Have you ever been to Hong Kong airport? Let me tell you compared to our dinky little Perth airport it is massive. Not to mention the walk from the hotel to the train station, the changing trains and the subsequent walk from the train to the correct terminal. Ouch by this time my poor foot is agony.
Another really great thing about Hong Kong is that you can check in to you flight at Central Station. They have check in desks just like a normal airport. You put your luggage through, you show your passport, tickets etc and you get your boarding pass then you jump back on a train and take a ½ hour ride to the airport. Very clever I though, plus you can check in anytime on the day you depart so if your hotel kicks you out at 10am and your flight isn’t until midnight you can check your luggage and go off shopping for the day and rock up at 10pm to catch you flight. Just brilliant!
So we arrive at the airport. Information in the middle of the terminal just to our right, Qantas to the right of that and our departure gate to the far left. By now I am being overtaken by decrepit looking 90 year olds so we decide to see about getting me a wheel chair so that we have some mobility around the airport. Our life was just about to get even more fun. In Perth that would be it, here’s your wheel chair now bugger off. In Hong Kong it is “Please follow me to the Qantas desk” While we were at the Help desk I asked for a bandage to strap my ankle. The young lady comes back with a bandaid. Hehehehehe, holding back the giggles I explain that I need a bandage, a long stretchy cloth to wrap around my ankle to help with swelling and she kindly brings out some gauze. She was trying to be helpful. I figure we will stop at a chemist on the way to the departure lounge.
At the Qantas desk there is much inspecting of my very swollen ankle – the hunchback of Notre Dame would have been impressed with the swelling! I am not an animal. Even more talking on the walkie talkie and the telephone. I am given the only chair available and we are asked to wait a minute. Eventually a man comes with a wheelchair, I plonk myself into it and grab for Cooper. No, no, no I must not carry the baby on my lap, but I can cart 3 carry on suitcases and a hand bag that is OK but not the baby. Dave goes to push me and NO, NO, NO, the man is a specified wheel chair pusher and will not give it up. He takes off rather briskly and deposits us at immigration. WAIT we are told. Guess we aren’t going on the tour of the airport then!
Our party, a colleague of Dave’s was also with us were put through the back door of immigration, me still being pushed in my chair, effectively jumping a very long queue. We then get escorted to the departure gate and are given priority boarding onto the plane. No waiting in queues, this wheelchair thing is a great!!!!!!! Temporarily of course.
Our flight went off without a hitch; we all slept a little, ate a little and drunk a little – OK well more than a little.
Back in Perth, despite being told not to the Qantas staff had arranged a wheelchair to meet the plane for me. I was last off the plane but got express service through customs and immigration again so beat most of the passengers out of the terminal.
It was wonderful to be back home with my boys and hope one day to return to Hong Kong and take the kids with us.
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