Provence, Canal du Midi and More

[Jacques Vert]

At LHR, Flight Connections have closed the J queue and everyone is lining up at the Y desk. After about 30 minutes we reach the front of the queue and discover that no one knows anything about our cancelled flight, no alternative flights have been arranged, and no hotel organized as there are no more flights to MRS that day. Why am I NOT surprised.

So after a considerable time we are advised that we are rebooked on the 0725 flight the following morning but the nearest hotel where they can find a room is at Gatwick (more than an hour by bus). As we would need to be back at LHR to check in around 0630, this would mean a 0400 wake-up assuming suitable transport could be arranged. Not really an option.

Then an alternative is offered: Fly to CDG and connect to an Air France flight to MRS arriving at 2300. Also, not a great option but we take it as the best of a bad lot. Of course the BA flight to CDG is delayed and as we have to change terminals in CDG we look like missing the connection. Then we get the world's slowest bus driver to take us from one terminal to the other which results in me almost running through the terminal with our carry-on bags and arriving at the gate just as boarding has commenced.

The lady at the gate doesn't have us on the manifest so sends us off to the service desk where another lady sorts out the booking just in time to make the flight to MRS which fortunately had also been delayed a little.

So 22 hours after boarding in Beijing we touch down in MRS to discover our bags are still in LHR. Merde!!!

Off to the lost luggage counter where the lovely Isabelle takes our details, etc. By now the shuttle bus has ceased operating for the night so we had to wait > 30 minutes for a taxi arriving at our hotel around 1AM, or 8AM Beijing time.

Not happy.

 

[ellen10]

What an ordeal!
I bet you slept well that night.

 

[Jacques Vert]

What an ordeal!
I bet you slept well that night.

Not really; between the stress/worry of our flights, lost bags and that our body clocks were thinking it was now wake up time, I only got a couple of hours of broken sleep. We were totally shattered the next day.

 

[Welsh-Kiwi]

BA's customer service seems very lacking. What an ordeal. Nice trip report.

 

[Jacques Vert]

BA's customer service seems very lacking. What an ordeal. Nice trip report.

Yes indeed.

Firstly, there is the issue of compensation for our cancelled flight. Under EU regulations we are entitled to EUR 600 (each) for a cancelled flight over 3,500km or EUR250 for a cancelled flight within the EU of 1,500km or less, unless it is as a result of extraordinary circumstances such as bad weather.

I am sure that BA will argue that the cancelled flight (being the second one) was less than 1,500 and that it was because of extraordinary circumstances (the air traffic controllers' strike). I will be arguing that there were plenty of flights that went to France that day (including the one they moved us onto) and that the decision to maintain the original schedule, delay or cancel the flight was entirely within BA's control. That is, assuming I ever get a response from BA! We have lodged our complaint and apart from an automatic email response stating how much they care and how busy they are: nothing!

Secondly, our lost bags: we took the hotel shuttle back to the airport the following morning to pick up a prearranged hire car. While we were there we checked with the lost luggage counter: BA have no idea where our bags are! We do, our Trakdots are telling us they are at LHR and haven't moved since arriving from PEK. So we head off in our FIAT 500 to Arles (more on this later).

That evening we check the BA site with our reference number and note they are still looking for our bags. We decide to make a couple of phone calls however the BA customer service number in the UK has a recorded message saying they are only open Monday to Friday 9 to 5. Unbelievable. One of the world's largest airlines, who keep ensuring us how much they care about their customers, doesn't answer their phone outside business hours.

We find a french number for BA which seems to operate on much longer hours, they tell us to ring Air France and quote the Montreal Convention (that it is the operator of the last flight that has to chase the bags). Yes Ms BA, but the claim is showing on your website. "Ring AF!" So I ring AF who were far less rude than the BA lady, they tell us BA can't find our bags. "Pardon"

Finally, three days after leaving LHR we are reunited with our bags. Mine has been left out in the rain at some point and the bag is still wet, as are my clothes and some paperwork in the top quarter of my bag. Still not happy!

Throughout this ordeal, and despite how much BA care about their customers, not one communication from BA: no phone call, no email, nothing. The only communication we received during the three days was from the AF Lost Luggage counter in MRS to say that our bags had arrived at the airport and were being forwarded to us, and from the french courier who rang the hotel to advise he would be dropping off some bags and to check we were still there.

So we have lodged a claim with BA for compensation for our bags as well, no response so far except for another automatic email telling us how much they care and how busy they are.

