Made any travel mistakes lately?

[k_sheep]

I have to admit I don't enjoy taxis for this very reason. I'm never really sure if I'm getting ripped off or not.
I'll aim for public transport ie trains etc first, but if not a great option then I prefer to book Qantas transfers which are a fixed price but door to door (and I may not feel like working out transport at the end of a long trip), then uber and taxi. Walking is fine too as long as luggage not too bad. More inclined to to taxi if work paying for it but not always.....

I will literally do anything to avoid taxis (as far as is practicable anyway). I KNOW they're going to rip me off, it's just a matter of magnitude. Even the "fixed price" taxi places (DPS etc) still manage to try to screw you ("oh no, that's not in nusa dua, you need to pay higher"). And the number of taxis where they take a detour to pick up a friend, do a drug deal or whatever else ... urgh. I love uber! (when public transport isn't available).

 

[cove]

Today I booked a flight to go SIN-PER before our plane lands in Singapore from London. I called the Sydney number and a lovely young gentleman fixed it in a few minutes. Well done SQ!
I am really impressed with Singapore Air.

 

[JohnK]

I am contemplating making the following mistake booking an award as I have left booking flights very late.

BKK-(3K)-SIN-(3K)-PER-(QF)-ADL-(QF)-MEL-(QF)-SYD. Leave Friday morning, arrive Saturday night. Think only 35,000 QFF points + ~AUD210.

Am I being silly? Not looking forward to 5+ hours on 3K SIN-PER.

 

[juddles]

I almost made a mistake - considered using Jetstar from MKY to BNE. But I ended up flying QF - and when I saw the Jetstar pax I knew I chose wisely

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I am contemplating making the following mistake booking an award as I have left booking flights very late.

BKK-(3K)-SIN-(3K)-PER-(QF)-ADL-(QF)-MEL-(QF)-SYD. Leave Friday morning, arrive Saturday night. Think only 35,000 QFF points + ~AUD210.

Am I being silly? Not looking forward to 5+ hours on 3K SIN-PER.

I though people only flew crazy routings like that to earn the points not to burn them! :mrgreen:

 

[JohnK]

I though people only flew crazy routings like that to earn the points not to burn them! :mrgreen:

Crazy could be a fairly accurate assumption.

I can't bear to spend 5+ hours in a 3K A320. In fact it terrifies me. I hate last minute planning. Airfares too expensive and no award flights.

 

[JohnK]

I though people only flew crazy routings like that to earn the points not to burn them! :mrgreen:

I have booked D7 flight instead KUL-SYD and in 17C bulkhead. I think I am still crazy.

 

[NZflygirl]

I think I was patting myself on the back all too soon after sorting flights and accommodation this trip. Forgot to look into train travel so I swear I'm paying a lot more than anticipated. I so need to do some reading on this stuff. Seat61 here I come!

Other mistake was I think being half asleep at the ATM after arriving from NZ origin to Europe and I thought I'd pulled out $200. Later on I was thinking "hey this is lasting a while - great!" Although the exchange rate in my head didn't really add up to the money in the purse. I checked the home NZ account and I'd pulled out $1000 NZD!:shock: I must have entered a couple more zeros on the ATM. At least I don't think I'll get through it all which is fantastic!

 

[cgichard]

Best site for checking train times and costs both within the UK and throughout Europe and between them, is loco2.com. Capitain Train has been recommended in the past as well but was recently taken over by Traveline, a change definitely for the worse. Man in Seat 61 is very good on cross-city connections, e.g. Paris.

 

[JessicaTam]

Best site for checking train times and costs both within the UK and throughout Europe and between them, is loco2.com. Capitain Train has been recommended in the past as well but was recently taken over by Traveline, a change definitely for the worse. Man in Seat 61 is very good on cross-city connections, e.g. Paris.

Perhaps better off in the train discussion thread?

 

[RooFlyer]

Thought I'd make a booking through AMEX Plat travel services, since I haven't done that before. That was my mistake.


* The rate is actually about 15% higher than the best Hilton members rate I can get for the same room by booking direct via the Hilton web site;

* If you book through AMEX web site (as I did) you don't get Hilton status benefits! (Pretty odd, since I only got my Hilton status only through AMEX!);

* That's because I booked through the web site, which is actually booked via an intermediary wholesaler; and

* If I booked via the AMEX plat travel phone line, I would have gotten my Hilton status benefits, as they then book direct with the hotel.

Lesson learned.

When I called in the first place to het my HHonors number put into the booking (and after they explained why I wasn't able to put the HHonors number into the web booking in the first place!), they offered to waive the $50 :shock: cancellation fee. I would have done that in a flash but fortunately I checked the Hilton site first, and there are no rooms left for the dates I want.

 

[Mal]

Made a booking for an airbus tour in Toulouse. The site is French only, and has a quirk where it will reset the date you select to today +3. So booked a tour for today +3, not The actual date I wanted.

Emailed them in French asking them to change it, but no response. Worst case, I'll just buy another ticket tomorrow for the right date and cop the £13 cost.

Edit. There is an English button, multitasking while at work failed me!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

You know how Vodafone $5 International Roaming allows you to seamlessly use your Vodafone plan in 50 countries? Well before you go to a totally civilised first world country like Canada just check it is covered - just cause USA covered don't' assume Canada is also - indeed it isn't - and after just 3 days usage I get these 4 messages from Vodafone - 1st 3 advising charges for 3 days usage:



And then then the message requesting urgent contact prior to account suspension:



$446 in 3 days usage charges to be precise - D'Oh I guess that qualifies as a 'Travel Mistake' huh?

 

[RooFlyer]

Yep, that qualifies. I guess I should have told you before you went, but in working in Canada a lot, I always hear how UN seamless the Canadian and US phone networks are. Different planets.

 

[Lionel Hutz]

Flying into Changi from Manila I forgot to book a room in one of the terminal hotels for my layover for the night. Thought I'd be a pretty solid chance to walk up and get a room at one of the hotels...
Nope!
Well probably one of the better airports to be stuck for the night in, haha

 

[Awesom Andy]

Yep, that qualifies. I guess I should have told you before you went, but in working in Canada a lot, I always hear how UN seamless the Canadian and US phone networks are. Different planets.

I did something similar with those data packs recently. However, I managed to stop at $50.

 

[RooFlyer]

Flying into Changi from Manila I forgot to book a room in one of the terminal hotels for my layover for the night. Thought I'd be a pretty solid chance to walk up and get a room at one of the hotels...
Nope!
Well probably one of the better airports to be stuck for the night in, haha

Welcome to AFF . Why not head over to the Introductions area and make yourself at home?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I just went and booked QF for next week and then checked "my bookings" to ensure it showed up, only to find I already had the flight booked. Same route, same time ... different PNR and different seat number. I can't even remember making it! Thank heavens for flex fare, it's now a later flight!

 

[puppysparkes]

Being new to the VA website and app, I accidentally upgraded to J for for both legs of the trip, not one.

 

[Cynicor]

Being new to the VA website and app, I accidentally upgraded to J for for both legs of the trip, not one.

I did that with a bid recently, but figured out how to undo it.