For the second time in Frankfurt we experienced another firedrill, although this one was a bit different. Jeffrey lost his passport!
We were collecting our bags to depart our suite at the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport and as we went through the checklist and hit “Passport?” Jeff stopped and said his was missing!
So within minutes he was tearing apart his luggage on the offchance that it was mispacked. No such luck, he was going to have to stay in Frankfurt and get a replacement passport. Ugh.
First stop was the front desk of the hotel to extend the stay by one night, then on to the Singapore Airlines ticket counter. I still had to go back to the U.S. (work tomorrow!) so we went to check me in and then see if we could rebook Jeff for tomorrow.
And that’s when the clouds parted, the choir sang, and an angel came down to the counter in the form of Tina, our Singapore Airlines ticket agent.
After we told her our story she sprang into action and made some phone calls. Within 20 minutes she had contacted the U.S. Homeland Security rep at the airport who was now headed to the counter to look over Jeff’s situation. In his favor was his Illinois driver’s license, his Global Entry card, and a scanned copy of his passport that he had on his phone.
Because it was starting to look favorable, Tina told Jeff to go back to the room and get his bags (we left them behind figuring he wasn’t going to need them). Jeff sprinted off to get them while the rest of us waited patiently. We had just 30 minutes before we had to leave the counter in order to make the flight at B46.
Jeff was back in a flash (yay Sheraton Frankfurt Airport!) and just then the Homeland Security rep named John showed up with his magic Blackberry and looked Jeff up and told Singapore he was okay to fly! Phew!
Because now we were running close on time, Tina then escorted us to security and arranged to have us moved to the front of the line (in Frankfurt!) where we passed through security and then walked briskly to the gate.
Tina then walked us right down the jetbridge to the door of the aircraft where we were received warmly by our Singapore crew, Dominick and Katherine. So Jeff made it and we are presently flying over Paris sipping our Krug in Suites on Singapore Airlines as we jet back to New York!
Of course more drama awaits when we arrive at JFK, but at least he’s on board and headed in the right direction!
UPDATE: Just as we were discussing his good fortune, Jeff hurled his champagne glass to the floor where it shattered. And before we knew it, the crew was on the floor picking up little shards of glass.
I think Jeff’s going to need to be supervised today.
