It’s No Problem…
Well, it might be a problem.
About a month ago, I was travelling to Xi’An China to conduct a workshop for one of our dealers. I have had seriously good luck with my international travels over the years… Twelve years, hundreds of thousands of miles travelled with zero luggage issues. Good job airlines!
Because of that record, I got cocky. Never fearing a checked back and its fate, I ignored the alert on my phone that was offering for people to take a different flight to Beijing due to weight issues. I checked my bag in for the first of my three legs and went to relax a bit before the fun began. When we got to Detroit for my flight to Beijing, the people at the counter asked if I had checked a bag. I told them I had. They smiled in acknowledgement and did not offer any more info. As the time for the flight came closer, the gate staff started offering money for people to take different flights. $200…$300…$500…On and on. I forget exactly how high the pot got, but it was substantial. I remember thinking “If I had not checked a bag with all of my workshop materials, I would be taking that deal”. A couple of people finally took the deal. I was relieved.
Finally, the gate crew said we were ready to board, the weight issues are taken care of. Great, let’s go! A scant 14 hours later, we pull into Beijing. I am on alert at this point with a tight connection to clear customs, get my bag, re-check it and catch my flight to Xi’An. I get through customs (always quick in Beijing) and get to the baggage claim area. The bags come on down and make their circle. After a bit of time, 98 very loyal Delta passengers are left waiting. The attendant places a little sign on the carousel stating that all the bags have been offloaded. The mob (things were getting tense by this time) was directed over to the baggage claim area. We had to fill out paperwork, get them stamped by very helpful men who said “it’s no problem” a lot. Oh well, they commit to get our luggage to us. But I am going to Xi’An… Again “no problem”. I have a workshop on Monday morning… “no problem”. It might be a problem.
Thankfully, my colleague, Lynn Wu, in China got to Xi’An about the same time as I did. She took pity on me and got me to a clothing store called Uni Clo. As Lynn said “It is for older men who care about their appearance.” I took that as a compliment. So, a hundred or so dollars later, I had clothes and it was really “no problem.”
Got an update from Delta… the Sunday / Monday flight was cancelled, so my bag sits in Detroit for another day or two. The workshop had to go ahead as planned, so we improvise. It actually goes pretty well… “no problem”.
Finally, I get a call from China Air, my bag will arrive on Thursday. Just in time for me fly home on Friday. In China, the bags cannot be delivered to the hotel, so we (big thanks to Frank Zhou for the help) trek over to the airport in Xi’An. After spending an hour trying to find someone to help us, we got the right number to call and someone actually picked up to answer. I see several of my fellow passengers from the inbound flight and we have an impromptu reunion. I finally see my lucky red bag and have a sense of relief. “No problem”?
I get my bag back to the hotel room and start my ritual unpacking… And then pause. I have less than 12 hours left before my flight home leaves. So it got me thinking…
Stay tuned for part two and the real meaning of this convoluted story…