#qantas date change

[newtonsheffield]

I know you probably know this but all airlines have to publicly release what you can receive for situations like this. If you’re still there keep a paper or electronic receipt of everything. They should be giving you thousands of dollars if not the seat itself for jumping you. A lot of airlines recently have been bumping single women so I’m sure they saw you were unattached to anyone else sitting in business and chose you. Air France has been notorious with this type of bias.

Go full on Karen and demand everything.

To ask someone to fly the next day is fucking ludicrous.

Qantas is having a bit of a PR nightmare at the moment because they fired all their staff during the pandemic and now have none. People’s baggage has been left here there and everywhere flights get changed 8,9,10 times before you’re bumped entirely and they’re wondering why everyone hates them.

Let me tell you. The little survey they send me about my experience today is going to be a bit scathing.

I assume they bumped me because I used my points for it which means they just have to give me back the points. Which they will again, not honour at a later date. My argument is: What is the point of having a loyalty program and rewards seats if you don’t honour them?

Like it’s not the staff’s fault. But still, what the fuck?

I am spite eating my third plate of bacon and sausages in the Qantas lounge now 😂

[didnt-hear-idsb-live-again]

what is your deep connection to australia and taylor? just curious.

I don’t know how to articulate this without sounding dumb but ever since Speak Now tour when she had an off day in Australia and her band and dancers went to the beach and stuff I was just like “I can think of nothing more exciting than seeing Taylor in Australia. That is my dream. I want that” [I have literally been a weeaboo for Australia my whole life idk]

Then fast forward to Rep Tour, I literally planned to come to Australia coinciding with rep tour, but it was when the dates were rumored and before they were actually announced. I bought my flights due to a Qantas sale, couldn’t change them, and missed the shows in Melb by a week.

Then - this is where the actual deep emotional connection comes in lol - I guess if you’re a new-ish follower of mine you’d have missed this because it was so long ago, but it’s how I got a lot of followers so I talk about it like everyone knows - I had the most magical night of my entire life in Australia with a guy I had met in Melb and the evening literally was like, a recreation of the plot of Wildest Dreams including a nice dress and staring at the sunset outside the city; it completely changed my mentality about men after having gotten out of an emotionally abusive relationship. Like. It changed my life. It changed my life and posting about it gained this blog an amount of followers and an almost cult following that, at the time for various reasons, also changed my life. I flew back to Australia to see that guy again what ended up being the week Lover came out, extremely extremely excited because the Vibe of an album Taylor had written about her British man while her American life fell apart I was like oh my god this is my Australian man and my American life?!?!, then that all fell apart to absolute fucking bits and the sad songs on that album got me threw the shattering of the most transformative thing that ever happened to me when I was back home and I had like mildly lost the will to live [no not over a man, over what it ~*represented*~] AND, lastly, when I was in Australia when it all fell apart, the friends I’d made in Melbourne through Taylor were the ONLY thing that like, even put a roof over my head a couple of nights and I owe them everything. So I would like to see some of that album played live in that city with those people.

[qantasflight]

How to Easily Manage Your Travel Plans with Qantas Reschedule Flight Policy

Plans can change unexpectedly, and when they do, Qantas makes it easy for you to adjust your travel arrangements. With the Qantas reschedule flight policy, you can rearrange your flight dates to better fit your schedule. However, keep in mind that rescheduling may incur a Qantas reschedule fee, and you will also be responsible for any fare differences that arise.

For travelers who opt for flexible tickets, the process is generally more straightforward, allowing for easier modifications without as many restrictions. On the other hand, cheaper tickets might come with stricter rules regarding changes. It’s essential to review your booking details carefully to understand any specific conditions associated with your ticket.

If you require assistance with rescheduling your Qantas flight or have questions about the unique terms of your ticket, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact us at +61 (1800) 718-568 (OTA). Our team is dedicated to providing you with the support you need to make your travel experience seamless.

[smartcatches]

How do I talk to a live person at Qantas?   

You can talk to a live person at Qantas through a phone call procedure that will connect you with the airline professional directly. The phone call procedure will provide you a secure channel to share your query without hesitation. The live person will provide appropriate guidance so that you complete your process without any hassle. But the question is how do I talk to a live person at Qantas? You can follow the below-mentioned contact options that will help you in getting in touch with customer service.

Guidelines to how do i speak to a live person at Qantas

You can contact Qantas airlines officials through the different methods mentioned below. The methods include steps that are explained in layman language so that you can apply it without any expert guidance.

Via phone call

The phone call option will provide you with a Qantas phone number, 1800 177 474, that is free of cost and available 24 hours from Monday to Sunday. You can go through the below-mentioned phone call procedure that will help you retrieve the number and connect with the airline customer service executive.

You can open the official site of Qantas Airlines.

Then take your pointer to the contact us tab and click on it.

After clicking, you will get the call us option and select it.

Now the option will show you the toll-free number; dial it.

Dialed number 1800 177 474 will connect with IVR and follow the Automated IVR command instructions to get connected with airline personnel.

Press 1 to choose a language

Press 2 for baggage claim

Press 3 to manage your miles

Press 4 to talk with the customer service executive

Press # to disconnect the call

Via live chat

The chat option will connect you with the online chat assistant, who will resolve your query and provide an immediate solution in the chat panel. The chat panel is available on the site of the airline so that it can be accessible anytime from your preferred location. With just one click, you can start communicating with the customer service regarding your query-related issue.

You can search for the official page of Qantas airline.

Then move under the home page and click on the contact us tab.

After that, you can choose the chat with us icon, and a chat panel will display.

At last, click on the chat button and start to text your query to customer service.

Via mail :

Qantas will provide you with an official email address qantasagencyconnectna@qantas.com.au  that will help you in composing a mail, and you can also include necessary documents with your mail so that it will be easy for the authority to verify your mail and revert you to an appropriate solution at your given address. The mail option is protected from any spam mail so that it will not affect your information. 

You can go through the official page of Qantas.

Then in the contact us section, click on the mail us tab.

Now a mailbox will display on the screen, enter your email address as well as your query and send it to the airline customer service team.

Via social media:

The social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc., are widely used by the users. It forms a community that provides the latest information and other changes happening around. So Qantas will deliver exclusive updates so that you can keep yourself up to date.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/qantas

https://twitter.com/QantasUSA

https://www.instagram.com/qantas

You can browse through the official portal of Qantas.

Then move to the end of the page and click on the follow us section.

Under the section, click on any of the social media links to redirect to the airline's social handle page.

[sunflowershillstore]

Japan Airlines wants to help you leave your suitcase at home

CNN —Unsure what to pack from your wardrobe for a vacation to Japan? If you’re flying with Japan Airlines, the answer could be nothing at all.

Japan’s flag carrier has started a year-long trial of a service that allows travelers to book a set of clothes — covering different sartorial styles and seasons — and receive it at their hotel upon arrival. At the end of the stay the clothes are returned, to be washed and cycled back into the system.

Called Any Wear, Anywhere, the service runs through the end of August 2024 and Japan Airlines says it could cut carbon emissions by reducing the weight carried by its airplanes.

Any Wear, Anywhere estimates that about 22 pounds (10 kilograms) saved in luggage equals about 16.5 pounds (7.5 kilograms) saved in emissions — the equivalent of running a hair dryer 10 minutes a day for 78 days.

