My Luck Finally Ran Out.
Aug 8, 2023, 10:41 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold IHG Plat SAA Voyager Alaska Airlines
Posts: 143
My Luck Finally Ran Out.
On Saturday 5th August I was booked to fly LGW /AMS for a ex Europe Qatar J fare to CPT.
As LGW was due to be effected by strikes I took the precaution of booking 2 avios flights from LGW and LHR as back ups.
When I heard LGW was back to normal I canceled the bookings and relied on the 1920 from LGW to get me to AMS in time for for my departure from AMS on Sunday 6th at 1720 Qatar Airways.
On the 5th I checked in on line at mid day and then went out with family for the afternoon and was taken to LGW,
Went to the First class check in which was empty.
I was struggling with a large suitcase and the check in gentleman lent forward and pulled gave it a great heave at which point one of it wheels fell off.
Much talk about what to do but the case preceded down the conveyor.
The gentleman then handed me the boarding ticket and at which; point I said is it on time
His response left me lost for words.
Your flight has been canceled and you leave in the morning at 0720.
He suggested I book in at the Block Hotel next to the entrance to security and send the bill to BA.
The Block was quiet an experience a very comfortable bed in a very very small room with a combined shower and WC
As all my toiletries were in the suitcase which I did not have could not have a shower as the soap dispenser was fixed to the wall at the furthest point away from the shower head.
On the plus side staying at the bock I was entitled to a 20% discount at Wetherspoons which gave me great pleasure.
In the morning I woke bright and early and boarded for a very full flight. I had taken the precaution of asking at check in if exit row was available which it was.
Boarded the flight and told that it was delayed due to problems at AMS.
Could see see the Cabin Director introducing himself to a person in club and then he came through to me who was the only Gold in economy.
Explained what had happened to me and after take me of up to the front .which I appreciated as a nice gesture but as you know the leg room is not as good as exit row.
Arrive at AMS and awaiting my damaged suitcase.
In the meantime had phoned The Radisson in AMS to say I would be arriving late and could I have a late check out at 230 pm.as my flight was 520pm
Flight arrived late in AMS and then with a whole plane load of people waited nearly 3 hours for our luggage and I finally arrived at Radisson had a quick shower and back to the airport.
Qatar uses the Aspire lounge was closed for refurbishment and had to use something that could have been prosecuted under the trade descripted Act for calling itself a lounge
On the plus side its best to get all the bad luck in one go and look forward travel going to plan
As LGW was due to be effected by strikes I took the precaution of booking 2 avios flights from LGW and LHR as back ups.
When I heard LGW was back to normal I canceled the bookings and relied on the 1920 from LGW to get me to AMS in time for for my departure from AMS on Sunday 6th at 1720 Qatar Airways.
On the 5th I checked in on line at mid day and then went out with family for the afternoon and was taken to LGW,
Went to the First class check in which was empty.
I was struggling with a large suitcase and the check in gentleman lent forward and pulled gave it a great heave at which point one of it wheels fell off.
Much talk about what to do but the case preceded down the conveyor.
The gentleman then handed me the boarding ticket and at which; point I said is it on time
His response left me lost for words.
Your flight has been canceled and you leave in the morning at 0720.
He suggested I book in at the Block Hotel next to the entrance to security and send the bill to BA.
The Block was quiet an experience a very comfortable bed in a very very small room with a combined shower and WC
As all my toiletries were in the suitcase which I did not have could not have a shower as the soap dispenser was fixed to the wall at the furthest point away from the shower head.
On the plus side staying at the bock I was entitled to a 20% discount at Wetherspoons which gave me great pleasure.
In the morning I woke bright and early and boarded for a very full flight. I had taken the precaution of asking at check in if exit row was available which it was.
Boarded the flight and told that it was delayed due to problems at AMS.
Could see see the Cabin Director introducing himself to a person in club and then he came through to me who was the only Gold in economy.
Explained what had happened to me and after take me of up to the front .which I appreciated as a nice gesture but as you know the leg room is not as good as exit row.
Arrive at AMS and awaiting my damaged suitcase.
In the meantime had phoned The Radisson in AMS to say I would be arriving late and could I have a late check out at 230 pm.as my flight was 520pm
Flight arrived late in AMS and then with a whole plane load of people waited nearly 3 hours for our luggage and I finally arrived at Radisson had a quick shower and back to the airport.
Qatar uses the Aspire lounge was closed for refurbishment and had to use something that could have been prosecuted under the trade descripted Act for calling itself a lounge
On the plus side its best to get all the bad luck in one go and look forward travel going to plan
Aug 8, 2023, 11:00 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Cambridgeshire
Programs: Varies
Posts: 1,298
On Saturday 5th August I was booked to fly LGW /AMS for a ex Europe Qatar J fare to CPT.
As LGW was due to be effected by strikes I took the precaution of booking 2 avios flights from LGW and LHR as back ups.
When I heard LGW was back to normal I canceled the bookings and relied on the 1920 from LGW to get me to AMS in time for for my departure from AMS on Sunday 6th at 1720 Qatar Airways.
On the 5th I checked in on line at mid day and then went out with family for the afternoon and was taken to LGW,
Went to the First class check in which was empty.
I was struggling with a large suitcase and the check in gentleman lent forward and pulled gave it a great heave at which point one of it wheels fell off.
