How NOT to enjoy a quick trip to Europe for your niece's wedding

[DFW]

Pity my poor brother. He busts his ass most of the year doing more work and more overtime than anyone can imagine. It's mostly high-level security stuff (DARPA, e.g.), which he is prevented from discussing with anyone.

So he managed to arrange his schedule to attend the formal wedding ceremony for my daughter on August 23rd. She had the civil ceremony in New York in July, but the big bash was here in Germany. My daughter grew up here in Germany, and her grandmother, who is 92, couldn't make the trip to the USA. Germany was set as a compromise location as she had many friends here still, and her husband had grown up in Russia and Israel, so the trip for his family and friends to Germany wasn't nearly as far as North America.

My brother left Washington for Frankfurt on Aer Lingus via Dublin on August 21st. He should have landed in Frankfurt at 10:30 the next morning, in time to join the rest of his family, some of whom were flying in from Denmark, and one son driving in from Italy, where he had been on vacation.

His flight from Washington was delayed for FOUR hours. He missed his connection in Dublin, and they said the next plane for Frankfurt wasn't until 5 PM that evening (6 PM German time). He got in after 8 PM. took an expensive taxi to Rüdesheim, where his hotel was. It was a small rural hotel, and by the time he got there, it was all locked up, and his family was with us in the next town over. Because he wasn't allowed to use his US cell phone (security, dontcha know) overseas, he had to use his iPad, and had no connection. No one had any idea where he was, and he got nothing to eat that night. His family finally found him in front of the hotel at around 10 PM.

On the way back, he was leaving from Düsseldorf, coming to stay with me and my wife for a few days. The night before his trip home, we heard a cry of anguish from his room, from which he was trying to print out his boarding pass. He saw that Expedia had booked him to return via Dublin on SEPTEMBER 29th, not August 29th. We took an hour on the phone to find a live human on expedia USA to find a solution. The best they could offer was a route Düsseldorf to Lisbon to Washington on Air Portugal for $777 extra. He HAD to be back in Langley that night, so he took it. We printed out the boarding passes. I drive him to the airport the next day with lots of time to spare. Good thing.

The first thing we saw at the Düsseldorf airport was that his flight to Lisbon was delayed by 40 minutes. Since he only had a 65 minute connection in Lisbon to begin with, this meant he would miss his connection to Washington and be forced to spend the night, probably at his expense (not to mention the rage of his higher-ups), at a Lisbon airport hotel. We looked for an Air Portugal counter to help us out. Oops. NO such thing. OK, Air Portugal is a Star Alliance airline, so let's go to Lufthansa. Oops. no more Lufthansa counters either, just electronic kiosks. We ask who to see, and were told to see "AHS." I assume that stood for Airport Harassment Services. Anyway, we went to see them, and the first thing they said was to go through security and ask at the gate. In other words, "you are too much work, please begone."

I noticed that the woman at AHS had an accent in her German, and I asked where she was from. She said Kosovo. I asked "Sqip oder Srpski?" Her face brightened. "Sqip!" she answered proudly. "You know of us? You have been to Kosovo?" No, I hadn't been to Kosovo, but had several Sqip friends. FINALLY. Ice broken. She said she might be able to work a little magic. We smiled and said work away. After consulting with supervisors and tapping madly on her computer, she suddenly found a way to convert my brother's trip to Washington via Lisbon into a trip to Washington via Frankfurt. After half an hour, she gave us a document that was not a boarding pass, but would good for one at check-in. We went to the check-in kiosks of Lufthansa. Nope, "can't complete check in, see agent." Well, the only Lufthansa agents were at counters for "passengers with boarding cards." He got in that line anyway, and waited for a group of thirty Chinese high school students with documents only in Chinese to get checked in first. He was told his suitcase was 2 pounds overweight for carry-on. He waited for the $100 he was sure was coming for a baggage charge. The agent must have taken pity on him, and agreed to check the bag through to Washington at no charge. Exhausted, he got to Frankfurt on time. The flight to Washington was over 8 hours and was the bumpiest ride he had ever had. He got no sleep at all on the flight, but at least he DID get home. I think he told his office the next morning not to bother him for any emergency smaller than full nuclear attack. At any rate, he arrived home ten times more frazzled than he was when he arrived here in Germany, and that was pretty frazzled already.

