Well - I feel like a Hilton goose

[anat0l]

Just got a call from Hilton Adelaide for a no-show stay for 2 nights on 26/09 to 28/09. Turns out that I was booking my stay for AFF #2, but I had somehow selected the wrong month, selecting September instead of November. Since 26 and 28 look so... "similar" ... when one is tired...well, you put the pieces together.

So of course I was blissfully unaware of this until I just got a call from Hilton. And silly enough was I put my CC details in the booking, so since the hold was guaranteed, I was charged - as a matter of policy and agreement - one night's rate.

My AFF handle is anat0l and I am a goose.

I suspect that part of the problem has also to do with the fact I was doing the booking on Firefox and juggling about 20 different tabs or so - some of them were other Hilton tabs looking at other rates at other times. In the cross-fire of going to multiple tabs, the information does get mixed up hither and thither due to how the information is stored in the session, IMHO. So now I'm also a wiser person in as so far as juggling multiple Hilton sessions.

Luckily one night's rate for me wasn't too big (had larger bookings before), but still a healthy amount that could be spent on one night on the town. Thank goodness for my large tax return......

Not looking for any sympathy here (although they are welcome ) or other kinds of "next step" type actions, just felt I had to vent. Although if there is some sort of AFF "Darwin" award type competition, could I please nominate?

 

[simongr]

Will you earn HHonors points on it?

 

[oz_mark]

Not looking for any sympathy here (although they are welcome ) or other kinds of "next step" type actions, just felt I had to vent. Although if there is some sort of AFF "Darwin" award type competition, could I please nominate?

I am sure you are not the only person that has booked stuff for a different time that you thought you were doing it for. All I can say is if you ever book red-eyes out of Perth, be careful with which side of midnight your flight is on

 

[anat0l]

Will you earn HHonors points on it?

Highly doubt it - isn't there some clause saying that eligible stays exclude no-shows?

 

[Platy]

Don't feel too bad, you're not alone making travel blunders!

I've been very close to booking my frequent commutes between CNS and BNE or SYD in the wrong direction (the only thing that has saved me is realising there was something odd about the flight times at the last minute!).

I've turned up at CNS airport for a flight to SYD on the wrong day (or booked the wrong day depending on your perspective) - fortunately the lovely people at QF managed to get me on the last seat on the aircraft thus saving my pride.

The most ridiculous was booking a last minute hotel room online on arrival at the BNE QC and then forgetting which hotel once in the taxi to the CBD. Of course the booking hadn't reached the hotel anyway so when I arrived at reception of the hotel I felt was most likely they denied having any record of a booking throwing me into even greater confusion. Of course a trip to the nearest Internet booth to check the confirmation email confirmed I was in the right hotel after all...:shock:

 

[DTM1]

I am sure you are not the only person that has booked stuff for a different time that you thought you were doing it for. All I can say is if you ever book red-eyes out of Perth, be careful with which side of midnight your flight is on

I once booked a red e-deal (4 x pax) for the wrong date. Fortunately, I picked it up about 30 mins later, and they happily changed it over the phone at no cost, noting I had just made the booking.

I also messed up a Wotif hotel booking once (forgetting to allow to date changes crossing the intl date line). Again, fortunately, they were able to change it for me.

 

[Maca44]

I don't think you will receive too many posts to this thread as nearly everyone can relate to it, like arriving at Auckland at 6.30pm for 1830 QF44 flight thinking "1830 is 8.30". The check-in staff were great and took me to a great advantage point to see the plane take off. Or, driving along Interstate 5 after leaving Seattle airport and thinking I had a great run with the luggage only to realise I left one bag on the carousel. After thinking about some of the stupid things I have done whilst traveling I don't think you have the goose crown yet.

 

[Evan]

Been there done that !
Also had non refundable hotel stays before but wanted to cancel before time, range or emails the hotel and asked if it was ok if i cancel without penalty, i rebooked later on different dates as it happened but some hotels let you get away with it.