“I love traveling and I’ve been to many foreign countries, but I’ve always dreaded dragging around luggage or doing laundry abroad,” says Miho Moriya, who came up with the idea and manages Any Wear, Anywhere for Sumitomo, the Japanese company that handles reservations, deliveries and laundering of the clothes.

“When traveling, the three most important things for me are accommodation, food and clothing,” she adds. “When we travel abroad, there are hotels and restaurants that provide lodging and food on site, but not clothing. Why do we have to bring our clothes from home?”

A selection of clothes from Any Wear, Anywhere's women's summer casual range.Any Wear, Anywhere

Apparel for all seasons

Moriya submitted the idea for the service through an internal entrepreneurial challenge within her company, and she says that once it was approved, after a delay due to the pandemic, it took “many tries” to find an airline that was willing to support it.

Users of the service log onto the website and choose from a few options — women or men’s clothing; which season they’re for; smart or casual styling; the number of tops and bottoms; and dates for pickup and return. Their selections will be waiting for them at the hotel, for prices that range between $34 and $48 for the whole rental period.

All garments are either pre-owned or sourced from company overstock, although users can’t see this information about their selection. The service has been running since the start of July, and Moriya says that the response has been overwhelmingly positive. “We have requests from all over the world and over 115 countries in total, even though we’re not doing any kind of promotion,” she says, adding that the United States and Australia are the countries with the largest number of users.

The true impact of the trial will only be revealed at the end, once Japan Airlines tallies the weight savings and calculates the exact reduction in emissions. “We have to see the final results before we can say if this service is sustainable or not,” says Moriya, adding that the calculations will factor in the emissions produced by the deliveries of the clothes and the laundering.

Cutting weight, cutting emissions?

Weight reduction is a proven way to save fuel and reduce emissions, and it’s been factored in by aircraft manufacturers and airlines for a long time, for example by designing lighter passenger seats or replacing heavy paper manuals with tablets. Even small changes can have a large impact: when Qantas redesigned its tableware for first and business class to be just 11% lighter, the company says it started saving 1.1 million pounds (535 metric tons) of fuel per year.

However, Japan Airlines must be able to see a statistically significant reduction in baggage weight, says Gary Crichlow, an aviation analyst at consulting firm AviationValues. “Should they determine whether passengers are indeed traveling with less baggage,” he adds, “they must next determine whether there is a causal link to the initiative.”

Once that’s proven, the challenge would be to ensure that the lower weight actually translates into reduced fuel consumption. “What matters from an emissions standpoint is how much fuel is burnt hoisting the total weight over the aircraft into the air and keeping it there until it lands in Japan,” he says.

“It doesn’t matter whether the weight comes from passengers, bags, cargo, crew, or catering. As aircraft real estate is highly valuable, there will always be an economic incentive to offset the reduced passenger baggage weight with additional revenue-generating belly cargo. That may not necessarily be a bad thing from a holistic point of view, if it results in the most efficient use of the aircraft’s cargo capacity. But it would appear to run contrary to the stated aim of the initiative. Therefore, transparency as to the real weight saved per flight (if any), and fuel consumption reduced as a result, will be key.”

[airlines123456]

How do I manage my booking on Qantas Airways?

Managing your booking on Qantas Airways is a straightforward and convenient process. Qantas offers a user-friendly "Manage Booking" feature that allows you to make changes, upgrades, and access important information about your flight reservation. Follow the steps below to manage your Qantas Airways booking with ease:

Visit the Qantas Airways Website: Open your web browser and go to the official Qantas Airways website. The website is accessible on both desktop and mobile devices, providing you with the flexibility to manage your booking anytime and from anywhere.

Access the "Manage Booking" Section: On the Qantas homepage, locate the "Manage Booking" or "Manage My Booking" option. Click on it to access the dedicated section where you can review and modify your flight reservation.

Enter Your Booking Details: In the "Manage Booking" section, you'll need to provide essential information to access your reservation. Typically, this includes entering your booking reference number and the last name of the lead traveler. Alternatively, if you have a Qantas Frequent Flyer account, you can log in for quicker access to your booking.

Review Your Flight Itinerary: Once you have successfully accessed your booking, take a moment to review your flight itinerary. Double-check the travel dates, destinations, and passenger details to ensure everything is accurate.

Modifying Your Travel Plans: If you need to make changes to your travel dates or times, the "Manage Booking" feature allows you to do so conveniently. Click on the "Change Flight" or "Edit Booking" option, and Qantas will guide you through the process of finding alternative flight options that suit your new schedule.

Seat Selection and Upgrades: Qantas provides various seating options and upgrades for a more comfortable journey. Using the "Manage Booking" platform, you can select your preferred seat, choose seats with extra legroom, or upgrade to a higher class for added luxury.

Special Services and Assistance: If you require any special services during your flight, such as special meals, assistance for passengers with disabilities, or traveling with infants, the "Manage Booking" feature allows you to make these requests easily.

Cancelling and Refunding: In case you need to cancel your Qantas flight, the "Manage Booking" feature provides a straightforward cancellation process. Depending on the fare conditions of your ticket, you may also be eligible to request a refund through the platform.

Viewing and Downloading E-Tickets: Qantas has embraced digital ticketing. You can access and download your e-ticket through the "Manage Booking" feature, eliminating the need for physical tickets and ensuring you have your ticket readily available on your device.

Real-Time Flight Updates: Stay informed about any changes to your flight with real-time flight status updates. Qantas' "Manage Booking" platform provides notifications about delays, gate changes, and other important information to keep you updated throughout your journey.

Qantas Frequent Flyer Management: If you are a Qantas Frequent Flyer member, the "Manage Booking" feature allows you to manage your membership, track your frequent flyer points, and redeem rewards seamlessly.

Handling Unexpected Events: Travel plans may sometimes be affected by unforeseen events. In such cases, the "Manage Booking" platform offers an efficient solution to manage travel disruptions.

[lunaevans06]

Qantas Cancellation Fee: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Qantas, Australia's largest airline, is known for its exceptional service and reliability. However, there are times when you may need to cancel your flight due to unforeseen circumstances. In such cases, it's important to understand the Qantas cancellation fee policy to avoid any surprises or financial setbacks. This comprehensive guide aims to provide you with all the necessary information regarding Qantas cancellation fees and help you navigate the process smoothly.

Qantas Cancellation Fee: Explained

Qantas has a clear and transparent cancellation fee policy in place to cover the costs associated with processing flight cancellations. The specific fee amount depends on various factors, such as the fare type, the time of cancellation, and the destination. Let's delve deeper into the details of Qantas cancellation fees and explore the most common scenarios.

Qantas Cancellation Fee for Domestic Flights

Economy Class Cancellation Fee

If you hold an economy class ticket for a domestic flight and need to cancel it, Qantas charges a cancellation fee that varies depending on the time of cancellation. Here's a breakdown of the fees:

Cancellation within 24 hours of booking: No cancellation fee applies.

Cancellation after 24 hours: Qantas applies a cancellation fee of AUD 99 per passenger.

Business Class Cancellation Fee

For business class tickets on domestic flights, the cancellation fees differ slightly. Here are the details:

Cancellation within 24 hours of booking: No cancellation fee applies.

Cancellation after 24 hours: Qantas applies a cancellation fee of AUD 199 per passenger.

Qantas Cancellation Fee for International Flights

Economy Class Cancellation Fee

Regarding international flights, the cancellation fees are more complex due to the varying fare types and destinations. Here's a breakdown of the cancellation fees for economy class tickets:

Cancellation within 24 hours of booking: No cancellation fee applies.

