Air Bangkok plane at Bangkok Airport. This airline gave me the most stress.

You can imagine my horror when I tried to check-in online at 0600 for an 0900 flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui, only to discover the flight had been delayed until 1030.

I needed to be in Samui in time for the last ferry of the day departing at 1300. The flight was one hour, plus time needed to retrieve luggage and get to the ferry terminal.

I discovered the 0800 flight was running on time, so I rushed to the airport in a panic. I asked Air Bangkok to put me on the earlier flight owing to THEIR delay of the flight on which I was originally booked. I explained my fear of missing the ferry.

Well, what a load of  #$&#*% I heard in response:

• First, they refused outright indicating the flight was full.
• Then, they questioned me repeatedly about my ferry connection, suggesting there was ample time to make it.
• Then, they offered me a seat if I paid the equivalent of $60 Canadian.

I politely refused to take “pay us more” for an answer and kept the negotiating going. I think I wore both the agent and the supervisor down because they finally agreed to my request. The growing lineup behind me was probably additional incentive for them.

Moral of the story. Take no guff from airline people, in the politest way possible.

My original 0900 flight, rescheduled until 1030, was delayed again until 1130. I would NOT have made the ferry had I backed down. There was no way I was paying more for their delay.

I was rewarded for my efforts with a yummy breakfast. Pretty certain the cupcake had 1000 calories!!

The gate where I waited for this “full” flight to depart Bangkok.