Compare that to Columbus Direct who we have our travel insurance with. I sent an email advising of the situation and to warn that we may have a claim. They telephoned first thing next morning (not realizing we were still in France). I awoke to a missed call on my phone and two emails from them advising the process to be followed (claim on airline first). They also attached a claim form and requested details of the flight numbers so they could notify BA that they would be seeking reimbursement of anything that CD paid to us.

 

[THE TRIMMER]

This is why I would never fly British Airways,they don,t care!

 

[Jacques Vert]

This is why I would never fly British Airways,they don,t care!

I try to avoid them also; I forgot to mention they lost my bag the last time I flew with them six years ago and were equally unhelpful.

But depending on the route and availability for award seats with alternative carriers, there are sometimes little alternative.

 

[Jacques Vert]

So, after picking up the Fiat 500 rental car, we headed for Arles, which was quite an important town in Roman times and retains some impressive sights from those times.

Vincent Van Gogh passed via here and was so taken by the light that he hung around for 14 months and produced over 200 paintings here, or so we were told.

A couple of daytime shots:







Some of the eateries at night; some good food to be found in this town:

 

[Jacques Vert]

Then there is the Roman Arena in the Centre Aciens, which is still used to this day:

 

[Jacques Vert]

Next door is the semi-circular amphitheatre which is also still used today:

 

[Jacques Vert]

Then there is the Rhone River:



And the remains of the Roman baths:







And on Saturdays there is the market which stretches for more than 2 km along a couple of the main streets where I'm sure you could buy everything including the kitchen sink:

 

[Jacques Vert]

Next day, while still waiting for our bags to arrive, we headed to the Camargue and came across these fellows:

 

[Jacques Vert]

Avignon

While I was really taken by Arles, +1 prefers Avignon. It is a beautiful city of ~ 80k. The old town is surrounded by well preserved ramparts and fortifications.

From 1309 to 1377, it was the home of the Popes who fled Rome during some uncertain times. Of course you can't expect a Pope to live in any old shanty, so they built themselves a Palace:











The view from the tower at the Palais des Papes:

 

[Jacques Vert]

At the time of our visit, there was a light and sound show porjected on the blank walls after sunset (entry 11Eur) telling the history of the Palais and Avignon (9-15 & 10-15PM). Monday, Wednesday and Friday the late show is in English and although we were there Sat/Sun and saw the French edition, it was still superb. It wasn't too difficult to work out that there had been floods and a fire

And +1's new camera was able to capture it all; I've picked out a few of the dozens of photos she took:

 

[Jacques Vert]

A couple more









While in Avignon we stayed at the Mecure Pont d'Avignon Centre, a typical Mecure although the room was a little smaller than usual but perfectly situated about half way between the Pont d'Avignon and the Palais de Papes. Our room:





While in Avignon we decided to treat ourselves to a nice restaurant and went to Le 46, one of two recommended by the chap at the Mecure and only a very short walk from the hotel. +1 one says their escargots were the best she's ever had. Cost for three courses + wine was just over Eur100. She enjoyed them so much she forgot to take a photo

 

[drron]

BA have flown us to Paris twice.On both occasions have lost our luggage.On the first occasion 1 bag arrived 24 hours later but the other was 3 days later.
On the second occasion we were hiring a car and driving to Holland.Left our itinerary with them but no one from BA could ever tell us where our bags were.5 days later the concierge at the Amsterdam Marriott located them for us-one at the unclaimed luggage at Schipol and to be flown home the next day and the other in the dead luggage section and to be forwarded on to wherever it goes in Europe in 2 days time.He even found out what happened.Our luggage arrived in Paris the next day and BA sent it to AMS via LHR.But they forgot to notify staff at AMS so it wasn't picked up.No apology.
Moral of the story-avoid BA but never,never fly them to France.

 

[love_the_life]

BA have flown us to Paris twice.On both occasions have lost our luggage.On the first occasion 1 bag arrived 24 hours later but the other was 3 days later.

We must be the exception then. Any time we have flown BA our luggage has arrived fine; it was QF who had problems
That said I don't like BA's silly backward facing J seating.

 

[amaroo]

Been >20 years since we've been down that part of France - still looks good.

 

[VPS]

beautiful flamingos - love the south of France - subscribed and enjoying already - looking forward to the canal photos - had a wonderful canal trip a few years ago

 

[Jacques Vert]

After Avignon we were headed to Aix-en-Provence but took a detour to the north to see the roman amphitheatre in Orange, said to be the best preserved in Europe. It still has the original stage wall and is used for opera and rock concerts (Dire Straights and many others, mostly french bands, have played here). I estimated the capacity to be around 8,000.


















Yes, that's a pigeon coughping on M. Caesar's head.