Cancellation after 24 hours but before the departure date: The cancellation fee ranges from AUD 250 to AUD 450, depending on the fare type and destination.

Business Class Cancellation Fee

For business class tickets on international flights, Qantas imposes the following cancellation fees:

Cancellation within 24 hours of booking: No cancellation fee applies.

Cancellation after 24 hours but before the departure date: The cancellation fee ranges from AUD 350 to AUD 550, depending on the fare type and destination.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What happens if I cancel my Qantas flight within 24 hours of booking?

If you cancel your Qantas flight within 24 hours of booking, you are eligible for a full refund without incurring any cancellation fees.

2. Can I get a refund if I cancel my Qantas flight after 24 hours?

You can still receive a refund if you cancel your Qantas flight after 24 hours. However, cancellation fees will apply based on the fare type and destination.

3. Are there any exceptions to the Qantas cancellation fee policy?

Yes, there are certain exceptions where Qantas may waive the cancellation fees. These exceptions include situations such as the death of a passenger or a close family member, serious illness, or a major event affecting the flight.

4. Can I change my flight instead of canceling it?

Yes, Qantas allows passengers to make changes to their flights instead of canceling them. However, change fees may apply, and the fare difference, if any, must be paid. It's important to note that the availability of flight changes depends on the fare rules and seat availability.

5. How can I cancel my Qantas flight?

To cancel your Qantas flight, you can contact Qantas directly through their customer service or manage your booking online through their official website. The online process is convenient and allows you to cancel your flight with just a few clicks.

6. Can I purchase travel insurance to protect against cancellation fees?

Yes, purchasing travel insurance can provide coverage for cancellation fees in case you need to cancel your Qantas flight due to unforeseen circumstances. It's always advisable to carefully review the terms and conditions of the insurance policy to ensure it covers your specific needs.

Conclusion

Understanding the Qantas cancellation fee policy is essential to avoid any financial surprises when canceling your flight. Whether you're traveling domestically or internationally, being aware of the fees associated with cancellations can help you make informed decisions and plan accordingly. Remember to check the specific terms and conditions of your ticket and consult with Qantas or your travel agent for any further clarification. Safe travels!

[ffcarlos-inrd601]

User Testing - Participant 2

Interview

Age Range: 18-24

Gender: Male

Occupation: Employed

Time Spent Using Devices: 4-6 hours a day

Hasn’t booked a flight before

Travels by air once every couple years

Most recent flight was a year ago

Purpose of most recent flight was visiting family

Travelled Internationally

Travelled with family

Prefers to book a flight more than 2-3 months prior

Part 1

Searching for Flights

Associates red, orange and green price colours with traffic lights.

Red usually means wrong and green means correct.

Goes to top right in customer support to find the help section. Could not find it there.

Goes to the footer and finds “Contact Us” under customer support category.

Likes that it is in a table.

Likes that it is in chronological order with depart and arrive.

Likes that the airlines cheapest to most expensive price go from left to right.

Selecting Flights

Chose flights, decided to change mind, went back and user is confused whether the website has saved the previously selected ones as it asks to select both departing and returning flight again.

Chooses flights again.

In cart view, there are double-ups.

Doesn’t

Would like the website to automatically remove the old

Ability to change the date the by clicking on the arrows is good.

Changing the date e.g. 2 months later would be annoying as the user has to click many times.

They would do a new search instead if the travel date is far from current departure.

Easy to find flights within budget because website shows man prices one one page with the airline.

Reselecting Flights

Clicks on “Flights” category to go change the dates.

Likes that last searched location is at the top so the user does not have to type again.

Likes that while the website is searching, it’s loading.

Understands paired flights.

Would like to add the time of whole journey in the filter options.

Would like to able to change the date without going out of the page.

Likes the ability to reset the filters.

Found sort options.

Finding Flight Information

Unsure about what would appear if clicking on “View Flight Experience.”

Predicts to see entertainment on board and food offered.

The camera icon doesn’t say what it’s about. Thinks that camera icon means it would take a photo.

Unsure about whether it is specific to that flight or all flights.

Looks like a pamphlet or booklet.

Information is very generic and not specific to the flight.

Does not think there is a point of having a camera icon.

Would not like to have the link placed where it is.

Would like to have that information in a different page.

It should be more on the Qantas [airline] website rather than Webjet.

Webjet’s purpose is to book flights so if the user wants to know if Qantas [airline] offers a good experience, they would visit the official airline website.

Would like to replace the link to the airline’s main website.

Easy to find the weight baggage information because there is an image of luggage.

Could not find whether if a meal would be provided or not.

Would like to know when the meal will be provided during the flight, e.g. straight after take-off, half-way through, etc.

Would like the flight experience information under “Flight Inclusions.”

Could not find the cm pitch of the seats.

Clicked on “Select Seats.”

Understands the colours and key for the flights.

Understands travel insurance.

Traveller, Contact and Payment Form

Understands log in for fast checkout. It is for people who book with Webjet a lot.

Notices the warning sign in “Traveller 1 – Adult.”

Found an alternative link to “Privacy Policy.”

Understands the error message.

Goes back and fixes the input in the field.

Part 2

Selecting Flights

Confused why the interface was different when the location changed.

Has more filters which is good.

To change the departing and returning date, the buttons have changed.

Categorised by airlines at the top and also shows the lowest price available for that airline.

Flexibility of choosing departing and/or returning flights with different times.

Similar

To give the most price flexibility to the user, do not have paired flights.

Prefers to choose flights separately.

Would choose their preferred airline first before looking at the duration.

Would not use the filters on the side and only look at the first few options listed.

No ability to modify the sort options.

Would like to include flight duration in the sort options.

Wrapping Up and Other Comments

Likes that the main page has the search straight away.

The section is probably the most used.

Home page has suggestions on where they would like to go if they are undecided.

Dislikes the wasted white space on the right side.

The Afterpay should not be there. Would like it to be on the checkout.

The table format in the cheap flights to a [destination] is different from the first search output as it more based on price than time.

Likes this layout as they can compare prices for different days.

Extra information on the right side if the user haven’t done their research about the location.

Unsure if having the temperature and rainfall will help customers in helping them decide if they want to visit the place or not.

Suggests to put tourist destinations instead.

Straightforward to book flights for users who know where to go.

Easiest part of booking a flight on Webjet was selecting the dates and finding out the flights.

Hardest part was how the website doesn’t reset selections.

Notices that clicking on “Contact Us” and “Support” has the same URL.

Notices that in the second navigation bar, half of the text is in all caps with an icon and the other half is lowercase without an icon. Would make it more consistent.

“24/7 support” with a tickbox is red but green is more suited.

Hovers above “Flights,” clicks on “International” under “Specials” but gets taken to the domestic page.

[boraboraisland]

Reflectons of Travel to Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific

As a four-decade Ensured Travel Planner, global carrier representative, specialist, essayist, instructor, and photographic artist, travel, whether for delight or business purposes, has forever been a critical and a fundamental piece of my life. Approximately 400 outings to each piece of the globe, through street, rail, ocean, and air, involved objections both everyday and intriguing. This article centers around Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific.

The Sydney Drama House, brandishing its sail-looking like rooftop and an UNESCO World Bora Bora holidays Legacy Site, affirmed my appearance "down under" after another flight whose hour term obscured two digits in number on the properly named Qantas Boeing 747-400 "Long Reach."

