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WHERE'S JOHNNY JET ? |
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HYPER LINK = WEBSITE HOUSE KEEPING: Remember when you click on the pictures in "Where's Johnny Jet," they will open up in another window. Just click the "x"(close) in each picture to get back to the newsletter. This should alleviate complaints about closing Johnny Jet. Thanks again for your support, and remember: If you book trips on the web, please go through johnnyjet.com (we get a commission and it doesn't cost you any more money). "If you want Johnny Jet to continue I need your support and the support of your fellow travelers". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Our departure from Fiji was crazy. Somehow my flight from SavuSavu to Nadi, and those of two colleagues, Lisa and Brad, got messed up. Luckily, around 9:30 a.m. Lisa checked to see if our afternoon Sun Air plane was on time. The representative told her the three of us were not on the flight; we were scheduled to leave the following day, with the others. However, we had to leave the day Lisa called. We were told the only flight with seats available was the 10:20 a.m. We were 30 minutes from the airport -- and none of us had packed. In fact, I was chilling by the pool in my bathing suit. When I heard the new plan I ran as fast as I could to my bure. Along the way I asked two of the lawn guys if they could help. They were more than happy to join me in flinging everything into my bags. One guy pushed down with his foot, the other pulled the sides close together, and I zipped. The worst part was that we didn't have time to say our goodbyes. I thought that might be a good thing, because I could escape without shedding a tear (all the resorts sing an emotional Fijian goodbye song). But the Cousteau folks wouldn't let us leave without singing to us. They grabbed staff members kind of like the way I did on the way to my bure. It’s incredible: I think every single Fijian can sing and play guitar like a rock star. As they were singing that sad song I watched Karen, the manager, give Lisa a very genuine, warm hug. We knew that Lisa's mom was not well back home. Sure enough, my tears started rolling. I couldn't help but think of my mom, and how great it would have been to be going home to her. We made the flight in time. I wasn’t even surprise -- Fiji has a mysterious, marvelous way that makes everything seems to work out. The flight to Nadi was very smooth, unlike the last time we traveled that route. I was so happy when we landed that I shook the hands of the pilots like they had Jello arms. They must have thought I was a freak. It was 11:30 a.m., and I was scheduled to leave the following morning at 8 on the only nonstop flight to Sydney. Yeah, baby – I’m going to Australia, so get up and dance! However, when I found out that my hotel in Nadi was not only also not reserved, but entirely sold out as well, I decided to try and depart immediately, rather than try to find another hotel or sweet-talk my way in to the original. I didn't really want to over night in Nadi -- it's not very nice. So I ran to the Air Pacific counter, and asked if there was room on the 12:30 flight to Brisbane. I just wanted to get to any place in Australia, because I had been incommunicado for two weeks in Fiji (cell phones and internet are very expensive). I was put standby, and got on. We flew a brand new 737-800 series aircraft. I sat on the aisle, way back in the packed plane. Once I took my seat and had a chance to think, I said to myself, "Okay, now what should I do once I get to Brisbane?" I needed to be in Sydney the next morning, to meet my sister Georgette when she arrived from New York (Via LAX). Georgette would be traveling alone overseas for the first time in 16 years, and was nervous about making the trip (more on her later). I realized that instead of overnighting in Brisbane and heading out in the early morning, I should immediately fly to Sydney. With my plan all figured out and my belly full of lunch, it was time to catch some shut-eye on the 4-hour flight. I was almost asleep when I felt the passenger behind me wiggling his knee in my back. I turned around to give him the ol' stink eye, but saw he was a member of the Fijian national rugby team. I knew this because the 15 monsters behind me were wearing the same black and white bula shirt (in the states we call them "Hawaiian"), and matching sulus (which look like dresses). Of course, I wasn't going to tell him that back home, sulus are only worn by women. Fortunately, instead of saying something I would regret, like "Take your !