Boarding time

Continued from last post

Boarding time

Soon it was time to board the aircraft - a Boeing and passengers travelling in Business Class, mothers with children and those in the front seats were called in that order to board. My group – passengers with tickets numbered 30 – 45, were the last to board.

Interestingly, our boarding was further delayed by the absence of adequate shuttle buses in view of the heavy human and aircraft traffic. When it got to my turn to board a bus to the aircraft I was asked to wait with the others behind me since it was full.

Although the scheduled time for take-off was 22:10hrs, we were not airborne until after 22:30hrs. The reason according to the airline Captain was that we had to be in a queue after some other aircraft to have the plane refuelled.

Finally the refuelling was done and we taxied to the end of the runway, gathered speed and in no time we were in the air to Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.

Six hours in the air

It was a completely smooth flight from the time the aircraft took off till the time it landed at Schiphol in the early hours of the morning (just after 7a.m. European Time and after 5a.m. in Ghana).

Whilst we were airborne, the over 300 passengers on board were treated to intermittent meals and snacks as each watched a video of his/her choice in front of everyone or slept the night away. In fact if those in business class received special treatment, then those of us in economy were treated like kings and queens.

I particularly noticed the exceptional friendliness of the cabin crew who made sure everyone was comfortable as long as we remained in the air. It was service with a smile, as the pretty Dutch hostesses and single male cabin attendant on board served snacks, the main meal of rice with chicken or potato with beef, drinks and breakfast. I believe all on board had not brushed their teeth – But it was a new day so whom do you blame?

Let’s talk about the arrival at Schiphol in the next account.