To whom it may concern,

I had a flight booked with Emirates Airline for today, Sun, 19th June 2011 at 18h10 (Booking Ref no J6G7Y2 Surname=BAATJES, CPT-DUBAI, DUBAI-LONDON, GATWICK, GATWICK-DUBLIN )and was refused to board the flight, as I was told by the lady checking me in that I needed a transit visa. After I had already checked-in online the previous night and got an emailed boarding pass.The staff does'nt seem to be trained efficiently, if the check-in lady at the e-ticket counter on the far left, had to call 3 people and finally asked a supervisor lady who asked me who I had spoken to at Emirates CTICC, I could not remember the lady's name who told me that if one is at London airport for less than 24 hours, one does not need a transit or visitors visa. She, the supervisor lady at Cpt Int then told me that their Airline could be penalized and the check-in lady fined R10 000.00, which she does'nt even earn and asked me whether Ive ever been detained by British Immigration and I said no and she said that they are not very friendly!
I have been greatly inconvienced, wasting time, money and I have meetings to attend in Dublin and need to get there ASAP and will know tomorrow whether I probably have to pay in extra, which by the way they could'nt tell me there. I called reservations and ticketing office they only open Mon-Fri 08h30-16h30-www.emirates.com 086 136 4728, so if anyone needs help on Saturdays and Sundays, there's nothing we can do!
Called Emirates, CTICC, 021 403 1100 and they open Mon-Fri 08h30-16h30 and Sat 08h30-12Noon!Closed on Sundays!
I checked the UK Border Agency website and it says that A South African Citizen is exempt from a transit visa, if you have a confirmed ticket out of London, to your destination, as long it is less than 24 hours, mine was only probably 3 hours and only changing aircrafts!
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/doineedvisa/visadatvnationals
"All visa nationals wishing to transit the UK but spend longer doing so than the 24 hours permitted under the TWOV concession must obtain a visitor in transit visa for stays up to 48 hours or a visit visa."
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/doineedvisa/visadatvnationals
"arrive and leave by air within 24 hours and have no intention of staying in the UK (you can travel by rail or road between two airports);

and
have a confirmed onward booking that will leave within 24 hours of your arrival in the UK.

You must also have the documents you need:
to enter the country you are travelling to; and
for any other country that you may pass through on your journey."

My onward flight was confirmed and the proof copied and pasted from Emirates website:

"Flight Depart / Arrive Time Airport Terminal Duration / Stops Class / Aircraft Booking Status
EI243 Depart
Mon 20 Jun 11 14:40 London Gatwick Airport (LGW) SOUTH 01 hr 20 min
0 Stops Economy
Airbus A320 Confirmed
Arrive
Mon 20 Jun 11 16:00 Dublin Airport (DUB) 2"

PLEASE HELP ASAP!!

MALIKAH BAATJES
Director
Skyprincess International Casting Agency
Mobile SA : +2772 382 9316
Email : [email protected]

sleeping staff

25th May 2011

Emirates International Airline,
Dubai, UAE.

Ref: Sky word Number EK-190 567 926, Raees Ashraf & Mrs. Asma Raees, EK-190 567 893.
My e-Receipt Details KHI-LAX - 1765126311420-1765126311421, EK Booking Reference DWFPUF
FW: DXB-SIN, my e-Receipt Details - 1762140428228-1762140428229, BOOKING REFERENCE "H8WYFB"

SUB: Very disappointed in my last few trips of April and May and specially surprised that I, booked
My seats online and received confirmation, and they change my seats and without information.

Dear Sir,

I, and my family are frequent traveler to many countries of the world, and our first priority to travel with Emirate Airline.

