QF Oneworld award and notoriously late AA flight!

[serfty]

QF25 eventually landed ~13:40pm.

I see AA74 was 12 minutes late into Dulles.

If you have the time, a comparison of the LAX F/L and the ORD F/L would be nice - I'm in the process of booking a YUP and can choose a 4 hr layover at ORD rather than DFW for something different.

 

[serfty]

... It was OK but the guy in 46J must have been well over 6 feet with very broad shoulders and was leaning away from the guy in the window seat for the duration of the flight. It was not comfortable ...

This is my main beef with Exit Rows - you often get seated beside a COS. It's at its worst with those with the physique of Charles Atlas. Having tray-tables stored in the armrests assists with those laterally challenged at "the base" (as it were), but those broad shoulders beside you need to go somewhere. When in an aisle exit in these cases, more often than not I am collected by passing dinner carts/FA's/PAX as one gets forced over into the aisle.

 

[NM]

If you have the time, a comparison of the LAX F/L and the ORD F/L would be nice - I'm in the process of booking a YUP and can choose a 4 hr layover at ORD rather than DFW for something different.

ORD and LAX are different and do cater for different customer needs. Most of the LAX FLounge customers fit one of two categories:

• Have arrived on early morning QF flights and connecting to AA domestic services
• Are departing on late night QF services

So it tends to be busier in the mornings (say 7am to 11am) and again in the late evening. As passengers have either just arrived on a long-haul overnight flight or are about to depart on one after a day of work or travel, they often want a shower. So the shower facilities at LAX tend to be better than at ORD.

At ORD, it mainly caters for AA international departures (mostly to Europe and Japan), and these flights tend to be during the day. So less dependence on facilities such as showers, and a higher desire for somewhere quiet to catch up on work tasks while awaiting departure.
I find ORD to be less busy than LAX. The food selection is slightly better as is the bar.

I don't know if ORD offers the free T-Mobile access since I have T-Mobile access anyway.

The view from the ORD lounge is pretty ORDinary, looking onto the back of one of the nearby gate aerobridges which obstructs any decent views there might be.

The old smoking room at ORD has been redefined into a Cell Phone room after the new city ORDinance prohibited smoking inside buildings.

 

[JohnK]

If you have the time, a comparison of the LAX F/L and the ORD F/L would be nice - I'm in the process of booking a YUP and can choose a 4 hr layover at ORD rather than DFW for something different.

I was very impressed with both of them. LAX remained relatively quiet for the duration of my visit and was able to sleep for a few hours and then have a shower before next flight.

The ORD F/L appears to be bigger. I spent a few hours there and the drink and food selection is quite nice.

With most ACs I only got given 1 drink voucher and when asking for a second drink voucher go weird glances. Some of them not recommended especially one at IAD. The ones in STL and MIA were quite nice.

 

[JohnK]

I don't know if ORD offers the free T-Mobile access since I have T-Mobile access anyway.

I did notice the signs for T-mobile hotspots.

The view from the ORD lounge is pretty ORDinary, looking onto the back of one of the nearby gate aerobridges which obstructs any decent views there might be.

Nice looking aerobridge, or jetbridge as it is referred to in the USA.

The old smoking room at ORD has been redefined into a Cell Phone room after the new city ORDinance prohibited smoking inside buildings.

Correct. All I could see were lips moving and hand gestures but no noise.

 

[JohnK]

I am so depressed. This trip has been an absolute nightmare and I am not looking forward to the rest of the trip. I just want to go home but have invested too much money and will persevere a little longer.

I would not recommend any SC runs with checked baggage. My luggage remained in LGA while I was in TPA. I am in LHR now and my luggage is now in TPA. I have asked for it to be sent to ATH by the 12th but I am afraid that I will spend the rest of the trip without luggage. If they cannot get it to ATH by 12th I will then be on a tour and do not want to spend everyday on the phone trying to arrange my luggage to catch up.

I have been on the phone to AA so many times. They know my luggage is in TPA. They know I want it in ATH by the 12th. How hard is it to put the luggage on a flight to JFK and then on a Olympic Airways flight to ATH. They just do not care. And the sheep continue giving the airlines business.

What is sad is that I was delivering many hand woven articles from my mother to her sisters. I cannot see this happening now unless a minor miracle occurs.

Most things I have were in my luggage. My mobile will not work much longer as I do not have a charger. All my clothes, power adaptors, medication and other personal items are in there. I don't even know what my rights. AA is blaming me as I cannot give a forwarding address. I won't be at any one place for more than 2 days. They have approved to reimburse US$100 so far. I still have 29 days to go so how far will that go?

I think an airlines liability is $400 towards lost luggage. What an absolute joke. Their fuel surcharges are more than this on some occassions. I will contact my insurance company but from what I can see on the policy I don't think lost luggage is covered. How did I miss this one?

 

[simongr]

My absolute sympathy JonhK -a hard lesson to learn. I had the same thing regarding gifts for family (not quite so personal - but things like little shower gels for nephew who has sensitive skin).

All may not be lost though - my luggage did find me!

Maybe give AA a long ahead forwarding address? That way your bags might get their before you.

I have to say AA were much better than AY for keeping me informed of my bag status...

 

[serfty]

Sorry to read that John, I hope it gets much better.

It is true that such SC's runs should be performed with carry on only - at the very least, necessary articles like medicine, chargers even power adapters should be carried.

I've been caught before when traveling in each of these three things; not so much in relation to checked luggage (as no bag of mine has yet gone missing) but when in transit and 'oh damn I need that'.

