Hello – new reader here.

This post comes at a very opportune time for me. My husband and I just came back from a trip to the States (we live in the UK), which, despite the actual trip being great, was just doomed from the beginning.

We spent the three weeks leading up to the trip fighting Travelocity who, after the airline canceled the first leg of our flight, forgot to notify us. Then, after we’d found this out by accident, they were absolutely unable to solve it. I don’t think I’m lying if I say we must have spent in excess of 30 hours on the phone with them altogether.

Then, when we got back five days ago, none of our luggage made it back with us, so the aftermath has been spent desperately trying to call several numbers at the airline hoping that one will be answered by a live human being. I’m beginning to wonder if anyone actually works at this company.

Two bags appeared yesterday as a surprise but the third one is still out there. Where ‘there’ is, no one knows.

I’m looking forward to our forthcoming Paris adventure with the simplicity of Eurostar, its relatively painless check-in and the fact that it allows you not to lose sight of your belongings.

I hope I didn’t just jinx it.

Report this comment

I do think that the whole hassle factor involved in getting to and from a destination must be influencing people’s travel plans. I’ve used trains twice for trips in the the last four months. My train from Berwick to London was cancelled when I was travelling to the World Travel Market in November. My train from Berwick to Glasgow to catch a flight to the Travel Bloggers Summit was 25 minutes late( but I’d factored in delays to my travel time).

I’m very loathe to fly for short breaks because you lose a day at either end getting to airport, through security, checking in an 1 – 2 hours before flight.

Travelling by car can be just as bad. Last time we went to Devon in June we were delayed by motorway roadworks.

I wrote last year about the advantages of staying at home for your summer holiday:
http://www.europealacarte.co.uk/blog/2007/06/30/7-reasons-to-take-a-summer-holiday-at-home/

Report this comment

Hopefuly New Technology should make things easier for the Client, why should fingerprinting make things harder? Surely placing your finger on a pad to get yourself recognised should take a fraction of a second.
Tougher Security? Have you ever flown El Al Darren? Surely Tougher Security offers peace of mind unfortunatly there is no Company or Airline that can guarantee the sanity of the passenger sitting next to you.
Rediculous check in times? How many times have I sat on a plane whilst they have to off load baggage because the passengers are still in duty free! I’m not sure of your circumstances recently and I know that relying on public transport can be frustrating, but at the end of the day it is up to the general public to allow good time for every eventuality to make sure they check in on time. Check in times are there for a purpose and if every passenger checks in on time, and more importantly reaches the gate when called, there could be a chance of an earlier slot and an earlier take off relieving the stress for client, crew and groundstaff.
Travel Companies going into administration? Very few Darren and the stress is relieved by trained Travel Agents if you have booked with them and a reputable TTA member or Abta and Atol bonded company to help you get your money back.
Badly trained Travel Agents? Don’t even go there Darren
Increase in flight prices? It’s about time the general public realised the value for money they get when travelling, not forgetting that not so long ago, Petrol prices were below £0.99 and are now £1.15 on the forecourts, Aviation fuel has gone up. Look at the logistics behind your flight Darren, Cost of aircraft, technicians required to keep it in the air, Landing charges, Fuel, Crew, Airport staff, baggage handlers and all of those behind the scenes that get you from A to B etc etc and what happens when every body expects to pay less and less?, you get less and less, standards slip, something has to give and eventually the company might not be around.
I hear that Leeds is quite nice at this time of year?
I’d prefer to be South of Dover personally and properly planned, the end result should be totally stress free!

Report this comment

Its getting beyond a joke now. I used to love going to airports, but spending hours on end queing for this and that is rediculous.

GRRRR

Report this comment

I actually agree with Lee.

If you plan your holiday properly there is not reason why your holiday should be stressful and memorable for airport queues.

Report this comment