January 14, 2022 • 10 mins
After a bicycle crash in Berlin, Germany, with a fractured tibia, Tony Eason embarks on an emergency International Airline Flight home from Berlin Tegel "Otto Lilienthal" Airport [TXL} to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport [CDC] to San Francisco International Airport [SFO].
Traveling with a boxed bicycle, suitcase, and backpack, every aspect of the plane flight home went wrong. including pre-requested wheelchair assistance.
It was a plane flight from hell.
Trust me, "Never travel solo on an airlines/plane flight with a broken leg!"
Ynot Truth Podcast Website: http://ynottruth.com
Tony Eason Website: http://ynottony.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
Once upon a time, I embarked on a three-week journey in the south of France,
traveling from Nimes to Montpellier to Bezier to Carcassonne to Toulouse to Cahors to Montauban to Brive-la-Gaillarde and ending up in Limoges. In celebration of my successful bike tour.
(00:31):
The following day I bussed to Berlin,
Germany.
After arriving in Berlin,
I spent my days cycling through Kreuzberg,
Schöneberg and Grunewald. Yet one day, cycling at 33 mph,
I crashed. And as the bike bounced sideways down the street; three times, I heard my leg crack.
(01:02):
After an ambulance ride to the hospital,
the doctors concluded I had fractured my right tibia in three places.
Six hours later I had orthopedic surgery. Upon my release from the hospital,
(01:22):
I phoned my airline. After providing documentation of my hospital stay.,
the airlines rescheduled my plane flight home.
Also, they assured me that wheelchair assistance would be available on my departure date.
(01:45):
A taxied to Tegel airport.
As the taxi pulled up,
I asked the driver,
can you carry my bags into the airport?
Driver said,
sure,
let me get your stuff out,
pull the car up a bit and park on the curb.
(02:08):
Feeling relieved,
I tipped the driver 50 marks and I sat on the sidewalk with my luggage.
As the car pulled away, I realized he's not coming back.
He's leaving me stranded here on the curb.
(02:29):
As I said on the curb,
I could hear the public address system.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This is a security message from security.
Tourists please never leave your luggage unattended. Unattended luggage will be removed by airport authorities.
(02:50):
Therefore,
I contemplated how do I get my boxed bicycle, suitcase, and carry on luggage to the ticket counter,
I concluded,
I'm fucked.
Therefore,
leaving my luggage behind.
(03:11):
I crunched my way to the ticket counter.
Upon arrival to the counter, The flight personnel stated:
yes,
I see that you have pre-requested assistance.
Yet, I am the only one here and I cannot leave the check in counter.
(03:34):
Overhearing the conversation.
A fellow passenger retrieved my luggage.
Soon following, the flight personnel issued by boarding pass and suggested proceeding to gate X.
My response,
I can't carry my luggage.
(03:57):
Her response:
I don't know what you're going to do,
but I can't leave the ticket counter.
Outraged with the Airlines level of customer service. I planted my ass directly on the ticket counter.
At which point the flight attendant asked me:
(04:21):
What are you doing?
My response.
I'm going to sit here until someone gets me some help.
Minutes later the Tegel airport security appeared.
The security guard stated (04:37):
What seems to be the problem sir?
My response (04:43):
a week ago,
I phoned the airlines and requested wheelchair assistance and now the airline refuses to assist me.
I have one bike box,
one suitcase and one carry on luggage.
(05:03):
I cannot transport them to the departure gate.
Immediately, the security guard pulled out his walkie-talkie. Chatted for a minute and voila assistance appeared, And I was wheelchaired onto the airplane.
(05:29):
As the plane arrived at Charles de Gaulle,
I prayed there was someone to assist me.
The plane door opened and voila,
A wheelchair appeared
As my wheelchair cruised through the world's 9th busiest airport. I wondered (05:46):
Does this dude know where he's going?
So I handed him my flight itinerary. Minutes later, I am shoved into the back of a seatless cargo van and transported to an adjacent terminal.
(06:08):
Upon arrival to the terminal,
my assistant concludes wrong terminal.
