The long awaited trip report! LIVE so that you can comment along the way!
Jun 24th, 2013, 03:37 AM
#42
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There are several people on here who travel without much thought to expense. Apart from recommending hotels and restaurants in the poster's price range, I really don't think it's our role to pass judgement on how anyone spends their travel dollars, Australian or otherwise.
Do I think Crazy always makes wise decisions? Of course not, but then I committed some real howlers when I was her age.
Let's all lighten up. I want to read the rest of her report, not drive her away.
Do I think Crazy always makes wise decisions? Of course not, but then I committed some real howlers when I was her age.
Let's all lighten up. I want to read the rest of her report, not drive her away.
Jun 24th, 2013, 03:44 AM
#43
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Cathie has it. STOP with the personal attacks. I'm surprised a moderator hasn't removed a few of these. If she wants to go to Harrod's STOP saying "yikes". If she has enough money to absorb extra costs, STOP trying to figure out how.
Ruin your own trip--not hers. A bunch of sneaky spoilsports.
Ruin your own trip--not hers. A bunch of sneaky spoilsports.
Jun 24th, 2013, 03:51 AM
#44
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OK - a few problems I can see.
To leave Perth on Saturday afternoon and arrive in London at 7am Sunday would probably require travel by space shuttle, not Thai. Later she says kids needed a sleep after 22 hour flight. ?????
So - arrived 7am at Heathrow - expressed through Customs and Immig - private driver to London. Time check in and go to play in the Park, before having lunch, THEN going shopping at Harrods, then back at the hotel for the kids to have a sleep by around mid-afternoon (based on it being 10.30pm in Perth). ????
Somehow the math just doesn't seem to add up - even putting aside the incredible story about missing the flight, and then seeming to be able to just walk onto a new flight, without a moment's hesitation about the very significant cost of the new tickets.
But hey - I'm also looking forward to how the rest of this incredible story pans out!!!
To leave Perth on Saturday afternoon and arrive in London at 7am Sunday would probably require travel by space shuttle, not Thai. Later she says kids needed a sleep after 22 hour flight. ?????
So - arrived 7am at Heathrow - expressed through Customs and Immig - private driver to London. Time check in and go to play in the Park, before having lunch, THEN going shopping at Harrods, then back at the hotel for the kids to have a sleep by around mid-afternoon (based on it being 10.30pm in Perth). ????
Somehow the math just doesn't seem to add up - even putting aside the incredible story about missing the flight, and then seeming to be able to just walk onto a new flight, without a moment's hesitation about the very significant cost of the new tickets.
But hey - I'm also looking forward to how the rest of this incredible story pans out!!!
Jun 24th, 2013, 04:00 AM
#46
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bendigo I am with you. I am not buying this one bit.
I know that people miss their flights, however when you have been planning this for so long and there is a mother in tow - a mother who runs her own business - then you would think the mother at least knows the time of the flight. and what about the high school principal ??
sorry I smell something fishy. But i will read along just to read the responses.
I know that people miss their flights, however when you have been planning this for so long and there is a mother in tow - a mother who runs her own business - then you would think the mother at least knows the time of the flight. and what about the high school principal ??
sorry I smell something fishy. But i will read along just to read the responses.
Jun 24th, 2013, 04:09 AM
#48
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actually, i do not get it. if you miss your flight and you pay for your tickets, doesn't the airline try to get you onto another flight.
It sounds as if Claire bought new tickets with a different airline??? Is that right?
It sounds as if Claire bought new tickets with a different airline??? Is that right?
Jun 24th, 2013, 04:12 AM
#49
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Perth to London
Flight 1 Saturday, June 29, 2013
Departure: 16:45 Perth, Australia - Perth, terminal 1
Arrival: 22:45 Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International
Airline: Thai Airways Intl TG482 e
Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A330
Change of plane required. Time between flights : 2:25.
Flight 2 Sunday, June 30, 2013
Departure: 01:10 Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International
Arrival: 07:15 London, United Kingdom - Heathrow, terminal 3
Airline: Thai Airways Intl TG910 e
Aircraft: Boeing 747 All Series Passenger
Flight 1 Saturday, June 29, 2013
Departure: 16:45 Perth, Australia - Perth, terminal 1
Arrival: 22:45 Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International
Airline: Thai Airways Intl TG482 e
Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A330
Change of plane required. Time between flights : 2:25.
Flight 2 Sunday, June 30, 2013
Departure: 01:10 Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International
Arrival: 07:15 London, United Kingdom - Heathrow, terminal 3
Airline: Thai Airways Intl TG910 e
Aircraft: Boeing 747 All Series Passenger
Jun 24th, 2013, 06:50 AM
#55
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Well I started reading Crazys posts when she first started posting, and I tried to contribute , ,but frankly gave up at some earlier point.
