Homeworker Andrew Rowdon used his knowledge to assist the newlyweds after they were left facing a 15-hour wait for their flight to the emirate, following the crash-landing of an aircraft at Dubai international airport on August 3, which created a backlog of flights.
Rowdon, of Andrew Rowdon Travel, instructed the couple to head to Heathrow as planned and to check-in with Emirates, despite their 10pm flight with the carrier being pushed back until 9am the following day.
The pair, who had booked a twin-centre If Only getaway, were due to spend four days in Dubai before journeying on to the Maldives for 10 nights.
Rowdon told TTG: “After they had checked in, I saw an update on social media that said their flight had been pushed back even further to 1pm the next day.
“Obviously they were getting very anxious as they had only planned to spend a few days in Dubai and the delays were eating in to the time they would be able to have there.”
Devising a plan, Rowdon told the couple to enquire at the Emirates check-in desk as to whether there were seats on any other Dubai-bound services and to stress the importance of their trip.
“I said they should explain they were on honeymoon and that they didn’t have much time to see Dubai. They were carrying their marriage license and were able to get it out and show the staff.”
The couple were thrilled to find themselves transferred onto a Qantas flight which departed London that night, landing an hour earlier than their previous flight.
Rowdon then managed to organise new transfers for the couple by working with If Only’s emergency call centre staff.
He spoke with the pair the following morning. “They were just so thankful and relieved that they had taken the advice - their reaction made all the work worth it.
“Because of the help we gave them they actually decided to book some extra excursions with us which was a nice bonus. Dealing with emergency’s out-of-hours is something you grow to deal with as an agent and it’s an important part of the service we offer.”
