1. Nightmare Relocation
This is the story of how we moved from Rome, Italy to Songdo in Incheon, South Korea, and how a relaxed start turned into a hellish nightmare.
People say that adventures are only funny or exciting afterward, and now I can confirm that those people are right.
Ready, set, go!
Our leave was planned for Friday 12 February 2021 at 17:15 hours with KLM from Fiumicino Airport in Rome. Three days earlier the movers had come and put all our stuff in boxes and do what movers do best, i.e. let our stuff disappear into mover vans. That Friday they showed up again to take the last of our belongings, and so we were mentally preparing ourselves for the trip. We were really looking forward to moving to Korea.
20 suitcases and cabin bags
Because we had 10 suitcases to check-in, and 10 cabin bags to carry on, we had ordered two taxis at 14:00 hours, 3 hours in advance, and anticipated some tax-free shopping at the airport. My wife really wanted to have her Chanel no.5. And because we were leaving the country we finally could buy some tax-free stuff and get a refund.
Check-in
It took the taxis 20 minutes to drop us at the departure hall, and we needed 5 trolleys to stow all suitcases. On we went to the KLM check-in desk where we happily reported to the Business Class desk. So far, so good! Not even a pinch of sweat thus far.
The Alitalia clerk checked all our documents and then asked us where our PCR test results were. My wife showed him the test results as we had to do this test between 76 and 24 hours before leaving. But no, he insisted we had to do another PCR test, the so-called ‘fast test’ not older than 4 hours before the flight. Was this a new rule? No, he said, this was a rule made by the Dutch government some weeks before, and it was valid for everyone who would land or transit in Holland. So, why didn’t KLM notify us about this new rule? It was a waste of breath to ask this question, he just shrugged his shoulders.
Fast PCR Test
We could do our test at the test facility on Long-term Parking, he said, we could either take a dedicated bus or a taxi. But what to do with our luggage we asked him. There was even a solution for that he said, as on the ground floor we could store our luggage temporarily for 2 euro apiece. What he forgot to mention was that there was only one elevator to bring us and the trolleys down and that this elevator was located totally at the beginning of the departure hall, while we were at desk 512, about 500 meters away? Time was now close to 15:00 hours, we still had one and a half-hour left to get to the test location, do the test, and come back with the results before the gates closed.
Luggage Depot
So, we decided to bring our luggage to the depot, then take a taxi and do the test as a family together. Alas, if only we had known. We moved our 5 trolleys to the elevator, which was over 500 meters away, went down, and then had to walk and push the same distance to find the depot. There is something strange about those trolleys, they never are perfect. There are always a few where the wheels are stuck or not turning normally, and so were ours, about two of them had their peculiarities.
When we finally reached the depot two very rude Italians told us to bring all pieces to the desk and offload the luggage ourselves. They would charge 10 euros apiece. Now, that’s quite a price difference if one talks about 20 pieces of luggage and a nice personal profit for some two civil servants who knew that we were cornered and had little choice. Meanwhile, my watch showed me that we had lost 20 minutes.
Change of Heart
We decided otherwise. My wife would go with our 3 kids to the testing place while I would guard the trolleys with the suitcases. So, she went outside and grabbed a cab, while I stayed with the luggage. Every now and then by phone, she would give me an update. The taxi driver was a very nice person who understood the importance of this test and the time challenge that we faced. Around 15:30 hours my wife was back with the kids, and it was my turn to go to the testing place. She told me that it would take 30 minutes to get the results and that I had to bring both my own as well as their results.
While I was waiting for them to return I had re-arranged the luggage over the trolleys so that there were only 4 trolleys left. I also noticed quite a few other travelers who came down to the ground floor in search of transport for the testing facility. Some of them were fuming with frustration.
I urged my wife not to wait for me but to take the trolleys and go back to the check-in desk. After the testing, I would return straight to the departure hall. My eldest daughter would come with me, so my wife and the twins had to handle the trolleys by themselves.
The Cab driver and the testing
The cab driver drove as fast as possible to get me to the testing place, which was normally about 10 minutes by car. We arrived shortly before 4 o’clock, and… had to wait in line. The cabby went out and pressured the staff by telling them we were on our way to South Korea, and that the plane wouldn’t wait, and that my wife and kids were already tested, and that we needed the results asap. The result was that quickly after that a nurse came to me to do the test, after which we had to wait for 30 minutes to get the results. My test was done at 16:00 hours. We could still make it…
Waiting...
We had to leave the premises so as not to block other people from testing. There were quite a few angry and upset people who were in the same circumstances as we. No one seemed to be informed about the fast testing requirement by KLM.
25 minutes after the test we went back to get the results and still had to wait. No results yet. Our cabby again went out and started chasing the testing staff. At half-past four a nurse came with the testing results of my wife and kids. My results were not ready yet, and yes… everyone knew about our precarious situation, but the machine was not faster than this.
Speed is of the essence
Normally with KLM, the check-in and gate would close 30 minutes before departure. We had only 15 minutes left to check in, now time became of the essence. While waiting for my own result, I was able to send the results of my family’s testing by phone to my wife so she could proceed with the check-in.
At last, at 16:35 hours I was given my test results, and we raced back to the airport. Our cab driver took every possible risk to shorten the time needed. He drove through a one-way street in the wrong direction, overtook other cars, and finally was able to deliver us 20 minutes to five at the departure building. He had done it in five minutes. Happily, I gave him all the euros I had in my wallet, which was about one hundred, and so he was happy too.
My daughter and I sprinted into the building and towards the check-in where the only thing left to do was to show my negative test results, and my passport. Now, we could proceed to security with the remaining 10 cabin bags stacked on one trolley!
We raced to security.
Security
Security was more or less at the same distance as the elevators, so we had to walk the same distance again as previously with the trolleys. At security, we unloaded the cabin bags from the trolley, left it where it was, and put the bags on the security belt. It was as if everyone knew we were racing against the clock. I only had to go back once all the way to the starting point, because one of my bags had a hard disk in it.
The clock showed 17:00 hours.
The final stretch
Now started our last stretch, from security to the plane. This should have been the fun part, looking for Chanel No. 5, do some window shopping, getting updated about the latest electronics. Instead, it was maybe the most stressful part.
Two cabin bags each, we were sweating, and the distance we had to walk seemed endless. Me and two kids walked in front as fast as possible to stop the gate from closing. My wife and one of our daughters stayed behind. Most of the shops were closed anyway.
Suffice to say, when we finally arrived at the gate, the steward and stewardesses were equally anxious to get us aboard, so we didn’t have to show our boarding passes, we could walk right through to the plane, and fell exhausted in our chairs at 17:10 hours. We had made it, and for the next 13 hours didn’t need to worry about anything other than the choice of food or drink.
In conclusion
If only KLM had notified us about the necessity of the fast PCR test, we could have left our place sooner, or could have gone straight to the testing location and waited there without any stress. We don’t understand why KLM didn’t warn us.
The fact that two (underpaid?) civil servants in the airport tried to make a big profit from other people’s misery is something I can’t fathom. They should be deeply ashamed of themselves.
The cab driver was a good guy. He went out of his way to help us while we were desperate without expecting anything in return. His reward was that I gave him all the euros I had in my wallet. So, he made a nice profit.