Travel Thoughts

[Ratsima]

My wife has a client who lives in Denmark but who has a home in Hua Hin. He planned to visit Thailand this month, but, just as he was about to leave for the airport, Lufthansa called and cancelled his flight. He arranged a substitute flight on Thai, but that was also cancelled. He will be spending his money in Italy this month.

A family in Korat asked my wife to apply for US Tourist (B1/B2) Visas for them. They plan to travel in August. She gathered all the necessary documents and completed the forms and was set to make an appointment for the required in-person interview. The first available appointment was May 23rd next year. She asked me to try, and when I did there were no appointments available at all. A final try and they now will have their interview on May 10th. The trip to the US has been postponed.

I haven't seen my daughter and grandsons who live on Saipan since just before the pandemic hit. Now that travel seems possible again, I decided to see what was available. Not much, as it turns out and the flights that are available all seem to involve odious overnight layovers either in Guam or Korea. There must be something better, but I can't find it.

[centermid7]

" overnight layovers either in Guam "

Guam? Are you sure about that?

[Ratsima]

" overnight layovers either in Guam "

Guam? Are you sure about that?

Absolutely. I've done it many times.

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[buksida]

In a similar situation - trips this year postponed due to epic queues for visas (still don't have it 3 months later), limited flight availability and cancellations, and obscene prices with long layovers. Still feels like being in lockdown.

Mulling a motorcycle trip around north Vietnam in October.

[Ratsima]

Last time I flew to Saipan (November 2019), I flew Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong and Hong Kong Express to Saipan. HK Express is not a nice airline, But at least the layover in HK was fairly brief and the overnight flight to Saipan endurable. Unfortunately, they only fly during the high season so about October through April. Perhaps I’ll wait for that.

[Gregjam]

How quickly things change. Late last year my son who has dual nationality came to Thailand to get his US B1/B2 as he could get an appointment within a week whereas in London he would have to wait over a year and thus kept his job.
In March I had to travel at very short notice to the UK and had no difficulty getting a flight.
One would think that things would improve as restrictions ease but obviously the opposite is happening.

[Ratsima]

One would think that things would improve as restrictions ease but obviously the opposite is happening.

There is now a great disconnect between the world of a few years ago and the world of now. Only part of this is related to Covid, but it played a big part. The climate, the economy, world stability and great migrations. Things that we assumed we could count on have gone awry.

It's a difficult adjustment; especially for old farts like me who always thought we had things a bit wired.

Now what?

One day at a time, I guess.

[Dannie Boy]

I booked my flights in early February to travel to the UK in May this year and paid “normal” fares, but I’m certain I was fortunate to get in before the Russian invasion - if the war continues then I’m certain that next time I’ll be paying considerably more. As has been said, it looks like travelling will be different for a long time, if not forever!!

[Big Boy]

Yes, I was looking a few weeks back for my son who has to travel to Majorca next May. I was quite happy to find return fares for under £600 with reputable airlines. When his dates were confirmed a few days later, I went back to book. Fares were more than double. I still managed to find alternate flights on Lufthansa outbound and Austrian home. About £100 more, but I'm sure prices are only going in one direction, which is why I booked early.

[Robinhood]

In April, travelling from the UK to BKK, I endured an 18-hour delay caused by Schiphol Airport closing two of its runways. It was chaos at the airport and difficult to even move within the airport due to the crush.
I did find a representative from the airline, who gave me an A4 piece of paper saying put yourself up in a hotel and fly on a rebooked flight with another airline the next day. Unfortunately, it took me four hours to get to an airport hotel, so I could only sleep five hours before returning to the flight for check-in.
Three months later, I am still waiting for the airline to repay these expenses. (All submitted correctly.) The airline is ignoring all messages now. I also believe 600 Euros compensation is due for the delay.

Question: What do I do given the airline stopped responding to any communication in June. Any experienced travelers have any tips?

[STEVE G]

Question: What do I do given the airline stopped responding to any communication in June. Any experienced travelers have any tips?

If you paid with a credit card, go to your bank as generally
they become responsible for any loss. If you paid with a debit card or cash it's not so easy.

[Ratsima]

Question: What do I do given the airline stopped responding to any communication in June. Any experienced travelers have any tips?

Airlines are enormously unresponsive when it comes to things like this. Years ago I had an e-ticket with EVA to travel from Bangkok to LA. The credit card (Capital One) I used had expired between the date I purchased the ticket and the date of the flight. EVA wanted to see the card I used to buy the ticket but when they saw that it was expired they refused to accept it. (The new card was waiting for me in California.) They made me buy a new ticket with a different card (I used a Bank of America card as they wouldn't accept an American Express card). They promised a prompt refund on the original purchase.

When the refund didn't materialize I contacted BofA, explained the situation and asked them to do a charge-back on the second ticket. The BofA security officer with whom I corresponded said that he had never seen such an egregious instant of abuse. I promptly received a refund from BofA.

Some months later I also received a refund from EVA via Capital One. I made numerous attempts to contact EVA by phone and by paper mail. I never heard back from them. Not once.

Bottom line? I ended up paying nothing for that Business Class round trip to LA.

[Robinhood]

Question: What do I do given the airline stopped responding to any communication in June. Any experienced travelers have any tips?

If you paid with a credit card, go to your bank as generally
they become responsible for any loss. If you paid with a debit card or cash it's not so easy.

Good point Steve. I did pay with a credit card for the hotel. About 160 pounds (airport hotel in a crisis!) However, I'm not sure the credit card will cover it because I did get the room. It's KLM I need to honor their promise made at the airport to refund expenses.