Finally I got my ticket

Dear Sir/Madam,
Attached in this email is the Electronic Ticket Receipt for your booking.Please verify that your booking is correct. Should you have any enquiries, please visit our website athttp://www.silkair.com to obtain the contact number of the CustomerService Office nearest to you. To ensure that your flight departs on time, please check-in early:With Baggage: 2.5 hours before departureNo Baggage: 1.5 hours before departure Check-in online is available from 48 hours to 2 hours before departure.To access the online check-in feature, please click on this URL:http://www.silkair.com/mbe/en_UK/CheckIn/checkin.jsp Print your boarding pass now in the comfort of your own home or office.To Learn more, please click on this URL:http://www.silkair.com/mbe/en_UK/content/help/InternetCheckIn/helpBoardingPass.jsp Thank you for choosing SilkAir.
Yours sincerely,
SilkAir
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My friend asked me to pay first by my card

Hi, Mr Li,
My friend just called me. She asked me to pay by my card first. So did you just charge S$547 to my card. Mine is a Diners club card, the same as last time. xxxx xxxxxx xxxxThank you so much
Regards
Jenny

Here are the replies

Dear Jenny
The airfare is SGD268 and Taxes 21SG (Singapore Airport Tax) / 30TS (PhuketAirport Tax) / 124 (Fuel and Insurance surcharge).For your was fare diff SGD60 and YQ Tax diff SGD14 and Phuket Airport TaxSGD30 = SGD104.00 For the return flight from Phuket was the last flight depart 8.10pm andarrrive SIN 10.55pm. It is ok to have 2 diff credit card payment, so long 2 of you all need topresent the card for verification apon check-in.
Thank you
Regards
LiMeng

Relieved..but with some questions(same day)

Hi, Mr Li,
I confirmed that we will go. She just replied to me. Kindly let me know the schedule and advise us about the payment. I can give you her phone number. She can understand a little bit of English. I still need to know the individual itemized costs that sum to the $443 total.
Thank you very much
Jenny

Hi, Mr Li,
Thank you so much for your effort. I've already informed my friend and I am now waiting for her reply. Now I have some questions because I need to answer my friend.
1.The fare is $250 so is $193 the tax?
2. What's the departure time to fly to Phuket? I hope it'll be in the morning. What is the departure time to return to Singapore? I hope it'll be late at night. So we’ll have more time to stay there.
3. Is that possible We can pay for our individual costs using separate credit cards? Sorry for the trouble.
Many thanks
Jenny

Ah, finally confirmed..

Dear Jenny
Sorry for the late reply. We had confirm the flight for you to phuket on 6-8Dec08. Following will bethe fare diff for u and total fare for your friend. Original Fare difference (6292100436848) = New fare $443.00 - Current fare> $339.00 = $104.00>> For a booking, the total amount is $104.00 + $443.00(new passenger) =$547.00 Booking refer as following and apprec u cud kindly reconfirm your friend'sname. You may adv me your credit card no withexpiry date for ticketing issuing if you agree with the fare diff plus thenew fare.
Many Thanks
Regards
LiMeng

No reply, worried...

Hi, Mr Li,
I guess it looks like a little bit problematic for you. So we decided to look into to some additional places, such as Kota Kinebaru & Siem Reap. I finished my work at 5:30pm on Friday night. So if it is a late departure on Friday, we can also fly on 5/12. I Hope that will ease the problem. Sorry for the trouble.
Thank you so much.
Jenny

Lombok is expensive...

Hi, Mr Li,
I think Lombok is a bit expensive and unfortunately the two of us not very keen on going there. If it is cheap, we don’t mind. Today, I saw your advertisement. Langkawi is only $300 & Phuket is $250. We have no problem to go to these two places. Can you please help us to book these two? Or can you put us on a waiting list? Sorry for the trouble.
Regards
Jenny

OOps... Some miscommunications

Dear Jenny
Thanks for your reply. I had follow and confirm for you original station on your ticket, that wasLombok (Mataram). Flight to Langkawi on 6-8Dec08 will had problemto confirm due flight is very very full. Apprec you could kindly reconsider and reconfirm. I await your advice onthe next course of action. Original Fare difference (6292100436848) = New fare $435.00 - Current fare$339.00 = $96.00 For a booking, the total amount is $96 + $435(new passenger) = $531.00 *** ELECTRONIC TICKET ***
1.1WANG XXXXX/WANG XXXXXMS
2.1香/MSQQFSQLM 7JUL NGYXRL1 MI 128 Q SA 6DEC SINAMI HK2 1545 1830 Y QQFSQ2 MI 127 Q MO 8DEC AMISIN HK2 1925 2200 Y QQFSQFONE-QQFSQ -B 822352682.QQFSQ -E LAVENDERZIYI//HOTMAIL.COM
Thank You
Regards
LiMeng