@#$%^* knee out of my back," I said with a smile, "Where you going?" It turned out the team was headed to Dubai for the Rugby Sevens (a major tournament). Talk about a long flight: Nadi-Brisbane-Singapore-Dubai. Ouch! I arrived in Brisbane tired. The sun was still shining strong since our clocks were set two hours back. The customs agents are so friendly in Australia (unlike in the U.S.), it's almost a treat to go through. Once I cleared, though, I needed to get from the international to the domestic terminal. A taxi would have cost $12 AUD ($9 USD), so I took the train instead. It’s easy to get to, and just a 100-foot walk. The 5-minute train ride is free if you fly Qantas; otherwise it's $3 ($2.30 USD). I made the mistake of saying I didn't have a ticket, and paid the $3. In the domestic terminal I logged on to one of the not-easy-to-find internet kiosks for $2 ($1.50) for 10 minutes. The $155 AUD ($118 USD) price for a last-minute one-way ticket to Sydney weren't as cheap as the Air Pacific rep told me they were back in Nadi. Flying from Brisbane to Sydney is 467 miles. That’s like flying from Los Angeles to San Francisco (336 miles); it’s also similar because there are flights almost every hour on multiple airlines. I decided to check all my resources. I walked up and down the terminal to price fares with ticket agents from three major airlines in Australia: Qantas, Virgin Blue and JetStar. JetStar is Australia's newest low-fare carrier. They are owned by Qantas' to compete with Virgin Blue on flights to "holiday vacation spots," and began flying last May. The rep informed me that Sydney is not considered a holiday spot (well, it is to me). That left Virgin Blue and Qantas. Their prices were basically the same as I had found online. I would've gone with Virgin Blue, since they have the best-looking flight attendants in the world, but the dude behind the desk wasn't very nice so I went with Qantas. Unfortunately, I had to stand in line for 20 minutes to check my bags. Ugh! Security is similar to the U.S. (I had to show my laptop for inspection). The Brisbane terminal was pleasant -- very clean, with plenty of places to eat and pass time). The flight down to Sydney on a 737-300 series took only an hour. I was surprised that Qantas served a hot meal (Virgin Blue doesn't). We landed at 7:30 p.m. I had to change my watch again – this time an hour ahead. It was a Saturday night, and the sun was just setting. The sky was awesome -- purple and orange. I tried to take a picture, but it didn't come out too well (my seatmates were not thrilled to have me leaning across them). I was so happy to be back in Sydney -- one of my favorite cities in the world -- until I walked up to the Traveler Services desk. It's like a travel agency, and is known for having some of the best last-minute hotel deals. The agent said, "Bad luck -- everything is sold out." I asked, "Everything?" My Fijian smile disappeared when she said yes. I asked, "How about the beaches?" She just laughed. It was Saturday night, days away from summer; hotels had been booked solid for weeks. She said my best bet would be to try a hostel, but she was sure they’d they be sold out too. She added that the couple who was there right before me were going to sleep in the international terminal, and suggested I join them. I started to get anxious. All the flights were winding down, so I couldn't even get out of town to somewhere with a bed. I definitely didn't want to sleep in the airport. I was tired, and needed a hot shower, a comfortable bed, high speed internet and a TV (I hadn't seen one of those in weeks). I rang a couple of hotels myself, and logged on to wotif.com (a great last-minute internet hotel website for Australia). I found out the city was indeed booked solid, except for a few outrageously priced hotels. I called a few friends, but got no answer (after all, it was Saturday night). I muttered to myself, "Nice job, jackass. Now what are you going to do?" I was also getting nervous, because my sister Georgette had kept pushing me to book a hotel room so she would feel more comfortable. I had kept telling her to relax; we’d get a better deal if we waited. If I didn't have a hotel -- and a nice one at that -- my butt would be cooked. Next week we’ll tell you where Johnny Jet slept -- and take a tour of Sydney. Happy New Year and Travels! Johnny Jet *Please tell us what you think of this week's newsletter! RESOURCES and book all your online travel through JohnnyJet.com. |
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Travel industry report card 2004: A good year, but... While 2004 may not have been a great year for stockholders, it was a pretty good year for consumers. Prices remained low and travelers enjoyed plenty of options. But the travel industry—and the U.S. government agencies that deal with travel—failed to act on some important problems that will arise to bite us all in the coming years. Here's my report card: Click Here To Read Article |
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