Pre-Holiday Stress
I had an extraverymdee-like experience today. Today was the payment deadline for my upcoming trip to China with visahunter. And so off I go to the Ali Mall branch to confirm everything.
After waiting almost 1-1/2 hours(!) for my turn to come, I approach the counter and give my number to an old guy who looked like a cop (ie. corrupt/stupid).:
PAL: Sir, how can I help you?
Me: Magbabayad lang po ng booking. Eto po yung booking reference: XXXX...
PAL: Sir, passport nyo po?
Me: Hindi ko po dala. But I have all the details.
PAL: Sorry, kelangan po may passport. Marami na nga akong pinabalik. Lalo na yan, pupunta kayong China, I need to see the visa.
Me: Pero dala ko nga lahat ng details, pati issuance, expiry, etc...
PAL: Kelangan po may passport.
Me: (Decibel level rising) I waited for more than an hour. The deadline is today, babayaran ko nalang. I can assume the risk if I don't get a visa.
PAL: Kelangan may passport.
Me: That doesn't make sense. Bakit ang travel agent nakakapag-issue ng ticket nang walang passport?
PAL: Kelangan may passport. Hindi dapat pinapayagan yung ganun.
Me: Bakit ang online e-ticketing ba, nakikita nyo yung passport?
PAL: Kelangan may passport.
Me: (Getting desperate, white lies, unleash!) Eh nasa Chinese embassy yung passport ko eh. Tsaka yung kasama ko, wala sa Pilipinas ngayon. Paano yun? TSAKA WALA NAMANG NAGSABI SA AKIN NA KELANGAN. Sabi lang sa akin pumunta ako dito, para magbayad before the deadline.
PAL: Sino nagsabi sa iyo?
Me: Siya! (Points to a random PAL girl) Yung nasa counter #3!
PAL: Ah ganun? Teka nga. (Stands up and goes to the girl, then to the manager)
(After 15 minutes....)
PAL: O sige na nga, pero sa susunod kelangan may passport.
Then he takes a piece of bond paper, then writes "Passport not received" and draws a line to make me sign. DUH.
But to be fair, the price I paid was really cheap. I guess I got what I paid for.
I miss Singapore Airlines!
After waiting almost 1-1/2 hours(!) for my turn to come, I approach the counter and give my number to an old guy who looked like a cop (ie. corrupt/stupid).:
PAL: Sir, how can I help you?
Me: Magbabayad lang po ng booking. Eto po yung booking reference: XXXX...
PAL: Sir, passport nyo po?
Me: Hindi ko po dala. But I have all the details.
PAL: Sorry, kelangan po may passport. Marami na nga akong pinabalik. Lalo na yan, pupunta kayong China, I need to see the visa.
Me: Pero dala ko nga lahat ng details, pati issuance, expiry, etc...
PAL: Kelangan po may passport.
Me: (Decibel level rising) I waited for more than an hour. The deadline is today, babayaran ko nalang. I can assume the risk if I don't get a visa.
PAL: Kelangan may passport.
Me: That doesn't make sense. Bakit ang travel agent nakakapag-issue ng ticket nang walang passport?
PAL: Kelangan may passport. Hindi dapat pinapayagan yung ganun.
Me: Bakit ang online e-ticketing ba, nakikita nyo yung passport?
PAL: Kelangan may passport.
Me: (Getting desperate, white lies, unleash!) Eh nasa Chinese embassy yung passport ko eh. Tsaka yung kasama ko, wala sa Pilipinas ngayon. Paano yun? TSAKA WALA NAMANG NAGSABI SA AKIN NA KELANGAN. Sabi lang sa akin pumunta ako dito, para magbayad before the deadline.
PAL: Sino nagsabi sa iyo?
Me: Siya! (Points to a random PAL girl) Yung nasa counter #3!
PAL: Ah ganun? Teka nga. (Stands up and goes to the girl, then to the manager)
(After 15 minutes....)
PAL: O sige na nga, pero sa susunod kelangan may passport.
Then he takes a piece of bond paper, then writes "Passport not received" and draws a line to make me sign. DUH.
But to be fair, the price I paid was really cheap. I guess I got what I paid for.
I miss Singapore Airlines!