Public Transportation Strike in Venice - what to do?
Jun 6, 2013, 12:36 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Astoria, NY: LGA, JFK
Programs: Delta PM; Sheraton's Vistana BOD; SPG Gold
Posts: 2,035
Public Transportation Strike in Venice - what to do?
o.k., so here's the scenario...
We have two award tickets booked to VCE that have a return on Friday, June 14th.
I just learned that all public transportaton workers will be on strike that day.
Other than yelling and screaming at the stupidity of European governments for allowing this, what are my best options with Delta?
We can return the next day, but it looks like DL will hit us with mileage penalties.
What would you recommend? I am Platinum if it matters.
We have two award tickets booked to VCE that have a return on Friday, June 14th.
I just learned that all public transportaton workers will be on strike that day.
Other than yelling and screaming at the stupidity of European governments for allowing this, what are my best options with Delta?
We can return the next day, but it looks like DL will hit us with mileage penalties.
What would you recommend? I am Platinum if it matters.
Jun 6, 2013, 12:49 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 212
Did you try calling? As PM you shouldn't get any penalties per se with free redeposit, but the flights may be more expensive if you got low tickets, for example, and they are no longer available. I think agents can work around this though, especially in this situation.
Jun 6, 2013, 2:24 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CT
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Water Taxi is expensive but worth the price IMHO. It takes you door to door right up to the airport without having to schlep your bags and in less than 30 mins.
Jun 6, 2013, 2:25 pm
#5
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The water taxi would be cheaper than the ticket difference. Tip the concierge at your hotel to make sure he/she has you one scheduled the day before.
Jun 6, 2013, 2:31 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Nashville
Programs: AA G; DL G
Posts: 75
Public Transportation Strike in Venice - what to do?
I took the bus last summer due to wife preference but really wanted to take the water taxi option. Use this as an excuse to take. Cost will be more than justified if it gets you to VCE and eventually home as planned.
Jun 6, 2013, 2:55 pm
#8
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If all public transportation workers will be on strike, will the airport even be open and flights operating? I was on an award ATH-ATL about 7 years ago and there was a strike and DL re-ticketed all passengers for the next day.
Jun 6, 2013, 3:43 pm
#10
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We had come by train - it is about 100 feet from the station to the Vaporetti stop. It's also easier to get luggage on and off the Vaporetti than the water taxi.
Jun 6, 2013, 3:57 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 1,380
I can't even imagine being stuck in VCE during an ACTV strike.
Jun 6, 2013, 8:40 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: DL GM; AA; UA; BA
Posts: 82
If it were me, I'd call now and try to get a flight out the next day. Nothing wrong with an extra day in Venice. But if you don't want or can't stay an extra day, how about moving to an airport hotel the night before. There is a Marriott close by with a shuttle service to the airport. I am assuming that the shuttle is privately operated and not affected by the strike. And also assume that the strike doesn't affect the airport/airlines workers. If it does, then definitely rebook now and don't wait.
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...3-75b66089dd79
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...3-75b66089dd79
Jun 6, 2013, 8:57 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: West of CLE
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Posts: 5,384
We were in Paris 3 years ago, when a general strike was called for the day we were ticketed to fly home from CDG. We had been told that, on general strike days, all busses and trains shut down, and taxis are generally unavailable.
We called Delta and plead our case to a supervisor, who rebooked us out of Brussels. We were able to get the Thalys high speed train up to Brussels and ended up having a really nice time, and had a good flight home the next day.
That might be what you'll have to do; leave Venice early, and take a 2.5 hour train ride plus a 1 hour bus ride to MXP.
We called Delta and plead our case to a supervisor, who rebooked us out of Brussels. We were able to get the Thalys high speed train up to Brussels and ended up having a really nice time, and had a good flight home the next day.
That might be what you'll have to do; leave Venice early, and take a 2.5 hour train ride plus a 1 hour bus ride to MXP.
Jun 9, 2013, 7:57 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAS - where you can get married and divorced in the same 24 hour period. Perfect for the woman who's saving herself for marriage and the man who wants a one night stand.
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The Malpensa Express to Centrale is a recent addition, it used to depart Cadorna which wasn't an easy connection from Centrale.