My friend's info

Hi, Mr Li,
Here is my friend's info.
Name: 香
passport No.: TGxxxxxxx
Date of birth: 01 NOV 1980
Registered Domicile: SAITAMA
Date of issue : 21 FEB 2003
Date of expiration : 21 FEB 2013
Kindly help us to reserve the tickets to fly to Langkawi from 6/12/08 to 08/12/08. Thank you so much.
Regards
Jenny

My reply

Hi, Mr Li,
Ok, I'll provide the detailed information early next week after I meet her. Thank you so much for your help.
Jenny

This is their answer...

Dear Jenny
Thank you for your reply. Will DAPO ourend and will get back to you by next week. Apprec u cudkindly adv your partner's full name according topassport / passport no. / date of birth / gender.
Many Thanks
LiMeng

My response to that..

Hi, Mr Li,
Thank you so much for your reply. As part of the teaching staff, I have class on Tuesday. As a result, I must come back on 8/12. I would not mind if you placed me on your waiting list or changed to some other destination. Since December is still far ahead, I believe we shall be able to solve this problem.
Regards
Jenny

Unfortunately.....

Dear Jenny
Sorry for the late reply. There is no problem on 6Dec , but refurn date on 8/11 Dec flight fullybook. Apprec u cud kdly adv other alternative date.
Thanks
LiMeng

Decided to fly to Langkawi with 香

A long time has passed since then. I thought there was already no hope. Right at this moment, I received an email from 香，who is also a travel lover who comes from Tokyo, Japan to study her English here. We decided to go to Langkawi. So, I wrote another email to Silkair to confirm that my friend and I would like to fly on 06/12/08 - 08/12/08. Here it is.
Hi,
I've found someone who is willing to travel with me from 6/12 - 8/12. As I’m free only on these 3 days, I would be in your debt if you could kindly advise me whether there's a promotional flight for this period. Besides, since am I bringing someone else to your airline, I hope in this case, extra fees can be reduced. Your consideration will be highly appreciated.
Regards
Jenny

Reply from them

Dear Miss Jenny
Sorry we do not fly to Bali. It fly by Singapore Airline.
Thank you/Regards
LiMeng

My colleague proposed to go to Bali Island

My Colleague met me in the morning on the train. She mentioned she'd like to go with me to Bali Island. But when I went to the Silkair website, I couldn't find such a destination. So, I emailed them again. Here it is.
Hi, Mr Li,
Sorry to reply to your email so late. I couldn’t make any decision at that time. One of my colleagues proposed to go to Bali Island with me this morning, but I checked your website today and couldn't find Bali. May I check with you to see whether you have flights to Bali island?
Thank you so much.
Regards
Jenny

Reply from Silkair

Hi Ms Jenny Wang
Thank your for your reply. Apprec you could kindly advise us your preferred SilkAir destination anddates. I will seek for my management approval.
Regards
LiMeng

My reply to their offer

Hi, Mr/Ms Li Meng,
Thank you so much for you email. I really hope that your company can understand my situation and help me as much as you can. I wrote a blog about the whole thing that happened and the link is below. http://lavenderziyilombok.blogspot.com/- of course I'll be going to update it accordingly. For example, I would like to note your goodwill and so on. I fully understand it was my mistake right from the beginning. I should check my passport before flying. But I hope you will be considerate to my efforts, and recognize that my mum is under treatment. http://lavenderziyimama.blogspot.com/ I hope and believe your company will try your best to help me. May I ask one question? Am I allowed to fly to somewhere else if, I can pay the difference? – Because, it is quite difficult for me to find somebody to travel with to this small island. I've already put an notice on different websites. Hopefully I'll get a reply soon. Your kind consideration will be highly appreciated.
Thanks & Regards
Jenny

Goodwill from Silkair

Yesterday, I suddenly received phone call from Silkair. They informed me that out of their goodwill, they agree to open this ticket until the end of this year, or refund me some unused tax. Below is the email I received today.

