Former senator, Rex Patrick’s holiday from hell after slew of travelling nightmares

Lost luggage, accommodation booking failure and a downgrade are some of the reasons former senator has slammed Qantas after a recent family holiday.

Former senator Rex Patrick has had the holiday from hell after a slew of travelling nightmares plagued his family trip to the United States and ruined Christmas.

The saga began when Mr Patrick and his family were seated apart on their flight. Then their luggage was left in Sydney on their way to Los Angeles, before they arrived at Washington to find their accommodation hadn’t been booked properly.

“Things happen when you travel and the test of a good airline is how they deal with issues as they arise, now Qantas in my view hadn’t dealt with my concerns adequately,” Mr Patrick told The Advertiser.

Mr Patrick was especially disappointed as this overseas trip was meant to be a “thank you” to his two daughters, 15-year-old Audrey and 17-year-old Amelie, “for not having me (Mr Patrick) around” when he was a senator for four-and-a-half-years.

Rex Patrick and his two daughters "emergency spending" on Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles. Picture: Facebook

After his flight from Adelaide to Sydney, to pick up eldest daughter, Amelie, who lives with her mum in NSW, Mr Patrick and his two daughters flew to Los Angeles via Brisbane.

“I was sitting in Brisbane Airport looking at my luggage in Sydney at the International Terminal,” he said.

Mr Patrick had Apple air tags attached to his luggage so he knew where his bags were at all times.

“I use air tags on my keys and wallet because like any 50-year-old guy, occasionally I lose them around the house,” he said.
“I just recognised there was an opportunity to take on of those and air tags and put it in my luggage.”

And thankfully he did.

At one point he was 823km apart of the bags, before eventually they were reunited.

“Qantas seems determined to ruin my time away with my daughters,” he wrote on Facebook.

Mr Patrick said that the airline had given him and his daughter the “OK” to buy some clothes.

“Except we’re staying in Beverly Hills and the nearest place to shop is Rodeo Drive. Big mistake Qantas! Big! Huge!” he wrote on Facebook.

Rex Patrick's luggage. Picture: Facebook

The former senator had originally booked a two-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and laundry facility, however, upon arrival the Patrick family discovered the apartment was not actually booked.

In fact, the airline “downgraded” the Patrick’s according to the politician, who said Qantas had contacted him and offered his family a single hotel room.

Since, they’ve given the Patricks another room.

“I now have two rooms at the hotel I’m staying at so at least they restored my having two rooms because the girl’s wanted to have a bit of time where Dad’s not in the same room,” he said.

Rex Patrick with his daughter, after they were reunited with their luggage. Picture: Facebook

The accommodation booking failure ruined Christmas for the Patricks who were stranded until 4am Christmas morning by the time a hotel room in Washington DC was sorted for the three Australians.

“My daughter ended up sleeping until 3pm that day,” he said.

Despite the travel nightmares, Mr Patrick maintains he will “not going to let that get in the way of my time with my daughters”.

“When people do suffer when they’re travelling as a result of the airline, the airline actually has to do more than simply offer a refund — that’s how you tell a good airline”.

“At least they’ve come up with an offer to remedy their error and to compensate me for the disruption to my travel plans,” Mr Patrick told The Advertiser.

Qantas gave Mr Patrick and Audrey $300AUD each to shop for new clothes, as well as a some of money to compensate for the issues and a brand new holiday adventure upon their arrival back in Australia.

Originally published as Former senator, Rex Patrick’s holiday from hell after slew of travelling nightmares