I bought return ticket from china southern airline travel to Korea(26/July) from adelaide. At Adelaide the service crew told me i needed to get my baggage at my second stop (i required to transfer 2 times, at Guangzhou and Dalian).
The flight was late 2 hour therefore, when i arrived Dalian airport, it was 2 AM. I stayed in the airport after got my baggage (40kg) and they told me to go outside because they need to close the airport. There was no service crew or any people to ask and security person could not speak English.
I am a small person (45kg) therefore, with my baggage, i spent horrible time until 5am. I did not have cash and my debt card just expired. Even my radio frequency equipment(which cost 1200$-I used for my skin issues) was not working anymore, after this trip. I complained this when I was in Korea and even flight attendants, but they told me to go Adelaide, but when I arrived Adelaide, there was no people in the airport.
I was busy for my exam before my departure, therefore, I didn't have insurance, unfortunately. Actually, this is my first time to use china airline and also first time transfer 2 airport to go korea. I found that just before my trip.
I sent them email but no response for a week.
How can I solve this problem? Please, give me a good advice.
China airport closed at 2am and nowhere to go
Comments
Sorry, English is my second language, therefore, there are lack of explanation. Korea is my home town, and I have korea account and card. I did not expect to go outside of airport to transit, therefore, I didn't prepare any cash or credit card.
Alright. The thing with international travelling is be prepared for the worst. Your logic doesn't make sense for not having money on you. S*** happens. Also surely you'd want to grab a bite to eat at the airport before getting on the plane.
From a quick google search Dalian airport has several airport hotels nearby.
Even still surely you would've needed money when you arrived back in Korea?
I still don't know what the deal is with the cosmetics equipment is. Did the airline damage it? I'm guessing it's something lost in translation
What are you trying to get out of the airline? Compensation or are you contacting them to make a point?
If your flight was Adelaide to Seoul for example on one ticket then China Southern really should've got you a hotel at no cost.
After your night at Dalian airport did you find someone to speak to and get to Korea ?
I'm assuming you are a international student ?
I had no china cash, but only korea and Aussie cash. Yes, I am a international student and my friend recommended me this site to get some advice. Sorry for my English and lack of explanation.
My cosmetic equipment was in the baggage, and I asked them to put fragile sign, but when I did baggage claim, there was no sign and the equipment was not working anymore.Ok. I would recommend contacting the airline however to achieve maximum results have someone read what you are going to say first and fix the grammar.
Your English isn't bad there are just some minor things which most non -native speakers struggle with.
Again I don't get how you didn't have a aussie debit card on you ?
Did you have travel insurance ?
You are a much more patient person than I am…
Did the ticket have a single ticket number?
If yes time based compensation laws apply. Based on the fact that you didn't need to pay for the next flight I am assuming it was a single ticket. I'd speak to a lawyer if you want extra compensation for distress.
Yes. It was a single return ticket.Thank you for your advice
How many hours after your scheduled arrival did you arrive in South Korea?
Why didn't you speak to a flight attendant on the plane?
The airline had duty of care if your delayed arrival was long enough.
Best to take this to AFF or flyertalk.
Thank you, I will use the sitez you recommend.
It should arrive Dalian airport at 00:45 and departure to seoul 8am, but there was delay almost 2 hours
I did not expect to do baggage claim during transit, I was sure to stay inside airport without baggage claim.
Thank you for your advice, therefore even with lawyer, there is no chance to win
Not every airport allows that. Smaller airports are often closed overnight. Some are even only opened when there is a departure or an arrival.
Just accept that you didn't do your home work this time and make sure you get travel insurance (I know you said you had exams but getting travel insurance doesn't take that much time & you can even do it when you're at the airport & about to get on the plane) and pay a bit more attention when booking a trip (rather than just letting a friend do it for you without checking/ asking questions) next time you travel.
Yes. I will do that. It was really expensive less.