But unfortunately we face big trouble and feel uncomfortable, during my last two visits from KHI to LAX via DXB (on March 31, 2011, ) and then LAX to DXB (on April 18, 2011) and then we planning to visit Singapore and buy a new tickets for Singapore, (on April 21, 2011) we again preferred Emirates Air, instead of many other airlines with more benefits, from DXB to SIN round trip.
(My e-Receipt Details KHI-LAX - 1765126311420-1765126311421, EK Booking Ref DWFPUF)

I want informed you, these was not a pleasure trip, I was personally very disappointed from the services as well as the behavior of crew, I don’t feel good to share, but right now I, am facing serious and advance stage of HCC and Hepatic thrombosis, and travelling for my Liver surgery/ Transplant and other therapy. So I need a full take care of myself.

And we also aspect reasonable favor from Emirates Air, I was travelling from KHI to Los Angeles with family of 5- passengers. My daughters explained my situation to the cabin crews and the few duty staff try to call me at business class for just few hours rest and they call me at business class, But during my pain, I, reach business class and one crew member refused to accommodate and ask me went back my seat, these very bed experience and embarrassment for me, which we not tolerate/ forget.

And also another bed experience with me on May 22, 2011 from Singapore to DXB, which also surprised me, we booked our seats online of our choice/confirm and received confirmation email, then my seat was changed without informed me and not even ask me for any other choice. We were like trapped after complete my Liver therapy of Y-90 + SIRT, (Selective Internal Radioembolisation Therapy), Nuclear Medicine.
(DXB-SIN, my e-Receipt Details - 1762140428228-1762140428229, BOOKING REF "H8WYFB")

This kind of behavior or so called attitude from your representatives is very annoying. Might be you have an reply of some policy issues, But, Sir, one crew know the policy and try to accommodate only me (which we request) (most of seats of 1st & Bus Class empty), out of my 5-members family, and another crew ?
And also change my seat is also may be you have some policy, but not even ask me for another choice ?

I am writing to ask you to please make up the notice of my complained.

We hope you will investigate my serious complain, I look forward to hearing from you by soon.

Yours sincerely

Raees Ashraf Tar Mohammad
Chairman,
Pakistan Commodities importers & Traders Association,
Raees Traders,
Raees Tarmuhammad Street,
Jodia Bazar,

1) I want to appraise your airplane fleet and the nice airport. However, I have two complaints about arrival lounge. We have arrived yesterday (Sunday 8 May ’11) form the Atlanta on Delta airline and going the transfer area for my connecting flight to Dammam. Unfortunately there was no Emirates counter. We had to walk all the way across the upper level to the other side which was a very long walk beside there were no trolleys or buggies to place the carry on. We were walking in a twilight zone not knowing where we were heading. We had to ask anyone where is the transfer counters. If there were signs, they were not posted clearly. (I am not talking about the airport where the gates, I am referring to the back side as to exit to Dubai)
I am certainly surprise that Emirates does not have a counter in the arrival are for other international airlines. One way is to have passengers escorted by a bus to the other side. My concern was to make sure I arrive at the counter to secure our connecting boarding pass.

After long walk and agony, the person (Pilipino) at the counter asked us what the weights of our checked in luggage are. Otherwise he will not issue the boarding pass. I had to talk to the supervisor (Syrian) who I guess gave him the signal to issue the boarding pass. The general attitude that was not good as they were only defending Emirate Airline and not caring about the passenger comfort.
The general attitude was go and complain, well I guess this is what I am doing hoping this never happen again.
Emirate airline is in the marketing business, but certainly, what I saw was not far from Saudi Airline.
One will expect to see an Emirate Transfer Counter on arrival, we would have received our boarding passes and could used the time shopping on having coffee at the restaurants while heading to the gate which is far away, but this could help the passenger comfort. We were rushing not knowing where we were heading in the airport into the twilight zone.

This is certainly did not give me a good impression and I will make sure about my future flying routs.

2) Another issue concern the airport.
After getting the boarding passes, we were looking for gate 212, we followed the signs all the way to see a sign for gates 209 through 216. Getting to the right hand side walk way, we had to go all the way back to gate 212. I said this is in Arabic, Where is your ear ya Juha?

we travelled from lhr. pak. to houston tx. when we checked our luggage we could not find the laptop in the luggage, so i urge you to investigate about this matter. we always prefer travelling emirates because of its reputation.thanks.