I think I just flew my last international flight.

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Originally Posted by Ferret

I'll expand a little on my last experience (outlined earlier in the thread) because there was a lady in a wheel chair involved, she was South African.

I was at Schipol airport, Amsterdam. After you're told your connection has been missed you are placed in the hands of the "Special Assistance Team". Their job is to 'assist' you, I suppose. A nice lady checks my documents and directs me to join the queue.

In front of me is a lady in a wheel chair engaged in an argument with one of the 'assistants'. She has also been told she is impacted by flight delays and has missed her connection to SA. The staff tell her they can't get her on an alternate flight for 2 days so she will have to find her own accommodation for 2 nights. When she asks can they help her find accommodation they reply that's not their job, you have to find and pay for it your self, failing that she can sleep at the airport.

She says it's impossible for medical reason to sit / sleep inside the airport when she is confined to a wheel chair and objects vigorously to her treatment by the airline involved. Finally a boss lady come over and tells she has to accept their 'assistance' as it is, nothing more will be offered to her. They will not find accommodation for her and points out she is a SA citizen without a visa to enter the EU zone. So even if they were prepared to find accommodation for her she is unable to pass through immigration, ie leave the airport.

Her predicament dawns on her and she asks to be given a phone number. I didn't hear exactly what the phone number was for but from the tone of the argument I'm guessing it was for the SA embassy or a human rights organisation.

Anyway, I'm under no illusions when I front the counter. I'm told it will be 2 days to get me home also - have to overnight in Amsterdam then fly to Rome the next day. Overnight in Rome and then fly to Aus the day after that and no we don't find or pay accommodation for you, that's your problem - you have a lap top, try using booking.com, good luck.

So, since I'm resigned to waiting out the 2 days I ask for my check in baggage to be returned so I'll have something to wear over the next few days. They refuse to return it, too difficult to get it out of the system, it will be in Perth when you arrive there, eventually, several days later. Needless to say I never saw the baggage again.

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"they reply that's not their job," Sounds all to familiar, be careful or they'll all be at it.

It is their system so it's their problem at all levels Laziness is catching but when a Loser PM says that I reckon it sets a precedent. Rank & File all follow suit like sheep.

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Originally Posted by Epic_Dragon

I get anxious flying, our wheelchairs get taken from us and thrown around and broken. They are our legs and treated so poorly.
I want to be able to book an extra seat and strap my wheelchair into it.
Airlines then refuse to repair or replace them ($20k for custom made to measure wheelchairs) and if they do, it's a good couple of months without.
Also reliant on them carrying the isle chair which legally they are meant to, but most of the time, they don't carry it on board. So then no toilet access for wheelchair users. Unless we drag ourselves on the floor.
Add that to the way they always cancel flights and change them [emoji2962]
Need to win lotto and charter private planes to just have a safe flight somewhere

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That's deplorable, especially in this golden age of DEI.

The other side of this coin was seen by my mum. She was maybe 85, and she flew from here to London, to connect to Gibraltar to go to somewhere nearby in Spain. Mum carried a walking stick, which I believe was an affectation because I never once saw her use it. However, this got her a seat upgrade, and upon landing in London she was told she would be disembarked first, and a steward would be waiting with a wheelchair to facilitate her transfer.

I should probably add that Mum believed that being The Queen was her lot in life that was stolen at birth 🤣. Thing is, she could carry it off.

Airline in question was one of those that operated Concorde, and they aren't French.

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Originally Posted by Tins

That's deplorable, especially in this golden age of DEI.

The other side of this coin was seen by my mum. She was maybe 85, and she flew from here to London, to connect to Gibraltar to go to somewhere nearby in Spain. Mum carried a walking stick, which I believe was an affectation because I never once saw her use it. However, this got her a seat upgrade, and upon landing in London she was told she would be disembarked first, and a steward would be waiting with a wheelchair to facilitate her transfer.

I should probably add that Mum believed that being The Queen was her lot in life that was stolen at birth 🤣. Thing is, she could carry it off.

Airline in question was one of those that operated Concorde, and they aren't French.

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I should probably add that Mum believed that being The Queen was her lot in life that was stolen at birth 🤣. Thing is, she could carry it off.


Bloody Arseholes then?

I've got one of those, no not a walking Stick, a Queen Bee. But she is in hospital ATMo for summat serious.


That should quieten her down.[bigsad]

...you chaps didn't take enough advantage of your situation....I have a mate who is a retired Senior Qantas Steward on International flights.

Whenever he was on temp Leave between flights he'd go to various shops and dealers in the UK and USA and buy stuff for his cars and bring it back as "personal luggage".

In the 1970's and 80's it was easy to do, he bought back a new complete Cooper "S" gearbox with the remote control gearchange for his Mini as hand luggage. Customs were told "s/h gears" and it got through ok.
Also, exhaust extractors, twin carbs and 5 alloy Minilite wheels over several trips!

Apparently one if his colleagues brought back an entire rear axle/diff assy from the States for his Chev as "hand luggage". Ha!

At our regular weekly coffee meets he often tells juicy stories about famous people and "celebs" who he had to put up with in First Class. One well known male Aussie actor could be quite a piece of nasty work and always "difficult".

Being a car/motor racing enthusiast he instantly recognised the International drivers and team owners and interestingly, all the US team drivers, owners and senior personnel were a pleasure to serve and very polite, courteous, etc. They were always willing to have a chat and discuss the racing scene.

Many years ago coming back from the US the 747 rode an air pocket and dropped a bit and lurched without warning. Not not sure are aeronautical terms but they are an attempt to paint a picture. The back of the plane seemed to be full of a fairly boisterous and noisy bunch of Texan cattle barrons going to Cairns for a conference. Cabin crew I was speaking too had been saying they were difficult to control and had hands that needed to be watched. They were quiet after that as some were standing and none had seat belts on. Do not believe any of the injuries were too serious but we were met by ambulances when landed

We just need proper fast trains in this country. Travelling in Germany Switzerland and Italy last year was such a breeze all by train, booked seat even 30 mins before departure and no weight limits of course and 4 or 5g reception everywhere. So easy and comfortable and no security scan bull**** either.

It is difficult to see this happening - there is not the population density to support it.

Which is not to say that there is not plenty of room for improvement in rail services - but while it is cheaper and easier to travel by car, it is unlikely to happen!

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Originally Posted by 3toes

Many years ago coming back from the US the 747 rode an air pocket and dropped a bit and lurched without warning. Not not sure are aeronautical terms but they are an attempt to paint a picture. The back of the plane seemed to be full of a fairly boisterous and noisy bunch of Texan cattle barrons going to Cairns for a conference. Cabin crew I was speaking too had been saying they were difficult to control and had hands that needed to be watched. They were quiet after that as some were standing and none had seat belts on. Do not believe any of the injuries were too serious but we were met by ambulances when landed

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You know what they say bout Huge Gobs, human bones & Air Pockets? No?



Probably because I just thought of it.




They are all connected somewhere.

I have never been on an aeroplane.

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Originally Posted by spudfan

I have never been on an aeroplane.

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You haven't missed much.