Made any travel mistakes lately?

[cove]

I checked the wrong bag so I had the journey home from Los Angeles without my Resmed sleep machine. Having two bags that look the same was not a good idea for 20 hours of flying.

 

[JohnK]

I booked BNE-MEL on Virgin and then MEL-BKK award flights on JQ for 3 of us for September 2026.

Ive been looking for flights back to any Australian city for October 2026 and nothing. Some awards on MH which we don't want to do but these are now gone. There were 3 awards for DPS-BNE on JQ a few days ago but when I went to book they were gone. Qantas pretty much has nothing early October.

SQ has award from BKK-BNE and pretty much any other Australian city for the 3 of us but that's around 150,000 Amex points. Thai airways the same. Tried Lifemiles, nothing. United has availability but miles required also ridiculous. One way airfares are ridiculous apart from Philippine Airlines but Im trying to avoid transitting MNL.

Looks like everyone has same idea and that makes this points game very difficult. Seriously thinking about cancelling airfare to MEL and points to BKK which means losing around $400 but can't see anything better as a return airfare from BNE or even SYD/MEL.

I remember before Covid it was fun piecing together award flights for travel at basically anything. Now it's so difficult and it's just economy not business class. Very stressful.

 

[drron]

We are coming back in October also. Problem is it is coming to the end of Australian school holidays then. Although we will have been away a long time by then will probably put it off for a little while. luckily we like Bangkok.

 

[Seat0B]

I double bag any bottles, and then bag all my travel packs - added bonus is keeps everything dry in case my luggage is left out in torrential rain.

I always double ziplock bag bottles and other liquids like UHT milk and put them in the padding of clothing (like you @Flyfrequently) and have never regretted that extra effort.

 

[Seat0B]

There's always the leaking shampoo bottle, but hopefully in the toilet bag so it is the only thing affected.

I double ziplock these too!

 

[burneracc]

Being new to the game, I booked cx j with cash (never flown cathay before) not knowing that their award availability is great and that it would’ve been a great use of my Amex stash pre-devaluation. Silver lining is that I’m pushing for Qantas wp so I am simply buying some very expensive SC. Still, would’ve been >$5k better off so it stings a little.

 

[JohnK]

We are coming back in October also. Problem is it is coming to the end of Australian school holidays then. Although we will have been away a long time by then will probably put it off for a little while. luckily we like Bangkok.

Qantas unlike SQ is saving award availability to release gimmicky promotions where website crashes and hard to book awards anyway.

 

[jase05]

I booked BNE-MEL on Virgin and then MEL-BKK award flights on JQ for 3 of us for September 2026.

Ive been looking for flights back to any Australian city for October 2026 and nothing. Some awards on MH which we don't want to do but these are now gone. There were 3 awards for DPS-BNE on JQ a few days ago but when I went to book they were gone. Qantas pretty much has nothing early October.

SQ has award from BKK-BNE and pretty much any other Australian city for the 3 of us but that's around 150,000 Amex points. Thai airways the same. Tried Lifemiles, nothing. United has availability but miles required also ridiculous. One way airfares are ridiculous apart from Philippine Airlines but Im trying to avoid transitting MNL.

Looks like everyone has same idea and that makes this points game very difficult. Seriously thinking about cancelling airfare to MEL and points to BKK which means losing around $400 but can't see anything better as a return airfare from BNE or even SYD/MEL.

I remember before Covid it was fun piecing together award flights for travel at basically anything. Now it's so difficult and it's just economy not business class. Very stressful.

JQ awards for 3 people
DPS-ADL Oct 1
DPS-BNE Oct 6,7
DPS-SYD Oct 1

Plenty of Y on CX
BKK-HKG-SYD Oct 13,14,15,16
BKK-HKG-BNE Oct 12,13,14

Likewise good Y availability on CX and MH out of HKT