Planing on going to Brisbane Aus early nxt yr

[ignoramus]

Beccs! A New South Welshperson and you said Melbourne is better! Let me print this out and frame it up as evidence!

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I'm a little jealous, tbh... I travel quite a bit and Australia is one of those places I would love to go but me and long flights are no bueno - so Australia is probably out of reach.  Sadly, there are few places to put down a jet in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Not true at all - there are literally hundreds of millions of places to put down a jet in the Pacific.

Of course, most of them are wet and shark-infested, but still...

Boru

[Brian37]

I'm a little jealous, tbh... I travel quite a bit and Australia is one of those places I would love to go but me and long flights are no bueno - so Australia is probably out of reach.  Sadly, there are few places to put down a jet in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Well, it isn't about Australia, it is about visiting an aging friend. I am doing this for him, I hate flying, I hate the bumpy ride, I cant sleep on a plane, that kind of travel is draining. I will enjoy my visiting him sure, but it isn't about the country but him. 

I am right now getting really pissed of not being able to talk to a live person to help me with my visa. I am getting tossed around by the airline and embassy and sure you can book these things online, but damn it, some people need a live person to get them through all that shit. 

People bitch about waiting in government office lines, fuck, you can get crappy service from the private sector as well. I've actually gotten better service at my local government office complex. My passport was less of a hassle than what I am trying to do now.

[Brian37]

FINALLY GOT A FUCKING ANSWER after 3 days and multiple websites.

Went to physical travel agent, "We don't do visas, but Qantas does".

Call Qantas, "HOLD HOLD HOLD....... HOLY FUCK HOLD"

Australian Embassy, "You need to go to our website"

Website, "May types, confusing prices conflicting prices"

Call Qantas, "MORE FUCKING HOLDING....... You need to call our USA booking"

USA BOOKING, "HOLD HOLD HOLD..... HOLY FUCK HOLD....... "You need to go to visacentral.com"

THEN finally this morning, Visacentral, " It is a flat fee of $50 for a tourist visa, but book first, if you are going in feb, because the visa is only good for 90 days, apply online in Jan."

HOLY SHIT do i want to sit in these boardrooms and kick some fuckers in the nuts.

BUT I am driving down to my local airport today and booking my trip for Feb, FINALLY!

[Whateverist]

Australia? That's exciting, I'd like to visit Australia one day. Let me take that back - I will visit Australia one day. I have a few other destinations to take myself and my kid to first.
Just think of the visa crap as practice for the actual trip - there's always at least one thing that gets fucked up on a big trip. But have fun anyway!

-Teresa

My Trip to Japan in 2000, said everything I needed to know. Expect delays, and expect to be fucking worn out when you get there.

That is why I am going for two weeks. I am going to need, after almost a day and a half of flight each way, WITH NO SLEEP. I cant sleep on a plane, at least a day sleeping at a hotel before I do any visiting anyone.

Drugs.

---

I'm a little jealous, tbh... I travel quite a bit and Australia is one of those places I would love to go but me and long flights are no bueno - so Australia is probably out of reach.  Sadly, there are few places to put down a jet in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Not true at all - there are literally hundreds of millions of places to put down a jet in the Pacific.

Of course, most of them are wet and shark-infested, but still...

Boru

Plus, if you get past the sharks, I hear every animal on that continent is intent on killing us.  Almost as bad as Murica, where half the population is armed to the teeth, except in Texas where it is more like 95%.

---

My Trip to Japan in 2000, said everything I needed to know. Expect delays, and expect to be fucking worn out when you get there.

That is why I am going for two weeks. I am going to need, after almost a day and a half of flight each way, WITH NO SLEEP. I cant sleep on a plane, at least a day sleeping at a hotel before I do any visiting anyone.

You're doing it the right way, then. I like to take my good old time when I travel and wander around without rushing. I could never understand why people do trips like 7 European countries in 9 days. Not my style.

-Teresa

Kind of like buying an album titled "Greatest Hits of the 80's".

[Pat Mustard]

BUT HOLY FUCKING CRAP,

I get that the "youngens" are tec savey, but mother fucker, I want to talk to a human being.

The biggest prob is I already have my passport, but need my visa. FINE, was told that depending on airline they'd do that for me. FINE, so I try to call Quantas, told they do take care of that, but get put on hold for 5 billion hours. I call Travelocity and they give me a ballpark quote for flight prices but don't handle visas. 

Been on the phone with to different companies and only have patchwork and no fucking visa regardless, and it is not about the price.

I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO A FUCKING COMPUTER. It is not about the money. I just want to book this shit so I can go see my friend.

Australia's a waste of time. Come to Ireland instead, miles better.

[CapnAwesome]

Lol, you don't need all that hassle. You are just complicating things by trying to do it over the phone, or getting the airline to do it for you. I went to Australia two years ago for 3 months. It's like, a quick form you fill out in like, three minutes and it normally gets approved in less than an hour.

Also it's good for 90 days at a time, but the visa lasts for a year, so you don't have to wait to apply. You can use 90 days any time in that one year space.

Here is the link you need:

http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/ETAS3

[Brian37]

FINALLY BOOKED with an actual HUMAN BEING, at Travelocity. Will be there Feb 6 to the 20th. Hey Little Lunch, haven't booked the hotel yet, but will let you know we can have lunch together one day while I am there.

---

BUT HOLY FUCKING CRAP,

I get that the "youngens" are tec savey, but mother fucker, I want to talk to a human being.

The biggest prob is I already have my passport, but need my visa. FINE, was told that depending on airline they'd do that for me. FINE, so I try to call Quantas, told they do take care of that, but get put on hold for 5 billion hours. I call Travelocity and they give me a ballpark quote for flight prices but don't handle visas. 

Been on the phone with to different companies and only have patchwork and no fucking visa regardless, and it is not about the price.

I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO A FUCKING COMPUTER. It is not about the money. I just want to book this shit so I can go see my friend.

Australia's a waste of time. Come to Ireland instead, miles better.

I am not there to sight see, I am going there to visit my best friend whom I met online in 01. Bob and I up until his stroke 2 years ago, we were talking on skype almost every single day. He put alot of science in my head pointed me to Dawkins too.

[Brian37]

Ok, a little pissed although Travelocity did a quick job booking me, found out I cand pick my seats, over the phone. They said I had to contact the airlines themselves. So I call American, my first two links. They want ANOTHER 50 bucks, or go online to do it, or wait till my check in.

3rd party my ass. Travelocity is a partner, with their permission to sell the tickets. Why the fuck couldn't Travelocity allow me to pick my seats?

[Pat Mustard]

Ok, a little pissed although Travelocity did a quick job booking me, found out I cand pick my seats, over the phone. They said I had to contact the airlines themselves. So I call American, my first two links. They want ANOTHER 50 bucks, or go online to do it, or wait till my check  in.

3rd party my ass. Travelocity is a partner, with their permission to sell the tickets. Why the fuck couldn't Travelocity allow me to pick my seats?

Can't make more money off you that way.

When you factor in all the stuff now counted as "extras" budget airlines have mdae flying a lot dearer.