The Signs...

For the first time in my life (and Uncle Tan's), I was denied to board the plane on the day of departure.

Reason: Passport's validity - less that 6 mths. And...it's 10 days short. Sign No. 1

It all started when Uncle Tan and I decided just to take a break from work to R&R. Because we didn't plan exactly when and where, it was all decided about 2 weeks before the trip, after taking into consideration that no current H1N1 outbreak, no earthquakes or riots and somewhere that requires less planning cos we prefer a free & easy trip. So Taiwan it is since there's no language barrier with a convenient rail system and the place also offers nice scenery in parts of the city.

We did a bit of research with the use of friends' past itineraries. Somehow we seem to be looking forward more for the break instead of the trip itself. Probably we were stressed with work & our immunity level was low.

Uncle Tan did mention to me that my passport was slightly less than 6 mths. But it really didn't strike us that there'd be any problem. Moreover, the system also allowed the booking without any prompts and we went ahead to book the accommodation. It was only successful upon the second try as the first choice hotel was fully booked. Sign No. 2

We went ahead to select the seats thou not many choices. You'll be surprised to find the entire row 44 empty. Talking about the superstitious beliefs amongst Singaporeans. Oh if you're keen to know, the total cost of the air tix we paid is $1,348.

Days before departure, Uncle Tan went to check the weather forecast on www.weatherunderground.com and thunderstorms would be expected. It also indicated "Typhoon Parma" on the 4th and last day of our trip. Ok, everything has been booked, so it's kinda too late to do anything anyway. Sign No. 3

The only thing that we could not do is to do the Internet check-in. It prompted the message: "You must have at least 6 months validity on your passport to complete Internet check-in. Please check in at the airport." Sign No. 4
It still didn't indicate the prohibition to travel and I grumbled about having to arrive at the airport earlier to do the checking-in.

Just before stepping out of the house, I suddenly recalled that my buddhist beads, which I always bring along with me for every trip. We made a search and just couldn't find it. It didn't really leave a very bad feeling or maybe I just told myself not to think too much into it. So we left the house anyway. Sign No. 5

I wonder if this was a laughable mistake as I could see a staff seated at the other gate smiling to himself. I was like "huh?" "what?" when I heard this and was trying desperate to see who else I can seek help from especially at this hour when most people are still asleep. 2 of my colleagues knew about my predicament as they were early birds and that also allowed me to vent some frustrations and well, confusion.

I'm curious to know how many knew about the 6-mth validity rule. The staff told us that certain countries like China and Malaysia are more lenient whereas countries such as Taiwan, is pretty strict about this. And when we told her the system still allows the booking to go through without any prompts, she said that the system would not prompt if we booked via the KrisFlyer. So doesn't that make KrisFlyer members at a disadvantage then?

So she advised us to make a trip to ICA to see if it's possible to get an extension and gave us SQ's customer service hotline to enquire. We were given the following options:

1. Cancel the booking - cancellation fee at $75 per pax if the cancellation is made before the plane takes off at 8.30am. Afterwhich would be the full cancellation charge of $150 per pax applies.

2. Take the next available flight at 12+pm and to top up $148 per pax. However, we need to inform them before 8.30am.

3. Up-selling the ticket - keeping the tix with flexi dates with top-ups.

And that was how we know that ICA opens at 8am and for a moment I thought ICA building had a 4D-Toto station. The Q outside the building was already forming before the opening. Fortunately it moved pretty past and the Q to do the extension was short - Q no. 004. Ah, another sign... ...

Before we went in, we contemplated whether we still want to go ahead with the trip if extension was granted. Somehow we felt that these things perhaps happen for a reason and so we decided that if the extension was not granted, we take it as a no go.

And indeed it was. In order to do an extension for a single trip, the staff said we would have to apply for visa. Alternatively, she suggested making a new passport which she could expedite the process but could only collect it at 4pm. Either way, we couldn't catch the next available flight and we did not have any mood to go even if we were to postpone the trip to the following day. And having to go through all these in the morning is somewhat draining. So we decided to cancel the trip and try to see if we could be refunded.

We called the online travel agency to explain our situation, followed by an email. They were very prompt in settling this they replied before the stipulated 48 hrs. They are agreeable to our suggestion to pay only a night's rate and refund the remaining sum instead of charging us the full amount. I strongly recommend their service if you intend to book your own travel accomodation. Here's the link: www.octopustravel.com.sg.

We are still waiting for NTUC travel insurance's reply on the waiver of cancellation charges though the amount was not a lot. The lady did not return my call and I had to follow up with an email. We even called the credit card company to see if we could stop this payment as the transaction was done only a day before. Well, Uncle Tan hesitated to do so as this would mean his current card would be void and the bank would have to re-issue him a new card which means he has to go through the hassle of re-linking the credit card up with his mobile phone monthly payment. And that is the ONLY one payment that is linked to the card.

In any case when he called the following day to stop the transaction, he was told that the ansaction had taken place - the day which I called to request for the waiver....... My insurance agent said that it was possible for the cancellation in the past but since NTUC Insurance has become commercialised recently, they have new rules. Point taken.

As for SIA, we would be given full refund of the air tix but will still charge the cancellation fee of $75 per pax despite our request for waiver via the hotline. When we visited the customer service centre at Ion, the staff explained that there is nothing she could do as the refund process had taken place and that apparently the staff said Uncle Tan had acknowledged that we would pay for the cancellation charges. I had no more ammunition to fight.

We were given an email address to write in and well, no harm trying. I wrote a long email for Uncle Tan to send and hopefully like the travel agency example, they could accede to our request.

Honestly, we didn't really feel disappointed and we took this episode as one of those "adventures". It was an "exciting" experience indeed with lessons learnt. I was even joking to my colleague that we felt like immigrants from ahem...you-know-where, lugging our luggage from the airport to ICA. I suppose having the thought that things happen for a reason somewhat made us feel less agitated (except for occasions when Uncle Tan really test my patience for not being proactive in thinking of solutions to get back the refund and giving me incomplete info before I go for "the negotiation"). Even though I'm here safe and sound, I really hope the typhoon would subside soon and not cause too much casualties and destruction. We are so fortunate not having to go through the fear these people face. But nothing is absolute.

And you and I know jolly well who contributed to to all these unfortunate disasters. Yes, it's through our little greedy, sometimes lazy and selfish ways that resulted in all these. We all know what's going on and how we can try to reduce the impact. If you think you alone can't do anything much, think again. And if you think you have no children so there's no need to think so much about the future since the world will not end in your time, think again. You'll never know when's the day and I suppose you like travelling too?