Champions League Football Travel
Nothing beats a Liverpool fan, for desire passion, belief and the will to travel to support their team. So it was that we embarked on one of our most ambitious projects ever, taking thousands of fans to the Champions League final in Istanbul.
Some years earlier an inspired session of brain storming had led us to fly fans from Liverpool to Cardiff to watch the FA Cup Final. Why? To avoid the horrendous traffic and chaos on the rail system that has made Cardiff such a nightmare to visit for major events.
The response was outstanding and it was only the lack of aircraft that limited this exercise to anything other than a mass exodus from Liverpool Airport. Nearly four hundred devotees boarded an elderly Tri-Star and enjoyed a "fantastic trip" to Cardiff. With a breakfast to greet them (in a private room where they could watch the match build up on the specially arranged TV's), in a central hotel and coach transfers all included, the supporters enjoyed a wonderful day out.
February 2005 heralded a string of calls, from previous travellers as Liverpool's run in the champions league extended, "we went to Cardiff with you it was great, will you be doing flights to the Champions League matches?"
After much thought and having secured aircraft at the right price and suitable for the event, we decided to have a go at the final should Liverpool get there.
Following a tense victory against Chelsea, the phone flood gates opened and so we embarked on our biggest ever travel movement, several thousand (in the end) manic supporters, hell bent on seeing what may well be remembered as the most exciting footballing spectacle ever!
Early mornings at Anfield, followed by late nights in the office, ensured that everyone flew from their selected airport, with their chosen travel partners. In the background travel arrangements were planned for the groups' arrival in Istanbul, including a visit to the famous Taksim Square, a magnet for tourists and the epicentre of the revelry that surrounded this momentous day.
Planning over, a few hours sleep and off to the airport to get the show on the road. The inevitable panic calls, air traffic control issues and excess of merriment delayed but did not thwart our plans and by late morning the majority of our passengers were on the ground in Istanbul. Greeted by a team of smiling local guides, a fleet of coaches and us, the fans were soon on their way to the city centre.
Just one plane to go, delayed by the need to adjust the seating arrangements to correct the trim (yes it is the 21st century). On the ground and with feedback from our very able ground handlers we decided to skip Taksim Square and get the fans straight to the ground. Of course we laid on beer and soft drinks to slake the thirst and get them in the mood, a move that was very much appreciated.
All present and correct at the enormous stadium and the referee got the game under way, what followed is footballing history, then it was time to round up our jubilant clients for the journey home.
Complicated by a total lack of planning on the part of the authorities, we found ourselves facing a number of challenges, the greatest of which was keeping everyone together so that we could move them quickly to embarkation when the moment arrived. All night and for much of the next day we kept a high profile around the airport aided by our guides and the willing stewards from LFC.
Persistence in the face of adversity suddenly delivered a result and protected by two armed security guards megaphone in hand, we called for passengers on Imaginations flight 3 to head to gate 2. Like the Pied Piper we led our charges to the gate and gladly waived them off in search of blighty.
Having made friends with the authorities the exercise was repeated over and again until there were just a few of us remaining. We scoured the airport, texted, phoned and made announcements for the missing few and one by one they appeared, careworn and apologising for being late. We found them seats and sent them on their way, leaving just us, a gentle giant from Leeds awoken from his slumber and one missing man in Istanbul.
We counted them all in and all but one out (to nearly coin a phrase) and boarded a flight for home. Something to quench our thirst and by way of celebration, proved a magical tonic and led to the shortest flight ever or was it just sleep deprivation. We arrived back in Liverpool to see the masses making their way to the city centre for the celebrations, with just a mere hint of a smile at the sense of a job well done.
A busy phone the following day, revealed the extent of the customer satisfaction and also reassured us that everyone was home, save for our missing passenger who had, through some freak of disorientation found his way to the wrong airport, lost his phone and forgotten who he was travelling with. All is well.. as is often said and thanks to the thousands of you who made this such a memorable trip.