Made any travel mistakes lately?

[djkelly69]

BKK restricting liquids

My wife has had this as well - bought water/deodorant/etc post-security, only to then have it confiscated at the additional security point at the gate.

 

[Cossie]

Similar story here - a large bottle of OP rum which I picked up on the way over to LA. Didn't drink or even open it while there, and then didn't even think about it when going home and put it in my carry-on for 'safe keeping'.

Didn't try to argue the toss with LAX staff, but did notice it went into a filing drawer off to the side a bit rather than the bins right in front of them with everything else. Must have been a fun Xmas party at LAX that year!

Sure I read on here a few years of a poster insisting on watching his bottles of very expensive wine being poured down the sink so it couldn't be kept by the staff. Fairly sure it was a domestic flight.

 

[drron]

My one problem was in Barbados returning from the Cricket world cup in 2007. My son and I both bought 2 bottles of good Barbadian rum at the Duty Free pre security. The bottles were going to be confiscated. Fortunately there was an AA staffer standing nearby I suspect because this wasn't an unusual problem. She took one of our BPs and checked the bottles in. Surprisingly although only were packed in cardboard gift boxes wrapped in plastic all arrived in MIA intact.

 

[jpp42]

Sure I read on here a few years of a poster insisting on watching his bottles of very expensive wine being poured down the sink so it couldn't be kept by the staff. Fairly sure it was a domestic flight.

I once brought a bottle of wine (not terribly expensive) into SYD International by mistake, and there was no option to do anything with it except throw it out, since they wouldn't let you go back through immigration in order to exit the terminal and do something with the wine. However, I was in this case totally happy for the staff to take it, so at least someone would enjoy it. We even went to the supervisor to make sure they knew I was fine with it. The supervisor insisted it wasn't possible and ensured it was placed in the bin. I don't know if they went bin-diving later, hopefully they did and enjoyed it!

 

[Seat0B]

but BKK restricting liquids in carry on ex-Thailand.

In December 2019, the gate staff at BKK were trying to restrict a young mum from taking bottled baby food on board. I thought baby items were exempt from the liquids rules, but I did not intervene as I was worried about blow back. I feel a bit ashamed of myself now - the poor young woman was very distraught, the baby was crying. I don't know how it ended up, but it certainly soured my view of Thailand as a destination.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I'd be extremely disappointed if not given the opportunity to go back out and check in the item.

I'd forgotten a fork in my carry-on many years ago at BNE domestic. I went back to VA check-in and checked it in one of those big plastic bags. The sentimental value is much higher than monetary value.

Also a number of years ago left 2 bottles of alcohol in carry on at ATH airport going to SKG thinking we were doing Australian domestic. There was no way I was giving them 2 free bottles of alcohol and after some argument allowed to go back and check them in.

Ah, the carrying alcohol domestically and then going through an International story...........happened to me once in JNB; they convinced me that if I checked, a bottle of Whiskey in it would arrive............I went along with it for novelty value. We 'made it safe' for travel, and I saw it go down the belt to the super safe JNB baggage system...................never to see it again.

My ability to delusionally fantasise was fully restored.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Just booked SQ SIN-BNE.

Knowing the wider J seats are only on the overnight flight, that's what I booked.

Except, the wider seats are only on the overnight flight TO Singapore.

Oh well, the regional config will still be better than every seat aft of row 22, so I won't complain.

 

[boomy]

Just booked SQ SIN-BNE.

Knowing the wider J seats are only on the overnight flight, that's what I booked.

Except, the wider seats are only on the overnight flight TO Singapore.

Oh well, the regional config will still be better than every seat aft of row 22, so I won't complain.

Was good when SQ used to allow seat selection prior to finalising the booking, could avoid this mistake.

When did you notice? Maybe try to call SQ and change to daytime on Int config (assuming there’s seats available).

 

[Captain Halliday]

Was good when SQ used to allow seat selection prior to finalising the booking, could avoid this mistake.

When did you notice? Maybe try to call SQ and change to daytime on Int config (assuming there’s seats available).

Noticed almost immediately after booking. But being a redemption for 3PAX it might be tough.

I have waitlist in for the three days after this one, so fingers crossed one of them comes up.

 

[RAM]

Never rely on the 'new tech' communication.

Booked SQ to/from MUC last June. Some months later get a 'change' from SQ - replacing SQ operated MUC SIN with Lufthansa.

As Gold VFF with SQ you get an extra 13 kg checked baggage allowance. Had not planned on using it though. Then 'request' comes for ski boots & helmet to be brought back. Hello 13 kgs.

But can we still get extra 13kg on codeshare flight?

Go to SQ website, cannot email them. Can only chat. 1st go - waiting in queue to speak with CSA for an hour & then disconnected. Not that SQ make it easy to get in that queue. In fact they to make it impossible, no option to chat with a person just their self-titled 'learning AI assistant'.

BUT if after getting several responses you then get asked if you want to complete a survey, sure do! Then give the worst rating, 'Completely dissatisifed' & hey presto SQ still employ humans and do you want to speak via chat with one. Yes, welcome to the queue.

Seems SQ have adopted the Q method - set up a system that does not work.

Tried queuing 11 times over three days. Every time after one hour on the queue it says sorry and you're back to the AI. Tried this from 6am German time to 11 pm German time but same result.

So much for SQ's service on the ground.

