“Sending Big Hugs and Prayers”: SA Woman Cries, Connecting Flight Leaves Her in Turkey, SA Reacts
- A Cape Town woman shared a devastating video of her heartbreak after her connecting flight took off from Turkey without her, leaving her in tears
- The emotional video was shared on TikTok, where it went viral, amassing a huge number of views and comments from sympathetic viewers
- Viewers were empathetic and offered a mix of advice and jokes, with many wishing to know how the flight left her behind
Source: TikTok
A University of the Western Cape Master's student who was moving to Finland captured the hearts of many viewers after sharing a devastating video of herself at the airport in Turkey, heartbroken over a flight she couldn't board.
The clip, shared by TikTok user @samantha_mampofu, quickly went viral, garnering massive views, likes, and comments from viewers who showed her sympathy and concern.
The video of the incident, which took place on August 27, 2028, starts with the woman crying as she films an Airbus pushing back from the parking bay. The flight, which was her connecting flight to a European country, had left her behind in Turkey.
She tearfully shared that she couldn't remember the last time she felt so low and was going through such emotions. She said she wished the earth would swallow her, as all her money was locked up in savings, and she now had to spend the weekend in Turkey without any cash.
PAY ATTENTION: Briefly News is now on YouTube! Check out our interviews on Briefly TV Life now!
International travel preparations
In the comment section, she explained that she was denied access to the flight due to an issue with her permit. In a follow-up video, she clarified that she had been granted a residential visa for a Master's course scholarship in Finland.
As a first-time international traveller, she was not aware that she had to arrive on or after the start date of her residential visa stipulated date. She had booked her ticket to arrive earlier, and this was the reason she was not allowed to board the flight to Finland.
Source: TikTok
How to avoid mistakes on international travel
We at Briefly News spoke with Inga Mshiywa, a former South African Airways (SAA) flight attendant, about the viral woman's video.
We noticed that many people were confused about how she was allowed to board the flight from Cape Town but not allowed to proceed to Finland.
We asked Inga to explain why the mistake wasn't picked up in Cape Town. She said:
"This is the part of the story that is not a mistake. The issue could have been picked up at Cape Town International Airport (CPT), but she was flying to Turkey first, and the check-in staff would only check for that leg. On the other side, in Turkey, they would check if she was okay to land in Finland. It's standard procedure for all international connecting flights."
The team asked if it was common for passengers to be turned away at the boarding gate. She responded:
"Oh yes! The ground staff's job is to ensure that your travel documents are valid for your final destination. If there's a problem, you will not be allowed to board. Again, if her first flight was from Turkey to Finland, the mistake would have been picked up at the check-in counter, but because she was coming from Cape Town, it could only be picked up at the boarding gate. Remember, she was already in the terminal building in Turkey because she landed from CPT, hence her visa was only checked at the boarding gate."
When asked what her advice would be for first-time international travellers. Inga responded:
"My advice is to double-check everything. Make sure that your travel dates match the dates on your visa. It's also a good idea to contact the airline a day or two before your travel to confirm everything. These small steps can save you from a lot of stress and disappointment."
South Africa shows the woman compassion
The video gained massive attention online, with many social media users sharing their sympathy for the woman's situation. Many thought she was late to board the flight, asking her to check her time on her next travel. The young lady, however, came into the comments to respond, saying she was the first person at the boarding but was turned back.
Some offered practical advice, urging her to run to the ticket desk to get a rebooking on the next available flight. Others tried to add a bit of amusement to the sad situation, jokingly saying that since she was stranded in Turkey, she might as well use the opportunity to get a BBL.
User @msnqobileq advised:
"Run to the ticket desk; they might help you rebook. How did you book your ticket? Let's cry, walking to the ticket desk. I know it’s nerve-racking."
User @Lerato Malakoane said:
"Everything happens for a reason, babes, just trust God."
User @SweetPam shared:
"It happened to me twice in Indonesia, I cried the whole airport carrying my Bible, asking God, Why has He forsaken me 😂? I remember that day like it was yesterday."
User @chelaa commented:
"This just made me scared 😰 because I have a connecting flight too 🥺."
User @Boitumelo shared:
"Don't forget to do that BBL mtase.. 😂."
User @wandile mazwi said:
"Oh my babe, I think it's one of those moments where you just trust in God's favour over you right now, when getting that visa, even finding a place to stay and every other process that follows. As much as this is such a big inconvenience, I know God has your back. Sending big hugs and prayers ❤️🫂."
Watch the TikTok videos below:
3 Briefly News articles about flights
- An Emirates flight attendant's emotional surprise visit home after 10 months away from her family touched many social media users.
- A man on a domestic flight was mesmerised by a gorgeous cabin crew member during her manual safety demonstration, and he took a video of her.
- A local woman recorded herself and passengers on a flight, excited to ride in a double-decker, but social media users warned it was impolite to record people without their permission.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