When travelling Solo internationally in the last 5 years, I have checked luggage only once; I was forced to as QF would not let me take both my Laptop Bag and my roll-aboard in WHY LAX-SYD in March last year.

It was interesting to meet Mr & Mrs Fredd at this years OzFest; they were at the end of a four week Oz Holiday where their whole trip was done with carry on only. (It did help they had arranged upgrades to J on their UA transpac flights.)

Edit to Add: Thinking about the "hand woven articles" and the reality that you had no choice but to check luggage. Given this, researching luggage storage options at ORD would have been the go -hindsight is a wonderful thing.

 

[tuapekastar]

What a dreadful state of affairs Johnk! I hope things turn out well.

Have you tried posting your plight on the AA board on FT? You may get some useful advice there (with a well-worded post that's not too emotive - you know what they can be like over there).

 

[NM]

I think an airlines liability is $400 towards lost luggage. What an absolute joke. Their fuel surcharges are more than this on some occassions. I will contact my insurance company but from what I can see on the policy I don't think lost luggage is covered. How did I miss this one?

Part of the problem is that your luggage is not exactly "lost". They (and you) know where it is (TPA). So technically its "delayed" and hence compensation is different. You should find out the compensation due under your travel insurance policy. They normally have clearly defined compensation amounts (maximum payment with receipts) that become available when luggage is delayed more than certain time periods.

A fried recently had their luggage delayed and was quickly reimbursed by their travel insurance company for reasonable expenses to purchase new clothes, shoes, toiletries etc. I think it was around A$500 that was paid in their case.

 

[JohnK]

And the saga continues....

What a miserable trip.

I received one bag last Sunday. This was only the presents, not my clothes. I was without clothes for a week. I have spent 160 Euro on some temporary clothes and a new charger for my phone which was out of action for one week.

In Athens a few days ago apparently luggage had still not arrived. What can I do? I was told to look through all the lost/misplaced luggage at ATH airport. After what seemed an eternity I had given up hope and was about to leave when I notice this suitcase with a Qantas luggage tag. Upon closer inspection it was mine. What a miracle. It was not recorded anywhere in the system as received. Suitcase is damaged beyone repair but luckily all clothes appear to be OK.

As I am starting an escorted tour tomorrow, with limited storage spece, I had to spend 80 pounds today to send extra clothes back to Australia.

To make matters worse both my Aegean airline flights were either delayed or cancelled. Take your pick. Low cost carriers. What a waste of time....

And today my LHR-FRA flight was also cancelled. Surprise, surpirse. I was given compensation with a seat in Club Europe on the next flight. And a new announcement, just now, that the next flight has been delayed by a further 45 minutes.

I just love this trip and there is still 3 weeks to go. If, and I stress if, I ever return to Australia and I seriously reconsider attempting another one of these type of trips. I love SE Asia, it is just so simple....

 

[littl_flier]

I'm sorry to hear its gone so bad JohnK. I really hope your tour is exciting and makes things all seem a little better. You've certainly opened my eyes to the dramas of taking multiple connections with luggage. Hope is gets better mate, Europe is such a beautiful place that its sad you've had these experiences.

All the best.

Cheers,
littl_flier

 

[JohnK]

Sadly the tour was not what I had expected. I guess Central Europe is not for everyone. There is a limit on how many palaces one should visit in 2 weeks.

Also the majority of people are rude and the service poor at the best of times. In most places they speak little or no English and signs and menus are in the native language making it very difficult for the English speaking tourist. The infrastructure for tourism appears to be there but I think it will take at least one generation before English speaking people see any changes.

What was I thinking....

 

[Mal]

Tourism is about seeing things that are new, and things that are different. It's a learning experience (whether good or bad). Interesting comments JohnK, but I believe that visiting countries where English isn't spoken at all can be fun and give some really good stories to bring back home. (Things like me looking for ziplocks in Tokyo or me frantically running around a city in Italy trying to find my tourbus that was just about to leave or being locked in a toilet in Spain and not being able to get out and no-one understanding what I was saying.All funny experiences to me now, but not so much at the time!)

Hope the rest of your trip improves!

 

[Keith009]

Tourism is about seeing things that are new, and things that are different. It's a learning experience (whether good or bad).

I guess i travel in a bubble then.
Mainly shopping, alcohol and fine dining for me - with the exception of getting some photos with tourist attractions/sights that are 'world famous' or 'iconic' just to say I've been there.

 

[littl_flier]

Sadly the tour was not what I had expected. I guess Central Europe is not for everyone. There is a limit on how many palaces one should visit in 2 weeks.

Also the majority of people are rude and the service poor at the best of times. In most places they speak little or no English and signs and menus are in the native language making it very difficult for the English speaking tourist. The infrastructure for tourism appears to be there but I think it will take at least one generation before English speaking people see any changes.

What was I thinking....

JohnK, its sad that you had such a bad experience but surely your learnt some things out this and you will come home with some new life experiences. If not, you've certainly opened our eyes to some of the "worse" sides of travel but at least you made it home in one piece and you might be able to laugh and tell your mates about it over a beer in a couple of months. What seems like a bad experience at the time might be enjoyable down the track.

I hope the rest of the trip gets better and enjoy it!!

 

[JohnK]

Bad experiences aside the whole trip was not a total waste of time and yes there is a lot take away from it and and hopefully I will have learnt some lessons, especially about taking unnecessary flights. The biggest downside for me is all the hype surrounding Budapest, Vienna and Prague. Totally overrated in my opinion.

The memories and experiences will be there for life.