Fate has robbed me of my destiny. I'm sorry, did I say Fate? I meant United Airlines. United Airlines has robbed me of my destiny.
I have just had the most harrowing traveling experience of my life getting to Beijing. I recant the story below.
O'Hare Airport, Chicago, Illinois
I drove up to Chicago from Urbana with my labmate Wei the day before my flight. My flight to Beijing was out of O'Hare, so I didn't want to drive directly to the airport, so I stayed at my brother's place. We got the airport at 9:45am for the 12:00noon flight, which was admittedly, a little on the late side, but nothing egregious. Wei and I made our way through checkin, security and customs and got to the gate at about 10:30am. It turned out that my advisor was on the same flight to Beijing, and met us at the gate. We all went up to the counter to see if we could sit together on the flight. The attendant informed us that my adviser already had a seat, but Wei and I would be assigned seats just before boarding. We had to wait for them to call our names. Boarding started and my adviser went on the plane. They called for Wei on the intercom. I assumed that we were both going to be issued boarding passes, but they only gave one to Wei. At that point I was sunk. The flight was overbooked and they were asking people to delay their flight by one day. Since no one did, I along with five other people were not allowed to board the flight. They put us on a flight to Tokyo that would connect to Beijing. I asked to be switched with Wei because my talk was the first of the conference. They said that as soon as he had a boarding pass, his luggage was put on the plane, and couldn't be removed. So I was stuck with this other flight.
Narita Airport, Tokyo, Japan
Because this was a different flight than the one I was supposed to be on, they didn't know that I needed a vegetarian meal. So I had to get by on a little fruit and rice for the thirteen hour flight. The flight was slowed by headwinds, so by the time we reached Tokyo, the connecting flight to Beijing had already left. United told me the next flight to Beijing was the next day at 9:30am, arriving at 12:00 noon , two hours after my oral presentation. I got angry. I told them that this was completely unacceptable, that I was giving the first talk of this conference, and that essentially, my whole trip was a big waste now. They got me a superviser, who couldn't really do anything. Finally, they got me on a flight to Shanghai, with the idea that there would be more frequent flights to Beijing from there. I called my adviser from Tokyo and told him that, in all likelihood, I would not make it in time for my flight. I asked him to prepare to give my presentation for me.
Pudong Airport, Shanghai, China
The superviser assured me that I had a Hindu vegetarian meal for this flight. Apparently the Japanese consider fish and chicken to be part of the vegetarian diet, so I had to get by on more fruit and rice.I arrived in Shanghai Pudong Airport at 10pm at night. My luggage, of course, was not there. The agent there took down all of my information and guided me through customs and immigration. I went to the domestic flight table, but by then it was 11:30pm, so there was hardly anybody there. The attendant there did not know much english, and told me that the first flight available was the next day at 330pm, five and a half hours after my talk. I decided I would try and take the train from Shanghai to Beijing. I found an attendant for train transportation, and she explained that the trains only left shortly after midnight everyday. Unfortunately, it took more than an hour to get to the train station from the airport. But this attendant could also search for flights. She reiterated that the first available flight to Beijing was at 330 the next day, but there were flights every half hour starting at 800am the next day, and it may be possible to get a standby ticket for one of the those. But those flights were in Shanghai Hongqiao airport, at the other end of Shanghai. I would have to take a taxi to get to Hongqiao airport. The attendant told me that this late at night, the taxi would cost 400 yuan (50 dollars). I agreed to the taxi.
Hongqiao Airport, Shanghai, China
The taxi driver, halfway to Hongqiao airport, told me there was some 5000 yuan "highway fee" he had to pay every month, and my part was 150 yuan. I knew I was getting ripped off, but I couldn't do anything. I only had two 100 yuan notes to give him, and the douchebag only gave me 20 yuan back, saying "Tip! Tip!". Once again, I knew I was being ripped off, but he had all of the power. So I got to Hongqiao airport, and the guard wouldn't let me in. Apparently the airport is closed after midnight and will only open at 6am. I looked around and spotted a hotel next to the airport. I walked in and tried to get a room. The hotel clerk said they too were closed and told me to leave. I walked out and back to the airport. I sat in front of the airport and thought about what to do. I've never been more scared in my life. Where was I going to stay for five-and-a-half hours? I worried for about half an hour, when a taxi driver pulled up. He spoke absolutely no English. I tried to tell him "hotel", but he didn't understand. Fortunately, he had a cell phone with him, and he called a friend of his that knew some English. He handed the phone over to me, and I explained that I needed a hotel until 6am. The friend explained that to him, and he drove me to a hotel. The hotel clerk also didn't know any english, but he had a pda with a chinese-to-english translator. Using the pda, he got me to register for a room, and set up a wakeup call and taxi in the morning. Technology is something isn't it! The room was alright, kind of like hotel rooms in India I've been to, and it cost 220 yuan (less that the stupid cab ride from Pudong airport).
The hotel woke me up at 530, and I made my way back to Hongqiao airport. I put myself as the first name on the standby list, and luckily, I got a flight to Beijing for departing at 830am! Woohoo!
Beijing, China
Maybe it was because I knew that I was finally going to be in Beijing, but this was the best flight of the trip. Even though I didn't specify that I was vegetarian, the meal on the flight (yes a meal for 1.5 hour flight) was a western breakfast, which was almost all vegetarian, so this was best meal I had in two days. I arrived in Beijing just after 10am, and took a taxi directly to the Beijing Hotel, which was hosting the conference. So I finally arrived at the conference at 11:45am, just as the oral session containing my presentation was ending. ::Sigh:: If only I could have made it to the conference two hours earlier ...
It's now halfway through my trip, and I'm doing my best to have a good time. I originally just wanted to get my presentation over with, but I'm extremely disappointed that I didn't get go through with it. Even though I was nervous, I was actually really excited about doing something so important, and I feel like I've been cheated out of it. My advisor did the presentation in my place, and he told the conference attendees that I was "somewhere in Shanghai", and that all credit for the presentation should go to me. I've talked with many attendees and they said it was a good presentation, so I feel that I have been able to contribute somehow. My adventure through Shanghai did have a purpose. Even though I didn't get to my oral presentation, I did make in time to help with my poster presentation.
I still don't have my luggage. Apparently, it should be arriving at my hotel room in the afternoon, but I don't have any expectations. It will probably arrive, just as I am heading back to America. I'm heading to the Forbidden City later today, and tomorrow I'll be going to the Great Wall. It should be fun!