But, to transfer, why I required to get my baggage and stay China's terrian? I still didn't understand.Did you ask the airline why?
To me, the more interesting question is why weren't you required to get your bags & clear immigration & custom in Guangzhou given that the Guangzhou - Dalian flight should have been a domestic flight.
Sorry for your loss but you will have a hard time getting compensation if you didnt have travel insurance. Fragile and valuable items also need to be declared and often there is a limit to what compensation airlines will provide (in sort very little)
Do you still have your bag tag (the sticker they give you once they check in your bag)? You may be able to use this as proof that you did check the item in as fragile.
Yes. I have bag tag.thank you for your advice
I'd be keen to learn what time based compensation laws apply to Australian or Chinese airlines? I wish they would but Australia currently doesn't have any and I've not heard of it in China either.
China has them. I think it kicks in after 8 hours.
You joined this bargains website tonight to disclose you spent 3 hours outside Dalian airport in July and some cosmetic equipment ceased functioning?
Bikies
What is cosmetic equipment?
Radio frequency equipment for my skin issues.
Ok that makes sense. Is there any visible damage to the equipment? Did you have travel insurance?
No, i was busy for my exam, I found that i need to transfer 2times to get korea just before departure.Yes I can see various damage my equipment.
Perhaps you were required to stay in the transit section of the airport.
You might not have have had to clear customs in Dalian. Your baggage still would've arrived at the correct destination. Just a thought.No, they asked me to fill up arrival to china form and pick up my baggage.
Even my cosmetic equipment (which cost 1200$) was not working anymore
Have you tried changing the batteries? :)
Yes. I did all thing already.
Did your original itinerary involve an overnight stay in Dalian? (Ie. You were meant to arrive in the evening on one flight and connect to the next flight on the following day.) If so, it is your responsibility to organise accommodation for the night. (&, yes, not every airport is opened 24-7, even Sydney airport is shut for a few hours each day. It's essential to check in advance. www.sleepinginairports.net is a good site if anyone is planning on spending a night at an airport.)
Wow, what a mess!
I do feel sorry for you, but on the other hand why didn't you take out Travel Insurance especially when travelling overseas?
I honestly can't stress this enough to anyone that is travelling — Do yourself a favour and take out travel insurance!
If the worst case scenario occurs (Which can happen) you'll be covered and you will have a peace of mind.
Take this as a valuable lesson and next time when organising a trip make sure you take out Travel Insurance before anything!
Put your head up OP, hope everything goes well.
Yes. I should do that, thank you for your valuable advice
For future, Travel insurance these days takes only around 5 - 10 minutes to purchase online. You don't need a day off to organise this. You can simply buy it online the night before your travel or while sitting at the gate waiting to board your flight. Simples.
Which Korean Airport is your final stop?
It was Incheon airport.
I cant find any flights from Adelaide to Incheon that transits at Dalian airport.
do they change this last minute?
Adelaide > Gunagzhou > Dalian > Incheon
A very long way of getting there
Aah.. wouldnt have thought that the airport will be closed.
11:00Oct 19(Adelaide) Adelaide International Airport Travel Time: 9h5m Airbus A330-300 17:35Oct 19(Guangzhou) Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport 21:20Oct 19(Guangzhou) Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Travel Time: 3h25m Airbus A320-100/200 00:45Oct 20(Dalian) Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport 08:00Oct 20(Dalian) Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Travel Time: 1h20m Airbus A321 10:20Oct 20(Seoul) Seoul Incheon International AirportYes, I didn't know until Adelaide service crew mentioned that. I should check that before
Everyone here is so freaking helpful! I salute all of you… I could not bring myself to spend the brain power to comprehend OP's problems.
Yes, I think so. They are really lovely people
Did you book this as one booking or separate bookings?
Not quite sure I understand why on earth you'd travel internationally without a valid debit card? Nor do I understand why you wouldn't go to a hotel because your travel insurance would've covered it.
Your what?
What problem?