# Melbourne International Airport **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 12, 2004, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melbourne-international-airport/268798 "2004-10-12T09:03:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melbourne-international-airport/268798/21 "2004-10-12T13:25:22Z")
Not calling BS on the story, but how the _feck_ does anyone manage this?!? Like, checking arrival time? Checking the three-letter airport code? Actually mentioning ‘Australia’ to anyone involved in the transaction? I know that flying in the US is more like a bus service than it is in Europe, and my sister’s boyfriend once definitely flew from Houston to Cincinatti instead of to Atlanta, but there’s a big difference between getting on a domestic and getting on an international flight\*. Did he not realise when he didn’t have to show his passport (or do you nowadays for US domestic)? \*Something the makers of _Friends_ should have noted when Rachel used someone else’s ticket to fly to London. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melbourne-international-airport/268798/22 "2004-10-12T13:33:13Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > It has never rained that much. Ever. Oh Yeah! Just look at Awklands recent weather! We are a city of stir crazy! One day summer will start. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melbourne-international-airport/268798/23 "2004-10-12T13:41:18Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Like, checking arrival time? Checking the three-letter airport code? Actually mentioning ‘Australia’ to anyone involved in the transaction? I know that flying in the US is more like a bus service than it is in Europe, and my sister’s boyfriend once definitely flew from Houston to Cincinatti instead of to Atlanta, but there’s a big difference between getting on a domestic and getting on an international flight\*. Did he not realise when he didn’t have to show his passport (or do you nowadays for US domestic)? Nitpick: It’s Cincinnati, not Cincinatti. You need to show picture ID (usually a driver’s license) and your boarding pass. I doubt that the three digit airport code (MEL, MLB, MEB… pick one) would make much of an impact in this case, and if it’s an elderly person with no international travel experience, well, it’s possible although not likely to happen often. Travel time: Detroit to Melbourne, FL (on Northwest with connection) about 5 hours Detroit to Melbourne, AU about 2.5 days So you have something there, but we Americans (most of us) are woefully ignorant of geography. And math, science, literature, world events, etc., but that’s another topic. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melbourne-international-airport/268798/24 "2004-10-12T13:41:49Z")
On a related note, I have heard of people going to Sydney, NS, instead of Sydney, NSW. [I can even cite a real example of such a mix-up.](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2172858.stm) > [@](#): > > “Obviously it is a big disappointment,” Ms Nunn conceded. > > “But after it sank in we both said ‘let’s make the most of what we’ve got around us’.” > > They said they were enjoying looking at the pick-up trucks, and eating the local lobster. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melbourne-international-airport/268798/25 "2004-10-12T13:47:42Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > \*Something the makers of _Friends_ should have noted when Rachel used someone else’s ticket to fly to London. [Friends geek on] She flew to London on tickets she purchsed, she flew to _Athens_ on Emily’s ticket (the intended honeymoon location). Whenever I see this it bothers me.[/Friends Geek off] On the OP. How much time/cash was wasted on this mistake. Living that down is going to take some doing. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melbourne-international-airport/268798/26 "2004-10-12T17:01:47Z")
Of course, since Melbourne Florida is essentially Cape Canaveral, he could’ve switched flights there. Dunno if they do routes that land in Australia, but I’ll warrant they’ve got craft on hand that can handle the distance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melbourne-international-airport/268798.md?page=1)