Global97 From United States of America, joined Sep 2009, 34 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 10146 times:
Hi A.net Welcome to my TR.
In late April I decided to make a trip to Australia to visit my family. We where able to get a fair coming for Philadelphia (where I live ) for $1,206 for a flight on June 8th returning June 22nd. I would fly to LAX on US Airways and then take the Qantas A380 straight to MEL.
Now I am putting a spin on my TR this trip is in the View of a UM (Un-accompanied Minor)
I would be doing to trip by my self and due to to my young age I had to travel as a UM.
Now my dad had to fly me to LAX? Why? Because apparently An airline made a mistake with a transfer with a UM and this kid ended up in Florida when he was so-posed to be going somewhere else and left the airport when he landed and when to a Police station saying he was "lost" in a different state! So now UM can't make a transfer between different airlines without a guardian, now anyone feel free to correct me if i am wrong because i don't know if this is %100 percent true it's just what me and my Dad herd when he had to come with me to LAX.
So I left around 3:15 PM from my place to go to PHL and the time it takes to drive to the airport differs, sometimes it takes 30 minutes, sometimes an hour. We arrived at the airport at about 3:50 PM. My Dad and I were dropped off at terminal 3 the US Airways domestic terminal. There wasn't very much of a line but when my dad asked "Is it possible to check his bags in all the way to Australia" the lady who was looking a different direction and chewing gum said "You have to go to the International terminal to do that." So even know that was about at 7 minute walk we did it and once we got to the Internahinol terminal the person we helped me check in my bags said "Thats strange, the lady at terminal 3 is able to check your bags all the way through." Me and my dad were so annoyed.
Terminal 3 the domestic terminal where I was told to go to International
Terminal 3 where I was told to go the International terminal to check in my bags
The check-in desks in Terminal 3
International Terminal
So once we checked in our bags (I was able to check in my bag all the way) we went to security witch took a quick 10 minutes.
Security Line
So once I got though security my dad and I got a snack and then he read the news paper while I did some spotting.
British Airways 737 sitting at the gate at PHL
British Airways 737???? Sitting at the Gate
Lufthansa A340 sitting at the gate at PHL
Lufthansa A340
Air France A340 sitting at the gate at PHL
Air France A340
So then we made our walk over to Terminal 3 again but this time inside of the Airport!
Once there I did some more spotting but there was nothing rely interesting besides this....
US Airways Eagles A321
The Eagles A321 I think
Now it was about 5:00 PM by then and I had an 6:00 PM flight so my dad and I headed to the gate. Once we got there we waited for a while just chilled but at about 5:20 they announced that there was a delay for and mechanical reason but also there was 2 much wait for our A320 so they had to get a different plane (the plane wasn't even at the gate yet) The delay was till 7:40 but I still had enough time to make my 10:00 flight to MEL. So we just waited we go to 7:30 and they said there was a problem with the plane that we got and there was another delay till 8:30. By then we were starting to stress about making my connection. We boarded the plane at 8:30 but since the plane was still overweight we had to take off from the International runway and we didn't take off till 9:00 and by then we were expecting not to make my flight.
Once we landed there was a US Airways worked waiting at the end of the walkway to get us. She told me and my dad that the qantas pilot was not willing to wait 15 minutes to get me on the plane so we had to spend 24 hours in LA till I could get on the next flight. So here is he lit of things that this delay messed up!
1. I missed my flight and there is only 1 flight out of LAX going to MEL a day.
2. My dad and I had to stay in a hotel that night.
3. My dad had to work the next day
4. My dad had to change his flight
5. I missed my great-grade mothers funeral which i was so-posed to speak at.
Now my bag was on a plane was somewhere in LAX and the only time i was going to b able to get my bag was when i arrived at australia so now I was staying in a hotel for a night without a change of cloths!
Tuesday June 9th.
So when we woke up the next mourning we had breakfast and then went to to airport to get my tickets and my dad's. When we got to the US Airways desk they were able to give my dad his ticket for the red eye flight so that he could take me to my flight. They told us to get my tickets I had to have my passport and be at the Qantas desk so we went to our hotel and got my documents and then went to the Qantas desk. (This was all before 9:00 AM)
When we got to the Qantas desk they told me I was on the Wednesday flight! We were so mad! We went back to the US Airways desk and they called United and Air New Zealand and asked if they would be able to take me that night, ANZ said no but United took me. Thank you United!!
Then we went back to our hotel and had lunch and then told me he was going to try to get me a business class seat! Together we went to the United International desk and offered my dad and upgrade for $550 which he took so that made me happy!
Global97 From United States of America, joined Sep 2009, 34 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 9685 times:
Quoting BA319-131 (Reply 1): Looking forward to see when things improve.