I know, I know--first world problems, right? But I think all the same, the next time he makes a trip to Europe, I think he plans to do both transatlantic segments on a boat, and at that, only if there are escort submarines ready to take on the passengers in case the ocean liner sinks. With his luck, it probably would!

[CottonBear]

1. I'm exhausted after reading that harrowing account of travel gone wrong.

Last year, a good friend of mine, here in the US, missed his niece’s wedding in Denmark due to airport flight delays.

[DFW]

3. In these days of advnace non-refundable payment, if something goes wrong...

The airlines DO.NOT.CARE.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. I've had trip almost as bad. Glad he got home.

[DFW]

4. He probably didn't believe it until the last minute n/t

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. Oh, dear.

I'm slightly surprised he didn't know his US cell phone wouldn't work in Europe.

And it was Expedia that willy-nilly booked the wrong date without any input from him. He clicked on the wrong month. I use Expedia all the time -- it's almost the only way I book anything -- and that was sheer carelessness on his part coupled with never again bothering to read his reservation information.

But that is one of the worst travel screw-up stories I've ever heard.

[DFW]

7. First of all

His cell phone works fine in Europe. That is, it would. He is not ALLOWED to take it out of North America. I'm not even sure he is allowed to take it to Canada. His phone is a job-related security issue, not a tech issue. He could lose his job and possibly be prosecuted if his phone was ever located outside of North America without first having been reported (by him) as lost or stolen.

He knows he was careless with Expedia. He was not aware that they would be so difficult to reach to arrange something new, or that airlines don't even want to talk to you unless you booked your trip through them. Same goes for hotels. If you book a room through Booking.com and have a problem, don't expect any help from the hotel. They will just send you right back to booking.com, who has no interest in helping anyone out. I am platinum for life on a Sky Team airline, and I ALWAYS book through them directly for intercontinental trips, never through a third party internet portal. When I travel internally in North America, I do so though our travel agent in Texas, who seems to be able to conjure up magically low fares on major airlines on complicated routes. Here in Europe, in my case, it is usually short-notice round trips from Düsseldorf to somewhere, and for those I can usually navigate the airlines' websites (easy to Byzantine) by myself.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. I have heard Expedia kind of sucks.

I used to work for an airline, and we always advised people to book their flights directly through the airline's web site or phone representatives and not on some travel site like Expedia. Since I was a non-rev traveler I never had to fool around with that kind of thing, although sometimes I ended up in places I wasn't expecting to be because I got bumped off a flight.

[DFW]

13. I'm sure it is a function of how complicated your intended route is

If your travel is domestic and round trip, it is pretty straightforward as to what you are looking for. When it gets to intercontinental routes, especially if your trip is not a straight round trip (whether open jaw or multi dest.) then you get into airline alliances, codeshares, and when problems arise, finding someone responsible for helping you out becomes about as easy as finding a Rhodes Scholar in the Oval Office during a Republican administration.

[question everything]

21. We don't travel much, but always book flights, hotels, cars, on their websites

Until a few weeks ago. Will be spending one night in NYC and I went to Trip Advisor just to find hotels in the location that I wanted. Then went to the hotel site where the charge was $200 more!

Finally I used Trip Advisor that sent me to Expedia for the lower, refundable rate.

Will still call the hotel before we leave.

Interestingly, two years ago we had to move out of the house for two nights because work was done. Looked the rates for a hotel nearby and just drove to check in. It was $200 more! Why? I demanded. We have a different rate if one books through the Internet was the reply.

Well, it was a cold night so we took it. The insurance did pay that rate.

