SamR
Member
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2011
- Posts
- 147
Hi Folks
I am in a bit of a pickle.
As some of the old regulars will know, I have a partner with an anxiety disorder who has always refused to travel, because anxiety. Early this year he agreed to come on a trip to the US this coming November, which I have spent the year planning with his comfort in mind. It involved a friend's birthday weekend in Vegas, road trip to OK to meet up with another friend, and then New York for Thanksgiving.
The Bloke had a bit of a meltdown yesterday. His anxiety has got the better of him. It's not just flying, it's the whole shebang, and three weeks of Doing All The Things in the US was really overwhelming him. We agreed that we would cancel the US trip and go to Fiji instead, which he was fine with. But I have hit a major snag.
I was thinking that I'd be able to cancel our flights to the US (J, companion fare), turn them into a credit voucher, rebook flights to Fiji and burn up the balance by the end of Jan. However, I have just learned that isn't possible. It's a non-refundable fare, so while QF is happy to re-route us, the fare needs to be of equal or higher value of the fares to the US. Basically, I have to use it in one hit, which rules out Fiji.
SO. How do I get around this without being out $11k? I'm thinking the easiest way might be to try and talk him back into going to the US, but for a shorter time and a less complex and intimidating trip. No road trip to Oklahoma, no visits to New York. Just something kinda quiet on the west coast (I'm thinking something with spectacular views in Northern CA...?)
Ideas, please: quiet, relaxing but fun things to do on the west coast, or any knowledge about how I might parlay an expensive non-refundable fare into something useful for my circumstances.
I am in a bit of a pickle.
As some of the old regulars will know, I have a partner with an anxiety disorder who has always refused to travel, because anxiety. Early this year he agreed to come on a trip to the US this coming November, which I have spent the year planning with his comfort in mind. It involved a friend's birthday weekend in Vegas, road trip to OK to meet up with another friend, and then New York for Thanksgiving.
The Bloke had a bit of a meltdown yesterday. His anxiety has got the better of him. It's not just flying, it's the whole shebang, and three weeks of Doing All The Things in the US was really overwhelming him. We agreed that we would cancel the US trip and go to Fiji instead, which he was fine with. But I have hit a major snag.
I was thinking that I'd be able to cancel our flights to the US (J, companion fare), turn them into a credit voucher, rebook flights to Fiji and burn up the balance by the end of Jan. However, I have just learned that isn't possible. It's a non-refundable fare, so while QF is happy to re-route us, the fare needs to be of equal or higher value of the fares to the US. Basically, I have to use it in one hit, which rules out Fiji.
SO. How do I get around this without being out $11k? I'm thinking the easiest way might be to try and talk him back into going to the US, but for a shorter time and a less complex and intimidating trip. No road trip to Oklahoma, no visits to New York. Just something kinda quiet on the west coast (I'm thinking something with spectacular views in Northern CA...?)
Ideas, please: quiet, relaxing but fun things to do on the west coast, or any knowledge about how I might parlay an expensive non-refundable fare into something useful for my circumstances.