Robt760 From United States of America, joined Jun 2009, 50 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days ago) and read 9066 times:
What a fiasco. Shows how US Airways lacks in service and communication. I'm surprised they didn't put you on one of the other QF flights that same night that leave LAX for SYD, AUK, or BNE late at night. It would have been easy to get a connecting flight into MEL once you got to the South Pacific. I'm surprised your father had to PAY to upgrade you. They should have done better, and unfortunately, unless you push them (in a nice way) they'll do the minimum to get you to your destination.
Good thing you made it safely in the end. Sorry you didn't get to fly on the QF A-380, Will you take it on the return?. If not, I'd try really hard to get my flight changed (have somebody help you) and mention the whole ordeal you went through (including missing the funeral) state the facts, but don't make a huge drama out of it.
Global97 From United States of America, joined Sep 2009, 34 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 8746 times:
Quoting Robt760 (Reply 3): Sorry you didn't get to fly on the QF A-380, Will you take it on the return?
I am doing a 4 part TR i get to fly on the A380 coming back.
Quoting Robt760 (Reply 3): If not, I'd try really hard to get my flight changed (have somebody help you) and mention the whole ordeal you went through (including missing the funeral) state the facts, but don't make a huge drama out of it.
As you herd we went to Qantas, United and US Airways desks we told them all about to funeral but all they said was "Oh thats horrible, sorry."
HOOB747 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 420 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 7886 times:
Thanks for the trip report, and sorry about your delay and troubles. Sometimes that happens to all of us, but usually our trips go pretty smoothly. Good luck with the return, and welcome to A-Net Global97!
DLPhoenix From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 413 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 7710 times:
Thanks for the TR. Looking forward to part 2.
Quoting Global97 (Thread starter): Now my dad had to fly me to LAX? Why? Because apparently An airline made a mistake with a transfer with a UM and this kid ended up in Florida when he was so-posed to be going somewhere else and left the airport when he landed and when to a Police station saying he was "lost" in a different state! So now UM can't make a transfer between different airlines without a guardian, now anyone feel free to correct me if i am wrong because i don't know if this is %100 percent true it's just what me and my Dad herd when he had to come with me to LAX.
Being an immigrant my daughters flew to family reunions as UMs on several occasions. My youngest turned 16 3 years ago, but until then we had no problems with KL/NW, AF/CO and AF/DL transfers. Airlines are charging quite a lot for UMs now, I hope they didn't get too greedy.
Global97 From United States of America, joined Sep 2009, 34 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 7418 times:
Quoting DLPhoenix (Reply 6): then we had no problems with KL/NW, AF/CO and AF/DL transfers. Airlines are charging quite a lot for UMs now,
Well the airlines told us that if your over the age of 15 you classify as an adult. Your oldest daughter can be considered the guardian if your other child.
Global97 From United States of America, joined Sep 2009, 34 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 6929 times:
Quoting CXB77L (Reply 8): I think you need to brush up on your aircraft recognition skills. A 777 couldn't be more different than a 737.
It was hard to get a good look of it but I do know that I need to work on it. I am still in school so besides vacation is airliners.net. It looked like an A321 but i knew it wasn't by the nose.
EWRkid1990 From United States of America, joined Mar 2009, 168 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 6665 times:
Quoting CXB77L (Reply 8): I think you need to brush up on your aircraft recognition skills. A 777 couldn't be more different than a 737.
Dude, he's a kid. calm down.
Quoting Robt760 (Reply 3): What a fiasco. Shows how US Airways lacks in service and communication. I'm surprised they didn't put you on one of the other QF flights that same night that leave LAX for SYD, AUK, or BNE late at night. It would have been easy to get a connecting flight into MEL once you got to the South Pacific. I'm surprised your father had to PAY to upgrade you. They should have done better, and unfortunately, unless you push them (in a nice way) they'll do the minimum to get you to your destination.
This isn't entirely US's fault. They couldn't control the tech delay, and it was Qantas who didn't wait, or decide to take them on another one of the evenings flights to Australia. I don't think they'd send him to SYD and expect him to connect by himself, especially if he's a UM. If anything, Qantas is at fault for not waiting the fifteen minutes or allowing him a seat on a later flight.
But global, excellent report. I'm sorry about your grandma and the missed connections, but I'm sure it gets better. I'm jealous you got a ride on the A380, by yourself no less.
9V-SVC From Singapore, joined Oct 2001, 1782 posts, RR: 11 Reply 12, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 6556 times:
Quoting UA772IAD (Reply 11): How unfortunate. And it's too bad QF didn't wait for you, they should have. 15 minutes could have easily been made-up in the air.
Looking forward to reading about the rest of your trip....