Mostly i try to make booking i can cancel upto 6pm before arrival, or atleast a few days. Every time i make a fixed booking i wish i could change it for some reason or another

E

 

[QF WP]

You might make an honourable mention in the inaugural AFF Travel Blunders...hardly a Darwin award winner though....

 

[straitman]

The inaugural AFF Travel Blunders.

Now there is a thought worth persuing :!:

 

[tuapekastar]

Don't worry, there but for the grace of God etc...

Don't think I've managed to muck up a hotel/flight booking like that (but have come excruciatingly close).

What I have done is, when in hurry connecting Dom-Int at SYD for a SYD-CHC flight, left my keys in the little tray that goes on the conveyor belt thru the x-ray machine. Necessitated getting my lock 'ground' off my suitcase the next day in CHC. And only the other w/end, returning from the FT DO in CHC (what is it about CHC?) put some change in a tray thru the x-ray and left it behind (at either CHC or AKL, can't recall which). Guess I'm just not used to putting stuff in a tray!

 

[Mal]

Biggest one for me - leaving my passport and ticket at desk before the X-Ray machine in Brisbane for an Intl flight. Put it on the bench to take off my shoes, and just kept walking...

Realised pretty quickly after, turned around and then tried to work out which screening point I'd gone through!

That sorted, advised I thought I'd left my passport there, they asked for my name and returned it.

Hotel wise, I'd made 2 bookings at different Sydney hotels one night. Thought I'd cancelled (the unwanted) second one. Got a call a couple of days later, advising that I'd not turned up. Managed to get the no show fee waived.

 

[straitman]

Hotel wise, I'd made 2 bookings at different Sydney hotels one night. Thought I'd cancelled (the unwanted) second one. Got a call a couple of days later, advising that I'd not turned up. Managed to get the no show fee waived.

Must admit I did this for the FT AGM in BNE this year. Fortunately the second hotel waived the fee. :shock:

 

[serfty]

Worst I've done is left my PP in a document wallet on an aircraft. Was ¾ way to immigration before I realised.

I did a quick U turn, by the time I got back the doors were closed and no-one was around. :shock:

Explained my circumstances at immigration and told to wait. I spent ¾ hours at sitting on a seat before a customs agent appeared with the document wallet.

 

[thegurio]

Likewise for me...

Left all 3 of thegurios families passports on the quick "get off, get back on" in SIN. Needless to say after a few bevvies i was flying three sheets to the wind and had no idea until MrsGurio asked me for the passports. Add to that the fact that we were only 12 hrs iinto the holiday, it made for a lot of ribbing for the ensuing 4 weeks!

 

[possumoz]

I do it all the time
I've put in everything from wrong days right month to right date wrong year so much so that they're quite used to it now at the Brisbane Sofitel.:shock:
I've never got a flight booking wrong but I have checked in at a kiosk and wandered off without the boarding pass (well twice actually) all I can say Thank the Gods for QC (and now the new business lounges)

I know for a fact on quieter days the QC customer service folks have had a good giggle at my vagueness.

 

[savydog]

Booked award flight online around midnight. Points should have been 60000 but kept saying 68000, in the end booked it and went to bed. Next morning I realized I had selected a 7 day stay in brisbane instead of connecting flight a few hours later. Qantas lady changed booking for me and I even got my 8000 points refunded.

Got through customs in Hawaii after several in flight drinks. Heard my name on the loud speaker. I had left my travel wallet with all credit cards, cash and passport at the customs counter. All returned safely with a smile.

 

[straitman]

You guys have reminded me of several other things so I'll now have a think about what else before I post any more here.

 

[JohnK]

You are not the first and you certainly won't be the last to make mistakes when booking on the internet.

A couple of years ago I was on a 4 day trip to Adelaide and booked some cheap flights SYD-DRW with Qantas using the internet in the hotel foyer. I accidentally put the wrong dates and luckily I realised straight away and called Qantas. The lady on the phone changed the dates for me and I was lucky I did not get charged any change fees as the e-ticket had not been issued at that stage.

 

[anat0l]

Great to hear all the different tales of "Do'h!" here.

But I think I still take out the "Darwin"-esque award since I have lost the most money on my misfortune. :mrgreen: