Okie!! So what a day it was ... QF81 delayed to 1230, boarding began at 1155, got to my seat and the captain came on the mic and said that auxiliary engine isn't working, meaning, we will only be using one of the engines to take off and then somehow, on-air turn on the other engine? As the aux engine was out, there was no aircon in the cabins. Captain apologised for this and advised that the engineering crew is working on this. After fixing the issue, the flight took off around 1250, with flying time of approx 8h40m, landed at SIN T1 around 1930, a slow & long taxi to the gate,
With my SQ departing at 2015 & me not having the BP for that SQ service, I made up my mind that I'm not going to make it and started to looking to purchase seats on other airlines. The captain then came on the mic and said that there is another aircraft at the gate where we were supposed to park, and that aircraft is awaiting some bags from delayed services. That's another 10 mins waiting to get QF81 to the gate.
Luckily for me, about 5 hours into the flight, the Cabin Manager came around the cabin introducing herself to WP & above and asking if there is anything we can do. I told her about my situation. She said she'll see what she can do. Then when we were waiting for the gate, she called the FA on the phone near my seat and ask them to offload me first when the doors opened. So the FA came up to my seat and took me to the front of J door. I was literally first out of the plane and started running.
The ground staff told me that I need to get to T3 to get my boarding pass for SQ. Without giving much thought I started running (For those, that have met me, you'll know that I'm not built for anything strenuous such as running or jogging
). Anyways, running towards the trains, I had a moment of realisation - I stopped and looked at the displays. I noticed that my SQ528 leaves from T1 C24. I knew that all gates have a machine to print BPs in case pax lost them, damaged, last-minute gate upgrades, change of seats etc. So I ran in the opposite direction to T1 C24 and quite literally banged on the glass doors to get the attention of a security supervisor dressed in suit.
He noticed that I was panicking and trying to catch my breath - he came out of the security area and asked me what happened. I told him my situation that I just got off the delayed QF81 service, I had checked in for the SQ flight, but no BPs were issued due to document verification blah blah and that I really need to be on this plane and that I'd really appreciate any assistance please. He said that I need to get to T3 and get my BP. I then said that I can't really get to T3 now and get back before SQ528 closes. He acknowledged that I won't be able to make it if I get to T3. He then collected my passport, asked me NOT to enter the security area and he went inside.
10 mins gone, he came back negative, we need you to go to T3 and get the BP and also explained that if your flight was delayed, your bags would not have made it anyways. I said that I'm HLO only (should've told it 10 mins ago, but I was still catching my breath & trying not to panic) ... then after a few "ahhs" and "hmmms" he paged someone on his walkie-talkie. Then another bloke walked out of the security area, asked if I had done my Air Suvidha. I said yes, he then said that he is going to take a photo of the decleration and collected my OCI and went back in.
7 mins gone, he printed my BP and handed it to a security guard, who then signalled me to enter the security area and handed my documents to another guard, who then advised that I have less than 2 mins as I was the last pax to board. So laptops, electronics, LAGs out, security done and I was into the aerobridge and entered the plane.
The first security guard who processed my papers told me & I quote "You are a very lucky man. We never issuing BP at the gate. The supervisor was very understanding of your situation and used his powers to get you on this plane. You are very lucky"
I was in seat 42K, no space in the overhead lockers to put my carry on. Some fellow pax helped to take off some of their smaller bags and made space for my larger carry on. My backpack went under the seat in front of me. Then the captain came on the mic and announced that this service is delayed by 15 mins awaiting bags from SFO. I settled in (squished in) to my window seat finally !!
