Check-In Counter Changed Everything (Air France in general)

Member Name: chaviane

Product:	Air France in general
Date:	06/12/04 (1255 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice Colours?

Disadvantages: Very Rude Staff, Ability to make you depress

I had a really uncomfortable experience with Air France. I’ve been waiting for a long time to write about it because I’m not sure how others will react with what I’m about say, but I am glad that when I checked Dooyoo, I guess I’m not the only one who had a nightmare with this airline.

I had to say that this is the only review that I had to make with a really deep thought, that’s not easy because I really hate to think!!! *giggle*. Basically, I don’t want anyone to think that I am racist or prejudice or whatever. I spent 3 weeks holiday in Paris, I I didn’t see anyone treated me badly over there.

Just extra information, I’ve finished my elementary schools in Asia, my high school and some associate degree in USA, I took my University preparation in Australia, and I just finished my master degree in the UK. Basically, I’ve been studying in 4 continents and I never see anyone treated me differently, despite what the rumors or jokes about Asian, American, European and Australian, I always sees that as a joke because I had nothing but friends and beautiful memories in those places.

This review, absolutely nothing against any race, any nations or any craps that can make anyone angry.

First of all, I have to explain that my capacity here not as the passenger, but as someone who “almost” use their service. Until this moment I’m still feeling sorry for my Dad and Brother who had to use their service.

ONCE UPON A TIME…

It all began when my Dad and my brother had a meeting in Germany, from our country, they fled with Air France. Of course, they purchased return ticket, but he will return from London, because they want to visit me and pick me up to return to my country for holiday after their meeting. But they bought tickets from other airlines to travel from Germany to London.

Everything went smoothly *I guess* because my dad and brother didn’t say anything about their flight. But my brother did mention that the seat is tight and it took the stewardess a long time to give him the water he asked. My Dad wanted me to fly back home with him, but since I have some packing to do, so, I’ll go 5 days after. My dad agreed and told me to get the ticket at the airport. I told him that it might be expensive to get a ticket at the airport but he said its ok because he don’t completely believe me when I said 5 days. He had to see the actual ticket! (yeah, that’s my Dad!!! *giggles*).

AT THE AIRPORT

I asked my friend to drove us to Heathrow. When we got to terminal 2, I checked my watch, we still have around 4 hours left before flight. There was plenty of time to wait and relax, another reason that I have to get there early is because I knew that my Dad and brother’s luggage will be over load (They just visited 5 countries….no wonder). If we came early, we had enough time to sort this thing out.

AT THE COUNTER

When we got to Air-France counter, It was very quiet, we were the first one who got there. I smiled to the counter lady and said hi politely. She looked me from hair down and look somewhere else and talk to the lady next to her. Not just talking….she actually chatting!!!. Minutes after that, she came to me, without saying anything she just took the tickets from my hand. I told her that I need to check my dad n’ brother in. I also told her that their language might be overload, I wonder if she can tell me how much its going to cost us. She said its gonna be VERY EXPENSIVE. I still asked how much, again she said VERY EXPENSIVE. Then she returned the ticket to me and said very rudely “you can take your stuff out and ship it!” and then she returned to chatting.

I already pissed off with her attitude but I decided not to get angry too easy. I returned to my Dad and told him about it. My brother told me that if we had to pay that much maybe its better if they upgrade their ticket to first class (their ticket before was economy). I agreed with his idea because first class has bigger quota for luggage.

Me and brother returned the counter. Still with a smile, I asked her what we should do if we want to change the ticket to first class. Again, she looked me and my brother from head down and again *unbelievable really!* she said it will be VERY EXPENSIVE to do that!! And threw the ticket in front of me.

I had ran out my passion and tried to tell here clearly “I am so sorry miss, but we do need an actual number here, how much we had to pay for the luggage and how much it is to upgrade our ticket, that’s it”…..she looked really angry like we really bothering her precious time, she said “I am very busy you know!”. Then I can not control my emotion, I said “for God’s sake, no one else here just us”.

Surprisingly the lady in the other counter, who chatted with her before said “please don’t talk like that to us madam!”…I said “I don’t think its your business miss, I’m not in your counter” and again she replied “As she said madam, she’s very busy!!!!” I guess its not an over-reaction if I told her to shut the hell up!. That lady keep telling me that it is very expensive and she don’t want to serve us if we behave like that.