Albeit a need to decrease trip costs consigned me to a more modest inn, it was by the by very much found and designated, with curious beautifications, a fridge, a little kitchen region, and a confidential shower, working with staple capacity for breakfast and Thai take out for supper, eaten at its extremely round table.

The nation landmass' sights were, nonetheless, canvased, with both strolling and engine mentor visits during an impeccably blue spring, which, in the southern side of the equator, implied October, and included Rulers Cross, the Sydney Harbor Scaffold, Sweetheart Harbor and its monorail, the Chinese Nursery, the Sovereign Victoria Building shopping complicated, the Sydney Aquarium, and The Stones, a reestablished and saved area whose structures dated essentially hundred years, however had since been changed over into patio houses, shops, displays, create focuses, eateries, and bars.

[maglab]

Bali Tour And Travel Information

Bali is only one of over 17,000 islands that make up the Republic of Indonesia and is definitely the most popular island destination for tourists. There is so much Bali travel information and advice available to help tourists, hopefully you will find all that you need to help you enjoy your stay in Bali as you read through this page and make your Bali experience as exciting and relaxing as possible.

Throughout the world, Bali is recognized as a fairy tale paradise island with sunny beaches, white sand, superb surfing, rural fishing villages, sculptured rice terraces and so much more. When you travel to Bali you are not only going to experience some of the most up market and luxurious hotels and villas available around the world, but in certain rural areas it will seem as though you are stepping back in time. Some of the Balinese people live the same way that they have done for centuries without changing with modern technology.

To most of the Balinese people religion is not only for Sundays but it is deeply ingrained and is a way of life. Hinduism is the main religion on the island and the beliefs and traditions have not been changed by the huge international tourist resorts, massive shopping malls and the many bars that are associated with many of the tourist resorts. Many of the smaller Balinese temples co-exist in between the Western influenced tourist areas. When travelling to Bali you will have to accept that sometimes the roads will be impassable due to religious ceremonies and instead of becoming impatient, enjoy the experience, after all there is nothing you can do to speed the process up. The streets are transformed into a maze of colours and costumes, with people dressed in beautiful traditional dresses and garments.Many things in Bali go a lot slower that in developed countries, so patience is one thing you will need to pack with you especially if you intend to do some  travelling around Bali’s rural areas.

The people of Bali are extremely friendly and always return a smile. The politeness and courtesy you receive in any of the service industries is supreme and renowned worldwide. The services are cheap and you will always feel happy to give a tip even in the expensive restaurants and hotels due to the exceptional service and friendly attitude that greats you.

Tourism is a big source of income for the Balinese and they literally bend over backwards in order to make your stay as comfortable and happy as possible. Lot of locals take the advantages of the tourism business and work as hotels or villas employ and some of them open Bali car rental with driver service. The local currency used in Bali and all over Indonesia is the Indonesian Rupiah IDR. XE is a live currency converter that is updated as exactly as the rates change on the world market. This is great not only for planning your holiday money, but also if you need to exchange money when in Bali, you can know in advance what the actual rate is before going to the foreign money exchangers.

Balinese Etiquette

When traveling to other countries it is always a sign of respect to try and learn some of the different customs of the people. Balinese people are very accommodating and will show their appreciation that you try to follow their customs even if you don’t get it right all the time.

The following matters of etiquette, should be observed especially when travelling around Bali’s rural areas and attending special occasions and festivals.

Always take off your shoes before entering a house even if you are told not to.

Patting anyone on the head is considered very rude.

If your baby is less than six months old, don’t let it touch the ground.

Don’t use your foot to point.

Don’t hang your shirt or any clothing on a temple wall.

Don’t walk under a washing line that has underwear hanging on it if is then above your head.

When hanging up laundry put your underwear on the lowest rung.

When at ceremonies, weddings etc, sit lower than honored guests, priests and sacred objects.

Don’t step in front of someone if you can’t avoid it, adopt a submissive posture and ask forgiveness.

Never step over a sacred object or offering, be careful of this as some masks at ceremonies can be sacred. When at special events and in doubt, just don’t do it.

You can sit on cushions, but not on a pillow.

Sleep with your head pointed towards the east or north, pointed to the mountains.

When visiting temples or less casual places, wear long pants or a sarong with a selendang (scarf like cloth) tied around the waist.

It may seem sexist to many women, but it is considered extremely taboo to enter a temple while menstruating.

Getting to Bali

By Air

The main international airport is Bali’s Ngurah Rai and is a gateway to many Indonesian countries. The main airline operating here is Garuda Indonesia as well as 12 other international airlines. Ngurah Rai is situated in the south area of the island and traveling to the majority of the popular resorts will not take more that 30 minutes. If you are staying in one of the northern resorts like Ubud expect a drive of over an hour.

Daily direct flights are available from Singapore on Garuda Indonesia, and Singapore Airlines.MAS and Garuda operate direct flights    from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), and from Hong Kong with Garuda and Cathay Pacific. Direct flights are also available from Bangkok with Thai International and Qantas. UTA flies direct from Paris, KLM fly from Amsterdam via Medan, Garuda fly from Japan and Taiwan and Garuda and Qantas fly from the Australian cities of Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns and Adelaide.

By Road or Rail from Java

Trains and buses from Java stop at Banyuwangi and a 24 hour ferry transports cars and passengers to Gilimanuk, where buses will take passengers to Denspasar.

By Sea

International cruise ships and yachts use the Bali seaports of Benoa and Padangbai. Padangbai is mostly used by the larger luxury cruise ships as Benoa is relatively small. From Lombok’s port of Lembar a ferry service is available twice daily to Padagbai and from Benoa harbor to Lembar you can catch a hydrofoil.

Bali is the departure point for cruises to Lombok, and the nearby island that people are beginning to discover are very remote an unspoiled by tourism. If you intend to visit here make sure that you consult your doctor as this is known as a high malaria area.

As with all countries, laws can change overnight and it is important to have the latest up to date information before travelling to a foreign country.

Bali Tourism Board (BTB)

BTB was established on the 1st of March 2000 formed by nine major Bali tourism associations. With the unstable business climate hamper the island, BTB is hoped to build and develop a better and more sustainable tourism industry in Bali. Considering the importance of the tourism industry and the capability of BTB in associating with government, community, and industry alike, the Governor of Bali officially recognized BTB on 10 May 2000 as the embodiment of a new partnership between the travel industry, the government, and the local community. Since then, BTB has earned the respect and support of all related government agencies, including the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Visit Indonesia

Visit Indonesia is an up to date Indonesian website offering anything from entry advice, dos and don’ts to banking hours events and activities.

National Portal Republic of Indonesia

The official Indonesian government website, National Portal Republic of Indonesia is for all things Indonesian/Bali related not only for tourist information and is worth looking over before leaving for your trip to Bali. If you only want to read on tourist related news and advice visit their official tourism website.

Smart traveller

This is the Australian Government’s travel advisory and consular assistance service website. Even though this site is targeted to the Australian population the advice is valuable to everyone wishing to get up to date advice on everything when you want to travel to Bali.

The Laws of Indonesia and Bali

Every major town has a police station called Resort Polisi. The Traffic Police Office is located in Denpasar, but its office hours are only 8:00 am to 12:00 noon, Monday to Saturday.

All narcotics are illegal in all Indonesian countries and using, selling or buying any drugs can result in huge fines, prison or even the death penalty. If you are caught even your own government will be unlikely to help you, so stay clear of this type of recreation.

