In Reply to: bloody garuda - never again... posted by ridingthewind on Saturday, 8. September 2007 at 10:32 Bali Time:
You have our total sympathy Ridingthewind. Garuda had already cancelled our flight for the 9th, so we were on your flight for the 8th, having lost a day of our holiday. Naturally, we had had to alter all our arrangements for people meeting us at the airport, picking up pets etc.
Having had previous experience of Garuda's overbooking some years ago, together with the forced change of plans, we were also at the airport early.
If Garuda had been even 1 hours late at Sydney at least we would have been able to connect to Auckland, but no - they managed to be 2 hours late. Stranded like you at Sydney all day. Garuda no help at contacting NZ and no airport telephones that took VISA - it was only nice person at transfer desk that finally sorted some calls to NZ.
The hassles of getting to and from Bali this trip were such that our 9th trip there may have been our last. From arriving at Garuda airport to arriving in Auckland took 21 hours. It all left a nasty taste to the end of a holiday.