Thread: I think I just flew my last international flight.

Last year I informed my wife that my international, flying days were no more. One of the reasons was the bull**** that you mention, Dennis.

On my last domestic flight (Brissy-Rocky) I queried the luggage weight issue with the check-in lady, pointing out the fact that the person who had preceded me was carrying at least 30kg excess body mass than they should have been.
After she had a quick look over to them, her blank stare reply was worthy of an award.

Originally Posted by Saitch

the person who had preceded me was carrying at least 30kg excess body mass than they should have been.
After she had a quick look over to them, her blank stare reply was worthy of an award.

In the US she would have demanded, and probably got, an extra seat.

I'm with you, RB. I don't fly often, but every flight, apart from one, I have been on in the last 25 years has been nothing but misery. I'm only 185cm, but there is no bloody room, so that, with my bung knees, I can't walk at the end. They are just poorly accommodated airborne buses.
That one flight? I had to make a quick trip to Perth due to a death in the family. There were fe flights available, so QANTAS, who were still decent back then, got me onto a half empty 747 international flight. No idea where it was going to be doing that, but wow. So much room, so little noise, very attentive flight attendants. AND it was 45 mins faster than a domestic.

Should this be in the 'Grumpy Old Buggers' thread or should we start a new one called 'First World Problems' ???

I fly lots with work and as a tourist, no real issues.

Luggage restraints is nothing thing new…..we’ve come close to the max allowed for one bag but have never needed more than one bag, my wife used to do check in for international and struggled to understand the sheer amount of bags people had in tow

Oh I’d rather a flight delayed or cancelled rather than it falling out of the air

My bag went missing coming back from China, **** happens, qantas bent over backwards. Bag arrive 2 weeks later after going via America and they even had a look inside.

We always book seats near the exit doors so get more leg room.

Our bags never seem to weigh over 16KG,even with camera gear,so no issues there.

We also keep a good lookout for upgrades to business class,if they are offered at a good price,which does happen on occasions.

I find jet lag the biggest pain,but nothing can be done about it.

Originally Posted by Tins

I'm with you, RB. I don't fly often, but every flight, apart from one, I have been on in the last 25 years has been nothing but misery. I'm only 185cm, but there is no bloody room, so that, with my bung knees, I can't walk at the end. They are just poorly accommodated airborne buses.
That one flight? I had to make a quick trip to Perth due to a death in the family. There were fe flights available, so QANTAS, who were still decent back then, got me onto a half empty 747 international flight. No idea where it was going to be doing that, but wow. So much room, so little noise, very attentive flight attendants. AND it was 45 mins faster than a domestic.

I would agree, some years ago we stopped off in Perth for who knows what. Q 747 fuel???





A bloke from the pointy end approached me as if he knew me, Indeed he had.
He was a Carrier Air Cond Engineer who we had met in Sinney years before & apparently they did this all the time Use An OS flight to get to their Perth office. Apparently a bit of a **** with Customs & etc but back then much quicker.

My last international flight - very long story. They delayed me from arriving home by 2 days due to their late flights causing missing connections to other flights operated by them and then lost my bags in the process, never recovered.

Denied it was their fault. Dismissed claims for compensation for addition accommodation costs on my part and loss of my property. After months of complaint finally recovered compensation but they characterised it as 'an exception' made just for me.

Airline web site has a 'lost baggage FAQ' page which ends with words to the effect "if your questions are not answered here then ring this No. to speak to someone". That number has recorded voice which says if you have questions refer to the lost baggage FAQ website.

Bookings side of the business - very well resourced with actual people you can talk to. Complaints side of the business - resourced by automated robots who made even robots look stupid. I think the strategy for handling complaints is to ignore them and maybe people will give up and stop annoying them.