Therefore,
again,
I was shoved into the cargo van.
Eventually we arrived at the correct terminal.
Upon arrival at the ticket counter,
(06:31):
I presented my boarding paths.
Like a parrot, the flight personnel stated:
I see that you have a pre-requested assistance.
Yet, I am the only one here.
I cannot leave the check-in counter,
Proceed to gate Z.
(06:57):
In complete distress, I removed my belt from my pants,
looped my belt through the bicycle box and luggage handle and reattached the belt to my pants.
Then I threw my backpack on my back,
dragging my belongings.
I proceeded to the departure gate.
(07:22):
Drenched in sweat, I arrived at gate Z.
I presented my boarding pass to the flight personnel yet again the wrong departure gate.
At which point I nearly went postal yet.
Instead, I sat on the floor and began to cry,
(07:46):
Viewing this,
A Russian Airlines flight attendant approached me.
The flight attendant asked me,
What's wrong?
my reply:
I'm just trying to get home.
Minutes later, a porter appeared.
The porter informed me (08:08):
If we hurry you might make your plane.
But, I will have to charge you 30 francs per item.
Although costly,
I agreed.
And we proceeded to my departure gate and I boarded the plane.
(08:33):
Upon arrival in San Francisco, a smile came to my face.
Why?
Because I knew my best friend would be standing at the arrival gate.
But guess what?
He was not there.
(08:54):
Patiently, I awaited my best friend's arrival.
After one hour of waiting,
I left my luggage to find a pay phone.
I phoned my friend.
Upon hearing my voice; my friends stated:
(09:14):
Are you coming home today?
My response.
Get your ass here or never speak with me again.
An hour later my friend retrieved me.
Upon entering the car.
He lit me a joint and gifted me a bottle of champagne.
(09:39):
I began to feel safe.
Upon arrival to my house.
I asked him for my house keys,
[the keys I left with him to water my plants]
He stated (09:54):
I didn't bring the keys.
At which point, I took my crutches and broke the front door window.
Reaching through the broken glass,
I opened the door and went upstairs.
(10:15):
The following morning, I reflected on the past 24 hours.
I was mad. And, I wanted revenge.
Yet, I remembered:
After the rain; a rainbow will shine.
Without the bad; one cannot appreciate the good.
(10:37):
And this too shall pass.
A plane flight from hell indeed..
Once upon a time, I embarked on a three-week journey in the south of France,
traveling from Nimes to Montpellier to Bezier to Carcassonne to Toulouse to Cahors to Montauban to Brive-la-Gaillarde and ending up in Limoges. In celebration of my successful bike tour.
(00:31):
The following day I bussed to Berlin,
Germany.
After arriving in Berlin,
I spent my days cycling through Kreuzberg,
Schöneberg and Grunewald. Yet one day, cycling at 33 mph,
I crashed. And as the bike bounced sideways down the street; three times, I heard my leg crack.
(01:02):
After an ambulance ride to the hospital,
the doctors concluded I had fractured my right tibia in three places.
Six hours later I had orthopedic surgery. Upon my release from the hospital,
(01:22):
I phoned my airline. After providing documentation of my hospital stay.,
the airlines rescheduled my plane flight home.
Also, they assured me that wheelchair assistance would be available on my departure date.
(01:45):
A taxied to Tegel airport.
As the taxi pulled up,
I asked the driver,
can you carry my bags into the airport?
Driver said,
sure,
let me get your stuff out,
pull the car up a bit and park on the curb.
(02:08):
Feeling relieved,
I tipped the driver 50 marks and I sat on the sidewalk with my luggage.
As the car pulled away, I realized he's not coming back.
He's leaving me stranded here on the curb.
(02:29):
As I said on the curb,
I could hear the public address system.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This is a security message from security.
Tourists please never leave your luggage unattended. Unattended luggage will be removed by airport authorities.
(02:50):
Therefore,
I contemplated how do I get my boxed bicycle, suitcase, and carry on luggage to the ticket counter,
I concluded,
I'm fucked.
