last minute emergencies

[sausagefingers]

So, I have just discovered I have misplaced/lost my wallet.
I think most of us have done it, its a very painful experience of cancelling cards and getting new D/L and associated cards.

What makes it more stressful? Flying to LA on Wednesday morning for a 3 week family holiday.

The bad-
it contains 3 of my credit cards one of which I planned to use, none of which my wife has a secondary card of.
my regular savings account card and some other loyalty cards

The not so bad-
I actually keep a few cards in my phone holder including my drivers licence which will no doubt be required to book a car for 18 days.
I actually picked up 2200USD in cash on Friday from travelex and had it in my wallet up until Saturday morning when I thought WTF am I doing carrying around this kind of cash? and put it away safely at home.

I am super organised usually, I plan our holidays months in advance, I read 1000's of reviews and double and triple check everything.
now with a day left to go until I flight I right royally coughk up, and my wife is letting me know it too.

So while I totally messed up at the worst time, I am looking for the silver lining here, My Licence could have been in my wallet, and so could $2200USD in cash.

So, what were your last minute emergencies?
lost passports? wallets? lucky airplane pants?

please share and make me feel better.

 

[SuzieQ68]

Touch wood, haven't had any last minute emergencies such as the one you've listed above. Closest I've come is leaving plenty of time to arrive @ BNE domestic only to find that the traffic to the terminal was chaotic!!! Ended up running into the terminal to check in - only to be told that the flight had closed (missed it by 2 minutes). Was stressed out to the max as was flying to ADL for my Grandfather's 80th birthday celebration - that day!! Was about to call my partner back to pick me up, but tried my luck with the QF ticketing office and the very very wonderful man at the desk felt my pain, issued my boarding pass, and told me to RUN!!! He called the gate to advise I was on my way (bear in mind though I had to pass security and then bolt down to the very last QF gate - the one in the 'circle' at the end). It was insane, but I made it (last one on). On the plus side, my Grandfather was stoked I made the effort to visit him on his birthday...... Definite kudos for some of the QF team here - not all customer service agents are created equal.

Safe travels and enjoy your holiday. As long as you have your passport and some $$ to spend, you'll have a fantastic time.

 

[Tassieoptom]

Our last minute emergency happened in 2013 the morning before our delayed honeymoon trip Hobart-MEL-SIN-CDG. We were booked Jetstar for Hobart-MEL, then Singapore Airlines Melbourne to Paris with a 4ish hour stop in Melbourne. So at about 12.30am we got a text from Jetstar, luckily it woke me up and I read it, saying our flight out at 7.15am was cancelled. Not great so my wife rang Jetstar, the best they could do was waitlist us for a later flight, it would land after the Singapore flight left. This took about 45mins, so at this point I rang Virgin and explained the situation, there were 3 of us needing a seat on the 6.45am flight. The virgin phone operator was wonderful, and I was only Silver, there were 3 seats available. Better yet I could use my points, and all done in about 10 mins, before my wife was finished with Jetstar.
So we caught the Virgin flight with extra time, and no extra cost. While waiting in MEL, Jetstar rang back saying they could get us on an extra flight which would have got us to MEL in time. My wife explained that we had been left with no alternative but to travel on another carrier and were already at our destination. At this time Jetstar refunded our flights in full, and offered us three $100 vouchers as a sorry gesture.
All in all a win win situation. But I was pretty unimpressed that the only advance warning of our doom was a text at 12.30am. On a positive note, it was probably because I was on the phone to Virgin at about 1am that I could grab those 3 last minute fares.

 

[MickC32]

I lost my passport in London once, back in 1999. Trecked across town to the embassy or consulate and told the bloke at the counter what I'd done. He had obviously heard it a million times and grabbed 2 forms, told me to fill them out and I would have a new one in a week or so. I quickly told him that I was off to Oktoberfest in Munich the next afternoon. He looked around to make sure no one could hear him, lent right across the counter and said "fill them out quick and I'll have it for you in the morning, can't have you missing Oktoberfest" so I did and he did as promised!

Legend!

 

[eric2011]

Sitting in QF international, J lounge, ie thru customs and airside, discovered that my credit card company had re-issued my card and cancelled the one I had in my wallet without telling me. Approx $5000 pre-loaded onto it for use during 3 week holiday in Canada and USA. That was fun

 

[Fiches Mouser]

I lost my passport in London once, back in 1999. Trecked across town to the embassy or consulate and told the bloke at the counter what I'd done. He had obviously heard it a million times and grabbed 2 forms, told me to fill them out and I would have a new one in a week or so. I quickly told him that I was off to Oktoberfest in Munich the next afternoon. He looked around to make sure no one could hear him, lent right across the counter and said "fill them out quick and I'll have it for you in the morning, can't have you missing Oktoberfest" so I did and he did as promised!

Legend!

That's brilliant. I wonder if that's a 1999 thing, a London thing, or an Australian embassy thing.

Or just a good guy on the right day.

 

[MickC32]

That's brilliant. I wonder if that's a 1999 thing, a London thing, or an Australian embassy thing.

Or just a good guy on the right day.

All of the above I suspect! Either way I was a happy camper.

 

[JohnK]

Left passport at home flying from SYD. Realised at exit from M5 East tunnel so taxi turned around went home and back to airport. Heavy morning traffic. Expensive taxi fare. Just made flight. Think it was running late which helped.

 

[yld200]

When I was younger we took my dad and my sister to the airport for an international flight to Europe, they got to the checkin counter and the agent turned to my dad and said sorry sir you can't travel your passport has expired. Turns out he took the old passport out and left his new one behind. Me and him jumped in the car and I've never seem him drive that fast before, he made it back in time for his flight but it was a very stressful and tense experience.

Now when he travels he wants to be at the airport 3 hours in advance to make sure he has enough time up his sleeve in case anything happens.