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For inexperienced travellers, missing a connection can be one of your worst fears. Worrying won't resolve the problem, so you literally have to sit back and go with the flow.
Firstly, the tickets that seafarers are booked on, tend on the most part to be special 'SEMN' tickets which provides several benefits including extra baggage for the seafarer, but also it means that until you actually step on the plane, the ticket is fully refundable to the shipping company. Another benefit is that you tend to be less likely to be offloaded if a plane is overbooked.
If you do find yourself at the airport and the flight is clearly going to be considerably late, and you think it will mean that you will end up missing your ship, give the company a quick call, because it might give them an opportunity to rebook you onto another flight. Many of the bigger companies have dedicated 24/7 emergency travel numbers for this.
OK, the next step is if your flying for instance London - Singapore - Sydney, and you find that your plane is late and you will miss your connection in Singapore, don't worry. Firstly the airline knows that you are going to miss the connection, with most airlines the computer system has already rebooked you onto the next flight, and made hotel arrangements if thats necessary. When you arrive at Singapore (just an example), look around after landing for someone with a clipboard, or someone holding up your name or connecting flight number. These people are the handling agents, and normally wait at the end of the jetway to assist you providing you with food vouchers, rebooking options and hotel arrangements. There is nothing you can do at this point other then go with the flow, if your going to miss your ship, so be it. The shipping companies are used to this happening, whilst its fairly rare, its happened before and they know that you just have to go with the flow. Drop your company a call, let them know your new arrangements, and they'll tell you what to do from then on.
One thing when you are rebooked, is to check on your baggage. Even if your put in a hotel overnight, your baggage problem isn't going to be available to you (but do check). Also whenever you check in for a flight you have a baggage reciept, this has a bar code reference number, and you need to ensure that the handling agent has assigned this to your new flight. Sometimes they forget to do this and you bags are left behind in Singapore.
If you arrive in your destination and your bags haven't arrived, goto the baggage desk and they will trace them.
If you arrive in your destination, and can't find the agent, then make sure you have that telephone number that was given on your joining letters by the company to help you get in touch with him. Sometimes you can end up spending hours at the airport waiting for agents....
Above all, flying can be fraught with delays, hassles and complications, but don't get stressed and worried. Go with the flow and even if you miss the ship, its out of your control. So just keep the company informed.
Firstly, the tickets that seafarers are booked on, tend on the most part to be special 'SEMN' tickets which provides several benefits including extra baggage for the seafarer, but also it means that until you actually step on the plane, the ticket is fully refundable to the shipping company. Another benefit is that you tend to be less likely to be offloaded if a plane is overbooked.
If you do find yourself at the airport and the flight is clearly going to be considerably late, and you think it will mean that you will end up missing your ship, give the company a quick call, because it might give them an opportunity to rebook you onto another flight. Many of the bigger companies have dedicated 24/7 emergency travel numbers for this.
OK, the next step is if your flying for instance London - Singapore - Sydney, and you find that your plane is late and you will miss your connection in Singapore, don't worry. Firstly the airline knows that you are going to miss the connection, with most airlines the computer system has already rebooked you onto the next flight, and made hotel arrangements if thats necessary. When you arrive at Singapore (just an example), look around after landing for someone with a clipboard, or someone holding up your name or connecting flight number. These people are the handling agents, and normally wait at the end of the jetway to assist you providing you with food vouchers, rebooking options and hotel arrangements. There is nothing you can do at this point other then go with the flow, if your going to miss your ship, so be it. The shipping companies are used to this happening, whilst its fairly rare, its happened before and they know that you just have to go with the flow. Drop your company a call, let them know your new arrangements, and they'll tell you what to do from then on.
One thing when you are rebooked, is to check on your baggage. Even if your put in a hotel overnight, your baggage problem isn't going to be available to you (but do check). Also whenever you check in for a flight you have a baggage reciept, this has a bar code reference number, and you need to ensure that the handling agent has assigned this to your new flight. Sometimes they forget to do this and you bags are left behind in Singapore.
If you arrive in your destination and your bags haven't arrived, goto the baggage desk and they will trace them.
If you arrive in your destination, and can't find the agent, then make sure you have that telephone number that was given on your joining letters by the company to help you get in touch with him. Sometimes you can end up spending hours at the airport waiting for agents....
Above all, flying can be fraught with delays, hassles and complications, but don't get stressed and worried. Go with the flow and even if you miss the ship, its out of your control. So just keep the company informed.
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