Finally on my way home. I made a rookie style blunder and had my flight times mixed up so had to rebook with the help of my ever patient eldest daughter.
India’s Qantas offices were closed, the website wouldn’t let me rebook online and there was a two hour phone wait time in Australia to talk to a customer service agent.
I ended up canceling my Qantas flight and rebooking through Expedia which resolved the issue.
The dilemma then happened when I got to the airport with only a confirmation number and not a printed ticket or email with my name and flight details on it.
In India you cannot enter the airport terminal at all without a passport and proof of a ticket with your full name and flight details on it.
In Australia you walk in to the terminal, checkin and then start security so I only ever turn up at an airport with a passport and booking number.
Again another reminder of the turmoil in this part of the world and the need for this level of security.
Anyway after some serious argy bargy with two security officers (you can imagine) I located a confirmation email with my details and through I went.
Unfortunately the next hurdle was the airlines desks don’t open till 3.5 hours before the flight and so I had to wait patiently to get through to international departures.
Finally through to my Qantas codeshare flight with Cathay Pacific where they told me Qantas Club members can’t use the codeshare lounge of Cathay Pacific.
By this time there was no doubt steam visibly leaving my body.
At this point every complaint I have ever made about Australia’s airport and transport systems were being notably withdrawn.
We got really lucky when we were born in Australia and international travel ALWAYS reminds me of that.
The Taj Mahal was magnificent and my 3 day stay at The Oberoi Amarvilas worth every effort. On my last night in Agra it rained and I felt sorry for the one night stay visitors that day.
I’m on my way home wiser, more culturally educated on international conflicts, politics, poverty and patriarchy up close and forever grateful for the architects of the world for whom none of these buildings would stand without such vision. #lovestotravel
