Oct 06, 2008 01:23 PM
2510 Views
The conservative Sajith
I am an orthodox guy who always prefer to go to airport, stand in the que and purchase ticket from the counter. I was very happy but I was viewed with suspicion by many - yeah - peer pressure -
"You never attempted online booking???? " "You are living in this century but acting as a morbid man", "Why so conservative?"
Fine - enough is enough. I thought of trying make my trip. Twice I travelled with out much trouble even if I have to remind them twice for the tickets to be sent to my email address so that I can claim reimbursement. But some thing happened during the olympic day was beyond my imagination!
I have to travel to Trivandrum from Mumbai on the magic date 8/8/2008 as I have to attend a function. At any cost, I cannot afford to cancel the trip. I thought of trying Makemytrip as I was looking for some discount.
Sajith with out Surname
3/8/2008 I dialled their office by arounf 3.30 AM and Ms. Poonam Chaudhari attended the call. After initial ice breaking dialogues, I have chosen Jetairways and she started with the booking prcocees.
Poonam : "Please telle me your name"
Sajith : "Sajith S"
Poonam : "What is your surname?"( God - this is the question I am always afaid of - as I dont have a surname but only an initial which is the "style" of Keralites. Some history for the sake of all non keralites who wonder why we dont have surnames. Yeah - we have proper father and mother. According to the old caste system prevailing in kerala, only upper cast people used to have surname and lower cast people where not having any surname. And after the social revolution, progressive upper cast people also started denouncing their surname so that with the name, no one shall be categorised as upper caste or lower caste. Well, my father was also one progressive person who benovolently decided that the beautiful surname Nairshall not be included as part of my name. Hence, I am Sajith S means, Sajith Sasidharan Nair. And in Pune, none of the local software accepted the odd name with out surname. So friends - next time please excuse a mallu with out surname - he represent a great legacy)
Sajith - Sorry Madam. No surname, but you can use "S" as my surname as it is the shortform of my fathers name ( No point in educating her on the social system in Kerala)
She tried for some time and said "Sorry, the software do not accept the booking with a single alphabet surname. So, please find one more alphabet along with this"
I never faced such a situation beforr with makemytrip. To find a new surname will amount to change my dad!!! Crazy. I told her "Madam, sorry - I have one father, one surname. And all these days I lived with this. Even makekytrip booked me tickets before with this name. What is your problem?"
She was a bit annoyed and after some time she told me - ok, I will put a dot after S and solve the problem. Vowww - she is so innovative. And I have to tell her my credit card number 5 times as she made mistake while noting it down.
I was frustrated and told her "Madam, you have problem with my name, my surname, my credit card and everything related to mine. So, how can I be sure that you booked tickets for me"
She kept me in waiting for solid 13 minutes and I cannot even disconnect the phone as I have give my card details. Finally, she confirmed ticket is booked and I will get the ticket through mail next day. She gave me a booking id. God, I am relieved.
My adventures with Makemytrip
After two days, I casually remembered that I didnot get my tickets. But my friends who always gave me confidence that if booking id is given then I dont have to worry had gone to my mind and I never gave a second thought. But on 6th morning also when I didnot get my ticket, I thought of enquiring Jet Airways Office and was shocked to note that my tickets were blocked but payment was not released and hence the ticket was not issued.
I lost my cool and ringed them again. Ms. Nancy Bedi attended the call this time. She gave me the most fantastic information "Sir, your tickets are not booked. This id you are giving states that it is kept pending. So, if you wish, I can book the tickets"
I feel like dropping a nuclear bomb to her head and told "You dont do anything. Just cancel my tickets"
Nancy "Ok but you will lose Rs.1000/- towards cancellation"
Sajith : "Why should I pay money for a ticket which is never booked?"
Nancy: "It is not booked but it is bloced" -
ME BEING AN ORDINARY PERSON DIDNOT UNDERSTAND HEAD AND TAIL OF THIS. SHE KEPT ME ON HOLD FOR 20 MINUTES ------ AND IN THE MEAN TIME USING ANOTHER PHONE I BOOKED TICKET THORUGH JET AIRWAYS AS ONLY THREE MORE TICKETS WERE AVAILABLE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO CANCLE THE TRIP.
Some thing quite amazing happened and the lady on the other side came back on the line after 20 minutes and told me "Mr. Sajith, I am sorry your tickets were booked already but due to some system issue here, we could not forward the request to jet airways. We just cleared the same and your ticket is booked. Your invoice number is IN0808B00368"
What the hell is this? Who on earth gave them confirmation to book tickets? I asked them to cancel only. As I cannot trust them, I have booked ticket when these idiots kept me on que for long hours.
CUSTOMER IS BEGGAR NOW - HE ENDS UP WITH TWO TICKETS AND THEY WILL CANCEL THE SAME ONLY IF I PAY THE CANCELLATION FEE. TO RECITE THE ENTIRE STORY TO HER DOES NOT MADE ANY DIFFERENCE
Later --
The summary of events
I spoke to the old Poonam but she told me that Ms. Nancy gave me wrong information. She cannot do anything but I have to pay money
She refuesed to escalate the matter
I spoke to Mr.Sunny Gulati another executive who was a bit sensible and took my request to cancel the ticket and not to charge me any single penny as it was their fault
I wrote a detailed mail to him stating this
On 7th night I got a mail stating that my tickets are cancelled and they have not charged any money from my side and their apology for inconvenicne
Lesson
- Never go for a mode where in you have to discolsoe your credit card number and cvv number over phone.
Go for booking either through online transaction or through the direct booking facility of the offices of the operators
Make it sure that you always track your trasactions on a routine basis
If you dont have ticket in your hand - never ever hesitate to get the same becuase otherwise you will land up in trouble
Make it a habit to write email to the service providers which will help you ( I have done this and hence could give details of all transactions)
Thanks for your time.
