A disrupted journey

 Up until now inspite of many overseas trips I have rarely had a major disruption. Several friends have related their travelling woes recently.

I was booked Victoria, Calgary then to London Heathrow.

When we took off from Victoria at 2.40 pm on Wednesday the plane ascended to about 5000 feet and then ceased to climb. Although we were not told the details it seems likely the plane had an engine fire and was flying on only one engine. We carried on at lower altitude and then we saw the sun ahead indicating we were heading due west. Then the captain came on and said we were landing in Vancouver because of an emergency. When we got there, about an hour after taking off from Victoria,  Westjet had another plane waiting for us. If it had taken off fairly promptly I would have made my connection to the London flight from Calgary.  However it was more than three hours before they could find sufficient crew to fly to Calgary. Two or three others on the plane had had disrupted Westjet flights that day due to lack of crew. 

Anyhow - we got to Calgary about 10 pm (the London flight had left at 8 pm). Westjet had booked me on the next available flight - 24 hrs later. They also paid for a hotel and $60 towards food. 

I thought Westjet handled us well. I had to cancel my night at the Carlton Club but was still able to meet daughter Sarah and granddaughter Madeleine to get a train from Liverpool Street to Cambridge on Friday.

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