Online buy a ticket to frustration
Book online, and everything will be plane sailing. That's what reader James Clifton thought when he bought his Cathay Pacific flight in cyberspace.
He made the electronic transaction and headed for the airport, unencumbered by fears of misplaced old economy tickets.
And everything went smoothly . . . until he reached Bali. The customs officers there were flummoxed by the concept of an invisible ticket. As far as they were concerned, he simply didn't have one. Mr Clifton tried to explain that it was off in cyberspace.
'I was asked to present a return ticket or alternatively US$2,000 in cash,' he said. 'When I couldn't do either I was detained and shown the local immigration rules while my fate was considered.'
He asked the CX people to help, but the Heart of Asia appeared to have skipped a beat in Bali. Indifference greeted him.
He eventually made it into the country, but wrote Cathay and alerted them to the hitch.
Here's the customer relations response: 'As you may not be aware, it is in fact the sole responsibility of the passenger to ensure they are holding the relevant travel documents stipulated by the country's government. This is outlined in the ticket contract.'
What ticket? Mr Clifton asked. 'If I'd had a ticket in the first place, I wouldn't have needed to read the fine print on the back.'
We can't say whether or not the airline sorted out the problem with Balinese officialdom.
But either way, we suspect Mr Clifton will be giving the Heart of Asia a by-pass.
Star tips: Lai See has been reading the Special Stellar Investor.
For those of you who don't follow such things, it provides celestial-orb-based stock advice.
But lately, the author seems to be branching out. From stock tips to fashion tips.
Here's a sampling from the latest report: 'Men's fashion this year is both retro and high-tech, innovative and traditional, crisp white shirt and black leather, enhanced denim, and, for some, full-metal jackets. Market translation: both old economy and new economy stocks can do well - but select stocks carefully to avoid being 'out of fashion'.'
Lai See doesn't know what he's getting at, but she just assessed her wardrobe and has decided to invest in the sock market.
No cash: Give me more money, you cheapskate.
That's the unsubtle way of asking for a pay rise.
It has the advantage of being direct, but some bosses prefer a more subtle approach. Or better yet, a subliminal one.
A Lai See friend passed along what appears to be a Singaporean staffer's attempt to do just that.
'Dear Bo$$,' it begins.
'A$ all of u$ have read from the new$paper$, the $ingapore economy ha$ come out of rece$$ion. In thi$ life, we all need $omething mo$t de$perately. I think you $hould be under$tanding of the need$ of u$ worker$ who have given $o much $upport including $weat and $ervice to your company.
'Your$ $incerely, $teven $oh.' And the answer?
'Dear Steven, I kNOw you have been working very hard. NOwadays, NOthing much has changed. You must have NOticed that our company is NOt doing NOticeably well as yet.
'You kNOw what I mean.
'Yours truly, NOrman Chee, manager.'
Graphic: whee19gbz
