I started doing the math for my airline tickets. I was obviously so excited when I first booked that I didn’t ask enough questions or do enough thinking. Here’s what happened –
- Even though I had sourced all the fares myself, I decided to use a travel agent to actually book the tickets. They do have access to information that we (I) don’t and they do deal with the airlines, if there is a problem. Bottom line is I found a fare to Porto for $375.00 with a change in Lisbon.
- My travel agent found a direct flight via Air Transat from Toronto to Porto for almost the same price. OK this is better. She suggested that I upgrade my ticket to allow changes. I added another $125.00 to each ticket – there & back. Again, I thought OK. April is a long way off and anything could happen.
- Also I wanted to be able to change my return ticket in case I was running tight on time.
- What I didn’t realize was that you have to pay another $300.00 in addition to the $125.00 up front, to change a ticket and you have to pay the difference of the cost of the ticket when you booked and the cost of the ticket at the time of the change.
- The kicker, though, was that once you begin your journey, you can’t make any changes. So, if I am tight for time at the end of 250kms (375kms if I want to do the “spiritual variant” of the Portuguese coastal walk), I will have to buy a whole new ticket. File under “older & wiser.” I will not do this in future. If I have to change, it will because of an emergency and I will use my trip cancellation insurance and then re-book for another time.
They get you coming and going. It’s a changed world out there. I will walk for the return of sanity – mine at least!!
The picture? It’s a Girl Guide badge from my daughter’s collection. I am working on a quilt for her (when I am not walking and reading) I interpret these badges in fabric and embroidery. I chose this one as a reminder that I should really try to make peace with all that is unfair in this world – really so that they can walk all over us. You can see why I have to walk a Camino.
Buen camino