Rant And RaveThe Kafeneon, Members Forum |
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Jimjim 
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 PM Topic: Rant And RavePosted: 02 Jul 2012 at 1:36am |
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Arghhhhh
I'm just back from my latest holiday and enough is enough.
For far too long it has been the cross to bear of the holiday/tourist/traveller to suffer, put up with, excuse or bear with the the absolute atrocious service and conditions we have to tolerate during our journeys to our respective destinatitions.
To me, having made countless trips over countless years I have always acknowledged the welcome and quality of service I have enjoyed whilst at my destination.
My issue is with the cattle class mentality of the service available to us during our transit.
This apllies both at home and at our destinations.
The list is endless:-
long queues
poor seating
cramped planes
baggage delays
small airports
lack of facilities
on and on and on
Why oh why do we accept such a low level of service ... the efforts of induvidual workers has to be applauded, it is the control, management and design of our what we experience that fails.
To me, and I am fortunate enough in these difficult times to still be able to afford to travel and spend my money in the travel industry. but I am am now considering other ways to so spend money and be a customer.
My custom and money will go elsewhere ... it is a sad day, but as I say, why oh why do we have to continue to put up with such poor travel service to reach the destination of our dreams.
Jim
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Dasia
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PM Posted: 02 Jul 2012 at 5:19am |
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Jimjim I could not agree with you more.
I have been an enthusiastic traveller since I was about 16 years old. Not afraid to fly no-name airlines, or to buy train tickets to a country where I didn't speak the language, to bunk down in a chancy-looking youth hostel...etc. As the years went on, I tried to pass the love of travel on to my children, which often meant convincing them to go to sleep on the floor of a 747 on the way to Europe...or that they were not going to be swallowed up by the Ottoman toilet in Cyprus...etc. But now, into my 6th decade, I admit it's getting to me. Not the lure or the love of new places to explore--that's still alive and well. It's just getting there, as you say. Being chewed out by security people because the plastic bag holding my sample-size toiletries is wider than it is high (Athens airport). Or by check-in clerks because my carry-on bag is 1 cm wider than it should be, even if it is 5 cm shorter than it could be. Or my boarding pass is printed out on the wrong size paper--because we don't have the expected size in North America. It does seem like the companies in the travel industry have lost sight of what makes people want to spend money in their field.
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Canarydave
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PM Posted: 02 Jul 2012 at 10:38am |
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Well if you stop all this travelling the queues will be a little bit shorter
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Andyroogolf
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PM Posted: 02 Jul 2012 at 11:19am |
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Oh well thats two less people in the queue then!
The trouble is the world is going mad and we have to be ultra security concious because the human being cannot be trusted. I acknowledge this and put up with what is necessary but it doesnt ruin my travel experience. I am happy to get there safe and sound and then enjoy whta I am visiting. Nobody else can affect that it is up to me.
Last year I did more travelling than ever and I am still as excited about my next trip in 4 weeks time. Nobody will stop me venturing around the world.
Jimjim and Dasia - you need to think again about what you are saying!
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enjoy what you can when you can!
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Lily's Gran
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PM Posted: 02 Jul 2012 at 6:10pm |
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I agree with Jimjim and Dasia, since we retired we no longer have to fly as we have more time, and it is a much more pleasant experience going by ferry or cruising. This year we bit the bullet again and flew to Corfu. It was not a pleasant experience being herded like cattle and having to stand around in a hot airport with no aircon and not enough seats. This could be sorted with better management but why should the airlines and airport authorities do anything? They have a captive market. I love travelling but hate the cramped aircraft and the awful conditions at airports.
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and Charlie, Nia and Daniel's Gran too
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Sue Avrio
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PM Posted: 02 Jul 2012 at 8:14pm |
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Travelling can be made much more pleasant - try meet and greet at the airport (not as expensive as you think) and travel with hand luggage only and its much more pleasant. Honest |
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Janet123
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PM Posted: 02 Jul 2012 at 8:29pm |
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We can't stand the transfer time to Sidari, but rather than not go, we opt to hire a car which awaits us at the airport.
Canopies have been erected at Corfu Airport, so any wait to check in is cooler than it was. I'd never give up my visits to Corfu. I've heard Zante Airport is a nightmare, so console myself that things could be worse!  |
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SusieH
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PM Posted: 14 Jul 2012 at 11:19am |
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I think the secret is to chill out
We never check in until the queue has virtually disappeared preferring to wait outside in the shade. By the time we check in we normally know if the return flight is on time. Again we never go through security until we know that the wait will not be long airside, we nip outside again into the shade if there is a long wait, this time without the luggage The reps are quite used to people doing this and will normally nip over to the shady spot and warn everyone doing the same thing that it is time to get themselves to the departure lounge Happy chilling!! |
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DCV
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PM Posted: 14 Jul 2012 at 1:43pm |
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We do the same as SusieH. Usually the last to check in. We sit and have a drink and a sandwich on the grassy area and just keep our eye on the queue. When we get rid of the bags we go back out till they are are about ready to call to the gate. We don't buy duty free so no need to go through early. Just home on Thursday with Ryainair - could not fault them - no delays and home early.
