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I have business travel every year. I used to have at least one business trip every week when I got up in early morning to catch 9AM 1 hour flight to SFO. Although I can come back the same day but it always is 8PM when I arrived home. Gladly I don't have these anymore. But occasionally I still have several trips each year including International travel. During years, I have many special experiences but didn't write them down. Maybe this is time to have flash back.
Last year I made a deal with an UK supplier and the goods need to be inspected before payment can be made. It is my account and no one should go but me, my boss told me. I book the reservation and next day Downing street government announced they just broke up a terror cell who plan to have several persons each carry one chemical ingredient to mix in the same flight to bomb the plane. Immediately they suspended all flights before they can figure out how to set up new security check system in airport. Everything is in chaos. All flights depart in London were canceled for several days and 50% of other UK cities flights were canceled too. Soon the problem spread to the rest of Europe.
It affects not only the air travel but also land transportation. Since air is severely impacted, everyone switched to land transport. Supplier notified me 2 days later the goods' readiness for inspection will be delayed because they are bringing goods from mainland Europe and all land transport are overbooked and jammed.
My origin booked flight cost US$960 which is the cheapest fare in Western standard. Since I have to change reservation that there will be 2 penalties and that's why I hate airlines' pricing practice in Western world. First, minimum penalty is US$200, $100 each way for date change. Secondly, their fare doesn't remain the same during same period of time. It depends how many % of seating is still unsold and how close to the day you depart. If you are leaving within 1 week, they will rip you off like highway robber because they think you must have personal emergency or business trip. Therefore when you change schedule, your original fare is no longer good. You have to pay the difference between new schedule fare and origin which I call it 2nd penalty. By now my total fare is up to 1500 dollar.
I also learn another lesson. Sellers alway give you an optimistic picture in order to keep the deal alive. The chaos is not only snowballed but also last longer than what we expected. Few days later, he notify me it will be another delay. Oh my God! I can't take anymore. I told him the reality and ask him to tell me the schedule when he is 100% sure becasue I can't keep paying the penalties. Do you know what my final fare is? By the time, I book final schedule, my total bill for the ticket is more US3,000. I should deserve the 1st class or at least Business class. Guess what! It is for Coach (Economy) class. I also plan to stay here for 8 days in case any further delay happen that I don't have to change returning flight and another penalty. And I may have extra days to cruise the country or go to Beatle's home town Liverpool since it is close to my visiting place, Manchester.
More to be continued....
Last year I made a deal with an UK supplier and the goods need to be inspected before payment can be made. It is my account and no one should go but me, my boss told me. I book the reservation and next day Downing street government announced they just broke up a terror cell who plan to have several persons each carry one chemical ingredient to mix in the same flight to bomb the plane. Immediately they suspended all flights before they can figure out how to set up new security check system in airport. Everything is in chaos. All flights depart in London were canceled for several days and 50% of other UK cities flights were canceled too. Soon the problem spread to the rest of Europe.
It affects not only the air travel but also land transportation. Since air is severely impacted, everyone switched to land transport. Supplier notified me 2 days later the goods' readiness for inspection will be delayed because they are bringing goods from mainland Europe and all land transport are overbooked and jammed.
My origin booked flight cost US$960 which is the cheapest fare in Western standard. Since I have to change reservation that there will be 2 penalties and that's why I hate airlines' pricing practice in Western world. First, minimum penalty is US$200, $100 each way for date change. Secondly, their fare doesn't remain the same during same period of time. It depends how many % of seating is still unsold and how close to the day you depart. If you are leaving within 1 week, they will rip you off like highway robber because they think you must have personal emergency or business trip. Therefore when you change schedule, your original fare is no longer good. You have to pay the difference between new schedule fare and origin which I call it 2nd penalty. By now my total fare is up to 1500 dollar.
I also learn another lesson. Sellers alway give you an optimistic picture in order to keep the deal alive. The chaos is not only snowballed but also last longer than what we expected. Few days later, he notify me it will be another delay. Oh my God! I can't take anymore. I told him the reality and ask him to tell me the schedule when he is 100% sure becasue I can't keep paying the penalties. Do you know what my final fare is? By the time, I book final schedule, my total bill for the ticket is more US3,000. I should deserve the 1st class or at least Business class. Guess what! It is for Coach (Economy) class. I also plan to stay here for 8 days in case any further delay happen that I don't have to change returning flight and another penalty. And I may have extra days to cruise the country or go to Beatle's home town Liverpool since it is close to my visiting place, Manchester.
More to be continued....
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