My sad, self-destructive day...

[shbap]

Just wanted to share the troubles I have put myself through today. Hopefully it makes you laugh as you shake your head at my stupidity!

I was booked on a QF flight from SYD to PER this morning, departing at 6.30AM. I conveniently slept through my multiple alarms so it became a No Show! What made it worse was that I requested a business class upgrade using my FF points which was awarded.
From what I have been told so far, points are going along with the fare of course!

Re-booked on the 1.45PM flight later today, got stuck in traffic so I reach the airport @ 1.11PM, made it to the booth only to be told by the machine that I need to speak to a cust service rep. Found one a few minutes later (it was past 1.15PM) but they were busy with another passenger. Got "told off" for not coming to them in the first instance (in my defence I practically did and the few optimistic minutes spent at the check-in machine didn't really make a difference because they were busy with other passengers anyway)!!
Without much other discussion, I was put on to the next flight to Perth...departing at 2hrs 45mins later!

The 1.45PM was delayed and finally departed at 2.15PM. Felt like a classic "salt in the (self-inflicted) wound"! Enquired about an upgrade on the new flight, nothing doing there either.

So here I am, sitting in the food court area writing this and feeling like a complete idiot! Nice start to my holidays...

And I just realised that my charger cables are in my checked bag (don't ask why!!)...sigh

 

[cmon0005]

These things happen and happen even to the most frequent /experienced travellers out there..

My advice is to forget about today and enjoy your holiday!

 

[harvyk]

Yeah, I'm with cmon0005, as much as we like to prepare, there is nothing you can do if you sleep through the alarm, and it could happen to the best of us...
The coughpy start to the holiday will one day make a good story to tell around the dinner party table...

 

[GladstoneTim]

Shbap, these things happen. Don't sweat the small stuff. Did QF just transfer you without additional cost, apart from the upgrade loss?

 

[shbap]

Holiday can only get better from here

Besides I got to spend more time at an airport watching planes. Can't complain there...

GladstoneTim, the initial flight was a total loss because it was after departure. The change was free of charge (offered by staff because they said it was right on the 30min threshold) but the fare was a FlexiSaver but no change fee charged.

With the check in cut-off, I've found Qantas a lot stricter than virgin (happened once to me on virgin when the queue at Sydney T2 was massive). I wonder how many people are impacted by this given the traffic issues at Sydney domestic.

 

[RooFlyer]

It appears to me that the tragedy here is that you apparently don't have lounge access, and hence are unable to drink your way through the pain and also QF's Top Shelf while waiting.

 

[ashleyn]

These things happen and happen even to the most frequent /experienced travellers out there..

My advice is to forget about today and enjoy your holiday!

I disagree with the first sentence (agree with the second). If you want something positive to take from the situation, make some changes so it doesn't happen again. In situations where the alarm is critical, I put it out of reach so I have to get up to turn it off, works every time.

 

[markis10]

Check the Pc area for a charger station.

 

[JohnK]

These things happen to the best of us. Many times I have left it until the last minute only to make it on time and then have to wait thanks to a delay.

Laugh it off and not worry about it. But if nothing good happens on your holiday then worry about what happened.

 

[Limewood]

I understand the OP, that's another reason why I like to have my good woman with me, she gets to the lounge long before flights and int. fills out the forms for me to read and sign, its like having a travel agent with me .

 

[shbap]

It appears to me that the tragedy here is that you apparently don't have lounge access, and hence are unable to drink your way through the pain and also QF's Top Shelf while waiting.

Exactly! Tho that may have resulted in missing the flight for other reasons...

 

[albatross710]

Just wanted to share the troubles I have put myself through today. Hopefully it makes you laugh as you shake your head at my stupidity!

Is it early in your travelling career?

Airlines simply do not make it enjoyable for self-inflicted no shows which then encourages people to get there on time.

I too have slept through an alarm but was caused by going to bed late in the first place.

Have a great holiday and a great Christmas.

Cheers

 

[legroom]

While sad and disappointing, it will help you in the future.

Better planning, prep for contingencies (plural) to avoid pain: that's how human evolves over the millennia.

Once I was caught in LA traffic, arriving at LAX with some 30-40 min to spare for a domestic flight to SFO, "sorry, Sir but bag check in is now closed. You could board but not your bag !"

Now I would build in a more substantial buffer for whatever contingencies I could think of: flat tyre, traffic .....

 

[Simo]

Bad start but at least it was not a total loss of a fare.

 

[GladstoneTim]

Bad start but at least it was not a total loss of a fare.

I am confused. Was the original fare forfeited or not?

 

[shbap]

I am confused. Was the original fare forfeited or not?

Original fare was totally forfeited.

 

[shbap]

Is it early in your travelling career?

I'd say it's pretty early days in my travelling career but I have traveled enough to know that I need to factor in buffer time for the unexpected. Complacency does kick in tho when I'm heading to the home airport via known roads etc.

On that note, would be good to get a view from members regarding this, ie how much additional time do you allow for typically? Domestic/International with checked bags vs Dom/Int without checked bags? Does it vary by carrier?

 

[JohnK]

On that note, would be good to get a view from members regarding this, ie how much additional time do you allow for typically? Domestic/International with checked bags vs Dom/Int without checked bags? Does it vary by carrier?

I try to arrive at domestic ~60 minutes before departure as I almost always have a bag to check in. Getting to places such as OOL from BNE then I try to be there ~90 minutes before departure just in case there are train delays along the way.

For Australian international I try and arrive ~90 minutes before departure. If I am overseas I try to do the same but if I am leaving Pattaya for BKK airport then I try to leave plenty of time and arrive anywhere from ~120-180 minutes before departure.

I have had a lot of close calls. Some I would not want repeated. It is stressful, painful, putting yourself in that situation but at the end of the day you laugh about it and chalk it down as a good lesson to learn.

 

[docjames]

Domestic : aiming to be getting out of car/train/taxi ~60min before departure with usually a 15min buffer for "transport issues" so often I actually end up 75mins prior to departure.

International : 90mins with a slightly larger buffer for transport issues / at foreign/unfamiliar airports

The "buffer" allows for "common" delays, the target time gives a bit for for other delays (airport/security/checkin problems, can also help if there is a major transport issue) - has saved me a couple of times.

Arguably I leave too big a margin but
a) I hate being rushed when I travel
b) I enjoy staring out the lounge window at the airport if I'm early, having a nibble/drink without feeling like its a race to beat the boarding time
c) ill often have a bit of a wander around / browse the shops to stretch the legs pre-flight

Not sure how well I've explained that but this is what works for me.

 

[RooFlyer]

Domestic: At the terminal one hour before departure; if SYD or MEL or peak hour, add additional buffer (rarely necessary) so I usually arrive 1.5 hrs before departure. Recently I decided to cut it finer at my home HBA airport, with HLO. Due to traffic, I would have missed the flight had they not opened it up again for me! Never again.

If travelling from HBA to catch an international flight ex MEL/SYD any time before 2pm next day, I do the domestic leg the night before.

International. Two hours minimum (at the airport). If SYD or MEL on QF or oneWorld, more like 3 hours to enjoy the Flounge.

All too much, but like docjames I hate any pre flight stress. Am good at relaxing in lounges and can always while the time away there perfectly happy - except HBA which is always overcrowded to hell!