 

[Vivien]

I can't believe what I've just done - applied for a NZ eTA for Mr LL (who is an Australian PR /not citizen) - Jumped online and clicked on apply-newzealndtours.com without noticing - entered all the info and when asked to pay it did not show the amount which I thought was odd but knew the amount was about $NZ20. Checked my VISA card account today and saw I was charged $160 - I felt sick for being so stupid. A (seemingly) valid eTA was sent by e-mail.

I plan to call my bank and see if they will do a chargeback but I doubt it very much and I will raise a serious complaint with the NZ government - they need to shut these scam sites down.

I did the same when applying for a Canadian visa, I didn't notice (like you) until the charge came up! instead of $7 (at that time) it cost me $180!! These scam sites are so similar to the legitimate sites, they must fool a lot of people.

 

[drron]

Just booked SQ SIN-BNE.

Knowing the wider J seats are only on the overnight flight, that's what I booked.

Except, the wider seats are only on the overnight flight TO Singapore.

Oh well, the regional config will still be better than every seat aft of row 22, so I won't complain.

The O/N flight BNE-SIN means it is the Day time flight SIN-BNE which is the incoming flight. Now this is the flight we always select. basically it is a 50/50 split of R and L that we get on this flight.

 

[Captain Halliday]

The O/N flight BNE-SIN means it is the Day time flight SIN-BNE which is the incoming flight. Now this is the flight we always select. basically it is a 50/50 split of R and L that we get on this flight.

Seat map currently showing regional, but I won’t give up home just yet… it’s still 11 months away.

 

[ADFlyMore]

I did the same when applying for a Canadian visa, I didn't notice (like you) until the charge came up! instead of $7 (at that time) it cost me $180!! These scam sites are so similar to the legitimate sites, they must fool a lot of people.

It happens so often. I'm part of a Hawaii Australia travellers group on facebook and without a doubt each week someone either puts up they got charged hundreds of dollars for their ESTA or asking what the correct site is.

 

[drron]

Seat map currently showing regional, but I won’t give up home just yet… it’s still 11 months away.

In August 2022 we flew BNE -SIN on the 0920 flight. For some reason we checked in on line and it was the regional but 24 hours later we boarded the long haul version. Not unusual though on the BNE flights.

 

[JohnK]

Booked very last minute flights last night for wife to travel to Chiang Mai tomorrow.

Rushed a little trying to keep airfare down and didn't think too much about connections for her travelling without me.

- SYD T3 to T1 from QF to TR (this should be OK collect luggage and use T-Bus)
- SIN T1 to T4 from TR to FD (this is a worry as will need to collect luggage at 3:00am and transfer to T4 for 3:00pm flight)

There are really not that many options and most are low cost carriers. Hindsight says I should have booked SQ-TR but that was quite expensive one-way or MH with overnight in BKK or QF with overnight in BKK.

Wife has travelled quite a lot but not much without me. Hope all goes well. Should be much easier for return as more than likely will use Eva Air as connections and price look OK.

 

[Brissy1]

Booked very last minute flights last night for wife to travel to Chiang Mai tomorrow.

Rushed a little trying to keep airfare down and didn't think too much about connections for her travelling without me.

- SYD T3 to T1 from QF to TR (this should be OK collect luggage and use T-Bus)
- SIN T1 to T4 from TR to FD (this is a worry as will need to collect luggage at 3:00am and transfer to T4 for 3:00pm flight)

There are really not that many options and most are low cost carriers. Hindsight says I should have booked SQ-TR but that was quite expensive one-way or MH with overnight in BKK or QF with overnight in BKK.

Wife has travelled quite a lot but not much without me. Hope all goes well. Should be much easier for return as more than likely will use Eva Air as connections and price look OK.

Unfortunately I found family don't learn much by just tagging along with you. So I would get my daughter when she was younger to do some leading. She saved us from missing a flight in sfo when we went to sleep in the UA lounge enroute jfk to syd!

Interested in your flights to Chiang mai, as my brother and I have just decided to go to cnx for another motor bike riding holiday, but not until late in the year to get the best weather. Silly prices atm but presumably better later, hadn't thought of Eva Air, thanks.

 

[JohnK]

Interested in your flights to Chiang mai, as my brother and I have just decided to go to cnx for another motor bike riding holiday, but not until late in the year to get the best weather. Silly prices atm but presumably better later, hadn't thought of Eva Air, thanks.

Just before Christmas I booked SYD-SIN-BKK//CNX-SIN-BNE for just on $4000 for 3 of us. BNE-SYD on VA was another $460.

I was looking at June school holidays and airfares were really silly. I guess that is the European demand in play there so have decided to go September school holidays instead. At the moment somewhere between $1000-$1200 each but not ready to book.

Eva just getting back into flying so they have some reasonable airfares.

 

[JohnK]

Sometimes things don't work out as you'd hope.

Booked last minute flights and we've ended up 8 hours short. Stupid connections. Stupid airfare pricing. Sad.

 

[Rich]

I did the same when applying for a Canadian visa, I didn't notice (like you) until the charge came up! instead of $7 (at that time) it cost me $180!! These scam sites are so similar to the legitimate sites, they must fool a lot of people.

It's also happened to me. I applied for a US ESTA from what looked like a part of the QF website, but was probably an ad via Google. Fortunately I realised after 1 of 5 applications and it was only about $30 overpriced.