If you lose your passport, report it immediately to the local Police station and ask for a letter with the report details. Trying to get a replacement passport can be difficult if you don’t produce this letter.

You can drive if you have an international license or one issued in one of the ASEAN countries; Brunei ,Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam. If you want to get a motor bike or car license your application is made through the Komdak Lalulintas in Jalan Seruni. A driving test is theoretically compulsory, however you will find people who will be able to fast track your application for you, obviously for a fee.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Indonesia for the most up-to-date information.

You should ensure you have the correct, current visa at all times, otherwise you may be fined, jailed, deported or banned from re-entering Indonesia for a period of time.

Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from your date of arrival. Visitors may be granted a seven day visa on arrival for a fee of USD10 or a 30 day visa on arrival for a fee of USD25. Both visas are non-extend-able and non-transferable. The period of stay for visas is calculated from the day of arrival. For example, if a tourist with a seven day visa arrived on a Sunday, they must depart Indonesia the following Saturday. If the tourist departed on the following Sunday, they would be considered to have overstayed their visa. This principle also applies to 30 day visas. Fines are imposed for each additional day in Indonesia.

If you are staying in private accommodation, you are required to register with the local Rukun Tertangga (RT) Office and the local police when you arrive. If you plan to be in Indonesia for more than 90 days, you must register with the local immigration office and hold the correct visa.

Make sure your passport has at least six months’ validity and carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

Important Travel Precautions

When planning a trip to a tropical place like Bali, all types of thoughts will be conjured up in your head of the possible dangers that await you and how to deal with them. The major concerns that people face are the safety of the food and water, local violence crime rate, the transportation and any common or dangerous tropical diseases. Many expats live and travel around Bali on a daily basis without any problems, but as a first time visitor there are certain precautions that you can take to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Reduce health risks before traveling to Bali.

Before trips to Bali consult your doctor to find out what the current health situation is in the area you are going to stay in and find out if there are any vaccinations required before you leave. Bali is a tropical region and does have some nasty bugs floating or flying around so it is important to know exactly where you are going to be traveling to and let your doctor know. Once you have arrived in Bali it is important to stay in the areas that you have planned to as some of the islands have different health risks that you may not be aware or prepared for. For example Lombok is considered as a higher malaria risk area than the main island of Bali and if you have not been taking malaria tablets it is not advisable to go there.

The more common vaccinations that you would be given are polio, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A & B and malaria or whatever is prevalent at that specific time. If Bali is a regular holiday place for your vacations, it is important to visit your doctor every time you plan on going as new diseases can spring up very quickly.

Bali Travel insurance.

Traveling is risky, especially when you are going a long distance to a foreign country. Insurance won’t take the risk factor out but will help you if you do end up needing medical attention due to an accident or some disease. For short holidays, insurance is not that expensive compared to the peace of mind that it offers and you can then get on with enjoying your holiday without worrying.

Drinking Water in Bali.

Tap water is unsafe to drink in Bali. Although the quality of water throughout the island varies greatly, some coming piped, some from a well, one should always assume it is unsafe to drink without boiling. People living in Bali shower with the local water, brushing teeth etc. with no ill effects, still your drinking water should be bottled water. No matter where you stay, the tap water is unsafe for drinking, some of the luxury hotels have signs on the basins advising that their water is safe, but it is not worth the risk to drink it. Bottled water is freely available and is cheap. Even when brushing your teeth use the bottled water. When staying in tourist areas, all food is prepared with bottled water, so you are safe to eat everything including the delicious salads. Ice from these establishments is also made from bottled water and is safe, but when traveling outside tourist resorts avoid the ice and only buy drinks that are in refrigerators, not in cooler boxes covered with water and ice. All fruit and vegetables can be eaten without any worries as long as you use bottled water if you are going to make some of your own meals.

Bali Belly is not ordinary Diarrhea.

Bali is renowned for an acute gastroenteritis infection that should not be mistaken for mere holiday runs. You will know if you have caught this as you will have both diarrhea and vomiting at the same time and will feel like hell. The best thing to do is seek medical advice from a local doctor who will prescribe the needed medication to get you back up on your feet usually within 24 hours. If you do not get treatment then this can last for weeks and spoil your holiday and worst case scenario you will end up in hospital.

Small cuts & scrapes.

Small cuts can develop into serious infections due to the hot humid conditions very quickly. Wash out any cuts you get with clean bottled water and apply some Betadine. Allow the cut to air dry rather than putting a plaster on as this will make it “sweat” and take longer to heal.

Carry a first aid kit.

Learn how to use a first aid kit and take your own one with you, trying to find one locally is very difficult and those that are available are very limited. Don’t pack it in your hand luggage as it may be confiscated due to the sharp instruments.

Traveling for Medical help.

If you are staying in a villa out of town it can be difficult to get transport when most needed. When you first arrive, get a few phone numbers of reliable taxi services that operate 24 hours and store them in your phone.

Emergency Numbers in Bali. Police : 110 Fire Dept.: 113 Ambulance : 118 Search & rescue: 111,115 or 151 Operated Assisted Calls Within Indonesia : 100 International : 101

Directory Information Bali : 147 Indonesia : 106 Postal & Parcel Services.

Major hotels handle mail service, telegrams and telexes. The Central Post Office is located in Denpasar. Central Post Office Jl. Raya Puputan, Renon, Denpasar 80235. Tel: 23565. Open from Monday to Thursday : 08.00 a.m. – 02.00 p.m. Friday: 08.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon. Saturday: 08.00 a.m. – 01.00 p.m.

Poste Restante Poste Restante is an inexpensive service for overseas visitors in Bali so they can receive letters or parcels from family or friends while traveling around Bali. The services are available at the Central Post Office and at the following post offices:

Sanur Post Office: Banjar Taman, Sanur, Denpasar 80277 Kuta Post Office: Jl. Raya Tuban, Kuta, Denpasar 80361 Ubud Post Office: Banjar Taman, Ubud, Gianyar 80571. Singaraja Post Office: Jl. Gajah Mada, Singaraja 81100.

[rodprojects]

Flight to nowhere

Flight to nowhere Hi there. And again found some quite interesting news for you. Great prove how crazy world are now. As usual all link on source here, but I done it in audio format for who lazy to read =) Seems like world keep changing every day, and who know for better or not? How far we can go with our super crazy ideas? By the way what do you think about? https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/02/singapore-airlines-drops-flight-to-nowhere-but-will-sell-onboard-meals.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97TPbDmAfhk&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAhaihApHeE&feature=youtu.be https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/eva-air-speed-dating-flight-intl-hnk/index.html insider.com/qantas-7-hour-flight-to-nowhere-sells-out-10-minutes-2020-9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcSW05-qEj0&feature=youtu.be #buytickettonwhere #traveltonowhere #flynowhere

[qantasflight]

How to Easily Manage Your Travel Plans with Qantas Reschedule Flight Policy

Plans can change unexpectedly, and when they do, Qantas makes it easy for you to adjust your travel arrangements. With the Qantas reschedule flight policy, you can rearrange your flight dates to better fit your schedule. However, keep in mind that rescheduling may incur a Qantas reschedule fee, and you will also be responsible for any fare differences that arise.

For travelers who opt for flexible tickets, the process is generally more straightforward, allowing for easier modifications without as many restrictions. On the other hand, cheaper tickets might come with stricter rules regarding changes. It’s essential to review your booking details carefully to understand any specific conditions associated with your ticket.

