I had an unforgettable experience while returning from a business trip to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
I'd a ticket issued by "Saudi Arabian Airlines" for my journey to Jeddah and back.
While my onward was by "Saudia"
the return was confirmed by Emirates Airlines as
Before travelling, I'd told our company Travel Desk about the possibility of my work getting over on 25th Nov, in which case, I would want to prepone my return to 26 Nov.
It was Ramzan month and not a nice place to be in Saudi Arabia, if you weren't a Muslim. All restaurants only opened after 6 PM and you only had room service the rest of the time. Jeddah Hilton (the place I stayed) being a five-star hotel, charged you an arm and a leg for any food (say 20 SAR for coffee) - so surviving was a big issue!
Travel Desk agreed with this. After checking various options, I was told there was an "Air India" flight on 26 Nov (at 11 AM) from Jeddah, direct to Bombay, which still had seats. But I should call up and tell Travel Desk as early as possible.
On 25th Nov, about 3.30 PM local time (6 PM IST), we concluded the work for which I'd made the visit. My Manager said I could go back to India now. I called up Travel Desk (it was 6.30 PM IST) and asked them to get me the "Air India" flight which they had suggested before I'd left for India. As usual, an 11th hour request for change of itinery.
Travel Desk got back telling there were no tickets by that Air India flight, but ticket was available on an Air India flight to Bombay through Calicut, which left at 0105 on 26th Nov. I was okay with this since this meant I would be back in Bangalore on 26th Nov evening itself. Travel Desk confirmed the booking, but told me that I needed to get my ticket endorsed as I was changing Airlines. I was told that I should go to Saudia and ask them to endorse it. I was also told that they will not be happy to do it and create a fuss because they are losing business. But I should insist they do it and they will. Travel Desk couldn't do this because Saudia office was closed (it was already 6.45 PM).
I was further told that Saudia may ask me to go to Emirates to do the endorsing as my return flight was by Emirates, even though Saudia had issued me the ticket. I was told, in that case, to go to Emirates and get my ticket endorsed.
I was told that I show my Air India confirmation and insist that I need to change my ticket and the endorsement will be done.
I was faxed the new travel itinery and the confirmation numbers for the return. I was also told to start early (9 PM for the 0105 flight) so as to have time to do the endorsement.
I checked out of Jeddah Hilton at 9 PM. I had a drop to Airport. The driver (luckily an Indian - a Malayalee, to be precise) asked me which airport I wanted to go - the airport where Saudia flights departed (let us call this Saudia Airport) or the airport where the rest of the airlines departed (let us call this International airport). That was the first time I realised Jeddah had two international airports. I was in a fix because I needed to get the ticket endorsed by Saudia, and I was not sure if they had their office in the International Airport. Also I'd go to International Airport, which was where Air India flight left. The driver said he could only drop me in one airport, as the distance between the two airports was 22km, and as per the policy, he could not take me to both the airports (for free). He said he will drop me in Saudia Airport, and after my endorsement, I could take a taxi to the International Airport.
The driver was kind enough to take me personally to the Saudia Booking office. The person whom I approached in the counter, to do the endorsement did not know what this was all about, and called another person. He said that he could not endorse the ticket as it was an Emirates flight. They should do it. I tried my level best to explain to him that Saudia had issued the ticket, I'd confirmed flight by Air India, so please endorse. They refused.
It was around 10 PM. The airport was very crowded with Umrah pilgrims. Most of the flights came at night. Preference was given to Umrah pilgrims for cabs, and I was going to find it difficult to get a cab. The driver took pity on me and said that he will drop me till International Airport, but I'll have to pay him for this. He can't give me a receipt either (as his was not a taxi).
I agreed to it as it was getting late, and off we went to International Airport. There was a sea of people as most flights departed at night. The driver left, wishing me luck (and charging me 50 SAR) for the ride.
I jostled with my luggage among the crowd and somehow found the Air India check-in counter. I showed them my ticket and was told to go to Emirates office for endorsement.
