You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin from News TALKSEDB Travel with Wendy wo Tours unique fully inclusive tours around.

You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin from News TALKSEDB Travel with Wendy wo Tours unique fully inclusive tours around.

The world and joining me now to talk travelers. Meghan Singleton, blogger at large dot com.

The world and joining me now to talk travelers. Meghan Singleton, blogger at large dot com.

Hi Meghan, Hello Francesca.

Hi Meghan, Hello Francesca.

So, being the busiest day of the year at airports and things, you very kindly took a hit for the team. You took one for the team and decided I'm going to go out there. I'm going to see what it's like to really travel on the busiest day of the year. How's that working.

So, being the busiest day of the year at airports and things, you very kindly took a hit for the team. You took one for the team and decided I'm going to go out there. I'm going to see what it's like to really travel on the busiest day of the year. How's that working.

Out for you?

Out for you?

Well, completely by accident, I have to say.

Well, completely by accident, I have to say.

I set off yesterday to fly from Auckland to Napier just as all the power went out across the central North Island and so my flight was canceled after my husband had already driven back home and my luggage was, you know, somewhere going back around the carousel. So you know, So I've always said this as a tip, right soon as you get that alert that there's been a cancellation or whatever, don't go line up at any desk. Gets straight on the app. This is with their New Zealand and rebook yourself, so because everyone's going to.

I set off yesterday to fly from Auckland to Napier just as all the power went out across the central North Island and so my flight was canceled after my husband had already driven back home and my luggage was, you know, somewhere going back around the carousel. So you know, So I've always said this as a tip, right soon as you get that alert that there's been a cancellation or whatever, don't go line up at any desk. Gets straight on the app. This is with their New Zealand and rebook yourself, so because everyone's going to.

Be doing the same thing.

Be doing the same thing.

However, the next flight to Napier was this morning, leaving for Wellington at seven am.

However, the next flight to Napier was this morning, leaving for Wellington at seven am.

So work backwards.

So work backwards.

What time was I up? Yup for something? And because you've got to allow that extra time. So I got to Auckland Domestic at six am and the bag drop was queued up round the kiosks and back down to the baggage carousel for flights this morning, they were calling people forward for the next planes that were due out.

What time was I up? Yup for something? And because you've got to allow that extra time. So I got to Auckland Domestic at six am and the bag drop was queued up round the kiosks and back down to the baggage carousel for flights this morning, they were calling people forward for the next planes that were due out.

So it was chaos and there were people.

So it was chaos and there were people.

There were people behind me huffing and puffing and saying they will never do this again, and why haven't they done this?

There were people behind me huffing and puffing and saying they will never do this again, and why haven't they done this?

Why haven't they got that. At the end of the day, I chose my attitude and I people around me and Merry Christmas, and I explained that the reason the kiosks are probably on pause right now is because the baggage guy's out the back are a little bit and undated getting bags through you. I'm here.

Why haven't they got that. At the end of the day, I chose my attitude and I people around me and Merry Christmas, and I explained that the reason the kiosks are probably on pause right now is because the baggage guy's out the back are a little bit and undated getting bags through you. I'm here.

I'm glad to hear that you practice what you preach, because you tell us quite often you've got to put your attitude. But now just have you made it to Napier.

I'm glad to hear that you practice what you preach, because you tell us quite often you've got to put your attitude. But now just have you made it to Napier.

I'm here.

I'm here.

I'm at my mother's house and I've made my pumpkin salad which is due on the table up at the farm in about fifteen minutes.

I'm at my mother's house and I've made my pumpkin salad which is due on the table up at the farm in about fifteen minutes.

It's amazing what you quite when you get up at frame in the morning. So you flew to Wellington, then you've got a flight up to Napier, so you've arrived a day late, but you have arrived that bag dropping things today, which was the sort of the situation at the airport. Is that largely because there was a disruption yesterday or is that just the way it is? Do you just need to get out of that airport a good hour early?

It's amazing what you quite when you get up at frame in the morning. So you flew to Wellington, then you've got a flight up to Napier, so you've arrived a day late, but you have arrived that bag dropping things today, which was the sort of the situation at the airport. Is that largely because there was a disruption yesterday or is that just the way it is? Do you just need to get out of that airport a good hour early?

Yeah, No, it is just the way it is.

Yeah, No, it is just the way it is.

Yes, the disruption didn't help, but I was only on a seat that was otherwise empty, right, So you know everyone is trying to get their different flights to day.

Yes, the disruption didn't help, but I was only on a seat that was otherwise empty, right, So you know everyone is trying to get their different flights to day.

It is the busiest day of the year, and it's been saying for ages, allow an hour more than you normally would.

It is the busiest day of the year, and it's been saying for ages, allow an hour more than you normally would.

I think the airport have been saying the same thing, and just make sure that you don't because if you held up at bagdrop it was actually a breeze going through security scanning.

I think the airport have been saying the same thing, and just make sure that you don't because if you held up at bagdrop it was actually a breeze going through security scanning.

It was bag drop.

It was bag drop.

That was the hold up, So you know, just make allowances for all of that, and get there early and get a cup of coffee and you'll all be sweet and everyone will have a merry Christmas.

That was the hold up, So you know, just make allowances for all of that, and get there early and get a cup of coffee and you'll all be sweet and everyone will have a merry Christmas.

Or do what you've always told us to do, and that is get all your get all your your presence sent directly to where you're having Christmas, and take your hand luggage and life will be a lot easier. Meghan, I'm glad that you have arrived. Sounds like lunch is going to be lovely. Merry Christmas. We look forward to catching up with you over summer when you're going to join me on some of our weekend shows. You can, of course find more tips at blog at large dot com. It is thirteen to twelve.

Or do what you've always told us to do, and that is get all your get all your your presence sent directly to where you're having Christmas, and take your hand luggage and life will be a lot easier. Meghan, I'm glad that you have arrived. Sounds like lunch is going to be lovely. Merry Christmas. We look forward to catching up with you over summer when you're going to join me on some of our weekend shows. You can, of course find more tips at blog at large dot com. It is thirteen to twelve.

For more from the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin, listen live to news talks that'd be from nine am Sunday, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio

For more from the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin, listen live to news talks that'd be from nine am Sunday, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio