We are off to Papua New Guinea in a few days to go scuba diving. We have booked flights within PNG on Air Niugini, the national domestic and international air carrier of PNG. We have had experiences with other domestic airlines in Indonesia and The Philippines, some good and some ridiculous. Air Niugini is heading toward the ridiculous, but there is hope. Here is the story.
Once we arrive in Port Moresby, the capital of PNG, we have to fly to Alotau to meet the liveaboard dive boat. We have had one time change to that flight. So far, that flight is still good and is not causing us issues.
The liveaboard cruise ends in Rabaul, on the island of New Britain, east of the main island of PNG. We have to fly from Rabaul back to Port Moresby and then pick up our return flight to Brisbane. Our Qantas flight to Brisbane departs on April 6 at 1:15 pm, so we booked the Rabaul to Port Moresby flight for 7:00 am. Lots of time! Just a little insurance in case things go wrong. Well, here we go………
First email notification arrives telling us the flight number is changed and now leaves at 7:05 am. Okay.
Second email arrives telling us the flight is now leaving at 8:20 am. No issues, we can still make our connection.
Third email arrives telling us the flight is now leaving at 1:10 pm. WHAT!?? Now we are missing our connection. Breathe deep…..”work the problem”.
Knowing domestic airlines of southeastern Asian countries, we decide to just make sure we get to Port Moresby on April 6, and rebook our Qantas flight for April 7. But before we do that I decide to try to contact Air Niugini. Using Skype to call doesn’t seem to work with their phone system, so I send an email to their Customer Care Department.
My first reply is two emails saying the issue has been resolved. Resolved? What? I email back saying, “It is not resolved and we either want a flight that will connect with our Qantas flight or a hotel room for the night of April 6 in Port Moresby.”
I get a reply from Joyce, pretty quickly, saying it has to go to the International Department and I should hear back soon.
While writing this post, I decide to check Air Niugini’s website to see what it says for flights for April 6 (not sure what made me do it). My jaw fell open as there are now two flights listed – one at 1:10 pm and one at 7:05 am! I email Joyce to ask her about the 7:05 flight and if it is a guaranteed go. We wait and wait and wait and then an email……..
“Flight rebooked as requested. Revised copies sent through.”
We are now booked on the 7:05 am flight from Rabaul to Port Moresby, didn’t have to change our Brisbane flight, and have our fingers crossed.
Will keep you posted.