15 min later
Finally at 23h00, we got an explanation that it was impossible to relocate passengers on other flights because all flights were full, so it was decided that a new or a repaired plane will be set up for the next day departing at 13h15 (1:15PM).
The accommodation and transportation would be provided by AF. We were third in the line, so we got our seats rebooked on the next day flight and got two rooms for three of us (didn't have triple rooms, so we got one single (which happened to be a double too) and one double room next to each other voucher and a voucher for the breakfast in a Sofitel Defense in Paris business center. We were not given a voucher for the dinner as it was too late for them to organize that for our group. However I was given a form to claim expenses from AF and told that may be they will refund me.
We were directed to the shuttle bus through the airport and got on the bus. The airport was empty at that time and employees and security on our way already knew the issue and were sympathetic, and provided directions to the bus. AF would take care of transferred checked luggage.
Well, when we arrived to the bus the bad news was that we would have to wait for all passengers going to the Sofitel from our flight which were still in the line, and it didn't move too fast. We felt lucky however, as we could sit on the bus and use the curtains, so our son could sleep on the seat. We also felt very exhausted but at least taken care of. The driver was really nice and sympathetic and we chatted with him and other passengers. Some passengers were stuck for three days there because they were rebooked on our flight and our flight got cancelled. Because the process was very slow and passengers arrived bit by bit, some people decided they waited enough and took a taxi to the hotel, 8-10 people. The driver got impatient too because they woke him up and he was told to wait with not too many instructions. He called the AF representative who came to count us and told him it had to be 53 people and we were 37 waiting. Because no other passengers arrived (probably got lost or took taxi), it was decided to take us to the hotel and the driver to come back for others.
We got to our rooms at 1h30. The rooms were really beautiful and had a minibar. I also left my info at reception to be able to use the room service. Everybody at the hotel was nice. The room service guy told me he was alone, so it would take up to 30 min to get our meal. He came 15 min later. The food was good and we ate. As our child was sleeping, it was not a big issue for us to wait. The hotel informed us that another bus would take us the next morning around 10h00 to the airport, and they would let me know the exact time.
|
