Made any travel mistakes lately?

[cove]

Two in our family booked about 10 days ahead to have flights to Melbourne for the AFL finals but our team was eliminated. We learnt how to cancel points flights and it was easy.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Two in our family booked about 10 days ahead to have flights to Melbourne for the AFL finals but our team was eliminated. We learnt how to cancel points flights and it was easy.

Worth the gamble, I would say.

 

[Bolthead]

My father is coming with us to visit our son in Shanghai in November. (SYD-PVG) I made the booking and about 5 minutes after completing it forgot that I should have put the domestic flights on the same PNR. (OOL-SYD) I quickly rang up QF customer service and the lady added the flight without charging me a change fee. In the scheme of things it didn't really matter as the domestic flights are not connecting on the same days as the internationals. It just makes the domestic leg a little bit cheaper by having it on the same PNR.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My father is coming with us to visit our son in Shanghai in November. (SYD-PVG) I made the booking and about 5 minutes after completing it forgot that I should have put the domestic flights on the same PNR. (OOL-SYD) I quickly rang up QF customer service and the lady added the flight without charging me a change fee. In the scheme of things it didn't really matter as the domestic flights are not connecting on the same days as the internationals. It just makes the domestic leg a little bit cheaper by having it on the same PNR.

part of the 'book with confidence' guarantee offered by QF.

Unfortunately it doesn't apply for other costs fees and charges such as credit card fines which they exclude from their price promise.

 

[Hvr]

There are two airports in Chicago, ORD and MDW. When travelling there recently I booked airport hotels near MDW. Wasn't till later I realised that I was flying in and out of ORD. Fortunately I was able to cancel the bookings and rebook at the correct airport.

Could've been nasty if I hadn't picked that up.

 

[Happy Trails]

Boarding a CX B777 at BKK I plonked myself down in 1A.
I was just thinking the seat was somewhat more commodious than expected when the FA tactfully pointed out I was in the wrong cabin; should've been in in 11A.
It was all CX's fault for continually swapping aircraft types - well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[JohnK]

Paid 400 baht fixed price for a taxi in Bangkok a few days ago going from Holiday Inn Express Sathorn to airport.

My fiancee wasn't feeling well and I just wanted to get airport. I am finding it harder to find taxis willing to turn on the meter.

 

[vitagen]

John when i was last in BKK out of 10 taxi rides i only had 1 turn on the meter...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Paid 400 baht fixed price for a taxi in Bangkok a few days ago going from Holiday Inn Express Sathorn to airport.

My fiancee wasn't feeling well and I just wanted to get airport. I am finding it harder to find taxis willing to turn on the meter.

that's high but not obscene if it included tolls. Without tolls that's almost double the normal fare!

John when i was last in BKK out of 10 taxi rides i only had 1 turn on the meter...

Can be hit and miss, I always ask for 'meter' before getting in a taxi. My success rate is 10/10. Although it can take a few minutes longer if waiting at a popular spot such as Silom or Sukhumvit road.

 

[Denali]

Allowing my husband to sit in J was a mistake. Last night he had a nightmare, woke me up with his yelling... apparently he dreamt that on a NZ flight he was booted to Y and his seat was given to someone with a baby. He was most offended about the baby bit.

Me: Really? Your worst nightmare is being downgraded to economy?
Him: They. Put. A. BABY. In my seat!

Other mistake was taking a taxi from Auckland Airport to Auckland city. I thought it would be about $40, ended up being $90 each way. Later found out there was some sort of "discount taxi service" that is a $35 one way fare. Oh well. The taxi driver thought he hit the jackpot because he drove us to the city for a 30min meeting, waited and then drove us back to the airport so return fare win for him.

 

[blackcat20]

Putting my mum in the window seat in J was a mistake, when she decided 5 hours out of Melbourne was the time to prepare for landing. Being kicked every time she climbed in and out meant I was a lot less rested than I had anticipated.

 

[JohnK]

John when i was last in BKK out of 10 taxi rides i only had 1 turn on the meter...

Oh and the taxi driver the night before picked us up in Pattaya and said you are going to Holiday Inn Express Sathorn. Yes.

Dropped us off at Holiday Inn Siam which I have been to before but the new McDonalds there threw me off. Called the person I booked with but that driver had another pick up in Sukhumvit. Got a meter taxi who again wanted fixed price 150 baht to go from Siam to Sathorn.

 

[Hvr]

that's high but not obscene if it included tolls. Without tolls that's almost double the normal fare!



Can be hit and miss, I always ask for 'meter' before getting in a taxi. My success rate is 10/10. Although it can take a few minutes longer if waiting at a popular spot such as Silom or Sukhumvit road.

If getting a taxi from the hotel I always get the staff to tell the driver to use the meter. Rarely bother using a taxi around BKK due to the traffic but if I do I usually have a good idea where I'm going and can give directions well enough for the driver to know it's not my first time there.

 

[Rebekkap]

I managed to accidentally book Jetstar MEL-SYD return from/to Avalon instead of Tullamarine. Expensive mistake - should have just booked Qantas to start with.

I blame Jetstar for not having prominent flashing enormous multi-coloured warnings on their website that your flight is from Avalon.

 

[dajop]

If getting a taxi from the hotel I always get the staff to tell the driver to use the meter. Rarely bother using a taxi around BKK due to the traffic but if I do I usually have a good idea where I'm going and can give directions well enough for the driver to know it's not my first time there.

I find that outside hotels (unless asking staff) or in main touristy areas very difficult to get them to turn on the meter. In areas where tourists are less prominent I have no problems. Also it can vary by hotel, at the le meridian never had a problem getting them to turn on the meter. At the aloft never had success getting them to turn on the meter.

 

[JohnK]

that's high but not obscene if it included tolls. Without tolls that's almost double the normal fare!

Can be hit and miss, I always ask for 'meter' before getting in a taxi. My success rate is 10/10. Although it can take a few minutes longer if waiting at a popular spot such as Silom or Sukhumvit road.

The 400 baht included the 75 baht tolls but it is more the principal of the matter.

My fiancee was upset I agreed to fixed fare.

Taxis are worse in Chiang Mai. No such thing as a meter. Need to bargain especially on longer trips such as going to golf courses outside Chiang Mai.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Probably just avoided one here. At the Weld Quay Terminal in PEN asking for a taxi for a short 2km trip. Was quoted "4 dollars". Demanded to check what currency they were talking about, then they said 15 ringlets. Was a little enraged at such a ridiculous price, and once they realised they couldn't rip me off, they all walked off.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Probably just avoided one here. At the Weld Quay Terminal in PEN asking for a taxi for a short 2km trip. Was quoted "4 dollars". Demanded to check what currency they were talking about, then they said 15 ringlets. Was a little enraged at such a ridiculous price, and once they realised they couldn't rip me off, they all walked off.

what's the standard price, and if they all left, how did you get there?

 

[kpc]

Probably just avoided one here. At the Weld Quay Terminal in PEN asking for a taxi for a short 2km trip. Was quoted "4 dollars". Demanded to check what currency they were talking about, then they said 15 ringlets. Was a little enraged at such a ridiculous price, and once they realised they couldn't rip me off, they all walked off.

Taxis in Penang (like alot of places) are a scam...they charge you what they think they can get away with...no such thing as using the meter!

 

[ChasingDaylight]

Travelling DRW-BNE-AKL a few months ago. First time going via BNE for intl. flights as I usually use SYD or MEL. Almost missed the plane because I'd completely forgotten I was going via BNE (brain in neutral) and almost didn't end up boarding until I was paged. Ooops.