Signs
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Seven months. It took me seven months to plan the KL trip with Iva. And for what? Another bump-off experience? Grrr. I should have known it was coming, though. All the signs were there. I just chose to ignore each and everyone of it.
See, I almost got jailed in Colombo for having one of the pages of my passport torn. The immigration officer thought it was tampered. Good thing our airport manager was there to assist me and confirm that I am a staff of QR.
So, knowing that I'd be travelling again, I renewed my passport immediately upon my return from Colombo. I didn't want to have that "near-jail experience" again. Overnight, I got my passport and then I submitted it to our Immigration Department so they can request for the transfer my residence permit at the Ministry of Interior. They said it would only take 2 working days to do it. I was confident I'd get it before my flight to KL. Four days after I've submitted my passport (and just 2 days before my flight), I went back to the immigration office to get it.
First Sign: My passport was there but the RP was not transferred!
I was really upset that my passport was returned because I did not sign the form. First of all, when I submitted my passport, I asked the staff at the department if there was anything else I had to do. He said there was none. He even got my number so he could call me if there was. I received no phone call. Anyway, anger wouldn't do anything to improve the situation so I calmed down and asked him where I'd sign and explained to him that I really needed the passport because I was planning to travel 2 days later. He said he'd do his best to have it processed.
Second Sign: My exit permit was not yet signed on the day of my flight.
We are required to present an exit permit everytime we go out of Doha. Exit permits are processed overnight. Unfortunately, I submitted my exit permit on the day my boss became too busy with a lot of papers so he was not able to give it back that day. More unfortunate was the fact that he went to Dubai the following day so I had to wait for his return and get my signed and approved weekend trip. Waiting is the name of the game I had to play.
Third Sign: Flight was overbooked.
I've been monitoring the flight since a month ago. Flight bookings do not fluctuate which means that most of the bookings are confirmed and ticketed. Bad. I also checked the flight materialization history, 100% booking = 100% flown. Worse. As a chance passenger, we rely on people who don't show up at the airport. If the number of bookings equal the number of flown, then our chance is nil. Arrrgh!
Fourth Sign: I have no ticket, passport and exit permit 30 minutes before the office closes.
I asked our office helper to get me a number at the staff travel so I could buy my ticket. He asked me intelligently, "What good is a ticket without a passport?" Though it sounded funny, I wanted to punch him on his face. There I was, hoping and praying I could get my passport that day and he was there making fun of the fact that I did not have it still! Anyway, I got my passport, my ticket and exit permit a minute before everyone started packing their things to go home.
While on my way to the airport, I kept praying to God that if it's not meant for me to go to KL (since the flight back is worse), then don't let me get on the flight. True enough, I was bumped off. Oh well, I guess it was not my personal legend to meet Iva this time since the whole universe conspired not to let me go.
See, I almost got jailed in Colombo for having one of the pages of my passport torn. The immigration officer thought it was tampered. Good thing our airport manager was there to assist me and confirm that I am a staff of QR.
So, knowing that I'd be travelling again, I renewed my passport immediately upon my return from Colombo. I didn't want to have that "near-jail experience" again. Overnight, I got my passport and then I submitted it to our Immigration Department so they can request for the transfer my residence permit at the Ministry of Interior. They said it would only take 2 working days to do it. I was confident I'd get it before my flight to KL. Four days after I've submitted my passport (and just 2 days before my flight), I went back to the immigration office to get it.
First Sign: My passport was there but the RP was not transferred!
I was really upset that my passport was returned because I did not sign the form. First of all, when I submitted my passport, I asked the staff at the department if there was anything else I had to do. He said there was none. He even got my number so he could call me if there was. I received no phone call. Anyway, anger wouldn't do anything to improve the situation so I calmed down and asked him where I'd sign and explained to him that I really needed the passport because I was planning to travel 2 days later. He said he'd do his best to have it processed.
Second Sign: My exit permit was not yet signed on the day of my flight.
We are required to present an exit permit everytime we go out of Doha. Exit permits are processed overnight. Unfortunately, I submitted my exit permit on the day my boss became too busy with a lot of papers so he was not able to give it back that day. More unfortunate was the fact that he went to Dubai the following day so I had to wait for his return and get my signed and approved weekend trip. Waiting is the name of the game I had to play.
Third Sign: Flight was overbooked.
I've been monitoring the flight since a month ago. Flight bookings do not fluctuate which means that most of the bookings are confirmed and ticketed. Bad. I also checked the flight materialization history, 100% booking = 100% flown. Worse. As a chance passenger, we rely on people who don't show up at the airport. If the number of bookings equal the number of flown, then our chance is nil. Arrrgh!
Fourth Sign: I have no ticket, passport and exit permit 30 minutes before the office closes.
I asked our office helper to get me a number at the staff travel so I could buy my ticket. He asked me intelligently, "What good is a ticket without a passport?" Though it sounded funny, I wanted to punch him on his face. There I was, hoping and praying I could get my passport that day and he was there making fun of the fact that I did not have it still! Anyway, I got my passport, my ticket and exit permit a minute before everyone started packing their things to go home.
While on my way to the airport, I kept praying to God that if it's not meant for me to go to KL (since the flight back is worse), then don't let me get on the flight. True enough, I was bumped off. Oh well, I guess it was not my personal legend to meet Iva this time since the whole universe conspired not to let me go.
