The first day of our Hawaiian vacation

[BYU 14]

Is being spent at the Ramada Inn near Phoenix Airport :(

Hawaiian Airlines was kind enough to change the departure time of our flight and not inform us. So we get there about an hour before our scheduled departure only to be told the planes doors are locked and it is getting ready to depart.

They give us a number to call and we are told first that we should be there 3 hours before our departure......Ah no. How about you send us a notice when change the departure so we don't have to live in the Airport like Tom Hanks.

Then they say they will be happy to get us on the flight tomorrow for a modest transfer fee of $400. Are you fucking kidding me? You screw up and then try and charge us $400 because we were didn't check in 3 hours ahead of time?

Phoenix Airport is great about getting through security fast and we have never needed to arrrive more than an hour before our departure, so it is just annoying that they are trying to put this on us (there were 3 other people there the same time as us that weren't notified either BTW)

After much haggling we got the fee to $100 to transfer the tickets to tomorrow, as the other alternative was write a letter to try and get a refund and blow off the trip we planned a year and a half ago. So today we are taking advantage of being in a Hotel room all day alone.......guess it could be worse......Though we are missing is the Ocean view :)

[SFL Cat]

Man, that sucks. Sounds like you're making the best of it, though.

[Apathetic Lurker]

Keep track of everything and contact them when you get back .If that doesnt work,contact the BBB ....Worked for me....

[sterlingice]

Bummer. Tho, I do appreciate the idea of living in the airport like Tom Hanks ;)

SI

[JediKooter]

And I wonder why Hawaiian airlines is in bankruptcy protection...

Typical airline company snobbery in my opinion. 3 hours before a flight??? Um, no, I'm not going to a foreign country.

Hope it all works out BYU

[Buccaneer]

I read the travel ombudsman at cnn (as well in T&L) and they emphasize to get every communications in writing (i.e., don't call). Glad you were able to get it down to $100. In the past several years, I have made it a habit to check-in online the night before. I don't like surprises at the airport.

[Ksyrup]

In the past several years, I have made it a habit to check-in online the night before. I don't like surprises at the airport.

Yep. I check in and even periodically check my flight times the day of from my Blackberry.

[EagleFan]

Hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation.

For the record, there is a reason they tell you to check the status of your flight 24 hours prior to leaving. With that said, I usually don't so I am not preaching here (of course most of my flights are for work so I am not usually broken up if I have to reschedule).

Oh, and now after reading the thread I understand why it was posted. I saw the thread title and thought "what the hell is he doing on FOFC on his Hawaiian vacation?"

[BYU 14]

I read the travel ombudsman at cnn (as well in T&L) and they emphasize to get every communications in writing (i.e., don't call). Glad you were able to get it down to $100. In the past several years, I have made it a habit to check-in online the night before. I don't like surprises at the airport.

Definitely a lesson learned and I will be checking from now on as well. I am grateful we got it to $100, they technically could have just said pay it or don't go. I would have raised holy hell, but in the end it would have likely been a lot of effort for little in the way of results, so it could have been worse.

All good though, the tour we had planned for tomorrow was cancelled due to rain and I rescheduled it for later in the week, so that worked out and we can check in as soon as we get there tomorrow instead of needing to wait until 4 :) (We are staying at our timeshare so no money lost there)

We can wait until tomorrow to be sipping Mai Tai's on the beach and still have 7 days there. Hopefully we will be able to hook up with Macroguru later in the week as well.

[BYU 14]

"what the hell is he doing on FOFC on his Hawaiian vacation?"

LOL, good point, you will definitely see no more posts from me until April 2nd after today!

[EagleFan]

LOL, good point, you will definitely see no more posts from me until April 2nd after today!

Enjoy it ya bastard (no jealousy here)... :)

[MacroGuru]

We can wait until tomorrow to be sipping Mai Tai's on the beach and still have 7 days there. Hopefully we will be able to hook up with Macroguru later in the week as well.

I wish we could have had more time to talk and chill in Hawaii...What a small world when you can meet an FOFCer on their vacation in paradise while your working in paradise. LOL!

[BYU 14]

Well, things picked up considerably after that first day, what an awesome place to visit. It really pisses me off I waited until I was 46 to suck it up and not worry about flying over water for 5 hours to get there. The Pearl Harbor tour was surprisingly emotional as well, standing above the USS Arizona really puts a perspective on things.

Here are a few pics (None of Pearly Harbor, since I forgot the Camera battery that day and had to buy a disposable, so they are still getting developed)

The best sunset in the World
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x32/Kidbrit/DSC00535.jpg

Right before dinner at the Shore Bird....great place to eat
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x32/Kidbrit/DSC00637-1.jpg

Setting out for some snorkeling
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x32/Kidbrit/DSC00595.jpg

These Girls just kept following me.....(That's my story)
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x32/Kidbrit/DSC00587.jpg

What are the odds of running into Macroguru??
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x32/Kidbrit/DSC00509.jpg

I can't take her anywhere :)
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x32/Kidbrit/DSC00551.jpg

[DaddyTorgo]

glad it picked up for you BYU!

Hawaii's a funny place to run into people.

When we were living in California we went to Hawaii on vacation one time. Didn't even know that our neighbors across the street were there as well. Ran into them at the airport on the big island on the way home and it turned out we were on the same flight.

Good times.

[sterlingice]

Looks like fun :)

SI

[cthomer5000]

The Pearl Harbor tour was surprisingly emotional as well, standing above the USS Arizona really puts a perspective on things.

I felt the same way, and I would describe myself as one of the least patriotic people I know. I was fairly oblivious to some of the key details of the Arizona before arriving there, and I think that helped the tour itself hit home a little more. It's a very eery, solemn setup.