The problem is not about the flight, but not wanting to miss the ATC taking off time-slot is more like it.
CXB77L From Australia, joined Feb 2009, 2216 posts, RR: 4 Reply 13, posted (3 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 6550 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW CHAT OPERATOR
Quoting EWRkid1990 (Reply 10): Quoting CXB77L (Reply 8):
I think you need to brush up on your aircraft recognition skills. A 777 couldn't be more different than a 737.
Dude, he's a kid. calm down.
I was wrong to do that. I apologise for that comment. It does sound harsh in hindsight, which wasn't my intention.
What I had meant to say was that I'd be more than happy to help with aircraft recognition, and I'm guessing most of us on here will be happy to do the same.
I do indeed look forward to Global97's second trip report on UA J class.
Global97 From United States of America, joined Sep 2009, 34 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 6302 times:
Quoting CXB77L (Reply 13): I was wrong to do that. I apologise for that comment. It does sound harsh in hindsight, which wasn't my intention.
I didn't take that offensively at all and its something I need to work on, I would love some help working on it.
Marara From Australia, joined Oct 2001, 676 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 6171 times:
Quoting EWRkid1990 (Reply 10): This isn't entirely US's fault. They couldn't control the tech delay, and it was Qantas who didn't wait, or decide to take them on another one of the evenings flights to Australia. I don't think they'd send him to SYD and expect him to connect by himself, especially if he's a UM. If anything, Qantas is at fault for not waiting the fifteen minutes or allowing him a seat on a later flight.
But global, excellent report. I'm sorry about your grandma and the missed connections, but I'm sure it gets better. I'm jealous you got a ride on the A380, by yourself no less.
EWRkid1990
It's actually the delivering carriers responsibility - They were late, they need to do the rebooking. That is if it was a through booking of course - which it sounds like it was as US new about the connection.
You cannot expect QF to keep a 744/380 full of pax waiting 15 minutes because a US airways flight was late... They wait 15 minutes. Redo the paperwork. Loose their takeoff slot and then QF are an hour or so late. QF passengers then miss their domestic connection within Australia - QF is then responsible as the delivering carrier and has to pay out to reaccom. the passenger. Not as easy as QF not wanting to wait.
QF would have been able to provide a UM transfer in SYD as its QF to QF. But it was up to US to make those arrangements.
I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours. Jerome K Jerome
Global97 From United States of America, joined Sep 2009, 34 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 5964 times:
Quoting UA772IAD (Reply 11): How unfortunate. And it's too bad QF didn't wait for you, they should have. 15 minutes could have easily been made-up in the air.
Thats what we were thinking.
Quoting Marara (Reply 15): It's actually the delivering carriers responsibility - They were late, they need to do the rebooking. That is if it was a through booking of course - which it sounds like it was as US new about the connection.
They payed for all our new flight but we had to do all the booking and organizing.
Quoting Marara (Reply 15): You cannot expect QF to keep a 744/380 full of pax waiting 15 minutes because a US airways flight was late... They wait 15 minutes.
Thats what we thought we saw the plane when we landed on the runway/taxied past it and there was no one on the plane. I don't think the cabin crew was even on the plane.
-Global
PS Thank you everyone for the sympathy for missing the funeral it means a lot. Part 2 will be coming this weekend I just have not have had time with school.
Robt760 From United States of America, joined Jun 2009, 50 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 5417 times:
The key thing is you made it there safely, and hope for the same (but better) on the return. Hopefully young Global97 and dad got additional miles or double-dipped miles with QF for missed flight, and UA for the rebooked flight.
Also, while it's still fresh in your head, make sure your return is set up correctly, as often things people forget to check their itinerary and find out (when it's too late) that their return was cancelled or changed in a bad way. Trying to think positive, but I've had it happen once, and it's hard to forget!
Global97 From United States of America, joined Sep 2009, 34 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 5368 times:
Quoting Robt760 (Reply 17): The key thing is you made it there safely, and hope for the same (but better) on the return.
I am safe at home.
Quoting Robt760 (Reply 17): got additional miles or double-dipped miles with QF for missed flight, and UA for the rebooked flight.
We only got the miles for the flights we flew on, nothing else.
Quoting Robt760 (Reply 17): Also, while it's still fresh in your head, make sure your return is set up correctly, as often things people forget to check their itinerary and find out (when it's too late) that their return was cancelled or changed in a bad way. Trying to think positive, but I've had it happen once, and it's hard to forget!
I had a safe flight home but you can read more about that in part 3-4 when I wright them.
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We went back to the US Airways desk and they called United and Air New Zealand and asked if they would be able to take me that night, ANZ said no but United took me. Thank you United!! 
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