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R. Premadasa Stadium

Our trip to Sri Lanka seemed perfectly planned to begin with a One Day International cricket match – the last of the 5-game series. The series was already won by Sri Lanka 3-1, but Australia was playing to recapture the winning feeling leading into the upcoming test series.

Joining a group from Premium Sport Tours for the cricket, we decided to fly to Colombo via Sydney, as we figured that we would be part of the group flying from Sydney. When we joined a similar tour in India back in 2017, we joined the group part way through the series. This time, we thought, let’s join in with the same flights, and be part of the group right from the beginning.

So, off we went from Adelaide to Sydney. This direction seemed to be going the wrong way, heading east across Australia when Sri Lanka really is to the west. Anyway, we will soon be part of the group. Looking at the list, there are half a dozen participants each from Qld, SA, Vic, NSW; just over 30 in the group in total. Surely there will be some on the same Sydney to Colombo flight.

Heading off from Adelaide, ready for our cricket tour!

We made good time from Adelaide and found ourselves in the queue for check-in at Sydney in reasonably ample time. We had tried to check-in and select seats online earlier, but the system kept messaging that online was unavailable, go to the check-in desk. So, we did. The queue seemed to be moving quite smoothly. Until, of course, just before our turn when it slowed down considerably.

Eventually we made it to the desk. The gentleman seemed to be proceeding promptly with our check-in. Vaccinated? Yes. Sri Lanka VISA? Yes. Scan those passports, type in some details … would we like to be upgraded? Why, yes, that would be lovely, thank you very much. Wait just a moment, I just need to check with the manager to see if that would be possible …

A bit of a wait, but with the possibility of an upgrade that’s OK. But this wait is getting a bit long … Where has the gentleman gone?? There he is, talking animatedly with the boss ladies. Eventually coming back, we anticipate the upgrade? Sorry, no upgrade. That’s OK, we thought, it is only ever a slight chance for an upgrade. But then, sorry, there are no seats at all. What?????!!!!

Apparently, the plane was overbooked. Even when we tried to check in online earlier, it must have already been overbooked. All the talk about an upgrade was them hoping that someone might be a no-show. It seems that overbooking post COVID is a very common occurrence; there were about eight of us who weren’t able to board, including one couple who had been overbooked earlier in the week as well.

The eventual outcome for our flights was an overnight in Sydney, put up at an airport hotel. An extra 24 hours in Sydney, flying out on the same flight the following day.

At the Sri Lankan Airlines check-in desk. Look at the time; our plane has already left!

We were somewhat surprised the plane to Sri Lanka was so full – we imagined that people were trying to leave, rather than go to the politically and economically struggling country! Sri Lankan Airlines also provided a voucher for A$287 each for use “on future bookings with Sri Lankan Airlines”. Hmmm, very unlikely.

I guess, at least we made it safely to Colombo, albeit a day late. Still better than the fate of the luggage of three of our fellow travellers from SA, which took another four or so days to be located and retrieved!

So, did we meet up with the group on the same flight? No. Did we enjoy the camaraderie of the meet and greet at the airport and combined transfer to the hotel with the group? No. Did we make it to the 5th One Day International cricket match at R. Premadasa Stadium? No.

Australia did win, though, as we were still winging our way from Sydney to Colombo.

Panorama from the group’s hospitality box, R. Premadasa Stadium, 5th ODI match.
Photo by Chris Gregson

Our own experience of R. Premadasa Stadium? Merely a drive by a few days later on the bus trip from Colombo to Kandy. I had my phone ready to catch photos of interest, but by the time I saw a glimpse of the light towers of the cricket stadium, we had already gone past.

3 comments

  1. Overbooking. It’s a horrid experience. We’ve endured similar experiences a few times.

    Once, on a holiday to NZ, when our starting leg from Adelaide to Melbourne was overbooked. We had a connecting flight to catch from Melbourne to Christchurch and there wasn’t that much leeway. In the end, while we couldn’t get on the original starting flight, the airline managed to get us a connect that got us to Melbourne just in time. All was well that ended well and it meant we had stories to tell.

    Another was a flight to Hobart. It wasn’t actually overbooked but, some passengers and luggage had to get bumped because Hobart was fogged in and the airplane required to load extra fuel in case it couldn’t land when it arrived and had to be diverted (back to Adelaide would you believe). The earliest passengers to book in were accommodated but the last 12 could not. We were among the last twelve. They tried to find us alternative flights, the only one available being the next day via Brisbane (yes, you read that right), arriving in Hobart late into the evening. That was useless for us so we cancelled out and got our full airfares reimbursed. However, we had incurred other related expenses such as share of accommodation and car hire, to which we remained committed. About $1k for no holiday at all.

    Then there was the flight to Zurich beginning with Cathay Pacific from Adelaide to Melbourne and on from Melbourne to Hong Kong on the same aircraft. Then, from Hong Kong to Zurich with Swiss Air. Just our luck that Cathay Pacific had decided to do a training drill at Adelaide Airport, They were testing to see how the staff would cope with the systems down and having to check everything in manually. Of course, they were slow and cumbersome and time slipped on and on and on. By the time we got going and left Melbourne we were well behind schedule and concerned about missing the Swiss Air flight. We did not fancy the prospect of an overnighter in Hong Kong. Nor were we the only ones. About a dozen others were making the same connection and were also concerned. Our concerns were heightened when the cabin crew told us we were likely to miss the connection and Cathay Pacific had no control over holding Swiss Air until we got there.

    On arrival we were greeted by a Cathay Pacific ground crew staffer who would rush us through the airport to the Swiss Air terminal. That was nice of them. Once all twelve of us had gathered, it was like a comedy capers scene with the staffer in front holding an orange flag atop a pole for us to follow. Of course, not everyone could maintain the same pace and the twelve straggled out. We got priority clearance through security and arrived at the Swiss Air terminal with the cabin crew calmly telling us to relax – there was never any real danger of missing the flight.

    We were travelling business class and this was one of Swiss Air’s newest craft in its modernised fleet. Spacious seating and attentive service certainly helped us relax and actually enjoy the last leg. Again, all ended well and yet another travel story to tell.

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