Dear Ms Wang
Good day to you. As mentioned during our telephone conversation, in view of yourcircumstances, on a one-off goodwill basis,we will waive the no show fee and absorb the cost as our own. We willrefund the unused taxes, subject to anadministrative fee of SGD75/ticket. I regret that we are unable to waivethis amount as it is to cover the costimposed upon the airline by external parties, such as banks and globaldistribution systems. Alterative we will allow you to top-up fare and taxes diff thataccommodates your travel date change till endof December 2008. An administrative fee of SGD75/ticket will also apply,which we, regrettable, cannotwaive. We ask for your kind understanding in this. As seat confirmation is subject to availability, may I urge to confirm yourtravel plans as early as possible.Pls advise us your preferred dates so that we may make the booking for you. If you have further queries, pls feel free to contact me at this email add.I will be happy to assist. Thank you for choosing SilkAir. We look forward to having you onboard.
Thank you/Regards
LiMeng

So now I'm trying to look for travel companion. Anybody interested, please contact me.

The email they replied me

Dear Ms Wang,
Thanks for your enquiry. Please allow me to explain that a noshow fee of SGD150 applies as a penaltyfor seat wastage and meal wastage. We are sorry to learn that youcould nottake the flight due to passport problem and we also recognize the fact thatyou indeed showed up at the airport. As the boarding gate closes at45 minutesbefore departure, our ground staff had no choice but to reject you forboarding due to regulation at the airport. However, we regret thatwe are unable towaive the noshow fee as the onus to ensure travel documents are in orderlie with the passenger. Since the seat has been wasted due to thisreason, anoshow penalty from the flight is in place. Regarding your original ticket, it was made under the promotional “HotDeal” fare level, they come with strict terms & conditionsprohibiting any changes to theitinerary. In the event that the passenger chooses to cancel the booking,such tickets have no refund value either. On an one-off goodwill,our officer offered torefund the unused taxes, less admin fee without knowing that you havenoshow from the flight. Since the amount to be refunded (taxes SGD110 + SGD21 - refund admin feeSGD75 = SGD89 ) is SGD89, which is less than the noshow charge, weregret thatthere will be no refund value in this case. We appreciate your kind understandings on the above. Thank you.
Regards,
Li Hong

The email I wrote to Silkair to request for the refund of my tax

To whom it may concern,I, Wxxx xxxxx, SxxxxxxxG booked an air ticket from you to fly to Lombok Gili island, Indonesia from 16/06/08 to 19/06/08. Unfortunately, I did not fly due to my passport problem. I called your office and the staff told me I could get my tax fee refunded. But, one day after that, she called again said I could not be refunded because, I did not show at your counter. As a "no show" at the counter, they could not refund me. I told her I did show there three times, otherwise I wouldn't know that my passport had a problem. I took so much trouble to rush to the immigration to get a temporary passport done in just 45min. The to and fro cost me another S$40 and the temporary passport + photo cost me more than S$20. After I reached the counter the second time, they issued me the boarding pass. That was the strong evidence that I did show there. Because of the luggage problem, (I run downstairs to claim my luggage at the counter, (I ran downstairs to claim my luggage at the counter, my partner left before she checked in). I went back to the counter in less than 5min. But the staff now refused to allow to go in. At that time the aircraft had not taken off yet. If your counter staff was just a little bit more helpful, I wouldn't have missed the flight. Think about so much effort and money I have already spent. Can't you be a little considerate; and let me have my money refunded? Your consideration will be highly appreciated.
Regards
Jenny W

Have you ever encountered the strangest of the strange?

I love traveling but hate to travel alone now. Therefore, I advertised on some of the website looking for a traveling companion. This was not my first time. I had made several previous attempts but never succeed. On the 1st of May, I again posted my request on few websites. I received about 7 or 8 emails and managed to meet about 5 or 6 of them. They all did not look promising until I met M san, a Japanese lady. She first replied me by emailing me on 1st of Jun, which was 1 month after. Then on the 2nd of Jun, we started sending SMS messages to arrange our first meeting. First she suggested meeting on the 5th. On the morning of that day, she informed me she couldn’t make it and changed our meeting to 8th. The following day she asked me to book the air ticket to fly to a tiny island – Lombok Gili in Indonesia. I did as she suggested and both of us were happy. This was my first success in finding, on the internet a travel partner. I was greatly encouraged.

