HELP a fellow ozbargainer stuck in Shanghai getting home!!!

Zarcady on 23/07/2014 - 06:18
Last edited 25/07/2014 - 00:45

Okay long story short, airasia delayed their already late departure time (1.30am), and I dozed off, waking up in horror to find that I have missed my flight. Noone to blame here but me as its my responsibility. So im stuck in shanghai right now at 4am, with no place to stay and noone to help me and with no cash left. Im willing to sleep at the airport for a week if I have to…pretty desperate situation I have gotten myself into and pretty silly too.

Can any ozbargainers find me a cheap flight back home to australia? Dates are pretty flexible as I just need the cheapest ticket out of here. Preferrably to land in gold coast/brisbane but right now ill take anything.

Searched airasia for the cheapest of around $300 leaving in early august but maybe someone can do better.

Airasia flat out refused to help me with anything and certainly its within their right to do so but ive flown with china eastern and korean air who was able to help me in a similar situation before with absolutely no hassle. Certainly I dont feel as though im entitled to any help since it was my fault but some generous goodwill would have gone a long way for me to be grateful.

Anyway I would really appreciate some help from the power of ozbargain!

Thanks in advance

Tldr update
Ozb community came through thanks to tonka and Airasia rescheduled a flight for a small fee and thus I dont have to be a hobo at burger king in pudong airport!!! What an awesome community we have here and something im very proud of being a part of! Thanks everyone

Travel

Comments

    • superm86 on 28/07/2014 - 13:34
      -1

      What about Game of thrones ;-p ?

  • Gomo on 26/07/2014 - 11:24

    Wow! I looked at this thread being popular few days ago, now today I see it's shown on the ozb facebook page so I had to read through it all, really happy you got it all sorted tho now :)

    Pretty impressive that everything ended up working in your favour tho :) next time set 10 more alarms to wake you :P

  • zrach on 26/07/2014 - 13:04
    +2

    Tonka, you're a legend. We need more people like you in the world.

  • Assclown on 26/07/2014 - 16:19
    -2

    Comment unpublished?
    Freedom of speech? lol

    • johnno07 on 26/07/2014 - 16:55
      +12

      Freedom of speech on Ozbargain does not cover being an assclown.

    • Charybdia on 28/07/2014 - 16:27
      +1

      There is no right to freedom of speech in Australia. You need to go to America if you want that

  • imcold on 26/07/2014 - 20:30
    +1

    Well with the recent spate of air tragedies its at-least good to have a happy ending story about air travel.. More or less.. even with such a oz-bargain mentality.

  • [Deactivated] on 27/07/2014 - 00:11

    Zarcady you are almost there!
    Ready for today? It was a nightmare but no worries say goodbye to it all,
    You are our hero, like you are coming back from war! Say goodbye to it all
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccs7QXzF9kM#t=72
    All the best and safe journey
    See you here

    • Zarcady on 27/07/2014 - 01:08
      +4

      Yes! I once again find myself back in the good ol burger king, waiting for check in to start.
      It will be good to be back home..to familiarity
      Wish me luck!

      Ps: If I ever find myself in a war..I hope to god I dont fall asleep during it :)

      • [Deactivated] on 27/07/2014 - 21:30
        +1

        Wish Australia never goes directly into a war but you would not be alone there.
        Best of luck.

  • jwb1981 on 27/07/2014 - 01:29
    -6

    You could try to come back illegally by a sinking boat, or just swim.

  • J6 on 27/07/2014 - 09:54
    +3

    plot twist: Hes actually just looking for a cheap flight. True ozbargain spirit.

  • chonghe on 27/07/2014 - 10:16

    I am glad that OP has a happy ending.
    So has somebody contacted A Current Affair?
    I would like to see "How Ozbargainer living in Shanghai airport Burger King for days" & "How a website/fb has helped a stranger got back home" in ACA soon.

  • Super8Tab on 27/07/2014 - 11:15

    Can't wait for the TV special on this, please update us with pictures as soon as you reach home !

  • yaziyo on 27/07/2014 - 14:25
    +8

    One day I'll gather my grandchildren around and tell them the story of the thrifty gentleman stuck in China.

  • [Deactivated] on 27/07/2014 - 18:07
    +1

    First thing when you arrive is to comment here

  • bluesky on 27/07/2014 - 19:57
    +1

    Been checking this thread now and then.
    Many of us are eager to welcome you home :-)

  • zanadeux on 27/07/2014 - 22:27
    +3

    dude this was one of the most interesting threads found on OzB for a while

  • jayzee on 27/07/2014 - 23:56

    Someone please find Zarcady and Tonka an agent to sign up some book, TV and probably movie deals, so next time Zarcady can afford a nap when waiting for flight.