Therefore,
leaving my luggage behind.
(03:11):
I crunched my way to the ticket counter.
Upon arrival to the counter, The flight personnel stated:
yes,
I see that you have pre-requested assistance.
Yet, I am the only one here and I cannot leave the check in counter.
(03:34):
Overhearing the conversation.
A fellow passenger retrieved my luggage.
Soon following, the flight personnel issued by boarding pass and suggested proceeding to gate X.
My response,
I can't carry my luggage.
(03:57):
Her response:
I don't know what you're going to do,
but I can't leave the ticket counter.
Outraged with the Airlines level of customer service. I planted my ass directly on the ticket counter.
At which point the flight attendant asked me:
(04:21):
What are you doing?
My response.
I'm going to sit here until someone gets me some help.
Minutes later the Tegel airport security appeared.
The security guard stated (04:37):
What seems to be the problem sir?
My response (04:43):
a week ago,
I phoned the airlines and requested wheelchair assistance and now the airline refuses to assist me.
I have one bike box,
one suitcase and one carry on luggage.
(05:03):
I cannot transport them to the departure gate.
Immediately, the security guard pulled out his walkie-talkie. Chatted for a minute and voila assistance appeared, And I was wheelchaired onto the airplane.
(05:29):
As the plane arrived at Charles de Gaulle,
I prayed there was someone to assist me.
The plane door opened and voila,
A wheelchair appeared
As my wheelchair cruised through the world's 9th busiest airport. I wondered (05:46):
Does this dude know where he's going?
So I handed him my flight itinerary. Minutes later, I am shoved into the back of a seatless cargo van and transported to an adjacent terminal.
(06:08):
Upon arrival to the terminal,
my assistant concludes wrong terminal.
Therefore,
again,
I was shoved into the cargo van.
Eventually we arrived at the correct terminal.
Upon arrival at the ticket counter,
(06:31):
I presented my boarding paths.
Like a parrot, the flight personnel stated:
I see that you have a pre-requested assistance.
Yet, I am the only one here.
I cannot leave the check-in counter,
Proceed to gate Z.
(06:57):
In complete distress, I removed my belt from my pants,
looped my belt through the bicycle box and luggage handle and reattached the belt to my pants.
Then I threw my backpack on my back,
dragging my belongings.
I proceeded to the departure gate.
(07:22):
Drenched in sweat, I arrived at gate Z.
I presented my boarding pass to the flight personnel yet again the wrong departure gate.
At which point I nearly went postal yet.
Instead, I sat on the floor and began to cry,
(07:46):
Viewing this,
A Russian Airlines flight attendant approached me.
The flight attendant asked me,
What's wrong?
my reply:
I'm just trying to get home.
Minutes later, a porter appeared.
The porter informed me (08:08):
If we hurry you might make your plane.
But, I will have to charge you 30 francs per item.
Although costly,
I agreed.
And we proceeded to my departure gate and I boarded the plane.
(08:33):
Upon arrival in San Francisco, a smile came to my face.
Why?
Because I knew my best friend would be standing at the arrival gate.
But guess what?
He was not there.
(08:54):
Patiently, I awaited my best friend's arrival.
After one hour of waiting,
I left my luggage to find a pay phone.
I phoned my friend.
Upon hearing my voice; my friends stated:
(09:14):
Are you coming home today?
My response.
Get your ass here or never speak with me again.
An hour later my friend retrieved me.
Upon entering the car.
He lit me a joint and gifted me a bottle of champagne.
(09:39):
I began to feel safe.
Upon arrival to my house.
I asked him for my house keys,
[the keys I left with him to water my plants]
He stated (09:54):
I didn't bring the keys.
At which point, I took my crutches and broke the front door window.
Reaching through the broken glass,
I opened the door and went upstairs.
(10:15):
The following morning, I reflected on the past 24 hours.
I was mad. And, I wanted revenge.
Yet, I remembered:
After the rain; a rainbow will shine.
Without the bad; one cannot appreciate the good.
(10:37):
And this too shall pass.
A plane flight from hell indeed..
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