Once at the CDG I hurried to the transfer desk for CDG to Incheon flight. At the transfer desk I handed my e-ticket and asked for the boarding pass. The woman started to type. Looked few times at my eticket. Asked me for the e-ticket number as she could not find it on the print out. I showed her the eticket number. She finally had an "aha" moment. Told me the flight will be delayed tonight for 20 min. Handed me the boarding pass. I asked if she knew if my luggage is on the plane and gave her my tag. She did not look at the tag at all. Her response was she does not have accesses to luggage data but told me I should inquire at the gate.
At the gate desk I had to wait for some time as quite a number of passengers was obtaining the boarding passes. Once boarding passes were sorted I asked the attendant if she could check if my suitcase is on board. I handed her my boarding pass just received at the transfer desk and the luggage tag I got in Kiev. The young lady started to type. Looked at the screen. Raised eyebrows. Grasped. Than she asked me if I could give her my e-ticket. Now I was confused but I handed the ticket. Few moments later the young lady asked me which date I am supposed to fly. Flabbergasted I told her today and that the date is on the ticket. Than the young lady explained that my boarding pass - which about 30 min earlier I got at the transfer desk - is for the flight tomorrow. How could the woman at the transfer desk issue a boarding pass for the next day while telling me the plane tonight is 20 min late is beyond me. The helpful young lady started to sort the issue and book me on the flight. After some work she handed me the new boarding pass.
Concerned what else can go wrong now I insisted to know if my luggage is on the plane. At the desk gate next to the young lady was also a very helpful young man. Both of them tried to check for if my suitcase is on board but could not find it in the database. They advised me they might know if suitcase is on the plane only after the plane is fully boarded. They suggested I wait with the boarding until last moment to find out. So I sat on a chair next to the boarding gate desk and waited.
While two young french people at the gate desk were helpful, the Korean gate manager was - well - Korean. Rude, unsympathetic and in hurry. Sitting in the chair close to the gate intrigued the Korean gate manager. He asked me if I am to board the plane. Upon my affirmative response the Korean approached the gate desk and asked the young lady if there is a problem with me. She explained I wait a confirmation my luggage is on the plane. The moment she answered, the Korean manager turned to me and told me there is no time to wait. Either I board the plane or I stay to wait for the luggage.
I know well that reasoning with Korean men always fails as their listening skills - especially when a woman speaks - are heavily impaired. Nevertheless I tried to explain to the Korean why I want to check for my suitcase. We were on different frequencies. He mantra was: either you board or you stay.
Two young french people at the gate desk also tried to reason with the Korean. They tried to help and seemed frustrated by the Korean too. However the Korean remained unsympathetic.
When I finally decided to board the plane the young man at the gate desk told me he will do anything to get me the luggage. Ensured of that I thanked him and the young lady and boarded the plane.
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