Not an auspicious start to the trip that I’m calling “Epic 2012”. Qantas domestic baggage system fails completely on Sunday afternoon, with a huge line of passengers having to check in their bags in the international terminal. Chatting in the line with a family from Brisbane, and remark that in the last 20 years, Qantas have only mislaid my bag once, and that was nearly 20 years ago.
Make it to the front of the queue in the international terminal where the ‘backup’ baggage system promptly fails. Fortunately I have an hour to stand in a queue to check in my baggage without missing my flight to Sydney, although I do miss being able to relax in the Qantas lounge for the ‘official’ start to this holiday.
The flight to Sydney is uneventful, until having waited for bags to appear from the flight for an hour, the rumour mill starts amongst those waiting that the twenty –odd bags on the carousel were all that made it on to the flight. Fill out form, told to expect bag around midnight, jump in taxi to hotel. Remember after getting the taxi that I only have my carry-on luggage and could have taken the airport train.
The Sofitel makes my day on arrival – a complimentary upgrade on top of the great deal that I had gotten on a Junior Suite. No luggage, but a lovely room with a toothbrush and toothpaste!
