...of why India has a long way to go in overcoming its status as a developing country:
Why the f&*k can't I have my ticket!?
The ever so lovely Chris and Dave are sponsoring a ticket for me to join them in Capetown for Chris' birthday in March. Chris buys a ticket online on South African Airways, they don't do e-tickets but they have the option to allow someone to sponsor a ticket for another and the recipient to pick-up from wherever they are. Simple really, just submit some paperwork they send and you are on your merry way.
Unless that is you happen to live in India.
The SAA office in India does not follow the corporate rules of the company. "What do I need to get my ticket?" Let me call my accounts person...sorry he's at lunch. "All of SAA in India only has one person working in the accounting department?" No, but he is the only one that can answer the question. "Can I speak to your supervisor?" He's at lunch. "Of course he is!" Well sir, it's lunch time. "It's 2:30 in the afternoon, and don't you think that your customers are most likely to access your services during THEIR lunch time, so your staff should be available!?" If you would like to wait for some time, they will be back later.
While the paperwork they gave us is valid for EVERY other country SAA operates in it is not good enough for SAA (their words not mine). "But what if the sponsor lives in another country?" Well then you can just pay for the ticket yourself (their words not mine).
Urgh!! Countless calls to India, Washington, Johana-fuckings-burg later we discover that the system shows that the ticket had been awarded even though they wouldn't give it to me so they wont release it to Chris either. Bloody Hell!!
So, some screaming, some yelling, and some threats later the previous ticket is cancelled, a new one issued in the US and C&D have to FedEx it to me. All because India has created EXTRA bureaucratic steps without rhyme or reason. Sigh.
What am I willing to put up with for a better exchange rate?
Tonight I leave for Spain (on Austrian Air btw-I've never flown them before let's see how it goes) I always like to land in a new country with some of the local currency in hand. Exchanging outside of India is out (Rupees are a restricted currency and its almost impossible to exchange them outside of India - and I have run out of US dollars). I know I can withdraw from ATMs once I reach, but still its a security thing "better safe than sorry" you know.
My Bank, which I hate, is India's largest private bank with outlets all over the country, and now the UK and Canada. One of the main reasons I hate them is because they make every little step a pain in the ass (someday I should tell you about the drama I went through when I lost my ATM card and needed a new one). For example, "Why am I getting charged for making a deposit?" because you made the deposit in Mumbai and your account is from Kolkata. "But it's the same bank, own by one person, its not individual franchises" yes but you opened the account in Kolkata so all transactions have to occur from there. "So transfer my account to Mumbai" We can't do that you would have to close that account and open a new one. Sigh.
One of the services this bank offers is foreign exchange and slightly better rates than other forex. "I would like 100 euros please" you need to fill out this form, and submit a copy of your passport, and your plane ticket. "I just want to exchange some money is all" yes you have to submit an application, it will take a day or two. "But I leave tomorrow" let me call to see if we can get it by tomorrow. "What do you mean get it by tomorrow, you don't have the money here?" No we are not allowed. "Then why say you offer forex if you don't have the money here!?"Because we do, it just takes some time. "And why do you need my passport and ticket?" Because we are not allow to exchange for people who are not travelling. "Why not?" that is the rule, besides what would an India do with the money if they are not travelling (their words not mine). Sigh.
~~~~~
I'm just tired. Spain here I come!!
Happy holidays to all.
Very Merry New YEAR!!!
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2 comments:
Thomas Cook does a much better job at forex - I got my money instantly - and this was way back in 1997 when you couldn't take a piss without five pieces of ID.
Glad the SAA thing finally worked out - airlines work in mysterious ways. The systems are at least 20 yrs old. I can't figure out why it takes a thousand keystrokes to check someone in at the airport.
One reason they don't give you foreign currency without documentation is because people would resell the currency at a better exchange rate on the black market. They're not getting euros to travel to Europe. This is India.
Anyway, it's great to see you smile in the photo below. Love your blog.
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