And a friend told me of a similar story in NYC, too.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

14. Oh, I misunderstood.

Not being allowed to take your work related cell phone out of North America. . . . so why doesn't he have a personal cell phone?

I am myself a former airline employee, 10.5 years at DCA on the ticket counter. I also have not flown outside of the U.S. since early 2001. Often, after checking the cost of flights or hotels on Expedia I'll double check the airline or hotel website, and in the case of the hotel may even phone directly to the property. I rarely can get a cheaper rate than the one through Expedia.

I don't intend to come across as heartless, but I'm honestly astonished at his not having his own personal cell phone, and I know all two well that passengers often are careless about things they shouldn't be careless about. I sincerely do hope his next trip comes off a whole lot better.

[DFW]

15. He has a special security clearance that restircts countries he can visit, and what he can take

The usual rules don't apply to him. No personal cell phone, just his work phone.

I know your background, and there was no reason for you to know about his security clearance. But it is there, and he has to play by the rules, half of which, if he is doing his job correctly, I assume I don't even know. When he said in 2002 "give me a cell phone and a laptop, I can make any of those voting machines give you any result you want," I took him at his word, and still do.

[secondwind]

6. What a story!!!

[mnhtnbb]

8. This is why I HATE flying. If it can go wrong

it will and will drive you nuts along the way.

I do all my own travel arrangements. I used to use expedia or orbitz to see who had best times/prices for flights, but stopped because some of the airlines quit giving them access to their flight information. It's tedious--especially if flying overseas--to check all the international carriers.

I once was getting ready to pull the trigger on booking a cruise and as I was reviewing the info for about the third time suddenly noticed I was booking for a year out from what I intended! Yikes! That would have been a disaster.

What really bugs me is that the airlines obviously have algorithms set up to capture your inquiry/interest in a particular flight for a particular day. More than once I've gone on-line to scope out available times/prices, gone back an hour later, and the price is higher! So I've learned to be ready to make my decision and book flights without giving the airlines the chance to raise the price.

I hate flying so much that when I go to NY at the end of September for a New England/Canada cruise I've booked, I'm going by train. It's only a little over an hour flying time from here to NY--and it will take me 10 hours on the slow train--but I'm going a day ahead because I don't dare trust the airline not to cancel my flight or be delayed and end up literally missing the boat. And if I'm going a day ahead anyway, why not take the train? I booked a roomette (which is basically a tiny private cabin) so I can take a nap (in the upper berth), look out the window, get up and walk around when I feel like it, not be squashed by someone sitting in the seat next to me who should have booked 2 seats...

I get his wish to next time take a ship!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. Airline tickets aren't priced like other commodities

because if they aren't sold they are "lost" to the airline - so buying a plane ticket is more like an auction. The fare for a particular flight will vary from one day to the next depending not only on how many seats have already been sold but on what competing airlines are charging for the same route. The airlines check each others' fares several times a day and adjust accordingly. Most airlines overbook most flights by 110% for coach to compensate for the fact that there will be no-shows. It's a weird business.

[Nasruddin]

9. cellphones

What a nightmare. Hoping for a good recovery.

I have learned that a cellphone is now not just a convenience, but mandatory for travel.
And that means travel everywhere, including developing countries and places where message costs are insanely high. Mobile phones are how work gets done now, everywhere, all the time. Calls, messages, whatsapp, payments, everything.

I don't know what his security rules might be, but he must find a way to get a phone he can use for travel. There's a whole segment devoted to prepaid and burner phones. In the old days we used to buy SIMs and switch providers (it's still doable, but not necessary for most phones/services now). Otherwise he needs to hire a Mr Passepartout that can legally hold such a phone.

[DFW]

10. He had intended to get a throwaway when he landed in Frankfurt

Of course, at 10:30 AM, this would have been no problem in an intercontinental airport like Frankfurt. At 8:00 PM, all the shops were closed for the evening, and for the rest of the time he was either in Rüdesheim/Geisenheim with us for the wedding (more grapes than people), or with me in Brussels and Düsseldorf. I.e. the time when he would have needed it most was the time when he had no chance of getting one

[CaliforniaPeggy]

16. What a nightmare, and seemingly without end!

I hope he had a good time at the wedding.

