October 27, 2006

At Barbados immigration earlier this year, I had the following encounter which I wrote about in an article...

Having taken advantage of BWIA's online booking system, where lower fares are available, I did not have a paper ticket. I also didn't print out the itinerary. Big mistake. Miss Thing promptly told me to "stand over there, I have other passengers in the line" when I suggested to her that she call BWIA to verify that I was in fact not staying in Barbados.

So you would have thought that this time coming back from Jamaica I would have had an itinerary nuh? Nope.

Miss Immigration (a different one) tells me I have to have a seat in immigration while she verifies with the BWIA agent if I in fact have a reservation on LIAT to Grenada. I have already showed her the locator number. Not enough miss.

She was starting to get curt with a sarcastic smile but then I was civil and pleasant and she softened up. While waiting inside, she asked me how was my birthday. Well...you know.....that landed her right up there in my good books. A simple thing like that can turn around a service encounter.

Natch, I told her about the fete blah blah bloh bloh. She was laughing at something I said.

All was well in the end. She advised me that since I was working in Grenada, it might be a good idea to put my usual place of address as where I am living in Grenada. Good idea luv! Thanks!

Posted by yamfoot at October 27, 2006 09:49 PM
Comments

Strange. I have travelled on BWIA a few times using an e-ticket. Normally I just give them a number and they locate the info on their computer, no problem at all. Is this a recent thing -like within 6 mths? Cuz that's the last time I travelled BWIA

Posted by: Gela at October 28, 2006 12:09 PM

I always print my itinerary, to avoid things like these.

Posted by: Stunner at October 28, 2006 11:03 PM

Ah neva realize dis wuz you! Ah been readin' yuh blog fi a while now, an' wen ah si seh yuh madda get OD, ah seh "but Tania madda get OD too" an' ah put two an' two togedda... Anyway, you are obviously alive and kicking, keep on doing what you're doing.

Posted by: Carol Lazarus at October 29, 2006 11:02 AM

Carol....what a surprise! We were just talking about you the other day because my brother bought Malabar and that is where I had my 40th b'day fete and we asked him if he sees your Dad around.

Posted by: Michelle at October 29, 2006 05:47 PM

There are too many "Miss Things" (and Misters) as well in Immigration Depts. the world over. Dem need fe learn how fe talk to people!

Sometimes when dem know only too well seh dem step pon people toe, dem haffi come off dem feisty high horse and turn round and be decent specially when people legit. Tiyad o dem.....

Posted by: Dr. D. at October 30, 2006 07:59 AM

But how yuh get so lucky wid dem Ms Thangs in Barbados. man as a Bajan, I does have de world ah time wid dem, dem nuh have nuh manners or customer service skills atall..

So how was yuh B-day.

Posted by: Campfyah at October 30, 2006 11:04 AM

I guess you have a few everywhere you go. Good reinforcement though "soft answer turneth away wrath."

Posted by: scratchie at October 31, 2006 02:10 PM

steups. I never remember to print my itinerary either...
I'm impressed about the customer service tho..

Posted by: Island Spice at November 1, 2006 12:45 PM

I made a booking today for Decembe,r and the first thing I did was print the itinerary!

Posted by: Michelle at November 1, 2006 09:00 PM

Hey there, was talking about you the other day and realised it was your 'big' birthday - CONGRATS! Sorry I missed it, but it made me visit your blog and catch up on some great reads. Stay cool. Love Trudy

Posted by: Trudy at November 7, 2006 08:21 AM
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