Made any travel mistakes lately?

[RooFlyer]

Personally I think that influencers are something that the world would operate better (or just as well) without.

They can join the telephone sanitisers on the first rescue spaceship off earth (Hitchhikers reference).

 

[DC3]

Welcome to AFF @NickCave

 

[JessicaTam]

They can join the telephone sanitisers on the first rescue spaceship off earth (Hitchhikers reference).

But the trouble is wasn't that the only ship to make it?

 

[Brissy1]

But the trouble is wasn't that the only ship to make it?

Yes from memory, population wiped out from disease spread from telephone handles. Covid prediction?

 

[TheRealTMA]

But the trouble is wasn't that the only ship to make it?

Only the third Ark made it AFAIR with influencers and telephone sanitation

No woops. Golgafrinchan Ark Fleet Ship B

Off topic slightly but amusing. BBC Radio 4 - Radio 4 in Four - 42 Douglas Adams quotes to live by

 

[Flyfrequently]

Another welcome to posting @NickCave
Let's hope your next post is in a different thread!

 

[RSD]

A random thought - should one of the parties go into the election with a policy promise to ban influencers?

 

[RSD]

Have had a few interesting things happen on this China trip -

Landed at PVG and was in the Didi on the way to the hotel when I decided to look on google maps to see what food options etc were around the hotel I would staying at - and was rather horrified to see that there seemed to be no restaurants, convenience stores etc at all within walking distance of the hotel. As we got very close to the hotel I discovered that there were lots of options - including a shopping mall and an Aldi - it was about then that I remember that google maps in China was about as useless as an ashtray on a motorbike.

Second oops was when I tried to buy what I thought was roll-on deodorant - only to discover when I got back to the hotel that it was roll-on insect repellent...

Third oops involved the previously mentioned Aldi - went there to again try to get some roll-on deodorant (no luck) so went to look in the bakery etc section to see what they had and found something called "strawberry milk cake" - I picked it up to investigate further and discovered that it was actually a trifle with strawberries on top. Not having had trifle for years I had to get it, and then went looking for a spoon to buy to eat it with. Couldn't find one so asked the staff - who didn't speak English, and so pointed to the trifle and made a motion of digging into it and spooning it into my mouth. A staff member indicated that he understood and went and got something very similar to the packet that you get your cutlery in when flying in Y on Qantas and many other airlines. Gave the lad a thumbs up and said Shi Shi and left. Sat down outside on a beautiful evening to eat the trifle, ripped open the cutlery packet to discover that it only contained chopsticks! Laughed out loud and proceeded to try to eat trifle with chopsticks...

 

[VPS]

When you think you book an exit row and there is no space

 

[henrus]

For the first time in years I've broken my number one rule which is always book direct and now in the last 3 weeks I've booked a total of 11 flights (all seperate bookings - all yet to come) on a mixture of Commbank Hopper (taking advantage of the 10% cashback/no card fees), Webjet (and the recent $150 off afterpay promo) and booking.com with some cheap Jetstar trans Tasman flights (JQ wanted $200 and the OTA had it for $130).

On one flight this messing around above gave me a nervous 48 hour wait (how long the Commbank Hopper ticketing took) as I booked a VA flex fare thinking I could call after booking and upgrade using a platinum upgrade. With only one J reward seat left I've been constantly checking the VA website to see if it hadn't disappeared. Luckily this morning it ticketed and the reward seat remained so the upgrade is now mine but lesson learnt, if wanting to make immediate changes to booking best to just go direct.

 

[RSD]

Third oops involved the previously mentioned Aldi - went there to again try to get some roll-on deodorant (no luck) so went to look in the bakery etc section to see what they had and found something called "strawberry milk cake" - I picked it up to investigate further and discovered that it was actually a trifle with strawberries on top. Not having had trifle for years I had to get it, and then went looking for a spoon to buy to eat it with. Couldn't find one so asked the staff - who didn't speak English, and so pointed to the trifle and made a motion of digging into it and spooning it into my mouth. A staff member indicated that he understood and went and got something very similar to the packet that you get your cutlery in when flying in Y on Qantas and many other airlines. Gave the lad a thumbs up and said Shi Shi and left. Sat down outside on a beautiful evening to eat the trifle, ripped open the cutlery packet to discover that it only contained chopsticks! Laughed out loud and proceeded to try to eat trifle with chopsticks...