If you require assistance with rescheduling your Qantas flight or have questions about the unique terms of your ticket, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact us at +61 (1800) 718-568 (OTA). Our team is dedicated to providing you with the support you need to make your travel experience seamless.

[artificialqueens]

living on the edge of the law (biadore) - lily2

bianca is beginning to feel the heat from her old job in brisbane as a personal assistant and planner for a large cooperation record label and now she is being transferred and thrown in the middle of santa monica where she is assigned and paid to be on the tail of up and coming singer and songwriter, adore delano: who is definitely the most lazy and adolescent thing bianca had ever encountered thus far but things can change, can’t they? [ au where adore is a famous singer and bianca has to chase her around and be her personal assistant to get her income, mainly biadore but side ships and plots of course ]

blog

— *.✧

Bianca was a bit unsure what to think, what to do even, while she stood in the midst of Brisbane Airport. Clenching her carry-on as she just had her two suitcases weighed and sent off to what would hopefully be Santa Monica in thirteen damn hours, unless the Qantas airline staff somehow threw her luggage in the fucking Pacific Ocean she should be safe and so should her luggage which mainly was a accumulation of clothing, cosmetics, stationary & a dozen other things that Courtney had helped her pack yesterday as they shared one last drink before forcing themselves to wake up almost three in the morning for Bianca’s early, early flight. The coffee in her hand making her the only thing fully able to function, she prayed to get some sleep on the plane and was thinking she would since her best friend she should upgrade to the new business class seating, just to try it out and what better time to than a flight that would take more than half a day off her life, over the clouds, planning to do nothing but get wasted on discount white wine’s and gaze her eyes on her laptop which was already harboring a million emails from her transfer company about her position, her hours, schedule, whatever the fuck they wanted to write about they seemed to write about and send to her. “Wonderful.” She muttered to nobody but herself as she sat dull and already half asleep in her gate’s seating. It would be about another twenty minutes before her section would get to be boarded though Bianca didn’t expect so many on a casual six in the morning flight to Santa Monica, landing in LAX. — “I think you should accept the job.” Courtney spoke as she hit her best friend’s shoulder and grinned ear to ear, knowing it would be fun to be back in her own country of birth, “You’ve been trapped down under for almost six years, go and see the motherland again!” The Australian’s lips curling into a viciously attentive smile as the girl next to her simply rolled her eyes and clutched her glass in hand, swirling the alcohol around as their eyes meat briefly.

“I’ve never been to Honduras or Cuba—” correcting Courtney on the fact that America was indeed not the true motherland, it was where she was born and grew up and New Orleans itself could be considered a different fucking continent with all the culture and languages and diverse communities living in one big, united city. “I haven’t heard the best of things about America in general.” Referring to the news in which Courtney could only snicker, “Bad things go on in every country, every city and everywhere! Go and have fun, you know I will come to visit anyway.” They embraced in a small hug before the Australian girl wiped her growing red eyes, Bianca moaning.  “Bitch if you dare get one tear on me I will make sure to whoop your ass so you hard you certainly won’t need a ticket to be in Santa Monica, I’ll express mail you.” Her tone only teasing though she knew deep down, Courtney was the only real person and best friend she had currently, struggling to get back in contact with old friends from America as the time came. “And maybe you’ll meet someone cute—” elbowing Bianca until she almost rolled Courtney off the bed with a yell, “Don’t even think about it, I came to work and maybe party once in a while, get better money but not for love. Besides, name me one decent American who isn’t taken, straight or a celebrity? You can’t, that’s the point.“  “Whatever happens you know I’ll annoy you and call you constantly, just the usual and casual girl things.” She hummed, the singer folding one of Bianca’s last articles of clothing. “If you didn’t I would murder you and unfollow you on all your social media, don’t test me motherfucker!” She spat as Courtney collapsed into her lap, “You can cry on Instagram live to all your five million Instagram followers!“  — Finger tips pressing against her IMac’s keyboard she begun to respond to a work email, this was one of the more interesting ones, about as interesting as assignments and work went but still something to do in whatever time she had left before she would just repeatedly listen to whatever shuffled on her phone once the airplane was in the air. She had already found out that her job was basically to do what she did with Courtney: boss her around, manage her social media, make sure she was healthy, laughing, whatever shit she needed and help with planning any kind of events, concerts, meetings, anything the record label asked for and needed. To: biancadelrio@gmail.com Bianca,  We are so excited that you have accepted the offer and I’m hoping the weather pulls through for your flight, you are our first new hire in a few seasons if I may be honest, most can’t handle the pressure, American records and singers are far more different than what it sounds like in Australia!  I have made sure to tell Katya, our head in our department, to ship the packet to the address you provided! I understand the move, I went from Chicago to Santa Monica and it can be alot so please if you need a place to stay let me know! The packet should have exactly what you expect and a few other goods because we try and make it as welcoming as possible, not us being cheesy, us trying not to get fired to be completely real.  Do not lose your ID, even if you use the pin to get in, security is really strict especially with all the mass hysteria with guarding and violence in the past few years, it’s required to clock in, clock out and even enter the bathroom, it sucks, I know but safety comes first I suppose.  Thank you and see you Monday! — Shea (sheacouleee@me.com)  Atleast it was an actual human beyond the emails so far, better than some rich executive who was scarfing down his fifth coffee of the afternoon and forcing his personal assistant to quietly tap against the grain and send all emails with the same format, copy and paste all day. “Gate 10 will now boarding flight from Brisbane to Los Angeles, California.” She stood and reluctantly shut her laptop before putting it in her case, in her carry on and bringing out her passport and boarding pass, chugging some of her overpriced bottled water that she had to purchase after security along with a stash of dark chocolate large enough to last for most likely a week. Bianca made a very decent salary at her last job and would be making even more at this one however she was not ever one to spend more than she had to, Courtney for a singer who was booming in media and charts was suprisingly frugal with her spending most days, which made it twice as fun when they both would go all out and do their once a month goose chase of a spree around town, getting in all the stores they wanted in the span of one single day. “Well, let’s do this thing.” The words leaving her lips as she sent one last picture to Courtney of her passport and coffee, sending it with the text message of: If you don’t hear from me in twenty hours, I’m probably drunk!  *.✧ The announcement came on and the lights flashed for them to be able to take off their seatbelts and Bianca completely had crashed course after one Hallmark movie, some wine, a Sprite and one entire chocolate bar. She was quick to jump up before she felt completely lagged and dizzy, quickly sitting back down until the rest behind her had gotten their luggage and begun approaching the exit of the plane, cleaning her garbage before she tossed it and grabbed her carry on, absolutely bolting for the door as fast as possible knowing it was a good forty minutes in a regular car to make it to her new studio apartment for god knows how long, Courtney didn’t tell her a thing about it expect her cousin had hooked them up and leased it. Thanking the staff she quickly felt her entire body want to collapse and throw up, maybe both at the same time, on the rugged floor of LAX, turning her phone off airplane mode and turning on her date plan she had decided to buy the night before just so she could be ready and set for when she landed, knowing Courtney would throw a hissy fit if she wasn’t the first person she texted. Fingers gliding across her iPhone she grinned, I’m in fucking america! can’t wait to grab some damn takeout and just collapse, meeting someone to take me, call you probably whatever the next time I wake up is! She had done the math in her head, it was about 7:20 PM here but almost 2:20 AM in Brisbane, timezones were about to be hell on Earth but they would make it through. An absolute dumpster dive of suitcases later she had found both of her own luckily, now heading for the International Arrivals entrance, Bianca had only been to LAX recently and it was for Courtney’s tour, before that she hadn’t really cared for or visited California much, staying in her own bubble. It truly was the epicenter of an entire universe however, as far as crowded airports went, this one was definitely the winner! “Jinkx!” She shrieked to her auburn haired friend who quickly winced out of her own delusional fantasy and screamed, running towards her oldest friend and happy to have collapsed and almost blacked out in the one person who could understand what it was like to be sleepy and tired though Jinkx had explained a million times that narcolepsy was very different than what movies and shows showed it to be, it was just in very relaxing and quiet surroundings, when she wasn’t doing anything and wasn’t focused on a task. “I’m so tired but I don’t even care, it’s so great to see you—” Jinkx shaking her friend in her own arms happily before Bianca had to pull away, not wanting to cause a meltdown or throw up on the expensive sneakers she seemed to have on. Grabbing a suitcase much to her newly arrived childhood friend’s concern, “Let’s go, my car is parked and she’s all charger for the trip!” “I forgot you have a fucking electric car.” “It’s red to, it has a seat warmer! That’s the biggest perk but also you can program it to do some cool things, I only got the car recently, DeLa was begging me to—” the mention of her college roommate who was also from Seattle made Bianca realize how long she had actually been gone. “I hate to be an absolute prune the first ten minutes but can we please stop and eat if that’s okay, I don’t wanna eat in your car but fast food inside is fine by me, I texted everyone I need to so now I’m all yours and I’m sure traffic will delay us another fucking three hours.” Finishing her water she tossed the bottle as Jinkx almost smacked her across her back, causing Bianca to choke a bit. “You really think I won’t let you eat in my car! Jesus Christ, this isn’t our senior year of high school where I had to keep my car spotless, of course we will get food, since you’re in California now we have to start with the local favorite, ever had In N Out?” A stammer before a tilt of her head came, Jinkx gasping, “I can’t believe self proclaimed critic of food, Bianca Del Rio hasn’t even tried it, much less heard of it.” Cackling, Bianca raised a hand, “Now hold on you shady bitch!” They made their way to the wonderful Tesla after an influx of stop signs and people shoving to simply get out of the airport. Bianca was definitely impressed, she had seen the cars before but they weren’t her style, it was much more different to actually sit next to Jinkx who immediately pulled out of the car and had her music blasting before Bianca lowered it a bit so she and Jinkx could atleast have a conversation, the girl beside her seeming to know what to do and where to go from here. “You can type in your address after we go and get some food, so tell me about what it’s like down under, I’m sure you have some stories.” Smirking, Bianca relaxed into the leather seat and sighed in relief, leaving her phone to charge with her portable charger as she crossed her arms and stared out the front view with Jinkx who was barely even focused on driving given the fact she had the rules of driving out of LAX down, the clouds and sky beginning to turn into a wonderful assembly of warm colors mixed with a vibrant purple. “Well since you asked.”

