Departure Delay

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A flight delay is not an uncommon occurrence these days, but irritatingly my flight to Naples has been hit. And not just a delay of a few minutes either. Oh no, read on dear friends!

Departure delays are all over the news at the moment as airports struggle after Covid. There have been capacity restrictions, staff shortages, and a general lack of preparedness for a return to global travel across the industry.

Yet we are desperate to return to travel, and given rail networks aren’t faring much better, there’s really no other option than flight.

My Delay Begins

When I booked my flight months ago it was for a 12:25 departure. Perfect for the check in time at my Airbnb and giving me a whole evening to explore Naples.

Then it had a schedule change to 13:35.

Not a big deal, still time to have an evening meal out once we arrive.

Today is departure day and I’m up and ready to catch my train to the airport.

Haven’t slept well (as per usual pre travel days for me) so am up at 6am.

7am I get a text: Your flight has been delayed and will now depart at 16:05.

Annoying. I could have stayed in bed!

But there’ll still be time for a late dinner hopefully. In Italy dinnertime isn’t till 8pm after all.

So, I message our Airbnb host with an updated arrival and have a leisurely breakfast. He’s fine with the change of arrival, and I adjust my plan for the day.

The train reports say they’re running to schedule, so I plan a new departure time and finish packing.

Train Delay Trouble

I’ve not booked any advanced fares for trains to Gatwick. There have been so many strikes recently it just seems pointless.

Usually, I’d buy a cheap £5 fare but since there’s no guarantee when we’ll land back home it’s not worth it.

An open return is only £29.50 anyway.

As it happens, my lack of faith in the UK railway has proven accurate today.

At 8:30 there are warnings of departure delays due to poor track conditions. By 9:30 all trains to Gatwick are cancelled.

My backup plan was always to just drive and park. I just didn’t want to do that initially as it’s much more expensive.

No choice now though!

Thankfully I have myGatwick so get 10% off and parking for 2 weeks comes to £129.60. Plus petrol.

Oh well.

(As it happens, I’m really quite glad to have my car at the airport when we land back home. Much more convenient and comfortable than another train).

Further departure delays…

Just as I’m paying for parking online I get another text.

The flight is now delayed till 16:45.

Well that’s not too much later, so will carry on with my current plan.

Driving to the airport is problem free, and I’m in the terminal at 12:15.

What they don’t tell you

Did you know that even if your flight is delayed by HOURS your original check in window remains the same?

Essentially you need to be checked in, bag dropped, and through the gates for security 40 minutes before the original departure time.

Fine if there isn’t a massive queue and only one desk open!

We stand in line for 45 minutes before someone starts calling out for Naples passengers.

Pulled to the front along with a few other passengers we check our bags and move on.

Technology isn’t always clever

Of course the security gates are all run by a computer.

If you scan your boarding pass after the cut off for the original departure time it won’t let you through.

Funnelled off to the side then where a human being can override it and let us through.

The waiting game

Finally in the departure lounge we go for lunch.

It’s busy, there are queues everywhere. But what else is there to do really?!

At this point I get my compensation for the delay from WIZZ. £4 each to spend on Starbucks.

At least it’s pumpkin spiced latte season (although with how this day is going they’ll probably be out of syrup!).

During lunch the departure delay gets worse. 17:06…17:32….18:30!

There is contradictory times on the airline and airport messages too.

The airline says 17:40, the airport 18:30. And that’s where it stays as we wait with heightened anticipation for our Gate number.

Still waiting…

I do get my pumpkin spiced latte. Of course the voucher from WIZZ doesn’t cover the cost of even a small one.

Then we just wait some more.

Waiting….

Waiting…..

At last there’s a gate number and it looks like we might actually be getting on a plane!

We wait by the gate. Then wait after the gate. And then wait on the plane.

Finally, at 18:42 we actually take off and are in the air!!

A grand total delay of 5 hours and 7 minutes. Which means in theory I am entitled to compensation through AirHelp. Something I am looking into and will update you on in a later post.

Accommodation Awaits

As we are staying in an Airbnb I’ve been messaging my host all day.

Thankfully he’s been very responsive and understanding.

We finally arrive in Naples at 22:00. And do some more waiting….

Off the plane in about 10 minutes. About 15 minutes to get through passport control. (Worth it, got my first ever European stamp lol. The only upside of Brexit IMO). Another 10 minutes waiting for luggage.

But our bags come out first!

So maybe it is last on first off for luggage!

Taxi ride of death

As with all taxis I’ve been in across Europe, you just have to close your eyes!

We weave between the crazy people on mopeds. No safety gear, two adults and a kid all on one moped. Almost hit the most stereotypical Italian older man. Who knew people actually made those angry gestures in real life.

Then get chucked out of the taxi at the bottom of the street as it’s blocked by police cars.

Turns out we are staying right in the middle of the place to be on a Saturday night.

Crowds of people drinking on the street.

So we have to haul our cases up hill for a five minute walk. Through the crowds, over the cobbles. But we make it.

Arrived!

Check in is smooth, even with the language barrier.

It’s a bit noisy but not unbearable. Hopefully it’s just because it’s the weekend.

I’m shattered so don’t think it’ll be a problem anyway!!

No dinner tonight. But really I just want sleep.

Quite the stumbling day of departure delays!

At least I’ve had plenty of time to write, and I imagine: no probs, we’re here, would be quite the boring first post of the trip.

Still, here’s hoping there are no more stumbles to report on! Just fun times, top tips, and lots of happy memories.

Buona notte!