Made any travel mistakes lately?

[Aeryn]

Narrowly avoided a mistake today.

I thought I had used my $450 amex credit, but in doing some filing couldn't see any flight confirmations from Amex Travel in my 2025 or 2026 email folders. I now recall that during the various DSC offers the prices were much higher than on Qantas website, so I must have been saving it.

Log-in into Amex to find the credit had to be used within the next 5 days. Quickly used it on a flight even thought same flight was $40 cheaper on Qantas; still better than losing $450. Sneaky that Amex don't send any reminders that it is about to expire.

The idea i didn't redeem the credit would keep me up at night!

 

[Big John]

Log-in into Amex to find the credit had to be used within the next 5 days. Quickly used it on a flight even thought same flight was $40 cheaper on Qantas; still better than losing $450. Sneaky that Amex don't send any reminders that it is about to expire.

The idea i didn't redeem the credit would keep me up at night!

Thanks for the reminder ! Your post prompted me to look up when my Amex Travel Credit expires.

Mine expires Sept 2026. Phew !

 

[VPS]

Narrowly avoided a mistake today.

I thought I had used my $450 amex credit, but in doing some filing couldn't see any flight confirmations from Amex Travel in my 2025 or 2026 email folders. I now recall that during the various DSC offers the prices were much higher than on Qantas website, so I must have been saving it.

Log-in into Amex to find the credit had to be used within the next 5 days. Quickly used it on a flight even thought same flight was $40 cheaper on Qantas; still better than losing $450. Sneaky that Amex don't send any reminders that it is about to expire.

The idea i didn't redeem the credit would keep me up at night!

I had a bit of panic about this two days ago and then realised I'd used on a work trip but got work to pay for the airfare but the $450 credit went back to my card. I did feel a little bad that it was about $40 more expensive than BFOD but I got over that very quickly because they are so slow at paying expenses

 

[Cossie]

Had to check mine as well, 1 April, so all good!

 

[DejaBrew]

Narrowly avoided a mistake today.

I thought I had used my $450 amex credit, but in doing some filing couldn't see any flight confirmations from Amex Travel in my 2025 or 2026 email folders. I now recall that during the various DSC offers the prices were much higher than on Qantas website, so I must have been saving it.

Log-in into Amex to find the credit had to be used within the next 5 days. Quickly used it on a flight even thought same flight was $40 cheaper on Qantas; still better than losing $450. Sneaky that Amex don't send any reminders that it is about to expire.

The idea i didn't redeem the credit would keep me up at night!

Ooh.... thanks for the reminder. I have to use mine by February 2nd! Would have sworn blind it was end of Feb.

 

[Jenya]

Overlooked that heads up email from NAB regarding no longer supporting intl fee free spending for NAB Classic Banking account migrated from Citi bank Plus.
Apparently benefit was discontinued on Nov 5.
Wasnt aware and used the card in Canada racking up lots of fees.
Thanks for stupid changed NAB, account closed - migrated to Wise green card.

 

[serfty]

Overlooked that heads up email from NAB regarding no longer supporting intl fee free spending for NAB Classic Banking account migrated from Citi bank Plus.
Apparently benefit was discontinued on Nov 5.
Wasnt aware and used the card in Canada racking up lots of fees.
Thanks for stupid changed NAB, account closed - migrated to Wise green card.

Yes, this was discussed on the forum. Unfortunately it was buried in a general thread - It's a shame you missed it.

The thread is here:

P

Post in thread 'NAB acquires Citibank Australia'

Aug 27, 2025

Got the Nab debit card email today... all previous Citi entitlements removed....fees for overseas transaction as of a Bank customer Not happy Jan!

• PLANT

• 
• 
• 

 

[Brissy1]

A potential mistake I avoided but I'd like to share.
Activation of free overseas cr card insurance is sometimes simply spending $xx_ on overseas travel et c., so I activate multiple cards. One of those (NAB or St George or both can't remember) it states in their benefits list "if you spend $500..." But buried in the pds it states it's $500pp
And just adding... left my reading glasses in the uber today

 

[Wing Nut]

Agreed with Mrs Nut to go on a cruise. What have I done!

 

[Robinb]

A couple spring to mind. Me being the organiser of the trip to Europe got the dates wrong and thinking we were leaving on Weds morning got a phone call from CX at8am on Tuesday asking us where we were ! After many phone calls got a flight later in the day at a big expense!

