Summer 2022 Travel nightmare thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re currently stuck in Italy. We arrived without any issue. A few days before our return from Florence, I received an email that our flight home had been moved from 10:30 a.m. to 6:05 a.m. The Florence airport doesn’t open until 5:00, so I set the alarm for 4:00 a.m., only to wake up to a text stating that our flight had been canceled but they would be reaching out shortly with alternative arrangements. I immediately called United. After being on hold 20 minutes, spoke to someone who asked several questions before telling me he didn’t work on international flights (annoying bc the first thing I did was explain that we were in Florence, Italy). Transferred me and I was on hold another 15 minutes before the United rep told me they had transferred our ticket to Lufthansa and no longer could help. I then called Lufthansa and was told I needed a confirmation number but the only confirmation number I had was from United. Called United again and they gave me the Lufthansa confirmation number. I went online with this new confirmation number only to find out that our newly scheduled flight on KLM was departing in 10 minutes. I had never received a text, email or any notice that we had been put on a new flight. Apparently, this was due to the fact that the airlines’ systems don’t communicate with each other.

We were rebooked for a flight 4 hours later. While waiting to board after now being at the airport for 6 hours, they announced that due to wind/weight issues, they had to remove 25 of us from the flight. Unfortunately, we were selected. We waited in line to be rescheduled for 3 more hours only to be told there are no available flights with room for 4 people until two days later. We’re in Economy Plus, but there were passengers in first class that were taken off the flight with us and has the same issues rebooking. I think they only way to avoid this is by traveling private.

We better not have issues getting off tomorrow or I’ll lose my mind!

I had the same issue with United last month when they automatically shifted my reservation to British Air.

PPs, do either of you have tips for this?

I guess one is, "If the airline tells you that you have been rebooked on another carrier, ask for the new confirmation number." But love to know if you have others.

United/Lufthansa PP, did you depart?

1. Always get confirmation number and ticket number for the airline you are actually flying.

2. Always call the airline while waiting in the rebooking line. Often you will get through on the phone quicker than waiting in line.

3. Consider using overseas phone number if the phone wait is long. Look up numbers for say United in Australia, etc. Use Google Voice to call, it's like 1 or 2 cents/minute to many countries.

4. If phone waits are long, send Twitter DMs to the airline.

5. Which day matters if it's a partner booking. In this case the ticket was booked through United, but as of the day of travel, Lufthansa "owns" the ticket and has responsibility. So if there was a cancellation more than 24 hours in advance, contact United as ticketing airline. Within 24 hours, contact the operating airline

6. Use Google Flights to find alternatives that are operating and have enough seats, so you can offer options immediately that work for you.

Such a helpful list - thanks for your prompt response.

1 - How does one get the ticket number? Is that provided with the confirmation number or do I have to speak to an agent to get it? We were flying back from Far East to US and trying to upgrade. The airline kept insisting on the ticket number to do so. Had never had that experience before and not since.

2 - The operating alrline really threw me on a trip we just took to Europe. Everything said Delta, but when I tried to check in online within the 24 hours, Delta said this was an Alitalia flight. Definitely news to me. At the airport, however, I checked in at the Delta counter with no trouble though it was an Alitalia flight, listed on the board that way, etc.

Yeah, that's what happens with a code share. Usually you can get the confirmation number for the code share flight (Alitalia for you) in your primary booking on booking airline's website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All went well for the first 7 days of our European trip, spent in in the UK-- smooth flight, all our bags made it there, and we spent every day after day enjoying classic London experiences hosted by longtime friends. I did feel more stress than I remember from our pre-pandemic trips -- we were overfunctioning a lot to make sure we thought every day through, plus worrying about covid safety, wearing masks inside, and so on. But still, it was wonderful.

Then, the morning we were set to head to Paris for four days, my spouse tested positive for COVID which blew up our plans because France still requires a negative test to enter. So we scrambled and found a last minute air BNB in London with a separate bedroom where my spouse could isolate and recover for five days until we flew home. I split time between nursing my spouse and taking the kids out for a short excursion every day which I was glad to do but it was hard to enjoy it knowing my spouse was back in her room not feeling well. We made the best of it but were pretty exhausted by it all. I don't regret going but was not prepared for how much it took out of us all.

What is overfunctioning?

And if you wore masks in the UK, you were the only ones doing so, or at least it’s only a very few American tourists doing so. We were just there and no masks anywhere anymore.

Ok? Why do care if they wore their masks?

It’s just very amusing and poetic that this person steadfastly wore their mask in a place where the locals have given it up long ago and their partner still got COVID!

As usual a trumpet is happy someone got ill.

It is BS masks do not work.

Learn Science grow up and shut up. Fixed it for you.

[Anonymous]

There is some weird misinformation on this thread, including a negative Covid test being required for entry to France in Summer 2022 and whether having a checked bag would delay your transit through CDG to another flight.

If you’re just going from one flight to another in Paris, you don’t pick up checked luggage; it is tagged for your final destination. Unless maybe you’re flying on two separate tickets, which would complicate things at the best of times.

Do fantacists enjoy chiming in on travel threads? Things are tough enough out there right now; let’s stick to the facts Ma’am.

[Anonymous]

Another rough weekend out there. Hope no one got stranded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is some weird misinformation on this thread, including a negative Covid test being required for entry to France in Summer 2022 and whether having a checked bag would delay your transit through CDG to another flight.

If you’re just going from one flight to another in Paris, you don’t pick up checked luggage; it is tagged for your final destination. Unless maybe you’re flying on two separate tickets, which would complicate things at the best of times.

Do fantacists enjoy chiming in on travel threads? Things are tough enough out there right now; let’s stick to the facts Ma’am.

