[KubeCon Day 1] I tried to attend KubeCon North America from the very first day! ...but I couldn't.
This is Taniguchi from the Service Reliability Group (SRG) of the Media Division.
#SRGThe Service Reliability Group primarily provides comprehensive support for the infrastructure surrounding our media services, focusing on improving existing services, launching new ones, and contributing to open-source software (OSS).
This article is about my experience of being unable to attend KubeCon from the first day due to some technical difficulties.
I plan to post articles with updates throughout KubeCon, so please check them out.
KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America 2024Departure date from Japan, at Haneda AirportPlane grounded due to equipment malfunctionTrying again on a rescheduled flight...
KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America 2024
At the open source and cloud-native community conference event,
It will be held in Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah in the United States.
The event will be held from November 12th to 15th local time.
This time, two members from SRG, Ishikawa and Taninari, will be participating in person.
Departure date from Japan, at Haneda Airport
November 10, 2024 (Japan time) was the day I was scheduled to depart from Japan.
Haneda Airport can get crowded, with long wait times at baggage drop-off and boarding gates, so we planned to meet up with the other members at the airport three hours in advance.
Upon arriving at the airport, I exchanged about 20,000 yen for use in the US (it seems like a good idea to exchange small amounts of money before going to the US so you can use it for tips, etc.), and then checked in my luggage.
Face ExpressFace ExpressFaceExpressAfter going through security, I had some time before boarding my flight, so I used the SKY LOUNGE.
There were power outlets available so I could charge my PC and smartphone, and I could enjoy free drinks while watching planes arrive and depart, so I was able to spend my time comfortably.
I received information that boarding procedures had begun, so I headed to the departure gate.
Boarding was divided into Zones 1 through 8, and I was assigned to Zone 7.
When it was my turn and I lined up, an attendant checked my passport and boarding pass, and I was able to board the plane without any problems.
Plane grounded due to equipment malfunction
After taking my seat, I dozed off while watching a movie without English subtitles on the airplane's monitor.
There was an announcement that it was taking some time to check for defects.
After a little while,
"We need to order parts from Atlanta to fix the malfunction, so it's unlikely we can fly today."」
An announcement was made that day.
Since the plane was unable to fly, they announced that passengers should check the app or ask the tour guide upon disembarking for information about alternative flights.
Also, an announcement was made stating that immigration was crowded and passengers should wait on the bus for about an hour.
About two hours after boarding the plane, it seemed like everything was ready, and a bus arrived, allowing us to disembark safely.
I got off the plane, went through the special lane, went through immigration, and picked up my checked bag.
As we were picking up our bags and leaving, there was someone explaining hotel arrangements and other things for people who couldn't return home that day, and there was a crowd of people gathered there, so it took quite a long time to get through.
We wanted to confirm if it was possible to make a transfer on the same day, so we told them that.
I was told that it couldn't be done there and that I needed to exit and go to the counter on the 3rd floor to complete the procedure.
There were quite a few people at the counter on the 3rd floor, so I lined up and inquired about any earlier flights, but it seemed that the alternative flight offered by the same airline was the fastest option.
I had a lot of luggage, so I would have preferred to stay at a nearby hotel, but it seems all the hotels the airline could arrange were fully booked.
They said that they would cover the expenses up to a certain amount, and that I should arrange and pay for the hotel myself.
We each booked a nearby hotel, had dinner together, and then parted ways.
Trying again on a rescheduled flight...
Since international flights can be prone to various problems, I think it's best to plan ahead and arrive the day before if you have important appointments such as speaking engagements or sessions you really want to attend.
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