  • sparkles on 28/07/2014 - 00:32

    Zarcady should be home by now, where are you dude? Tell us all about the meals you had on the flight please.

    • tonka on 28/07/2014 - 01:02
      +5

      lol This saga may get followed up by Ozbargain's first ever manhunt if the masses don't get the end to the story. :-)

      • sparkles on 28/07/2014 - 02:02
        +10

        Yeah, don't be like pre-nup guy and just go disappear on us. We are emotionally invested in your experience.

  • fedex11 on 28/07/2014 - 02:10
    +2

    I must have spent half an hour reading through the posts and it felt like a journey. I must admit I did shed a tear at the happy ending. Well done Tonka, the world will benefit from more people like you!

  • Shaw on 28/07/2014 - 02:21
    +1

    Hahahahahaha this just made my night-shift!!

    Awesome work Tonka and everyone else, I do know the feeling of missing a flight (through no fault of my own) and not knowing how you are going to get home (Lucky it was on the same airline, and they sorted it out, but at 17 I didn't know they'd even consider that!), and it sucks!

    Zarcady, hope you got/get home safe, and enjoy your flight, along with the life long story and lessons that you've learnt from this!

    Glad to be a part of this community!

  • Zarcady on 28/07/2014 - 10:32
    +46

    Omg! I fell aslee..nah jokes

    Im in brisbane now!! Landed at the gold coast last night and slept at a backpackers!
    It was a long and arduous journey but im back home and it really is good to be back.

    Flying home tonight and hopefully to my warm bed.
    Really…thank you all for your support to get this ozber home. Will not forget the kindness shown. I even lent my blanket to a poor shivering fellow on the flight back!

    • WatchNerd on 28/07/2014 - 12:19
      +27

      A Current Affair rang me & said they are sorry Tracy Grimshaw couldn't make it to the airport.
      She is having trouble with her top lip, it doesn't seem to move.

    • [Deactivated] on 28/07/2014 - 16:52

      Welcome back home

  • Shark on 28/07/2014 - 10:32

    Just catching up on this epic saga! +1 for a great read. Welcome home Zarcady!! and top stuff Tonka et al.

  • bargaino on 28/07/2014 - 11:20
    +2

    Welcome back Zarcady!
    A shame you had no welcome committee at Brisbane airport. Should have posted the flight number :-)

    There is a lesson for all of us about using budget airlines. Needing to change flight for any reason can be expensive.
    You are certainly not the first to fall asleep in a departure lounge. I've done exactly the same thing waiting for a rescheduled flight, except the staff had the decency to wake me when I was the last one left in the boarding lounge. Shame on all the holier-than-thou critics.

    But you had hkd2000 in your pocket and refused to change any because of the airport rates!? I could not possibly have resisted the burger king coffees for that long.

    • bargaino on 28/07/2014 - 12:43

      P.S. When I was in China, a lot of places like airport shops and cafes accepted HK cash. (And USD, but not AUD) Did you ask?
      (Maybe that was Canton, not Shanghai.)

  • imcold on 28/07/2014 - 12:12

    Well I'm pretty sure there apps that will tell you when your flight lands.. or expected to depart..

  • FizzyTidus on 28/07/2014 - 17:43
    +2

    Wow I definitely missed something! As a Shanghaiese myself and an oversea student and more importantly an ozbargainer…I know all the feelings with you, from the desperation of missing a flight (I didn't sleep for the whole night before my first trip back to Shanghai last year just for fear that my alarm goes dead or anything) to the loneliness when something goes wrong when abroad, to all the effort to cut expenses down. You're a true ozbargainer!

    Glad you've made all connections. If I have seen this thread earlier maybe I can ask some English speaking folks around there to offer some assistance. Perhaps I can buy you a beer when you're in Melbourne? Pretty much want to know the story in detail lol. It always interests me to look into other's perspective of my hometown.

    • JepunK on 28/07/2014 - 22:35

      One thing for sure, that Burger King in Pudong has great customer service…

      • ZippyRoo on 29/07/2014 - 09:00
        +2

        Who needs airport lounges, Burger King in Pudong Airport is the new place to be.

  • sydney.jj on 29/07/2014 - 21:58

    update the selfie dude, can't wait to see this legend lol

    • Zarcady on 29/07/2014 - 22:30

      haha you can see my mug on the ozbargain facebook page! I'll make a new thread in due time to thank everyone again.