BTW I can extremely highly recommend the trifle (labelled as "milk cake") from Aldi in China - so much so that I will be selecting my hotels in China based on their distance from the nearest Aldi

 

[ComaAmes]

I was preparing esta for the US Trip I'm taking my parents on, somehow I've autofilled part of the application and messed up mums birthday. This actually proved to be the biggest hassle, wasn't able to create a new application because the passport number was listed as approved. Called up and had the typical Ameican border control customer service experience, they would only proceed with my mum on the phone but she lived in another state and they needed her to be physically present

Ended up calling another agent and did it speaker to speaker (so scuffed)

Had to fill it out again and blow another $45, what a horrendous experience

 

[Captain Halliday]

Since I use my points for travel, I count this as a travel mistake.

I had two concurrent four week Flybuys offers at Coles.

Me 4 x $60 for 10k points
Miss H 4 x $50 for 10k points.

My 10k points didn’t post and upon checking I discovered that in week 3 I swiped MissH’s card for the $60 spend and mine for the $50 spend.


Win some, lose some.

 

[RSD]

BTW I can extremely highly recommend the trifle (labelled as "milk cake") from Aldi in China - so much so that I will be selecting my hotels in China based on their distance from the nearest Aldi

Sadly it turns out that Aldi has about 40 stores in Shanghai - and none anywhere else in China!

 

[Flyfrequently]

A silly mistake noticed today

Went to do Letter of Eligibility (Westpac Platinum Mastercard) for complimentary travel insurance and do pre-existing medical assessment for our July trip.
I usually work off the last one, so conditions and answers are consistent.

In doing it today, I realised for our upcoming Vanuatu trip in April, I put 24 March instead of April, hence a 40 day trip, but was accepted.

My dilemma is : Do I call and rectify the dates?
The catastrophiser in me says "yes" as the assessment does ask - is all the information correct?
Await your considered thoughts.

 

[markis10]

Sadly it turns out that Aldi has about 40 stores in Shanghai - and none anywhere else in China!

Was going to say I have not come across Aldi, but do checkout Walmart, if only for their meal options or stupidly priced booze

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A silly mistake noticed today

Went to do Letter of Eligibility (Westpac Platinum Mastercard) for complimentary travel insurance and do pre-existing medical assessment for our July trip.
I usually work off the last one, so conditions and answers are consistent.

In doing it today, I realised for our upcoming Vanuatu trip in April, I put 24 March instead of April, hence a 40 day trip, but was accepted.

My dilemma is : Do I call and rectify the dates?
The catastrophiser in me says "yes" as the assessment does ask - is all the information correct?
Await your considered thoughts.

I made a mistake on my additional cover for my ANZ card. Rand them and they cancelled it, refunded it, and let me reapply.

Can’t hurt to give them a call, but even if you don’t, not sure of any ramifications for such a simple mistake. The mistake doesn’t appear substantial or likely material. Had it been the other way around… you stating only 10 days when you would be away 20… that would be material. You are sort of overinsured rather than under!

Although… just thinking about it… if you had to cancel your trip, they might think you’ve already gone!

 

[Flyfrequently]

I made a mistake on my additional cover for my ANZ card. Rand them and they cancelled it, refunded it, and let me reapply.

Although… just thinking about it… if you had to cancel your trip, they might think you’ve already gone!

Good to know I'm not alone @MEL_Traveller !

Have been thinking about it also whilst preparing dinner and will call them as  if per chance, need to cancel we are technically in Australia and I would imagine that could be an "out" for them.

Update: Called and was informed that as the "commencement" date (24 March) has already passed, cannot amend the dates on the policy.

I could cancel, get refund and reapply but reassured by the agent that as long as my return date remains the same, I am fully covered. He has made notes on my file and said the call is also recorded should there be an issue.

 

[clifford]

I could cancel, get refund and reapply but reassured by the agent that as long as my return date remains the same, I am fully covered. He has made notes on my file and said the call is also recorded should there be an issue.

Good luck!

 

[mel-world]

Not preloading my Wise card with some European currencies last week. Woke up this morning to see that the A$ had dropped a LOT overnight. I guess I'll just wait until I depart in the hope that things improve a bit. I might load a little now in case the fall continues.

On the bright side, I have pre-paid as much as I could over the last couple of months including most of the accommodation and train fares etc. I did get our Eurail passes last year at 20% off - looks even better now. However, I can see we might be shopping a lot at the market during this trip to save a few dollars.