I am sorry , people are entitled to spend as they see fit ( and can afford) but I will never accept that a lady who spent months and months planning a trip didn't even bother to look at her plane tickets to see what time they had to be at the airport.
Even if her agent was supposed to book an evening flight, who wouldn't even LOOK at the tickets ( that you just spent thousands of dollars on) and confirm the names and times were all correct. . really?
I will have a hard time following this TR because either she is a millionaires who really has no issue throwing money away ( which is fine, but NOT how she presented herself or her travel choices, ie: we have no budget and can do whatever we want) I just find it cringeworthy that she really didn't bother to even LOOK at her plane tickets( in fact, its almost unbelievable since most travel agents ask you to look at them and confirm information before hand.. ) .
Regardless hope trip is fun for kids.
I am sorry , people are entitled to spend as they see fit ( and can afford) but I will never accept that a lady who spent months and months planning a trip didn't even bother to look at her plane tickets to see what time they had to be at the airport.
Even if her agent was supposed to book an evening flight, who wouldn't even LOOK at the tickets ( that you just spent thousands of dollars on) and confirm the names and times were all correct. . really?
I will have a hard time following this TR because either she is a millionaires who really has no issue throwing money away ( which is fine, but NOT how she presented herself or her travel choices, ie: we have no budget and can do whatever we want) I just find it cringeworthy that she really didn't bother to even LOOK at her plane tickets( in fact, its almost unbelievable since most travel agents ask you to look at them and confirm information before hand.. ) .
Regardless hope trip is fun for kids.
Jun 24th, 2013, 07:13 AM
#56
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I know these things happen re: flights, my cousins almost missed their flight home from Italy last month having failed to notice in an e-mail sent by the airline about a time change that the airport had also changed (MXP-LIN), tho I do agree that perhaps that change should have been highlighted in some way.
Anyway, I guess some of us are thinking it would have been interesting to be a fly on the wall when Crazy went home and said oh by the way honey, we missed our flight but no worries, I was able to purchase 3/4 new tickets at day of prices on another airline and we're off. I also understand it must be nice to have the no worries attitude, but most of us would not be writing so blithely about a $$$$ mistake. I'm glad it worked out for her but this was not what I call funny.
Anyway, I guess some of us are thinking it would have been interesting to be a fly on the wall when Crazy went home and said oh by the way honey, we missed our flight but no worries, I was able to purchase 3/4 new tickets at day of prices on another airline and we're off. I also understand it must be nice to have the no worries attitude, but most of us would not be writing so blithely about a $$$$ mistake. I'm glad it worked out for her but this was not what I call funny.
Jun 24th, 2013, 07:20 AM
#57
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ooohhh Bendigo . . not sure I like you knowing my whole flight history and that you knew my flight plan . .bit stalker like!
My mum is all freaked out about it and wants me to blog a day or so later out of fear of being followed etc.
I am real and while I am wanting to share the ride I don't really want the personal attacks.
Of course I would rather I didn't miss my flight . .I am not sure how I got my tickets refunded but I did . .I lost minimal money from that .. not a full 100% ...but the issue was that it will take around 8weeks to process . .so yes it has eaten into our budget and is making us spend a little more on a credit card to then pay the credit card off when we return rather then have the cash.
When I was in the travel agents they were amazing! Everyone pulled together and tried to figure out the best option. Best was that we booked with a new airlines as the one we had booked with didn't have a flight for us for around 3 days etc and that would have thrown everything out. This way we only missed a night... I guess we were really really lucky!
Yes hubby is a principal in a private school and I guess we are just saying that we have the rest of our life to pay off this trip off so lets do what we want to do!
I am only half way through today but I thought I would jump on since I am in my room letting the kids have their rest . . yes the jet lag has hit them! so . ..
DAY 2
Let me start by saying last night we didn't go out for tea as jet lag hit the kids ..so we ate in . . I tried to wake them ..my 2 year old was fine with that but my 4 yr old couldn't get out of the zone and was done for the night!
So nothing really to report ...except they woke at 3am ready to party! Getting them back to sleep has been a challenge . .but I did get them back to sleep and they slept till 7am.
We have our breakfast included ...which is great as the kids were staving and ate so much!
Now I didn't take a stroller with me . . .I had thought I was buying a bugaboo bee secondhand off gumtree uk but it fell through so I was stroller less! So . . knowing in Australia our toys r us sell great strollers at decent prices I found where the closest toys r us was and we headed there first thing by taxi only to find that all that was sold there was toys! Which was fine . . the kids enjoyed looking at the toy ranges they hadn't seen before and they both picked a small toy out but I was without a stroller and with a 2 yr old you can imagine the nightmare that brings! SO the girl said I would find one at Westfield so after looking at a few stores like GAP and ZARA we head to Westfield.