I searched and found Emirates office and went in. The staff there took a look at my ticket and said they could not endorse it. I begged and pleaded with them, said I'd been to Saudia and they had asked me to come here, but to no avail. I met the Manager-in-charge, but to no effect. I asked them what do I do now, as my flight was at 0105 and I'd a confirmed ticket. The Emirates staff, smiling, told me, I can always buy a new ticket.
My next stop was at Air India office. I met the Manger there and told them my situation. He said he could not do anything about it. I went back to Air India check-in counter, and found other Air India employees. One of them looked at the ticket and said, this is definitely endorseable. He took the ticket with him and went off. He came back in 5 minutes telling he had met the Emirates staff, but they refused to endorse.
He then told me, why don't I go back to Saudia office and meet the Duty Manager there and get it endorsed. I told them I'd already been to Saudia office, but had had not had success. I also added that it was very crowded, I was a stranger to the place, I could be duped by cab drivers (it was now 10.30 PM), and I also had very little time for the flight.
Air India staff told me the alternate, to purchase a ticket was a very costly affair, and I should try it only as a last resort.
I summoned up all my courage, and leaving my luggage in Air India office (which a kind gentleman permitted), took a cab to Saudia Airport. This driver knew not one word of English and I've no clues how I convinced him that I wanted to go to Saudia Airport. I paid him SAR 50 for his efforts, for which I got no receipt.
I was afraid all the time that he should not take me for a ride. Somehow by God's grace I was back in Saudia Airport.
I went to Saudia office and again asked them to endorse my ticket. I was told to meet a senior person. I went inside the office and that person refused - telling this was an agency ticket and the agency should be doing this. I was also told if I wanted a change of flights, I should have also got a change of tickets, instead of asking them to endorse.
He asked me why I was not flying Saudia, which was also going to Bombay, and had seats. This was a bombshell, as I didn't know there were other flights. In fact, why would Travel book me by Emirates, when Saudia had return flight? (As it turned out, there was neither Saudia nor Emirates flight that night. This I learnt after I came back) Anyway, I'd no answers. Also even if I wanted to, I could not take the Saudia flight for two reasons - my luggage was in Air India office in the other airport, and I didn't know what it meant to my existing booking. Airline booking is not my cup of tea and these things were beyond me.
I decided to meet the Duty Manager and went to his cabin. It was empty. One should also remember that very few staff understood English and fewer spoke the language. I waited 15 minutes in the Duty Manager's office and he didn't show up. It was 11.45 PM and the check-in at Air India closed at midnight.
I decided I could not take it any further and decided to take a cab back to Internatinal Airport (remember my luggage was there). Again, by God's grace, I hopped into a cab driven by an India - a Bangla this time. My entry was illegal as cabs were not supposed to pick up passengers at that point, but the driver told me to tell the police (if caught) that I'd made a mistake and had come to Saudia Airport by mistake, and was now going to International Airport.
The ride to International Airport was peaceful as the driver spoke incessantly in Hindi about himself, his friends, etc. When I opened my purse to pay him on arrival in International Airport, I discovered that I'd only 26 SAR in cash - the charge was SAR 47. The driver, for some reason, agreed to accept $10 + SAR 10 as payment.
I was back in Air-India, and they were closed for check-in. I said I wanted to buy a ticket and kindly allow me to fly by their flight. Somehow, they allowed me to check-in, got a ticket (paying through my nose for it).
There was big rush for Emigration, followed by Security. But finally I made it, by skin's teeth.
I don't know what I could have done under the circumstance - midnight in Jeddah Airport, having checked-out from my hotel, not knowing local language, in a chaotic, crowded atmosphere, with people looking to dupe you all around. I don't know if I can take legal action against Saudia/Emirates for not endorsing my ticket and if that will help.
In any case, the moral of the story is this: never plan a trip without having an endorsed ticket!.