The other one was when booking our 3 nights in Dubai hotel the credit card pay,ent didn’t go through but only found out it did when we arrived and that I had double booked and no refunds. Different trip.

My wife has since left me - the above didn’t help

 

[Flyfrequently]

A couple spring to mind. Me being the organiser of the trip to Europe got the dates wrong and thinking we were leaving on Weds morning got a phone call from CX at8am on Tuesday asking us where we were ! After many phone calls got a flight later in the day at a big expense!

The other one was when booking our 3 nights in Dubai hotel the credit card pay,ent didn’t go through but only found out it did when we arrived and that I had double booked and no refunds. Different trip.

My wife has since left me - the above didn’t help

All I can add to that @Robinb is welcome to AFF, lots of knowledgeable folk here

 

[Flashback]

Travelling between SAI and KTI via plane.

Umpteen times more expensive than a bus, and that's just the airfare itself, without adding in transfers to and from the respective airports, then factor in all the time. There are no lounges and you get shunted into the butt end of both airports (since Cambodia doesn't have much to go on in terms of domestic operations, naturally they don't need many check-in desks, security checkpoints or gates, hence no lounges and few concessions). Onboard got a bottle of water and a biscuit (similar to a shortbread).

While I have no direct experience, if I had done a bit of research apparently there are buses between both cities that have aircon, wifi and even snacks included.

You may have already seen it but anyway here is a short video about travel on a Luxury Cambodia Bus. It actually seems very comfortable.

Yes, was going to say - the overnight busses there are amazing. Lay flat beds. Superb aircon. Shoes off at the door on entry and into a plastic bag. Dirt cheap.

 

[Seat0B]

Just went to put the travel insurance pds and certificate of insurance for ski trip to Japan onto the shared drive so I have it electronically while away. We are leaving Saturday morning ie in less than 48 hrs. Oops, I have not arranged it!!!! Luckily I could get it done on line tonight. Better to find out now than in case I need it for an incident. I don’t know how I missed it. Can only plead that I came home from our big trip in Aug-Sep quite sick and haven’t really been on top of my admin (or my TR) since then.

Edited for several crazy autocorrect words that found their way into my post. DYAC

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm in Madinah, Islam's second holiest city and at its core is the Prophet's mosque, where the Prophet himself is said to be buried. Great hotel room overlooking the complex. There is a vast courtyard area surrounding the mosque itself with huge umbrella things. I checked before I came and asked again at the hotel and had thought that the courtyard could be visited by non-Muslims.



So, I dressed appropriately and wandered around the courtyard for about 15 mins. I was about the only person in western dress and taking photos, like many others. I left to see something else, then went back, which happened to be during call for prayer and people were streaming into the courtyard and onto the mosque. About a minute later, I was asked by one of the cammo-uniformed security bods if I was a Muslim. No. "You are not allowed! Must leave!" Oh, sh** ! I scooted out.

He twigged as I wasn't making a bee-line for the mosque, but continuing my wander and in western dress.

I asked the duty manager back at the hotel about it and he confirmed that the courtyard is considered part of the mosque. He sort of said no big deal - but a definite travel mistake!

 

[pagingjoan]

Sympathies, RooFlyer.

I am in Abu Dhabi - and spent 4-5 hours at the new Zayed National Museum yesterday, then we went on to the Zayed Mosque, a long-ish taxi ride away.

Astonished to find that, having been dropped off at the designated spot for the mosque visit, we had to negotiate a shopping mall and food court in order to obtain our passes to visit the mosque.

But add that to local experiences.

Arrived - eventually - at the registration point, and we were given very polite and respectful assistance with registering and then sent off, back through the food court and mall, to the entry point for the onward trek to the mosque.

I was wearing a long black ankle length dress, with a white long sleeved over-shirt, that buttoned up to my chin and over my wrists, and I had a large black shawl to cover my head.

No go.
The Modesty Police rejected that package.
Skirt stopped just above the ankle.

I removed my belt. Skirt length dropped to the required level.

“You must have a jacket.”

“But my wrap will cover me from the top of my head almost to my ankles, over the long sleeved blouse and the ankle length dress.”

“The scarf is only for your head. You must have a jacket.”

Guess what?
I did not need to visit the mosque.

Lord knows how many I have visited in umpteen countries, without any hassle.
And here, having spent hours in the Museum, listening to and reading the speeches of the person being honoured in this particular mosque, and accepting the messages of love, compassion, inclusivity, all religions welcoming and coexisting, I failed the test.
A travel mistake indeed.