Arrrrrrghhhhhhhh! Incompetence
Posted: Aug 22nd 2003, 5:36 am
Recently I have been more than astounded at the ridiculous nature of the levels of beaurocracy combined with incompetence that the ordinary british citizen going about their daily life is (it seems) duty bound to endure.
Last night I reached the peak of my frustration, and I have to share it here (Ok, it's like, a compulsion, or what have you ). I'm just venting, but if any of you have suffered similar nonsense, why not share?
Anyway, Mr. S and I are off to Northern Ireland to visit his family. He's driving the car across on the ferry, and I'm flying out to meet him as I can't get any more time off work. So, I'm searching for a cheap flight on the web, and wahey, British Midland through the Opodo booking service comes up trumps.
Mr. S books my flight over the internet using his credit card. All fine, we think. Later on, we get a call from Opodo, asking for my credit card details. I refuse to give them out. We have already given one card number for payment and that is enough. OK, I might be a little sensitive following the problems with AU, but still, I feel I have a point. The guy on the phone tells me that the airline won't confirm the tickets without it. I say, well, try again. I'm not giving you my credit card details. 10 mins later, he calls back, saying they need it as my (get this) SECURITY ID. As I am flying on an e-ticket, I must get to the gate, show them my CREDIT CARD which they will then take as ID that I can get on the plane. I need to give them the number as they will match it with my physical card before letting me on the plane.
I refuse. Again. After I have picked myself up off the floor I point out that I am perfectly willing to give them my PASSPORT number and produce my passport (with, I note for them, an actual PHOTO of me on it, and which, I also note, is accepted much more readily as ID for security purposes than a CREDIT CARD) at the gate. It's a no go.
What if one doesn't own a credit card? I ask... 'Ummmm,' is the response.
So I phone the airline directly and after speaking to a manager and pointing out that this is quite the most ridiculous policy I have ever heard and frankly doesn't put me at ease in terms of them filtering out terrorists with bombs in their shoes trying to board the aircraft (I was in full flow, as I'm sure you can imagine), he says 'yes, that's why we have a box we can fill in that says you can produce your passport instead. We just have to tell Opodo that it's acceptable in this case.' Fine. OK. I mean, hello? Shouldn't that be your normal position anyway? But fine. He assures me they will note it on their system and we should give Opodo 10 mins and call them again whereupon they will accept my Passport as ID rather than my credit card.
We do this. Opodo still refuse. But the airline says it's fine! we say. No joy. So we cancel the ticket with them. But can't find anywhere even close to that cheap to fly with - booking over the phone is more expensive as the fare is a special 'online, e-ticket deal'. So I get online and book the ticket myself, directly with the airline, using my own credit card, out of desperation. At least that way they only have one number rather than 2 and I will have no hesitation in yelling at the CEO of British Midland if something should go wrong.
I find it unfathomable that an airline would rather accept your credit card than your passport as ID for getting on a flight. Why is this? Nobody could give me an answer either at Opodo or BMI. Is this a safe practice? I doubt it.
I am considering writing one of my letters... but I'd like to hear if anyone has encountered anything similar in the past.
Last night I reached the peak of my frustration, and I have to share it here (Ok, it's like, a compulsion, or what have you ). I'm just venting, but if any of you have suffered similar nonsense, why not share?
Anyway, Mr. S and I are off to Northern Ireland to visit his family. He's driving the car across on the ferry, and I'm flying out to meet him as I can't get any more time off work. So, I'm searching for a cheap flight on the web, and wahey, British Midland through the Opodo booking service comes up trumps.
Mr. S books my flight over the internet using his credit card. All fine, we think. Later on, we get a call from Opodo, asking for my credit card details. I refuse to give them out. We have already given one card number for payment and that is enough. OK, I might be a little sensitive following the problems with AU, but still, I feel I have a point. The guy on the phone tells me that the airline won't confirm the tickets without it. I say, well, try again. I'm not giving you my credit card details. 10 mins later, he calls back, saying they need it as my (get this) SECURITY ID. As I am flying on an e-ticket, I must get to the gate, show them my CREDIT CARD which they will then take as ID that I can get on the plane. I need to give them the number as they will match it with my physical card before letting me on the plane.
I refuse. Again. After I have picked myself up off the floor I point out that I am perfectly willing to give them my PASSPORT number and produce my passport (with, I note for them, an actual PHOTO of me on it, and which, I also note, is accepted much more readily as ID for security purposes than a CREDIT CARD) at the gate. It's a no go.
What if one doesn't own a credit card? I ask... 'Ummmm,' is the response.
So I phone the airline directly and after speaking to a manager and pointing out that this is quite the most ridiculous policy I have ever heard and frankly doesn't put me at ease in terms of them filtering out terrorists with bombs in their shoes trying to board the aircraft (I was in full flow, as I'm sure you can imagine), he says 'yes, that's why we have a box we can fill in that says you can produce your passport instead. We just have to tell Opodo that it's acceptable in this case.' Fine. OK. I mean, hello? Shouldn't that be your normal position anyway? But fine. He assures me they will note it on their system and we should give Opodo 10 mins and call them again whereupon they will accept my Passport as ID rather than my credit card.
We do this. Opodo still refuse. But the airline says it's fine! we say. No joy. So we cancel the ticket with them. But can't find anywhere even close to that cheap to fly with - booking over the phone is more expensive as the fare is a special 'online, e-ticket deal'. So I get online and book the ticket myself, directly with the airline, using my own credit card, out of desperation. At least that way they only have one number rather than 2 and I will have no hesitation in yelling at the CEO of British Midland if something should go wrong.
I find it unfathomable that an airline would rather accept your credit card than your passport as ID for getting on a flight. Why is this? Nobody could give me an answer either at Opodo or BMI. Is this a safe practice? I doubt it.
I am considering writing one of my letters... but I'd like to hear if anyone has encountered anything similar in the past.