Much talk about what to do but the case preceded down the conveyor.
The gentleman then handed me the boarding ticket and at which; point I said is it on time
His response left me lost for words.
Your flight has been canceled and you leave in the morning at 0720.
He suggested I book in at the Block Hotel next to the entrance to security and send the bill to BA.
The Block was quiet an experience a very comfortable bed in a very very small room with a combined shower and WC
As all my toiletries were in the suitcase which I did not have could not have a shower as the soap dispenser was fixed to the wall at the furthest point away from the shower head.
On the plus side staying at the bock I was entitled to a 20% discount at Wetherspoons which gave me great pleasure.
In the morning I woke bright and early and boarded for a very full flight. I had taken the precaution of asking at check in if exit row was available which it was.
Boarded the flight and told that it was delayed due to problems at AMS.
Could see see the Cabin Director introducing himself to a person in club and then he came through to me who was the only Gold in economy.
Explained what had happened to me and after take me of up to the front .which I appreciated as a nice gesture but as you know the leg room is not as good as exit row.
Arrive at AMS and awaiting my damaged suitcase.
In the meantime had phoned The Radisson in AMS to say I would be arriving late and could I have a late check out at 230 pm.as my flight was 520pm
Flight arrived late in AMS and then with a whole plane load of people waited nearly 3 hours for our luggage and I finally arrived at Radisson had a quick shower and back to the airport.
Qatar uses the Aspire lounge was closed for refurbishment and had to use something that could have been prosecuted under the trade descripted Act for calling itself a lounge
On the plus side its best to get all the bad luck in one go and look forward travel going to plan
As LGW was due to be effected by strikes I took the precaution of booking 2 avios flights from LGW and LHR as back ups.
When I heard LGW was back to normal I canceled the bookings and relied on the 1920 from LGW to get me to AMS in time for for my departure from AMS on Sunday 6th at 1720 Qatar Airways.
On the 5th I checked in on line at mid day and then went out with family for the afternoon and was taken to LGW,
Went to the First class check in which was empty.
I was struggling with a large suitcase and the check in gentleman lent forward and pulled gave it a great heave at which point one of it wheels fell off.
Much talk about what to do but the case preceded down the conveyor.
The gentleman then handed me the boarding ticket and at which; point I said is it on time
His response left me lost for words.
Your flight has been canceled and you leave in the morning at 0720.
He suggested I book in at the Block Hotel next to the entrance to security and send the bill to BA.
The Block was quiet an experience a very comfortable bed in a very very small room with a combined shower and WC
As all my toiletries were in the suitcase which I did not have could not have a shower as the soap dispenser was fixed to the wall at the furthest point away from the shower head.
On the plus side staying at the bock I was entitled to a 20% discount at Wetherspoons which gave me great pleasure.
In the morning I woke bright and early and boarded for a very full flight. I had taken the precaution of asking at check in if exit row was available which it was.
Boarded the flight and told that it was delayed due to problems at AMS.
Could see see the Cabin Director introducing himself to a person in club and then he came through to me who was the only Gold in economy.
Explained what had happened to me and after take me of up to the front .which I appreciated as a nice gesture but as you know the leg room is not as good as exit row.
Arrive at AMS and awaiting my damaged suitcase.
In the meantime had phoned The Radisson in AMS to say I would be arriving late and could I have a late check out at 230 pm.as my flight was 520pm
Flight arrived late in AMS and then with a whole plane load of people waited nearly 3 hours for our luggage and I finally arrived at Radisson had a quick shower and back to the airport.
Qatar uses the Aspire lounge was closed for refurbishment and had to use something that could have been prosecuted under the trade descripted Act for calling itself a lounge
On the plus side its best to get all the bad luck in one go and look forward travel going to plan
Aug 8, 2023, 11:12 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: FRA, JFK
Programs: BAEC GGL, A3*S, Bonvoy Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 1,006
Aug 8, 2023, 11:32 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA GGL & GfL, AA LTP, Marriott (sigh) Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,238
but i am very curious now how the position prevents a shower...i have stayed in the bloc but also many other hotels with empty soap dispensers no soap etc etc etc but still manage a shower?
Aug 8, 2023, 11:41 am
#9
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,741
that was my only takeaway (other than of course the agent taking your bag THEN informing you were cancelled?).
but i am very curious now how the position prevents a shower...i have stayed in the bloc but also many other hotels with empty soap dispensers no soap etc etc etc but still manage a shower?
but i am very curious now how the position prevents a shower...i have stayed in the bloc but also many other hotels with empty soap dispensers no soap etc etc etc but still manage a shower?
Aug 8, 2023, 11:47 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold IHG Plat SAA Voyager Alaska Airlines
Posts: 143
Aug 8, 2023, 11:59 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: near Heathrow
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL (OWE), SA LifePlat (*G), BD Gold to the end, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,911
I agree with others. Irritations along the way but the fact you still got to Caoe Town on separate tickets with an overnight delay, firstly shows the importance of building in slack when connecting on separate tickets but I’d say your luck is still running.
Aug 8, 2023, 11:59 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 706
For stories like these, I always wonder what the direct LHR-CPT financial cost would have been versus LGW-AMS/AMS-DOH-CPT scenario with three segments, two separate flight bookings, one overnight hotel layover, 24+ hours of travel time, undesirable soap dispensers, and a lot of stress/uncertainty.