Today is the trip home: my parents to Medan and me to Jakarta. But we all go to Medan first using Sriwijaya, then I transit using AirAsia to Jakarta.
Then we were notified that there is a technical problem with Sriwijaya’s airplane, and they predict that flight will be delayed until 1.30pm. The problem is, my AirAsia flight from Medan is at 1.30pm. I immediately complained to Sriwijaya officers in Penang airport, and asked them to contact Sriwijaya Medan. Their solution is to book me a flight to Jakarta using Sriwijaya, but I have to pay. Of course I didn’t accept it. I asked for contact number of Sriwijaya officers in Medan, and I call them my own. The Sriwijaya Medan’s officer name is Mr. Husnidar, who claimed to be the Assistant Supervisor of Sriwijaya, Medan District. He was still insisting that even though Sriwijaya is responsible for the delay, any connecting flight using other airlines is beyond Sriwijaya responsibilities. After a long and hot debate, he still didn’t change his position. He said that Sriwijaya is only responsible for my flight from Penang to Medan. So, out of my anger, I asked specifically for that responsibility: they have to find a flight for me to Medan before 1.30pm.
Eventually, I was assisted by Sriwijaya Penang, by Mr Udanis (and one of his staff, Shahril). He checked and found available seat in the next Lion Air Penang-Medan flight at 11.45am, which will arrive in Medan at 11.30am. He took care of everything. I only need to give him my Sriwijaya ticket and borrowed him my AirAsia Medan-Jakarta ticket to be copied as proof. I finally went to Medan using Lion and connect immediately to AirAsia. I also realized one thing: transiting from International flight to Domestic flight at Polonia Medan is really tiring, because I have to walk on the road because there are no connecting corridors. Thank God it’s not raining, even thought it is very hot.
After all is okay for my flight to Jakarta, I finally check Sriwijaya condition. The troubled plane is coming from Medan to Penang, so I ask local Sriwijaya officers. The plane finally took off from Medan around 12.30pm, which means, they will arrive in Penang around 2.15pm. Poor father and mother, who have to wait for 5 hours, possibly more 
I checked their status after I arrived in Jakarta. They also just arrived. Praise the Lord. I was concerned that the plane have another problem and cancel the flight. Well, it’s good that everything went okay.
I also have the first experience in Terminal 3 Cengkareng, because AirAsia (and Mandala) now use this terminal. The ambience is totally different from Terminal 1 and 2, because it uses minimalist design and without any divisions. It looks more like Changi Singapore. But there is still a lot of empty space, which I assume will be used for merchants. The problem is, Terminal 3 doesn’t have any direct link from the gate to the airplane (sorry, I don’t know the name in English), so we have to use the stairs, and will be even worse if it’s raining. In addition to that, the taxi queue doesn’t have any roof, so rain is the main enemy.
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