  • tonka on 11/12/2015 - 20:47

    So now I' m stuck in Kuala Lumpa cause air asia can't manage their check in queues and they call that my fault and make me pay for another ticket.

    Got to the checkin an over an hour b4 aftercoming off an international flight, stupid service person tells me to queue up. Then when I get to front half hour later they say tough luck. No luggsge domestic and not even try to help.

    • Zarcady on 11/12/2015 - 21:06

      Serious? Didnt they call out for the imminent departures first? I thought that would be the standard procedure…that sucks man!

      • tonka on 11/12/2015 - 21:17

        Not even close to that level service. They say it is my responsibility to get to the front of the queue on time . Couldnt even move there were that many people.

        • Zarcady on 12/12/2015 - 00:20

          Yeh i can understand where you are coming from. They should have called out last call for the destination before they closed the check in…Hope you find a decent resolution! That is truely unfortunate

        • Shaw on 12/12/2015 - 01:01

          @Zarcady:

          They should have called out last call for the destination before they closed the check in

          These don't get called at KLIA2 IIRC, flown there a few times recently.

          Is it a domestic flight tonka? Where are you flying to?

          The easiest way with Airasia is to checkin on mobile app, take the app to the pass printer things, and print the pass there, has saved me a heap of problems.

        • tonka on 12/12/2015 - 03:20

          @Shaw: flying in from bangkok to take another flight to Sandakan. Had no internet to checkin. Asked as soon as I got to checkin , was there b4 the 1 hour cutoff and told to get in a certain queue. First time in this airport and with air asia, so no idea what I was doing , which is why I asked them for instruction. As far as I can figure they hate their customers and dont really care if it works out. I thought they were still ok to get me on the plane as it was still half an hour b4 departure and I had no luggage. I also asked the air asia staff in bangkok to help me checkin for the next flight and they told me I had to wait until I reached kuala lumpa as well.
          bit sucky as I only had 2 days in sandakan with 3 days travel to get there, now I have 1 day there and 4 days travel.

        • Shaw on 12/12/2015 - 03:37
          +1

          @tonka:

          That sucks, did you get it sorted out?

          FYI, there is free Wi-Fi in most airports, including KLIA2, but I know the stress of having to rush to make a flight, was in that position a few weeks ago, and only made it because we had checked in before hand, avoiding any queues.

          I've personally had no problems with AirAsia, flown them 5 - 10 times recently, but it does happen, and it sucks, not like flying a full service carrier when it comes to problems.

        • tonka on 12/12/2015 - 10:57

          @Shaw:
          still in kl, hopefully get it sorted. Not much battery left for wifi was already on the road for a while and saving the last juice for emergency. Hadnt picked it as the budget flight, was the only one for route. Wont do air asia again, not through a strange terminal anyway, much too hard, poor signage, poor training and so little staff that things bound to go wrong.

        • Shaw on 12/12/2015 - 12:22
          +4

          @tonka:

          If you are still stuck in KL today, and not able to get it sorted, happy to meet up in KL and wander around aimlessly for a while or something, wife and I are here for a few more days. Got a power bank you could use etc.

          If we can help out, let me know.

        • tonka on 12/12/2015 - 14:31

          @Shaw: ty, flying to Sandakan today, then back tomorrow night. Not quite what I had in mind but makingthe most of it. Thanks for the tips on checking in, was quite helpful. Ive found keeping the battery up on the phone and power bank tricky and prob what caused my the trouble as every hotel cuts the power as soon as you are outside and all my hotels only had one powerpoint.

        • Shaw on 12/12/2015 - 14:50
          +2

          @tonka:

          Glad you got it sorted, hopefully you can enjoy your day over there.

          Offer still stands, if you happen to be in KL, message me, happy to grab a coffee or something.

          Often you can just put in an old credit or bank card etc. to keep the power on, it doesn't always have to be the room card, and carrying a power board is helpful, something that has saved us in rooms with 1 powerpoint, and we are only travelling carry on too.

          Hope the rest of your trip goes smooth, enjoy.

  • Sawtell on 12/12/2015 - 00:26
    +1

    I have been in this situation before. Rock up late due to traffic, thousands trying to check in at the same time.

    Unfortunately you just have to be a rude B*stard and go straight to the front.

    My wife queue jumped about 200 people at the security check once in Bali because we were late, ended up sitting at the gate for 2 hours anyway…..with the same people.

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