OMG! Shopper heaven it should be called! I can see why everyone said pack light! It was amazing! Needing to find a stoller I ended up with the cheapest stroller from Mammas and Pappas ...It'll do what it needs to do . .but it is no bugaboo!
SO today has been a bit eventless . . we basically did shopping . . .the kids and mum have come back for a sleep and I am heading out for some kid free time of Knightsbridge shopping.
Tulips thanks for the advice .. you have been really helpful!
and yes the kids at this stage are needing some down time . .they might not sleep but just resting in our rooms for 2 hrs to recharge so far has been needed ...but mum also needs it!
I will see what the night brings! all depends on the kids and how they go sleeping! might do another post later on but until then be nice to me! I also don't want to stop the report and am happy to share it but please don't be mean to me. See ya!
My mum is all freaked out about it and wants me to blog a day or so later out of fear of being followed etc.
I am real and while I am wanting to share the ride I don't really want the personal attacks.
Of course I would rather I didn't miss my flight . .I am not sure how I got my tickets refunded but I did . .I lost minimal money from that .. not a full 100% ...but the issue was that it will take around 8weeks to process . .so yes it has eaten into our budget and is making us spend a little more on a credit card to then pay the credit card off when we return rather then have the cash.
When I was in the travel agents they were amazing! Everyone pulled together and tried to figure out the best option. Best was that we booked with a new airlines as the one we had booked with didn't have a flight for us for around 3 days etc and that would have thrown everything out. This way we only missed a night... I guess we were really really lucky!
Yes hubby is a principal in a private school and I guess we are just saying that we have the rest of our life to pay off this trip off so lets do what we want to do!
I am only half way through today but I thought I would jump on since I am in my room letting the kids have their rest . . yes the jet lag has hit them! so . ..
DAY 2
Let me start by saying last night we didn't go out for tea as jet lag hit the kids ..so we ate in . . I tried to wake them ..my 2 year old was fine with that but my 4 yr old couldn't get out of the zone and was done for the night!
So nothing really to report ...except they woke at 3am ready to party! Getting them back to sleep has been a challenge . .but I did get them back to sleep and they slept till 7am.
We have our breakfast included ...which is great as the kids were staving and ate so much!
Now I didn't take a stroller with me . . .I had thought I was buying a bugaboo bee secondhand off gumtree uk but it fell through so I was stroller less! So . . knowing in Australia our toys r us sell great strollers at decent prices I found where the closest toys r us was and we headed there first thing by taxi only to find that all that was sold there was toys! Which was fine . . the kids enjoyed looking at the toy ranges they hadn't seen before and they both picked a small toy out but I was without a stroller and with a 2 yr old you can imagine the nightmare that brings! SO the girl said I would find one at Westfield so after looking at a few stores like GAP and ZARA we head to Westfield.
OMG! Shopper heaven it should be called! I can see why everyone said pack light! It was amazing! Needing to find a stoller I ended up with the cheapest stroller from Mammas and Pappas ...It'll do what it needs to do . .but it is no bugaboo!
SO today has been a bit eventless . . we basically did shopping . . .the kids and mum have come back for a sleep and I am heading out for some kid free time of Knightsbridge shopping.
Tulips thanks for the advice .. you have been really helpful!
and yes the kids at this stage are needing some down time . .they might not sleep but just resting in our rooms for 2 hrs to recharge so far has been needed ...but mum also needs it!
I will see what the night brings! all depends on the kids and how they go sleeping! might do another post later on but until then be nice to me! I also don't want to stop the report and am happy to share it but please don't be mean to me. See ya!
Jun 24th, 2013, 07:50 AM
#58
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Oh for goodness sake Aramis, I was not commenting on Claire, but on wealthy friends I know, and how, in fact, that may account for Claire's ability to absorb costs - It's much easier to fix mistakes when you have money.
That being said, Claire, I hope you didn't take offense at my comment, and if you did, I apologize.
The fact that you were able to get another flight that fast for all of you (you, your mom, 2 small kids) and of course proper seating that the has kids sitting with you or grandma, is nothing short of a miracle.. So, in saying that, I'm hopeful that anymore "oopsies" are remedied just as swift and without snags.
Have fun Claire!
That being said, Claire, I hope you didn't take offense at my comment, and if you did, I apologize.
The fact that you were able to get another flight that fast for all of you (you, your mom, 2 small kids) and of course proper seating that the has kids sitting with you or grandma, is nothing short of a miracle.. So, in saying that, I'm hopeful that anymore "oopsies" are remedied just as swift and without snags.
Have fun Claire!