Everything looked like it was going to work out well. Until, the night before, our tenant F san, another Japanese woman, suddenly informed me that she’s going to move out. Although we signed 1 year contract, I did not want to hold her back, because I believe there’s no point of making people unhappy. So I let it be. I quickly advertised on a number of real estate-rental websites looking for new tenants. I was not sure at that moment that this was the beginning of my bad luck.
I was in a good mood the nxet morning. I took a picture to show that I became a millionair but of course in Rupiah

The next morning, 16th of Jun, I was in a quite good mood. I took some pictures before my journey and left home at 12:30pm. I reached Changi Airport quite early. When I checked in, the Silk Air staff at first was not happy because I could not provide my credit card number. I booked the air ticket by credit card and the staff there needed verification of my credit card information. Since I was traveling to a remote island where credit cards are not accepted, I did not risk bringing my card with me. Luckily (or luckily?), I finally found a receipt showed that credit card number. That momentarily settled my troubles. Then came my real problem. After they checked my passport, they informed me that I couldn’t travel, because my passport validity period was less then 6 month. They sent a telegram to Lombok Gili’s Immigration to check with them whether they would receive me and that took about 20 min. Meanwhile, I ran to the airport immigration counter to check with them whether I could get my passport extended there. The security guard did not allow me to go in since I did not have my boarding pass. After sometime, he agreed to go inside and check with the officer himself but the result I got was a negative one. While waiting for the reply from Indonesian Immigration, a sudden idea came to my mind. I quickly went to ICA to extend my passport. I ran to the taxi stand and got a taxi but the security guard did not allow me because that was for passengers alighting only. Then he showed to go down stair to get another one. It took me 20 min and S16 to reach ICA. People there were very cooperative. After they came to know my situation, they allowed me to see officer first without waiting. At first the officer refused to help me. After begging for a while, she agreed, and suggested me to take photo. Again there I excused myself for not queuing. I brought the photo to see the officer again and she started to take my thumb prints. It took quite some time to do so. Nobody knew what happened, the devise kept prompting an error message. Another bad omen???? To cut the story short I got my temporary passport in less that 45 min. Everybody agrees that Singapore has a highly efficient Government after they heard this story. Indeed it’s quite hard to believe that within such a short time, this could be settled. But in the end this did not settle my problem, Although I was quite lucky to get a taxi in time and the old man was very helpful and managed to reach Terminal 2 in 15 min’s time. I reached the counter just on time. They issued me a boarding pass. It looked as if my problems were over. But now came the last problem. The woman I travel with left my baggage at the left baggage counter. It took me about 5 min to claim that back. After I went back to the counter again, the staff informed me the door had just closed and she refused to let me fly. She tried to get me a flight the following day but it was not available. The earliest was on Thursday. So I had to cancel my flight since my leave was only until Thursday. I phoned the ticketing office to arrange the refund and was told they would not able to do so since my ticket was under promotion price. She said I could only have part of my tax refunded.
This is the temporary passport which I got in 45 min and I've already returned back to the Immigration when they gave me my new passport. Without this, I guess nobody will believe my story



The following day she called me and informed me that it was not refundable because I did not show at the counter. I told her that it didn’t make any sense because if not I wouldn’t know that my passport had a problem and the counter staff there already issued me the boarding pass. She agreed and promised me to investigate. If I truly had been issued the boarding pass, there wouldn’t be a problem. If I truly had been issued the boarding pass, there wouldn’t be a problem. Today she called me again and told a different story. She said they admitted they’ve already issued me the boarding pass, but I did not go through the gate. Therefore, I was still considered no show. Now comes the question. If a person had already gone through the gate, would he/she already board the flight? If missed the flight, how to go through the gate? Isn’t that a contradiction? Why in the first place she said only no show at the counter could not be refunded? Do they really have clear rules in this case? Or did they just cook up something just in order to charge me? It’s bit fishy right? If really must go through the gate and could be refunded, why didn't the counter staff tell me and advise me to just go through the gate; to at least help me.

The counter staff was not helpful. If they allowed me or said they did a slight favor to allow me to keep my luggage there, the whole story would be re-written. Isn’t that their duty to let passenger to have a pleasant journey? By doing such a small favor, it will save your customer so much trouble and money (especially I’m by no means of rich, and my mom now is still under treatment), and see your customers’ smiling faces, was not their biggest joy? So what they said in the advertisement is just deception.Probably I should know that. But since the staff did not advised me must go to the gate, was that her fault as well in stead of just punishing me?