What she said really pissed me and my brother off, especially other passengers in the other counter also said they should just told me how much it cost (they were listening since the beginning). When my Dad came to see what happened she yelled to him “You have nothing to do with it Sir!”. I was suddenly come to tears because I really hate the fact that they treated my Dad that like that. No one can treat him like that!!. Other passengers in other counter told us to talk to the manager. One guy who felt sympathetic to us even told the counter-lady to just tell us how much and told her that she should not treated us that way. She simply said “There the manager on the way here, they can talk to him” and left.

THE MANAGER…..DEFINIETLY NEEDS MORE TRAINNING.

The manager took us across the counter, and asked what was going on. I told him everything. He didn’t say anything and walked to the counter and talked to the extra-rude counter lady and returned. He told us calmly, the luggage cost us around GBP.300.- That’s it!!! Then he told me where to pay. He didn’t apologize or mention about what his employee did. I’m not expecting apologizing, but at least give me explanations! Absolutely nothing. When I asked how to upgrade, he just said “You have to go to different counter!”. My Dad looked at me and he knew that I’m about ready to explode again, he quickly took his money and gave it to me so I can pay for it as quickly as possible.

When my dad and brother almost left, I still cried and my friend came to me and asked what happened. When I told him, he about ready to return to the counter, but my Dad and brother stopped him.

I’m not angry when the lady treated me like trash, but I was really sad when she did the same with my Dad. I am sure every one here feel the same way with their parents no matter what!.

IN CONCLUSION

On my way back, my English fried who who drove us still angry with it. In the car, I spent my time thinking about what just happened. I really don’t understand why the counter-lady treated us like that. Honestly, GBP.300.- is not much at all. She could just say that and I can pay for it in cash, no need to wait for my Dad. I was expecting around GBP.1000+. That’s why I was thinking about upgrading. Otherwise, I can just pay and no one has to get hurt. All she had to do just do her job and tell me. As simple as that.

I was really disappointed with Air-France. So I called my friend’s travel agent and asked about a ticket for myself to return to my country. He told me the price for normal time flight (means I have to book one month in advance) I was really shocked for the price and regret the fact that my Dad paid really high for a really low service airline. Then I told the agent to get me the cheapest ticket considering I might have to buy last minute ticket. I don’t want to imagine how much it gonna be for last minute ticket with Air-France.

They recommend me to use Gulf Air. At the beginning, I was really pessimistic about this airline, but I thought, must be nothing can be worse than Air-France. I was right. I had a really good time on the plane. Even I have to wait for 12 hours in Bahrain for my connecting flight but I am fully satisfied. Because they helped me from their Heathrow counter and when I got to Bahrain, they gave me transportation to a hotel to rest in my own room.

A PIECE OF MIND….

Until today, I still can not believe that I actually experienced that kind of treatment. I am glad that I’m not like the counter-lady. I actually know that I should not look at anyone as someone lower than me because I know, I am not perfect either.

I still don’t understand why they treated me that way. I am sorry to say this, if she thinks she should not serve me appropriately, I want to know why??? Because of I’m Asian??? Well, she’s Asian too, the only different probably I’m from Southeast Asia and She’s clearly from South Asia *again, so sorry!*. I am sure it’s not about geography, she just simply mean and not really well-trained. They are absolutely has their own issues.

I never been treated as low as what Air-France staff did. But I want them to know, that they not all that. Nothing great about their airlines. No matter how advance their technology is, if they still can not change their behavior, they should work really hard to survive. Even me and my family not much meaning to them, I am proudly to say that from now on, they already lost their customers. Because no matter what, we will never use Air-France again.

The memories I had in my head still keeping me up to move on… not to let one airline change my perspective or be prejudice about anyone in any part of the word. It is still clear in my mind when my American friends taught me how to make perfect snowman, my Australian teacher told me to start saying “Mate” instead of “Dude”, or in UK, where I went crazy trying all kind of teas just because my English friend said drinking tea is part of their culture, while I’m not so crazy about tea. All of that always made me smiles. All those laughter with beautiful people from those places will always stays in my mind and I am really looking forward for new one to come.

While the only things that Air-France staffs and their managers are just stuck in their tables, sitting, judging and collecting negative thoughts about other people when they can learn so much from them.

I don’t feel sorry for my self, but I really do feel sorry for them.

Summary: