KLM Airlines - Humpfff

Company had me booked in on the flight from Dammam to Amsterdam then Amsterdam to Edinburgh, for arrival at Edinburgh for around 10.20am on Tuesday 14th April.................. Well that was the plan anyway. Got to the airport in fact early, which is not quite my normal way. Easy check in, safewrapped my suitcase (more of in a bit). Safewrapping is a great idea as they completely clingfilm your bags etc in havy duty plastic. That way its easy to see if anyone has tampered with it!! More places should offer the service as it only cost £2.75 or the equivalent for a large suitcase.

Easy departure through emigration where they signed me out on the computer, thats me now the only ways back in are on a business visit visa or a fresh IQAMA. Before i left the office i found i had a traffic violation of 500SAR, which i never did find out what for as i only knew of one recent one for 100SAR. (GRO should have paid it 2 months ago and didnt so its possibly added up with late payment chages.) So was one last little surprise for me, as if unpaid i couldnt have left the Kingdom!

Got on the plane to find a full flight as the plane had made one stop before Dammam. Flight was as usual boring and didnt get much sleep due to yanging babies and snoring from the guy next to me.

To be sure that the suitcase got across to my connecting flight, I had been put on a flight 3 hrs after arrival in Amsterdam. Had breakfast in the Irish Pub in Schipol.....£21 for a fried brekkie, coffee and a jack daniels is a wee bit over the top!!!

Finally got on the plane for the short hop to Edinburgh and promptly fell asleep... Woke up as we came into land........... Out the plane and straight to Luggage carousel and waited, and waited and waited............... everyone elses luggage came off except mine! Bleeding typical.... There was me with only the clothes on my back (which I had had on for 24hrs) and no suitcase.

Off to the taxi rank to find out that the taxi fare to home wasn't £50 but £109!!!!! So out of pocket by £59 against the pre-paid expenses and no sign of suitcase............ Airport Services sent chasers from both the Dammam end and the Edinburgh end. (48hrs later suitcase turned up by taxi at 10.30pm at night!)

On the day i left Saudi it was over 30C, when i arrived in Edinburgh it was 7C ENUFF SAID!