What are your favorite travel myths?
Aug 23, 2015, 10:15 am
#122
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
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Posts: 6,798
Aug 24, 2015, 11:51 am
#124
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Beacon Falls, CT, USA
Posts: 1,609
Actually, we were just in Iceland. The Duty Free had my husband's favorite whisky (Glenfarclas 105) for $35, the same size bottle going for $120 at home (Hagerstown, MD). That is, if you can get it. We bought two.
Aug 24, 2015, 12:00 pm
#125
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Beacon Falls, CT, USA
Posts: 1,609
Myths:
Of course your checked luggage will arrive with your flight, despite the delay! (of the 6 of us traveling, 3 had delayed luggage. One was 1 day, one was 3 days, and I only got mine 5 days later because I kept calling 3-4 times a day). I try not to check luggage anymore, unless it's inevitable.
Of course you will make your connection! We radioed ahead to let them know that we were running late (actually said to me and my party, 4 of us including my mom who has trouble walking. We made a mad dash through Charlotte and found the doors to the plane just closing. We had to argue with them to wait for my mom, who was still hobbling along).
Of course your checked luggage will arrive with your flight, despite the delay! (of the 6 of us traveling, 3 had delayed luggage. One was 1 day, one was 3 days, and I only got mine 5 days later because I kept calling 3-4 times a day). I try not to check luggage anymore, unless it's inevitable.
Of course you will make your connection! We radioed ahead to let them know that we were running late (actually said to me and my party, 4 of us including my mom who has trouble walking. We made a mad dash through Charlotte and found the doors to the plane just closing. We had to argue with them to wait for my mom, who was still hobbling along).
Aug 26, 2015, 12:11 pm
#126
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
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My favorite myth is that by flying some convoluted route, with many stops and a forced extra hotel stay, I am saving $89 a ticket. Given the cost of the extra room, meals, and the lost vacation day I figure that a non-stop or one-stop direct route is far cheaper.
Example, I flew Economy Plus to and from Europe for $1400 recently. I could have paid 'only' $1150 for flights that involved two extra stops and 16 hours of extra travel time. This is a deal???
Example, I flew Economy Plus to and from Europe for $1400 recently. I could have paid 'only' $1150 for flights that involved two extra stops and 16 hours of extra travel time. This is a deal???
Room-I have no problem sleeping at airports (I have done so before.)
Holiday-I have 3 weeks of it and can use said itinerary to see places I would not otherwise be able to see, especially since with 24h I can still see a lot.
Aug 26, 2015, 1:48 pm
#127
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
In rural China and everywhere outside of the tourist areas in Cuba it was hard to find English speakers.
Aug 26, 2015, 1:51 pm
#128
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
I saw a doozy on some random website the other day. It told readers not to make a seat selection until they arrived at the airport. This would supposedly put them first in line for upgrades.
Uh, no. It puts you first in line for a middle seat near the lavatory.
Uh, no. It puts you first in line for a middle seat near the lavatory.
Aug 26, 2015, 1:51 pm
#129
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
That is a great price! You can actually bring back more than the duty-free allowance, you just have to pay duty (and it's on the price you paid). Also, they've never actually charged me, just told me they could but it wasn't worth the effort.
Aug 27, 2015, 7:20 am
#130
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: ONT/FRA
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 878
I was on an aircraft earlier this week that had an inop auto-lander. The (manual) landing was the hardest I've ever experienced on a commercial aircraft without it being classified as a "landing incident."
Maybe the planes should fly themselves
Maybe the planes should fly themselves
Aug 27, 2015, 7:55 am
#131
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,790
First in line for a middle seat near the lavatory if available and first to get bumped if the flight is oversold.
Aug 27, 2015, 8:29 am
#132
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
My favorite myth is that by flying some convoluted route, with many stops and a forced extra hotel stay, I am saving $89 a ticket. Given the cost of the extra room, meals, and the lost vacation day I figure that a non-stop or one-stop direct route is far cheaper.
Example, I flew Economy Plus to and from Europe for $1400 recently. I could have paid 'only' $1150 for flights that involved two extra stops and 16 hours of extra travel time. This is a deal???
Example, I flew Economy Plus to and from Europe for $1400 recently. I could have paid 'only' $1150 for flights that involved two extra stops and 16 hours of extra travel time. This is a deal???
Aug 27, 2015, 8:34 am
#133
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,743
You mean like my family members who booked a flight arriving 6 hours after mine because it saved them $20. Only when I pointed out that by "saving $20" they would end up spending an additional $150 to get to the hotel because I wasn't waiting at the airport for them did they realize the error of their ways and change the flights. They still grumble though that I "made them" change their flights.
Aug 27, 2015, 10:08 am
#134
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
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Not necessarily; the bumping rules generally don't say that passengers without seat assignments lose out. Status and ticket class/price are more important.
Aug 27, 2015, 4:09 pm
#135
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United 1K, Aegean Gold, Delta Silver Medallion, Marriott Platinum, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 14
Actually saw my favorite travel myth in action earlier this week where a traveler with no status cut in front of me at Premier check-in for UA and "dropped" his open wallet in front of a check-in agent while asking for an upgrade...