Agree! We just flew roundtrip Dulles to CDG and had zero problems on either end. No one asked for our vaccination records, didn't need negative tests, etc. No masks anywhere in France either except on tourists.

We were freaked out by all the stories of travel nightmares, so we were at both airports 4 hours early and breezed through security and immigration. I'm glad we weren't rushed, but there was no need to be so panicked. We didn't check bags, so I can't comment on lost baggage, but we were some of the last people to board and no one our our full flights was asked to gate check their bags (we brought small duffels and school backpacks to minimize the odds we'd be the ones asked to gate check). My only complaint was that the flight attendants on Air France were horrible - both of our flights themselves were just awful and I'd never fly AF again if I had a choice - but we didn't have issues in either airport.

[Anonymous]

Curious what the AF flight attendants did that was forcible. No judgement, just curious!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is some weird misinformation on this thread, including a negative Covid test being required for entry to France in Summer 2022 and whether having a checked bag would delay your transit through CDG to another flight.

If you’re just going from one flight to another in Paris, you don’t pick up checked luggage; it is tagged for your final destination. Unless maybe you’re flying on two separate tickets, which would complicate things at the best of times.

Do fantacists enjoy chiming in on travel threads? Things are tough enough out there right now; let’s stick to the facts Ma’am.

Agree! We just flew roundtrip Dulles to CDG and had zero problems on either end. No one asked for our vaccination records, didn't need negative tests, etc. No masks anywhere in France either except on tourists.

We were freaked out by all the stories of travel nightmares, so we were at both airports 4 hours early and breezed through security and immigration. I'm glad we weren't rushed, but there was no need to be so panicked. We didn't check bags, so I can't comment on lost baggage, but we were some of the last people to board and no one our our full flights was asked to gate check their bags (we brought small duffels and school backpacks to minimize the odds we'd be the ones asked to gate check). My only complaint was that the flight attendants on Air France were horrible - both of our flights themselves were just awful and I'd never fly AF again if I had a choice - but we didn't have issues in either airport.

Next time fly business. They’re nicer up there.

[Anonymous]

We all got COVID after flying. Stinks because it means we have to miss out on camp and seeing family but everyone is ok so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is some weird misinformation on this thread, including a negative Covid test being required for entry to France in Summer 2022 and whether having a checked bag would delay your transit through CDG to another flight.

If you’re just going from one flight to another in Paris, you don’t pick up checked luggage; it is tagged for your final destination. Unless maybe you’re flying on two separate tickets, which would complicate things at the best of times.

Do fantacists enjoy chiming in on travel threads? Things are tough enough out there right now; let’s stick to the facts Ma’am.

Agree! We just flew roundtrip Dulles to CDG and had zero problems on either end. No one asked for our vaccination records, didn't need negative tests, etc. No masks anywhere in France either except on tourists.

We were freaked out by all the stories of travel nightmares, so we were at both airports 4 hours early and breezed through security and immigration. I'm glad we weren't rushed, but there was no need to be so panicked. We didn't check bags, so I can't comment on lost baggage, but we were some of the last people to board and no one our our full flights was asked to gate check their bags (we brought small duffels and school backpacks to minimize the odds we'd be the ones asked to gate check). My only complaint was that the flight attendants on Air France were horrible - both of our flights themselves were just awful and I'd never fly AF again if I had a choice - but we didn't have issues in either airport.

They're dead tired, PP. We're French and love to fly AF, but this summer, it's just too hard for them, what with strikes that affect working personnel and the glut of passengers. I'm sorry they were surly, but I do feel for them as well.

[Anonymous]

We flew from Dulles to Heathrow (Terminal 2) and then back from Heathrow (Terminal 2 again) connecting in Newark, and checked bags. All super smooth—no lines to speak of, bags traveled fine, no cancellations—an hour delay in Newark but no big deal. It can happen!

[Anonymous]

We flew home from Alaska on Saturday with zero issues. No delayed flights, we made our connections. Everything was smooth.

[Anonymous]

Had a few cancelled flights, got covid at a conference.

All worth it to get out of my house and feel halfway human again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A minor thing but we checked in to a hotel and they neglected to tell us the AC wasn’t working.

This wouldn't be minor to me.

Depends. When this happened to me, the rooms were still functioning, but the hallways and lobby were miserable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is some weird misinformation on this thread, including a negative Covid test being required for entry to France in Summer 2022 and whether having a checked bag would delay your transit through CDG to another flight.

If you’re just going from one flight to another in Paris, you don’t pick up checked luggage; it is tagged for your final destination. Unless maybe you’re flying on two separate tickets, which would complicate things at the best of times.

Do fantacists enjoy chiming in on travel threads? Things are tough enough out there right now; let’s stick to the facts Ma’am.

Agree! We just flew roundtrip Dulles to CDG and had zero problems on either end. No one asked for our vaccination records, didn't need negative tests, etc. No masks anywhere in France either except on tourists.

We were freaked out by all the stories of travel nightmares, so we were at both airports 4 hours early and breezed through security and immigration. I'm glad we weren't rushed, but there was no need to be so panicked. We didn't check bags, so I can't comment on lost baggage, but we were some of the last people to board and no one our our full flights was asked to gate check their bags (we brought small duffels and school backpacks to minimize the odds we'd be the ones asked to gate check). My only complaint was that the flight attendants on Air France were horrible - both of our flights themselves were just awful and I'd never fly AF again if I had a choice - but we didn't have issues in either airport.

Next time fly business. They’re nicer up there.

You shouldn’t have to spend hundreds or thousands more to have a flight attendant speak to you in a civil manner. And I doubt they would be any nicer—they’re French, after all. Being rude is an art form.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We flew home from Alaska on Saturday with zero issues. No delayed flights, we made our connections. Everything was smooth.

What was your route back? What stops?