Made any travel mistakes lately?

[SYD]

Sheesh, even the aircon in the €40 hotels I stayed at near TLS airport at the beginning and end of my trip last week had working aircon!

We had an AirBnB in Madrid last week that was recently refurb space in an older building facing the lightwell. Two AC units (sitting room, kitchen) and Bedroom. We had borh set to 24°C while we were inside and off while out. Stayed nice and pleasant while it was ~40°C outside several days in a row (overnight lows mid to high 20s!). No need to set them to 15° or silly numbers I see people do.

Was a bit of shock after two weeks of very pleasant weather in Galicia and the Asturias…

 

[flydoc]

1st time departing TSV today, for SYD; brief QP visit planned.
Joined what appeared to be a likely looking short queue airside but “denied boarding” upon scanning card....had somehow mistaken Gate 6 for the lounge entrance.

 

[JohnK]

I had 7 x $50 Qantas gift vouchers that I bought in February 2020 to try and retain Platinum by May 2020. These had remained unused until 2022 when travel restarted.

Wife and daughter spent most of last year in Thailand and I went back to SYD quite a number of times last year. For some reason I used up only 5 of those vouchers. In truth Qantas one-way airfares have been and continue to be ridiculous.

These vouchers were expiring end Feb 2023 and as we don't travel back to SYD often I should have forfeited the $100. Simple. Instead I rushed at the last minute and spent another 2 x $99 and booked flights for 2nd week in August.

Wife now works casual but she pretty much works every day and I'll more than like need to forfeit both airfares so now I'll be losing $298 instead of $100.

 

[JohnK]

I didn't realise the annual multi-trip travel insurance policy I purchased last year had $0 excess.

I think I could have claimed my 6 visits to hospital in Thailand last August for antibiotic injections. From memory they were only ~$20/visit and one visit to specialist which was ~$50.

Not much but covers the cost of 1 game of golf.

 

[tdimdad]

Me too, lost a QF GV due to expiry when they were valid for 1 year only. Purchased with high hopes but then not travelled. The current 3 year validity helps though I seem to have one expiring early next year. Thanks for reminding about them...

 

[Peanutbladder]

Travelling in Q suites a few months ago, had a few drinks and fell asleep and was woken by another passenger shaking me, why ?

I had forgotten to turn the alarm off on my phone and it was merrily ringing away (probably waking the whole cabin)

 

[BCons]

Arriving early morng to Haneda, getting to our hotel near Tokyo Stn to be told the room wasnt going to be ready until the appointed hour (and it wasnt). Then realising we had 7 hrs to blow, with shops shut til noon a hot steamy Sunday morning which made outside walking a trial. Memo to self: organise early check-in or arrive later..

 

[clifford]

A couple of months ago I had a booking on BA to fly from LHR to BUD.

I knew that this flight operated from T3, but in my haste to get to the airport I travelled to T5 (isn't that where ALL BA flights depart from!!!).

When I fronted up to the First Wing with my BP, I was politely informed that I was in the wrong terminal, and had to high tail it to T3 by tube to catch my flight (which I made with a little time to spare to visit the lounge).

Just shows what you can do when flying on autopilot at 5 am!

 

[Flashback]

A couple of months ago I had a booking on BA to fly from LHR to BUD.

I knew that this flight operated from T3, but in my haste to get to the airport I travelled to T5 (isn't that where ALL BA flights depart from!!!).

When I fronted up to the First Wing with my BP, I was politely informed that I was in the wrong terminal, and had to high tail it to T3 by tube to catch my flight (which I made with a little time to spare to visit the lounge).

Just shows what you can do when flying on autopilot at 5 am!

Shame to have missed out on some decent time in the CX F lounge.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Yep a huge one - see below content of email sent this morning to General Manager of Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel:

PearI
I want to relate a story to you regarding 2 of your FABIULOUS Staff Members – Loyalty Manager Joanna Liu and Head Concierge Gary both of whom combined to save me from a disastrous situation.