[cwydro]

17. I flew Aer Lingus into Dublin back in April, and the flight was delayed almost four hours.

We were just about on takeoff roll and then returned to the gate. No explanation given except for a vague mechanical murmur from flight attendants. I was in business class; I can only imagine the misery of those in coach.

I usually fly Aer Lingus, but that flight took the shine off the shamrock for me lol.

[DFW]

19. I've never been on one of their planes. I've never even been to Ireland

The closest I ever got was when I had to get a hotel room in Paris near my office on short notice once, maybe 40 years ago. Checking in ahead of me was a pretty brown haired young woman who was traveling with her mother. She spoke little French but spoke English with her mother in a lilting Irish accent. I remarked I hadn't seen her there before. She said she came once in a while as it cost her nothing to fly. I asked "flight attendant for Aer Lingus?" She answered, "of course, what else?"

And that was the last I ever saw of her.

[marlakay]

22. I am flying back to SF tomorrow from Dublin

Aer Lingus. Going early as I read security can take up to 4 hrs. Fingers crossed no delays bad enough my brain will say midnight when my daughter picks me up at 4 and head north on Hwy 101 at worst time in SF traffic.

Your brother isn’t going to visit for awhile...what a nightmare!

I use to work for AAA in travel so I book my own and book directly with hotel and B&B’s, I was here all summer and emailed all reservations a month before to make sure all was ready.

I was only out late once here in Dublin at dinner show and hotel was locked when I got back but guy was at desk thankfully to let me in. But since I was here long time I exchanged sim card and have Irish phone number which I will switch back tomorrow. Worked great more data than I could use and free phone calls around Ireland for only 15€ a month. Wish we had that!

[DFW]

24. I'll have to run up there some day for a look around.

I travel so much for work, I treat it as a mini vacation if I can spend both weekend days at home.

Example--I had to work yesterday in the Ruhr area, knew that today was a holiday in the States, so am sneaking a day at home. Tomorrow: Holland, then Belgium, then France, then Friday down to Spain until Sunday afternoon. There is no rest for the weary.

I keep one primitive (pre-smart) phone for use in the EU, and an obsolete (I assume) smart phone I use while in the USA. I use them primarily as--surprise!--telephones. I do not need to know what the traffic situation is in suburban Milwaukee, or the price of beer in Jefferson City.

[marlakay]

26. My advice skip Dublin

Unless you want big city crowds. And if you only have time for one city go to Dingle best music and good restaurants. While I was there I read Rick Steeves agrees with me and said its one of his favorite cities in Europe not just Ireland.

I used my phone mainly for pics, gps, whatsapp, and FB messenger for keeping in touch.

[DFW]

27. Noted, thanks!

I wouldn't expect much in the way of food, but if I go there, it'll be for the music as much as anything else!

[marlakay]

29. Your right I've definitely had better food

But Dingle was better than other small towns.

[steve2470]

18. wow quite a nightmare there, worse than any of mine....

Hope you, Mrs, and your family are all doing great

[DFW]

20. Thanks, Steve

My daughter has sent us a few photos from her honeymoon. She was on the island of Capri this weekend. If the photos were any indication, I'd say she was doing better than great!

My younger daughter was entertaining my sister and her husband on the Bodensee ("Lake of Constance" ) this weekend and though I had to work Sunday, my wife was a street festival up in Lintorf and brought me back a huge freshly baked onion bread that you wouldn't have believed.

Well, no, come to think of it. Maybe you would believe it! You are one of the few DUers who have had breakfast at our house in Germany, so you know how good the bread is here.

[steve2470]

28. yes the bread was very tasty! nt

[DFW]

23. Here is a pic they sent from their honeymoon

From the island of Capri in Italy
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[steve2470]

25. very nice photo! nt