The Write Direction: Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose

OCCASIONALLY something happens which reminds you of the anti-gambling punchline “sometimes you win but mostly you lose”.

Sadly, this has applied to my most recent overseas trip.

The holiday was really great but getting home proved a much more difficult task.

It has been many years since I last arrived in Australia via Brisbane then needed to transfer between international and domestic airports for the final flight to Williamtown.

So, like most travellers would, I went to Brisbane airport’s website for information on how this transfer works.

It should have been an easy transfer, but it became a nightmare situation.

Despite booking my seat eight months in advance, a comedy of errors – involving airline codesharing agreements – saw me without a seat for the final leg of my journey.

I will spare you all the details but here are some of the key points.

As we headed towards Brisbane, I filled in my arrivals card before a flight attendant told me I didn’t need to complete it because I was only transiting Brisbane.

She then took my card and disposed of it; I guess she thought she was being helpful.

Being my 72nd flight overseas I knew that once you leave an international flight and move to a domestic flight, that technically you have left the airport and therefore must complete the arrival form.

When security grabbed me at the international airport, I was then required to complete the form.

The security guy said it’s happening all too often, but the time it took interfered with me catching my next flight.

He then, very kindly, walked me to the front of the queue to transfer from international to domestic, but the 10 minute bus took 25 minutes.

My time to board was already eaten up, but it got worse at the domestic airport when one of the airlines involved refused to take my case and required me to walk another ten minutes to a different terminal for support.

On arrival, that desk was unattended.

By the time I got back to security, the plane said my seat was allocated to someone else.

After a five hour journey to reach my overseas departure point, a three hour wait at the airport, and an international flight, I was not in the best shape to face the issues I encountered.

Somewhere inside I think the “ugly Aussie” might have been lurking and was looking for an escape route.

You don’t need to know just how ugly this got before I was eventually provided with a free night at the Marriott Hotel with a cab ride for $65 each way plus a generous meal voucher.

It was all very much appreciated, but should never have happened.

I have since raised the issue with all involved parties.

So, how will I go?

I suspect my result will be similar to the guy who kicks a paper bag full of water and all that happens is that he ends up with very wet shoes.

I just hope they dry out before my return trip, previously booked and paid for, due to take place early next year. Unfortunately, I can’t escape that.

By John BLACKBOURN