I travelled to Tianjin via train on Thu morn Jul 27 – I returned to Beijing South Railway Station early afternoon Thu Jul 27. I waited in very long taxi queue for 15 minutes to get taxi and was delivered back to RBCH.

Being a foreigner i have no ability to pay taxi with Alipay or Credit Card or similar and can only pay cash.

I pulled my wallet out of my right-side cargo pocket (down side of leg) and retrieved a ¥50 note from inside – I handed the note to taxi driver and he returned ¥5 which I put back in wallet and then I thought I slipped wallet back inside cargo pocket.

In fact I had missed pocket and wallet was left on back seat as I got out of taxi with the small bag I was holding and closed door. Within 5 seconds I tapped outside of pocket to check wallet was there but it was not.

I immediately chased after taxi who was speeding away from RBCH entrance and back towards Tianli St – there were no other cars in front of him and he entered Tianli Street and drove away before I could catch him.

I had no booking for this taxi so no record – I stupidly did not collect the printout receipt from driver so no record – I was TOTALLY SCREWED I thought and would never see wallet again.

I rushed into hotel to seek assistance from Concierge Garry – I thought he may have been able to somehow assist. After asking basic questions like do you know taxi number? No. Do you have receipt? No. OK we will quickly try to look at video feed and see if we can retrieve taxi number from there.

Gary spoke to your security room and within minutes somehow Joanna was alerted to my problem and she appeared on the scene. I was really in a state of frustration and anger with my stupidity but both Joanna and Gary were very calming in the interactions with me and assured me I should relax a bit as there was an excellent chance they could track the taxi through video and retrieve my wallet (not sure they really believed that but it certainly helped) – they suggested I just go to my room and let them handle it which I did.

Within 40 minutes I got a call in my room to say taxi driver had been located and wallet intact and it would be returned to RBCH shortly – UNBELIEVABLE - WOW what a relief.

I spoke to both Joanna and Gary later about the process of identifying the taxi – basically it was like this:

• Video did not clearly show number plate of taxi or which taxi company.
• They could identify me getting out of a taxi due to my size and bright red shirt I was wearing.
• They could not make out number plate clearly – but they thought last 2 digits were 86 or 88 or 80 or 69 or something close.
• They thought they could narrow down to 2 taxi companies and called them with pickup location and drop off location and times.
• One Taxi company identified a trip that coincided with my times and locations and indeed last 2 digits of number plate were 89 – this surely was the taxi.
• They called the number provided by Taxi Company and driver was identified and YES he located my wallet still sitting on back seat of his taxi which he returned to RBCH

What a WONDERFUL piece of detective work by your 2 FABULIOUS employees – I will NEVER forget this achievement by Joanna and Gary – NEVER!

Please personally pass on congratulations and appreciation to both Joanna and Gary?

At your next General Staff Meeting I really would appreciate it if you could relate this story to your entire staff – I have always loved RBCH but the efforts of both Joanna and Gary in persisting to locate driver and retrieve my wallet is just staggering and has turned me into a LIFLONG RAVING FAN of RBCH – I will post this story wherever I can to show the degree RBCH Staff will go to assist their guests.

 

[jastel]

Hope you sent one to the Taxi Company commending their driver as well...

 

[TheRealTMA]

Yep a huge one - see below content of email sent this morning to General Manager of Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel:

PearI
I want to relate a story to you regarding 2 of your FABIULOUS Staff Members – Loyalty Manager Joanna Liu and Head Concierge Gary both of whom combined to save me from a disastrous situation.

I travelled to Tianjin via train on Thu morn Jul 27 – I returned to Beijing South Railway Station early afternoon Thu Jul 27. I waited in very long taxi queue for 15 minutes to get taxi and was delivered back to RBCH.

Being a foreigner i have no ability to pay taxi with Alipay or Credit Card or similar and can only pay cash.

I pulled my wallet out of my right-side cargo pocket (down side of leg) and retrieved a ¥50 note from inside – I handed the note to taxi driver and he returned ¥5 which I put back in wallet and then I thought I slipped wallet back inside cargo pocket.