Alison |
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Devoted Corfu Visitor
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Davyboy
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PM Posted: 14 Jul 2012 at 10:10pm |
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Never had to queue outside at Corfu airport, been told to, but never did
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Keep taking your, take a holiday in kassiopi pills. L.1.G
Holiday Countdown:Davyboy has less than 9 weeks to go!! (That's in just 1632 hours!) |
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Firstade
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PM Posted: 15 Jul 2012 at 12:27am |
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Why?
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Davyboy
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PM Posted: 15 Jul 2012 at 8:45am |
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Because I didn't want to.
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Keep taking your, take a holiday in kassiopi pills. L.1.G
Holiday Countdown:Davyboy has less than 9 weeks to go!! (That's in just 1632 hours!) |
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BruceAndMaria
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PM Posted: 15 Jul 2012 at 9:23am |
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Chill out thats what I do, this year will be the 43rd time I've flown back to the UK from Corfu from a holiday and the only time there's been a problem at Corfu airport was 9/11 when the twin towers in New York were destroyed and getting home was a nightmare which was understandable under the circumstances.
I get in the taxi outside my apartment, get out at the Airport, get my boarding card and get on the plane and head for home...
 Why should I get my nickers in a twist at the end of my loverly holiday after being so happy for two weeks just because somebody has ask me to join a queue or not.
And believe it or not, in all these years not once have I or my family been left behind..
 Bruce
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 Holiday Countdown:BruceAndMaria has less than 6 weeks to go!! (That's in just 1104 hours!) |
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Andyroogolf
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PM Posted: 16 Jul 2012 at 12:04pm |
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Well said Bruce. We are regulars to Corfu and we do our own thing. Let the hoards of travel company/package tour holiday makers queue outside we arrive as late as we can and walk straight up to the check in, OK we do have to queue there but thats how it is, then we chill out in departures and wait for the return flight. Only time we had a problem was when we got stuck in Corfu due to the ash cloud what a nightmare that was but I am sure it was for the flight companies as well in hindsight. There was nothing we could do about it. We lived to see another day though - how lucky are we? Two weeks to go before we go through our tried and tested travel itinerary!
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enjoy what you can when you can!
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Janet123
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PM Posted: 16 Jul 2012 at 9:24pm |
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Problem is, if you *have* booked a package, the company won't let you in until the desk is open, and then you have to join the queue outside for your flight, whether or not you've made your own way to the airport.
Happened to us-it is a bit of a cattle market unfortunately, but hey ho! |
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Angelofthenorth
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PM Posted: 17 Jul 2012 at 12:54am |
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Didn't happen to us Janet last week. We booked a package but there was only six if us on the return transfer bus. When we got to the airport the rep just told us to watch for the check-in desk opening and left us to it - no queuing under hot canopies for us!
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Live, Love, Laugh
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SusieH
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PM Posted: 18 Jul 2012 at 12:58am |
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I just ignore the reps LOL
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Janet123
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PM Posted: 18 Jul 2012 at 2:36am |
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We ignored them one year and checked in quickly, but another year, they spotted our luggage tags and told us to go outside, lol!
What annoyed me this year at the start of our holiday, was struggling to get past the queue of departing holidaymakers to get to the car park to pick up our car. They expected us to walk on the road and dodge the coaches and cars! |
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Jimjim
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PM Posted: 18 Jul 2012 at 8:25am |
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Just a point of order ... Corfu and most other Greek island airports air far too small inside to enable one long continuous queue at each check-in desk as at our UK airports.
The double queue system marshalled by the reps and airport staff was put in place to creat some sort of order in the system.
Those who ignore/dodge/etc those marshalls are to put it bluntly "queue Jumping" in front of the people who are waiting patiently outside.
The type of journey you have been on, e.g. package/all inclusive/independent/etc to does not confer any rights or privileges at the check-in queue ... we are all equal ticket holders for that flight.
Those who do queue jump would never do the same on the UK side, so why do it on the Greek side ... it is the same people you flew out with who are in this double queue system.
One other point ... waiting till the last minute appears to be a way of avoiding the queues ... but if we all done it then there would be a similar length queue to be last.
Jim
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Kathy3
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PM Posted: 18 Jul 2012 at 8:55am |
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I second that, does not matter what sort of holiday you have been on, you still should "wait your turn" to put it one way. You are not entitled to march to the front etc I don,t think. I am well used to queuing on my hols and now if I have my Kindle and a bottle of water I am happy.Kxx
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