Account of journey from Lima to London -------------------------------------- 28/4 FRIDAY (Timezone is Peru) 17:00 7 members of the Journey Latin America (JLA) tour group arrive at Lima airport. We are greeted by Ursula who proceeds to assist us with check-in for flight KL 0742, due to depart at 20:00. Ursula informs us that that our plane was 4 hours late leaving Schipol airport. 20:00 All members of the party are finally checked in leaving us free to dine. We have been given unconfirmed transfers from Schipol airport to our final destinations. 20:30 The group attempts an evening meal on the snack vouchers provided by KLM, hosted by Lima airport cafe. Ursula departs. 21:00 KLM withdraws an earlier offer of alternative routes via New York (our understanding is that the flights out from JFK were on Concorde). We are assured that accomodation will be provided by KLM at Schipol airport. 23:30 Group boards flight KL 0742, Amsterdam via Aruba. 29/4 SATURDAY (Timezone is Holland) 20:00 Arrive at Schipol. Flight ok, except for the failure of the video audio system and the over-tiredness of some of the younger passengers. Ground staff confirm that our original connecting flights have already departed and direct us to KLM Access Services in Department Lounge One. Access service staff have one junior staff member on duty and customers create a large queue. After some time, a senior staff member arrives and at his request the queue moves another desk in Department Lounge Two. When the queue arrives, there are only two staff members (we were told four) and one of them attempts to move us back to Department Lounge One. Tempers begin to break and the 7 JLA members lose contact with each other in the confusion. I attempt to resolve my unconfirmed flight at the KLM check-in desk (as instructed by Acess Services) so that I will know what time to arrive at the airport for tomorrow. This desk is also understaffed, meanwhile another member of Access Services tells me that I must board the hotel bus immediately as it is departing. 21:00 Bus departs for Hotel Central in 's-Hertogenbosh. In my possession I have my wallet, a KLM survival kit and my hand luggage which contains a large Peruvian pot. 23:30 Arrival at Hotel Central (having stopped twice for directions). We are told that the kitchen is closed and no food is available. Enquiries about transport arrangements for the return to Schipol receive confused replies. Two tired Hoteliers struggle to calm an angry crowd. 00:45 Eat some snack food from a 'Broodje' after finding an ATM machine and return to sleep at Hotel Central. 30/4 SUNDAY 07:05 Hotel staff tell me that the bus for Schipol has already left and that KLM are only paying taxi fares for journies made after 10:00. I resolve not to depend further on KLM services and check-out from Hotel Central. 08:00 Depart for Schipol by train. The train is littered with party go-ers from previous evening. 09:45 Arrive at Transfer desk in Schipol after missing various train connections. KLM Staff attempt to find a place for me on the next available plane (10:10) but go astray as my suitcase cannot be located. KLM staff respond to my complaints by informing me that I should have been on the 07:10 (provisionally booked from Lima). Instead I am offered another unconfirmed place on the 13:30. At my request, I receive vouchers for a snack and a 3 minute phone call. 11:30 Having consumed call and snack, begin queueing for the 13:30. I am the first in line. 13:30 KLM inform me that the plane to Heathrow is full and advise me to return to the Transer desk. 14:00 I accept an confirmed booking for London Stanstead. At this point I am feeling really exhausted and having difficulties concentrating. I spend the next 90 minutes trying to resolve the suitcase problem despite a changover in staff demanding that the story be retold to new staff members. 16:00 Board flight KL 2011 for London Stanstead. The suitcase problem has not been resolved. 16:00 (Timezone is UK) Arrive and begin the process of completing paperwork to recover my suitcase. The information I give is a duplication of that given at Schipol. 17:00 Depart for Liverpool Street Station via British Rail. 18:30 Arrive home via taxi and sleep for 14 hours. 1/5 MONDAY Suitcase turns up at my home address. Gavin Johnson, May 1 2000.