In fact I had missed pocket and wallet was left on back seat as I got out of taxi with the small bag I was holding and closed door. Within 5 seconds I tapped outside of pocket to check wallet was there but it was not.

I immediately chased after taxi who was speeding away from RBCH entrance and back towards Tianli St – there were no other cars in front of him and he entered Tianli Street and drove away before I could catch him.

I had no booking for this taxi so no record – I stupidly did not collect the printout receipt from driver so no record – I was TOTALLY SCREWED I thought and would never see wallet again.

I rushed into hotel to seek assistance from Concierge Garry – I thought he may have been able to somehow assist. After asking basic questions like do you know taxi number? No. Do you have receipt? No. OK we will quickly try to look at video feed and see if we can retrieve taxi number from there.

Gary spoke to your security room and within minutes somehow Joanna was alerted to my problem and she appeared on the scene. I was really in a state of frustration and anger with my stupidity but both Joanna and Gary were very calming in the interactions with me and assured me I should relax a bit as there was an excellent chance they could track the taxi through video and retrieve my wallet (not sure they really believed that but it certainly helped) – they suggested I just go to my room and let them handle it which I did.

Within 40 minutes I got a call in my room to say taxi driver had been located and wallet intact and it would be returned to RBCH shortly – UNBELIEVABLE - WOW what a relief.

I spoke to both Joanna and Gary later about the process of identifying the taxi – basically it was like this:

• Video did not clearly show number plate of taxi or which taxi company.
• They could identify me getting out of a taxi due to my size and bright red shirt I was wearing.
• They could not make out number plate clearly – but they thought last 2 digits were 86 or 88 or 80 or 69 or something close.
• They thought they could narrow down to 2 taxi companies and called them with pickup location and drop off location and times.
• One Taxi company identified a trip that coincided with my times and locations and indeed last 2 digits of number plate were 89 – this surely was the taxi.
• They called the number provided by Taxi Company and driver was identified and YES he located my wallet still sitting on back seat of his taxi which he returned to RBCH

What a WONDERFUL piece of detective work by your 2 FABULIOUS employees – I will NEVER forget this achievement by Joanna and Gary – NEVER!

Please personally pass on congratulations and appreciation to both Joanna and Gary?

At your next General Staff Meeting I really would appreciate it if you could relate this story to your entire staff – I have always loved RBCH but the efforts of both Joanna and Gary in persisting to locate driver and retrieve my wallet is just staggering and has turned me into a LIFLONG RAVING FAN of RBCH – I will post this story wherever I can to show the degree RBCH Staff will go to assist their guests.

Have you sent a box of TimTams to the driver?

 

[Cossie]

Booked J class fares to Cairns from Canberra return to get the boss over the line for WP.
Was certain I clicked the DSC option, but double points appeared on her activity statement.
Called Q loyalty and explained the situation, no problem they will fix it.
A call short time later said this was unable to be done.
No biggy given that we both received emails stating we would be keeping WP status for next year, but they would have been handy for LTG.
Just annoyed that I forgot to check.

Obviously just a first world problem and in the overall scheme of things our lives continue to trundle merrily along……..

Whilst I think of it, in Croatia in May, I left my travel wallet containing both passports, $500 in US cash, about the same in Aus dollars and Euros and the usual other stuff on the roof of our rental car out the front of the Hotel Park in Markaska.
You know the sick feeling when you realise you have done something stupid like that?

Fortunately it was handed into the front desk, needless to say I left a considerable amount for their tip/drinks box.
There are some good people in the world!

 

[Flashback]

Planned out my itinerary as I always do for Cambodia, ran Mrs FB through it and got the seal of approval. Then proceeded to start booking... did the first hotel as August not September. Oops. Of course it was the only booking out of the lot that was nonrefundable.

Contacted Hotels.com, who contacted the hotel, said they couldn't see it yet (booked 10 minutes prior). Left it with them. I emailed the hotel separately and they said no issues to change to the correct date but H.com needs to do. H.com replies overnight saying hotel said no. Errrrr... right, not what they told me

I then copied them in to the single email thread and magically, booking then changed. Was only £30 a night for a few nights, but at least it got sorted in the end.