[bthenoise]

Celebrate 10 Years of ‘Constellations’ With August Burns Red’s 10 Favorite Moments From The Writing, Recording & Touring Process

When it comes to most album anniversary tours, some fans tend to think those 10, 15 or even 20-year treks are just for the longtime listeners and nostalgia chasers. Instead, many seem to forget about the bands actually playing those beloved records on a nightly basis. 

Take metalcore juggernauts August Burns Red, for example. Gearing up for their 10-year anniversary tour for 2009′s groundbreaking LP Constellations, the seasoned outfit has thoroughly enjoyed tour prep as they’ve run through songs like “The Escape Artist” and reminisced about some of their fondest decade-old memories.    

Be it playing tour games on the road, surviving terrifying snowstorms or the impact of playing “Indonesia” live for the first time in the Southeast Asian country, looking back on 10 years since Constellations was released, JB Brubaker, Brent Rambler, Matt Greiner, Dustin Davidson and Jake Luhrs have all accrued memories that will last a lifetime. 

Speaking with The Noise about some of those life-changing Constellations moments, Brubaker, Rambler, Greiner and Davidson compiled 10 of their all-time favorite memories from the writing, recording and touring process dating all the way back to 2007. To check out the list to get you even more pumped for August Burns Red’s upcoming tour, be sure to see below. Afterward, to grab tickets, head here.      

Lastly, if you’d like a chance to win free tickets – yes, FREE! – head here.

Brent Rambler

The Constellations recording process and touring cycle houses many fond memories for all of us. Here are three of my personal favorites that stick out. Let’s get cracking in chronological order!

“White Washed”

The lyrics for “White Washed” were some of the first more aggressive and “angry” lyrics that I had ever tried to write at the time. However, the words flowed like water because they were very in the moment. I started working on them immediately after a youth pastor surrounded me with a group of teenagers directly outside of our tour van. He proceeded to condemn [me] and the other members of the band simply for having a case of beer on our [tour] rider. He wanted to try and make an example of me in front of all the kids he brought with him. The whole thing was super inappropriate and out of line, BUT the lyrics for one of our most popular songs came out of it so it was worth it!

First Home

The recording process for Constellations was extra exciting for me because literally a week before we left I had an offer accepted for my first house. I remember being very proud because it was a big moment in proving to everyone that I could earn a living off of making music. For weeks while we recorded, I was heading to notaries and post offices to work on the closing process of the home, and since we were in Florida while making the album, I had to sign over power of attorney and do the sale over the phone. We returned home super late from Florida, but instead of crashing at my parents where all of my things were, I grabbed the keys and just sat in my new house.

Chicago House Of Blues

Constellations came out while we were on tour in the summer of 2009. The tour had some cool highlights, but I think the biggest one was selling out the Chicago House of Blues for the first time. At that moment it was our biggest headline show ever and packing such a notable venue felt amazing. Afterwards, we had a big celebration with the other bands backstage and it capped off a great night!

JB Brubaker

“Put Him Up!”

In December of 2009, we were on the road with Underoath and Emery. We became really good friends with the guys in Emery and would hang out with them every night after the shows. They had purchased their own passenger bus and gutted it and turned it into a tour bus. It was DIY but so cool. We’d hang out, drink beers, have dance parties and tell stories. Emery taught us one “game” that we still play on our tour bus today. Occasionally, when someone new would walk on the bus, Toby (Emery’s bassist/vocalist) would slowly start chanting “Put him up! Put him up!” The chant would catch on with other people on the bus until everyone was shouting it, at which point the newcomer would be picked up and crowd surfed to the ceiling of the bus. It was basically a “welcome to the party” greeting and always got a good laugh. We are happy to continue to carry the tradition on a decade later.

Touring Australia 

It was August of 2009. Constellations had recently come out and we were invited by Parkway Drive to support them on a tour across Australia. It was our first time in Australia and an honor to be supporting them. They were the hottest metal band on the continent and drawing huge crowds. After the monster travel day to Australia, we arrived to find a bunch of luggage didn’t make it. Qantas Airlines outfitted us with small care packages to keep us afloat until our baggage was recovered. Inside were heather gray sweat shorts and matching t-shirts. The first show was in Brisbane at an outdoor hillside [venue] called Riverstage. They were expecting 7,000 people which was more people than we had ever played for at that time. When we were setting up our equipment on stage before the show, I failed to take into account the voltage difference between Australia and the US. I plugged in my pedal board and heard a pop followed by the smell of burning electronics. I had fried my pedal board’s power supply, rendering my pedals useless. I had to borrow a pedal board from Architects, who were also playing on the tour. (I think we need to do this same tour lineup again!). When we took the stage that night I was a ball of nerves. I unfortunately played sloppy for the large Australian crowd, but I don’t know if anyone actually noticed or cared. We debuted our song “Meddler” for the first time that night. (I played that song particularly poorly.) The tour was overall a great experience. I have very fond memories of hanging out with the guys in Architects and playing massive shows in every city.

