurant in RHodes you mean- we had a beer there as they try hard to get you in all the time!
Lisbon ia great alright, need to go back sometime. Is there any news on the job front for you yet Matt?
Gove Jack one of those huge cuddles he gives from us ok!
Hmm trying to work out who wrote the next comment as no name?? Thinking it may be someone from USA as yu are talking in farenheight- query Linda??
Sharon and Pete, I will have to watch Graeme doesnt become keen on prancing around in just his scottish hat- now that would be scary haha!
M & D- how rude, the donkeys survived so we should be sweet on camels!!!!
Cath- Hi hows was your conference, you will have to send me a big email about what you have been up too. Ask Sam about who was drilling her at the Rukuhoa calf club day while you were away?!!!!
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