I don’t usually ask you to share my post, but this time PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE SHARE IT. I want it to reach that person, whoever he is.
As you may know, Momzilla was suppose to arrive to Shannon, Ireland at 15th of December. To make it funnier, we miscounted the days and we thought she will be here day later. But her trip wasn’t fun at all.
She stayed in Guangzhou, from where she flew to Beijing, then London and finally she was suppose to arrive in Shannon. Every single time she travels alone we are scared – she’s a tiny older lady who speaks no English. The night before her journey Sing was trying to explain the roman alphabet to her – she didn’t know the difference between ‘1’ and ‘I’. To make matters worse, the travel agency she chose, picked a terrible flight. Not only it had two exchanges, but the one in London was only 1.5 hour long.
In that little short time she was suppose to pass the security, immigration and get to the right gate. I don’t know what changed in last two months, but apparently now you also need a ‘security sticker’ to get to your airplane. She almost made it. Almost, but got blocked right at the gate.
Air China staff was already off (and the airplane doors didn’t want to open for like 20 minutes), Air Lingus didn’t care – they just flew without her, I cannot even tell if anyone tried to look for her.
And then HE showed up. The Airport Man. During the day he’s just an ordinary person, but at night he helps old ladies to get to their destination.
Can you believe that man? He spend so much to call from UK to Ireland 3 or 4 times, those were really long calls. He run with Momzilla between airport staff, went to check possible flights to Ireland. He even wanted to go and help her get a sim card so she has a way to contact us.
He checked her invitation letter in case of any typos she could make rewriting it. In the end he helped her get another ticket, took care of her documents, made sure she gets to the right gate. He even made it possible to get free transfer to Cork.
I don’t know who you are, I wish to know it. I hope you can read this post – thank you so much. World needs more people like you.
Kind people, who want to help others and expect nothing in return. There are no words that I could use to describe how thankful I am for what you did.
I know I sometimes complain about Momzilla, but I wouldn’t want anything bad happen to her. I’m glad The Airport Man was there for the whole time. I wish you could see how Sing was relieved when we got help.
Thank you! Dziękuję! 萬分感謝!
Again everyone, please share this post. I really hope The Airport Man can read this.
I also hope you can be The Airport Man to someone else. We need more acts of kindness, not only around Christmas.
Shared on Facebook & Twitter.
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Thank you! We already thanked him like million times over that phone call but I want something special because every ‘everyday hero’ should be appreciated 🙂 thank you once again!
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I’m glad your mom-in-law made it to Ireland. I’ll share your post.
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I always complain about her but I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to her!
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and thank you for sharing!
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I’m happy to help. Re-blogging, too!
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Hooray for London Airport Man! Will share.
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Thank you! I hope it reaches him because Sing was almost trembling when he seen a call from UK – and that man saved his mom 🙂
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What a great person, many, too many people/staff would have done nothing at all for her!
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Exactly! She speaks no English so she couldn’t even ask for a translator. She just started grabbing people randomly until he showed up. My hero!
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When MIL got lost in 2014 at Helsinki Airport and didnt even had our number to provide for the security staff they were nearly sending her back to China. Thankfully the Chinese Mandarin Translator was at that time at the airport and convinced the security guard to escort MIL to the arrival hall where we were waiting 🙂
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I bet your wife had a mini heart attack!
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I think she secretly hoped to avoid her mother through the help of the airport security…afterall my wife worked there for several years!
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Thank you for sharing!
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I am glad her trip to Ireland had a very happy ending, for her, Sing and you. I wonder did the Airport Man and your MIL talk? If yes, then the Airport Man could be a person who speaks Cantonese or the Shanghai dialect. That could help to narrow down who this mystery person is. If they did not talk, I am impressed that he could help her without knowing much of what she needed and the situation that she was in. Finally, on her return trip, please arrange the flights with easier connection, if possible. Unfortunately there is no direct flight between Ireland and HK. Cathay Pacific has a flight going from Dublin to London Heathrow (flying on a British Airways plane) and then from London Heathrow to HK (flying on a Cathay Pacific plane). The layover in London is about 3 hours. British Airways also has flights from Dublin, via London Heathrow, to HK, but the layover is much longer (about 8 hours).
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He spoke Cantonese and English because he helped her to communicate with the help desk. I already worry about her return flight 😦
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Yay for ” Airport Man! “
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Hero we don’t deserve, but we need – quoting the great ones 😀
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Thanks God, she has made it safe in Ireland, Stopover in Heathrow Airport is nightmare especially the security check and different terminals that is killing those travel without a sense of directions which I am one of them. I will never use Heathrow Airport as it is too complicated for my simple mind.
I will share your post in the twitter and facebook now.
Have a good times with her and your family.
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I’m glad that your mom-in-law made. Thank God for people like Airport Man.
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Glad to hear she is ok but maybe a suggestion for get next flight? You can request support for elderly or disabled people. I know a lady who was escorted from the check in desk and put through a speedier security then taken to the gate. She was collected as she left the plane at her connection and sorted out her next flight and finally brought all the way to me waiting in arrivals! They had her in sitting in a wheelchair, although she wouldn’t normally but she wouldn’t be able to walk the long distances in airports. I highly recommend booking special assistance through your airline.
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If I am The Airport Man, I probably wouldn’t know you’re talking about me. Even if I suspect it is me (how many Asian moms traveling from Beijing to Ireland and got stuck in London could there be, right?), I still wouldn’t be 100% sure and would not risk identifying myself. Maybe you should post a clearer picture of Momzilla…
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I think there were not many Cantonese speaking men that night at the airport helping old Momzillas 😀 I would totally remember if I helped someone like that, calling to Ireland – besides… seeing Momzilla in her full ‘Momzillness’ is rather a punishment than a reward… for everyone 😀
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What an angel he was. I will share via social media
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thank you so much!
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That is wild. Did she take a picture with him, by chance? Perhaps I am just too much of a pessimist, but I just cannot believe someone who isn’t staff would pour so much effort into a stranger.
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My mother in law is almost 60 and she can only turn on candy crush on her phone 😀 we recently tracked him through the phone he used to call us and added him on Whatsapp. So at this point we kinda know who he is, but nevertheless – wanted him to read this 🙂
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Well, he sounds like an amazing individual. I am glad your mother managed all right. It was a good story to kick off the New Year.
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oh geez. thank goodness she is all ok and arrived safely. i can only assume she dreaded the experience so much she probably wouldn’t want to fly to ireland again.
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nah, she was actually very excited – I have no idea why, but when her son almost pissed his pants she was talking about adventure 😀
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Lol. Good to know she is a tough cookie.
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