Anyone in Johannesburg?? My wife is stuck in the airport

[notfarnow]

My wife just called from Tambo Int'l airport. She is stuck there and doesn't know for how long.

She booked her flight through Orbitz.com. They had her flight from Garborone to Johanesburg arriving at 755PM, and her connecting flight to London leaving at 9pm. Her flight arrived in Johannesburg at 815.

When Orbitz booked the ticket, they didn't take into account the fact that you need to board 90 minutes before the flight to London departs.

Now she is stuck in Tambo Int'l airport. It costs $3 a minute to use the phone, to wait an hour on hold to talk to Orbitz.

So I'm on hold instead, trying my best not to SCREAM. My wife is sleeping in the fking airport.

[nostatic]

doesn't help much, but fwiw I'll never use Orbitz again. They blow, and their customer service is ridiculous. I waited over an hour on the phone to deal with a refund issue.

[notfarnow]

They are saying that their information lists a 60 minute boarding time. Even if her flight had arrived on time, it would have given her 5 minutes to board.

But teh fact is they need 90 minutes to board, so even if the flight had been on time she would have missed boarding by 25 mins.

[rcecale]

I don't know the geography of South Africa, but Pelican LeRoux Strydom is in Pretoria. If he's close, perhaps he can check in on your bride and make sure all is well.

Randy

[onlycafe]

tell her to stock up on nigerian scams while she is there.

[notfarnow]

They said it could be a couple days before she can get out of SA, and they won't reimburse for the tickets.

They suggested that I call Air Canada, who they booked the ticket through. I told them that I need a solution that does not involve me negotiating with their supplier.

Their reply:
"Look, all we do is book the tickets. Your wife should have known that she wouldn't have been able to make that connection."

I'm sure that in a few days I will find that funny. Orbitz is one hell of an outfit. I am on hold, waiting for a manager.

[Jims5543]

Here is a timely article for you.

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=orbitz_blows

I started using a travel agent again and stopped with the online stuff.

Example:

I needed to fly on July 5th back to Florida to get my Porsche and drive back to NC.

The best I could do on Airline and discount sites was $360 and the times were not the best.

My travel agent booked me at a good time for $250 including her fees. Back to basics for me.

[TerryH]

Meals and lodging should be on Ohcraps.

[nostatic]

escalate. Talk to a manager, then their manager if you don't get satisfaction. Takes awhile but should work out. Bummer for her though...

[stomachmonkey]

GIves you more time to tweak the molding.

[TheMentat]

Originally posted by stomachmonkey
GIves you more time to tweak the molding.

my thoughts exactly!

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by nostatic
escalate. Talk to a manager, then their manager if you don't get satisfaction. Takes awhile but should work out. Bummer for her though...

They basically told me it's my issue to deal with, and to call Air Canada who gave them the booking info. I told them that my next phone call will be to the fraud department at Visa, because they sold us a flight that was impossible to use.

They said that's absurd. I said perhaps, but it will tie up a lot more of their time than it would take to just make it right.

On hold w/ a manager now.

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by stomachmonkey
GIves you more time to tweak the molding.

When my wife called from the airport, in tears, I told her that I had been bull$hitting her about the baseboard trim and that it was all finished.

That cheered her up. I sent her some pictures so she can have a look at an internet cafe.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by nostatic
doesn't help much, but fwiw I'll never use Orbitz again. They blow, and their customer service is ridiculous. I waited over an hour on the phone to deal with a refund issue.

It took me one time to nix using Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia ever again.

Sorry to hear about your problems but next time book with the airline directly. I use the above to find descent deals on flights at times then call the airline directly and ask "ya want to do it without a commission to XXX?" Never had them say no and the price has always been the same or better.

[nostatic]

Originally posted by notfarnow
They basically told me it's my issue to deal with, and to call Air Canada who gave them the booking info. I told them that my next phone call will be to the fraud department at Visa, because they sold us a flight that was impossible to use.

They said that's absurd. I said perhaps, but it will tie up a lot more of their time than it would take to just make it right.

On hold w/ a manager now.

don't back down. In my case I did a search and checked the "only show refundable fares" box. I booked one of the flights, needed to make a change, and they said, "your ticket is non-refundable." I argued that I clicked the box so *their* site should only give me refundable tickets. After over an hour of waiting and escalating, they processed a refund, although I had to send the paper ticket back and wait about 4 weeks for the cc refund. The usual fallback position is to just say that you'll dispute the charge with your cc. If you have any sort of leg to stand on they'll do something for you.

[LeRoux Strydom]

Jake

If your wife is still stuck, ask her to call me on the local number 0832822566, I'll go out there and see what I can do. What is her name?

Le Roux

[notfarnow]

Orbitz eventually caved in set up a flight from Johannesburg to Frankfurt at 710pm, then to Montreal at 1230pm.

I got an email from her at 1.45am, she said she was going to get a room at the airport hotel (protea hotel transit) at 8am and then call me. That was 6 hrs ago and I haven't heard anything. No answer at the hotel front desk.

Le Roux, I appreciate your offer. I'm hoping I hear back from her soon.

[LeRoux Strydom]

Make sure she hits the check-in counter at least 2.5 hours before departure. ORT Int is very busy, lots of construction on new terminals etc. which makes the current international terminal very crowded. Let me know if I can do anything, I'm 30 min away.

Le Roux

[Porsche_monkey]

So you'll have the exterior of the house painted and the landscaping done when the bus arrives from Montreal?

Travelling has gone from being a pain to being easy (and fun) to being a pain again all in about 20 years. I only travel for work now, and only when I absolutely have to. Travelling sucks.

[rcm]

Always folks you can count on this board. Awesome.

Jake, hope your wife gets out soon and ok.