Trailblockers

We went into Trailfinders today to book the return portion of our flights for next year. The tickets we have say that we are returning on August 1st 2007, so we needed to make the alteration.

The receptionist at Trailfinders shook her head and said they would be unable to make the changes. The customer service advisor agreed and sent us to the Qantas office on Bridge Street.

The lady in the Qantas office spoke exactly like Dame Edna. It was hard not to comment on it.

"Okay, so you guys want to go home when?"

"Around about January 28th"

"You know your tickets run out on January 16th? You must be back in London by that date"

Stunned silence. The guy in Trailfinders back home had told us that (1) we could extend the dates on the tickets for an admin fee of about £50 and that (2) as the tickets stood, we had to be out of Australia by Jan 16th but could arrive back in the UK whenever we chose.

"What are our options?"

"You would have to buy new tickets, but that's our busiest time. We are talking megabucks"

"Right. So we need to get back to London by the 16th. Okay, can we stopover in Singapore?"

"Your tickets are routed through Bangkok. I can get you tickets through Singapore but that's an extra $200 per person"

"Okay, let's do that"

She tapped away at the computer and chewed her lip for a while. "Hmm. Guys, I can't get you out of Sydney on any of these dates. The flights are full already".

"Shit"

More stunned silence. It was touch and go that we could return to the UK on our existing tickets before they ran out.

"Can you leave earlier? I can get you out the first week in January"

"No, We have work commitments until January 21st"

More chewing of the lips. "Okay, you can go from Melbourne on January 14th, that's direct to Heathrow. We can fly you down to Melbourne, you can check your luggage right through".

She passed the itinerary across the desk. Melbourne - Heathrow. Qantas 747-400. Arrives January 15th.
24 hours 21 minutes.

I put my head in my hands and looked at Darren. "Twenty four hours on a plane. With Ella".

"She could go by ship?" he suggested.

We booked the flights. "That will be $600 for the change in routing. How would you like to pay?".