Touring South America

In August of 2010, we were doing a tour of South America. It was our first time traveling there. Our buddies in Blessthefall were coming with us and it was going to be awesome. The first show was in Sao Paulo, Brazil and over 1,000 people showed up. We were treated like celebrities and it was a completely surreal start to the tour. The final show of the tour was scheduled for August 28th in Caracas, Venezuela. About a week before the show, we learned of political unrest in Venezuela. The president there was known for being a hot head and pulling stunts like closing down the airports. It was determined to be unsafe for us to travel to Caracas because of the possibility of getting stuck there should the president lock down flights out of the country.  Instead, we booked a last minute show in Quito, Ecuador. With a week to get the word out, we weren’t expecting much. The show was held in a small youth center. There couldn’t have been more than 150 people there but it was such a special show for us. The appreciation and enthusiasm the crowd showed us was unmatched. We felt honored to have been received with such open arms and on such short notice. What felt like a disaster waiting to happen turned out to be one of the biggest highlights of our South American tour.

Dustin Davidson

The Day The Van Died

Thankfully I found a journal entry from Thursday, April 16th, 2009 so that I can write accurately with every detail about the day that our van died. We were pretty early into a tour with All That Remains and Born of Osiris when as you may have guessed -- our 16 passenger Chevrolet van (unnamed to my knowledge) took its last breath of air and sipped its last ounce of gasoline (which in those days contained 0% ethanol for you engine nerds). According to my journal, we woke up at a decent hour, grabbed continental breakfast from the hotel and headed out on the road for the next show. I was first up to drive on that day and while on the road about 60 miles away from our departure our sound engineer Jade asked me, “So how long do you think this van is going to last? Do you think it’ll make it through the rest of the tour?”

“Yeah, I think it’ll last for the rest of the tour - at least I hope so,” I replied. Just as I finished that thought our speed began to decrease rapidly while ascending a hill on the highway. I let off the gas and the engine shut off. As I was pulling over to the shoulder the temperature gauge shot up, the breaks were extremely hard to press because the brake booster went out and smoke poured out from under the hood when I was finally able to bring the vehicle to a stop. “Well, I think we need a new van,” I said.

I don’t remember how many miles that van had but it was surely over 200k so something like that was bound to happen at any time. Born of Osiris was able to pick us up so that we could make the next show which was in Syracuse, NY and after the gig our friend Ricky picked us up and drove us back to Lancaster so that we could van shop the next day and get back out on the road to meet up with the tour again.

The Storm That Left Us Stranded

In the winter of 2009, we did a short tour with Underoath and Emery. It was a very fun tour filled with hangs and packed shows. However, the drive home was something that I hope to never be a part of again. After the tour ended in New Orleans, JB and Brent flew home while the rest of us (Matt, Jake, TM Josh, merch guy Mychael and myself) opted to save some bones and drive the van/trailer home. We knew there was a huge rain storm coming but we had plenty of time to beat it home by getting on the road directly after that last show - or so we thought.

Sometime in the early hours of December 18th during our drive home, we blew a wheel bearing on the trailer and had to pull over to take a look at it. This was an ongoing problem for us back in the day. You see, this was a time before the Axe-Fx / Kemper. A dark time when we carried many guitar/bass cabinets. Our trailer was always filled to the brim. We were simply carrying too much weight and would blow out wheel bearings left and right no matter how we packed the trailer.

This blow out was one of the worst ones we ever had. Since it was still dark outside, whoever was driving the van couldn’t see the smoke so they ended up driving for a while after the bearing gave out which led to the bearing fusing to the spindle which meant that we couldn’t fix the problem ourselves. We had to wait for a small repair shop to open up so that we could have the bearing fixed and while waiting to have everything repaired the storm passed us. It was only rain at the time but we knew it would turn into a mild blizzard. We finally got on the road in the early afternoon but it was too late - the damage was done.

I don’t recall which highway we were on, but it indeed was shut down and we ended up spending the night in the van on the highway until we could get moving again early the next morning. Around 6am when traffic started moving again, we opted to drive to the next closest exit and get a hotel since the roads were still covered in snow. Our drive home was supposed to be about 18 hours without stops and it ended up taking us 3 days. It’s fun to reflect on it now and talk to those that I share that memory with, but it’s safe to say from that day on, I never drove the van home from the end of a tour again.

Matt Greiner

Constellations Artwork

It was December 2007. I was getting inspiration for album artwork from the most unassuming source, a black and white movie from the 1940s. It's A Wonderful Life is a movie about a supernatural intervention in the life of a frustrated businessman. In the movie, an angel is sent from heaven to show George Bailey what life would have been like had he never existed. At their high-school graduation party, George is reintroduced to Mary who has had a crush on him since they were kids. Under the moonlight, they're walking outside when George suddenly turns Mary towards the sky and asks, "You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down."

As I watched the scene unfold, I played out the idea of a rope tied to a star in the sky. I put pen to paper and ran with the concept, pulling inspiration from Matthew 6 where the idea of Heaven coming to earth is introduced. The stars represented steadfast anchors by which we find direction throughout our lives. The kites represent our own fleeting emotions that will alter direction just as the wind changes. I remember getting on the phone with Ryan Clark, the creative mind behind the company Invisible Creature, and explaining the artistic concepts that would eventually come to fruition in the pages of Constellations.  

“Indonesia” 

In 2007, I awoke to find that a relative had died in a plane crash. David Clapper had always been passionate about flying. It wasn't uncommon to see his single-engine Cessna flying over our family farm in Lancaster County, PA. He devoted his time assisting those in need in Southeast Asia by flying the sick and dying from the bush to the nearest hospital, which often times was a several hour flight. On one of his return flights to the bush, he encountered a storm that blew his plane into the side of a mountain. I remember going for a drive after finding out the terrible news. I was so upset that someone doing such a good thing had died in such a terrible way. Here was a man who gave his time and energy to helping others and, in the end, sacrificed his life doing so. I remember wondering what his last words might have been as the plane spun out of control, crashing into the side of the mountain where it still resides today. I learned an important lesson that day. That is, not every question in life has an answer, at least not one that will satisfy. "This is the time to turn down our heads and turn up our hearts."  

I remember traveling to Indonesia on the Constellations Tour. We played an outdoor venue for a large group of excited fans who were seeing us perform for the first time. When it came time to play "Indonesia," a feeling came over me that I'll never forget, an overwhelming sense of humility. The band I helped start in my parent's basement in Lancaster County, PA was playing in Southeast Asia performing a song written about my relative who had passed away on that very continent just the year before. The fans in the crowd seemed to sing about him like he was their relative, not some stranger who's name they merely read in the liner notes of a CD. Near the end of the song Jake screams the words, "David, rest in peace." I'll never forget hearing the crowd sing those very words so loud they could be heard over the amplification of our own instruments. A story goes a long way, sometimes even to the edges of the other side of the planet.