That's the problem when you map it all out and then go back to book, in another browser (with no adblocker) so you can go via a cashback site. Thought it was still on Sep from the previous searches but nope, back on August.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Hope you sent one to the Taxi Company commending their driver as well...

Have you sent a box of TimTams to the driver?

Driver got 200RMB in his hand - as did Joanna and Gary

 

[Austman]

From:

Philippine Airlines review. Business Class. SIN-MNL-MEL

I couldn’t find too many reviews about Philippine Airlines (PR), so here is mine. There are some very good fares around for business class to/from Australia. My itinerary, SIN-MNL-MEL, in business class, priced at about $A1,200 on some days: —————————————————-— —————————————————— I paid more...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Big problem #2.

That ends my photos of this trip because soon after take off a minor disaster struck!

Along with just about everyone else, I was holding my iPhone during take-off. There wasn't really any seat pocket to put it in. I momentarily placed it on my lap just as the plane hit a few bumps. I heard my phone hit the carpeted floor. When the seat belt sign was extinguished 5 or 10 minutes later, I went to pick up my phone. But it was nowhere to be seen!

I informed the crew although I was pretty sure it had not gone into the seat mechanics. They took the seat apart anyway and used a torch but my phone was still nowhere to be seen. They said recovery would have to wait until we landed in Melbourne.

I found the seat, in bed mode, to be quite comfortable and slept for most of the flight.

Shortly before landing, the CSM told me that a mechanic/engineer would come on board to find my phone. So I stayed put while all the other pax left the plane. The mechanic did find my phone - it was on the floor under my seat but couldn't be reached. He said he'd have to make something that could fish it out. I was asked to wait in the terminal near the arrival door. About 20 minutes later I was delivered my phone!

Phew!

 

[JohnK]

This Friday

BNE-SYD QF 18:10-19:35
SYD-BNE VA 21:30-23:00

What do you mean there's a chance something will go wrong?

 

[Warks]

I was booking a flight on Virgin recently and the travel dates page opens with August and September. I put in my departure date in Sept and must have looked away for a moment. Then I clicked my return date what I thought was three days later. Then I checked and saw it was a month later! I realised when I'd clicked on September that month jumped to the left hand side of the screen and I'd clicked on October thinking it was still showing September on the right hand side. A lucky miss I thought (and what a dumb system)...

A couple of days later I was looking at an upcoming booking when I suddenly spotted I had a flight leaving in August and returning in September! I'd made this mistake already and hadn't noticed it at all. Odd as I usually pay close attention to these details. Thankfully I hadn't booked the cheapest ticket (for a change) so was able to change it without a fee. Trap for dumb players I guess.

 

[Flashback]

I was booking a flight on Virgin recently and the travel dates page opens with August and September. I put in my departure date in Sept and must have looked away for a moment. Then I clicked my return date what I thought was three days later. Then I checked and saw it was a month later! I realised when I'd clicked on September that month jumped to the left hand side of the screen and I'd clicked on October thinking it was still showing September on the right hand side. A lucky miss I thought (and what a dumb system)...

A couple of days later I was looking at an upcoming booking when I suddenly spotted I had a flight leaving in August and returning in September! I'd made this mistake already and hadn't noticed it at all. Odd as I usually pay close attention to these details. Thankfully I hadn't booked the cheapest ticket (for a change) so was able to change it without a fee. Trap for dumb players I guess.

It happens more often than you think and largely due to rubbish UI on the websites.

 

[Seat0B]

It happens more often than you think and largely due to rubbish UI on the websites.

I’ve had a similar experience using the Accor ALL web site. Booked 5 nights non-refundable in Tokyo for January dates when it should have been February dates. No idea exactly how it happened but their booking site is NOT user friendly. Found out about it when they asked me to rate my stay-that I hadn’t taken. I thought it was pretty sharp practice that they never contacted me after no show to give a chance of sorting the mix up out.

Then had to scramble last minute for Feb accommodation- but I got a great new hotel from it and have never stayed Accor in Tokyo again.