Tweet
phaleesy and I had an interesting experience at BKK last week. We were due to take TG F to NRT (where we would have a 11 hour layover) before NH to LAX.
We turned up at the TG F check-in area about 2 hours before the flight in the anticipation that this would give us sufficient time to try out the TG F spa. However, part way through checking-in, we found we had a problem:
* phaleesy had applied for an ESTA but didn't bring along a printout of her ESTA approved status (such a hardcopy is not required according to the US government website). However, TG insisted that each traveller must have a hardcopy and showed us a copy of their rules saying this.
* I didn't have an ESTA as I had forgotten that the requirement had come into force earlier this year. A last minute application is possible but it can take up to 72 hours for authorisation.
After some discussion (e.g. we suggested that we could apply for the ESTA when we get to Tokyo but TG didn't like that), TG's solution was that a member of staff would escort us to a "pay as you go" Internet cafe right at the other end of the terminal (a good 5-10 minute walk) where we'd have to pay for the Internet access and apply for / get a printout of the ESTA.
We made the long trek down to the other end of the terminal only to find out that the TG check-in person had retained my passport! However, one of the TG staff members accompanying us volunteered to walk all the back to retrieve it.
Then the fun started. The computers in the cafe were extremely slow and - in my case at least - bombed out part way through the ESTA application procedure. Eventually, phaleesy and I managed to get to a screen for each of us showing that our ESTA application was approved ... but we still needed a printout because (i) TG's rules required it for all travellers; and (ii) the check-in person was down at the other end of the terminal and (unlike that person) the TG staff members with us were not authorised to look at the screen and confirm our ESTA status.
The cafe staff joined in to try and get a printout of our status. This seemed to involve printing a copy of the screen to a file and then e-mailing that file; and then going to another computer with access to a printer to access the file! Nevertheless, after what must have been around 30 minutes of playing around, a printout was still not possible and the TG staff members were insisting that their check-in colleague would/could not come to see for herself so we must get the printouts.
Eventually, as the time for check-in closing drew nearer, the money phaleesy and I had each paid for the Internet access ran out with the cafe staff still trying to get a printout. They suggested that we pay more to get the time extended. At this point, we lost our patience and said no - we both had our authorisation; a printout is not required; and if TG want to see it, the check-in person can come and see it herself. And she did ... but still insisted on a printout.
After more time had passed, it was obvious that a printout would not be possible so we all made the trek back to the opposite end of the terminal to finish the check-in process. In the meantime, the TG check-in person was checking with her supervisor and suggested that they only check our bags through to NRT (rather than all the way through to LAX) (the implication being that TG would pass this supposed problem to the NH staff at NRT). As our layover was not long and we had plans to go into Tokyo, we insisted on them checking our bags all the way through and giving us BPs as well.
The staff member then accompanied us through security to the TG F lounge where we were then asked to use the lounge computers to get a printout (and only one of them was connected to the printer we found).
Finally, we had the printout - one for us; and one for TG to retain! Shortly afterwards, boarding started and we were led to the plane.
(And when we got to US immigration, they didn't ask for the printout.)
We turned up at the TG F check-in area about 2 hours before the flight in the anticipation that this would give us sufficient time to try out the TG F spa. However, part way through checking-in, we found we had a problem:
* phaleesy had applied for an ESTA but didn't bring along a printout of her ESTA approved status (such a hardcopy is not required according to the US government website). However, TG insisted that each traveller must have a hardcopy and showed us a copy of their rules saying this.
* I didn't have an ESTA as I had forgotten that the requirement had come into force earlier this year. A last minute application is possible but it can take up to 72 hours for authorisation.
After some discussion (e.g. we suggested that we could apply for the ESTA when we get to Tokyo but TG didn't like that), TG's solution was that a member of staff would escort us to a "pay as you go" Internet cafe right at the other end of the terminal (a good 5-10 minute walk) where we'd have to pay for the Internet access and apply for / get a printout of the ESTA.
We made the long trek down to the other end of the terminal only to find out that the TG check-in person had retained my passport! However, one of the TG staff members accompanying us volunteered to walk all the back to retrieve it.
Then the fun started. The computers in the cafe were extremely slow and - in my case at least - bombed out part way through the ESTA application procedure. Eventually, phaleesy and I managed to get to a screen for each of us showing that our ESTA application was approved ... but we still needed a printout because (i) TG's rules required it for all travellers; and (ii) the check-in person was down at the other end of the terminal and (unlike that person) the TG staff members with us were not authorised to look at the screen and confirm our ESTA status.
The cafe staff joined in to try and get a printout of our status. This seemed to involve printing a copy of the screen to a file and then e-mailing that file; and then going to another computer with access to a printer to access the file! Nevertheless, after what must have been around 30 minutes of playing around, a printout was still not possible and the TG staff members were insisting that their check-in colleague would/could not come to see for herself so we must get the printouts.
Eventually, as the time for check-in closing drew nearer, the money phaleesy and I had each paid for the Internet access ran out with the cafe staff still trying to get a printout. They suggested that we pay more to get the time extended. At this point, we lost our patience and said no - we both had our authorisation; a printout is not required; and if TG want to see it, the check-in person can come and see it herself. And she did ... but still insisted on a printout.
After more time had passed, it was obvious that a printout would not be possible so we all made the trek back to the opposite end of the terminal to finish the check-in process. In the meantime, the TG check-in person was checking with her supervisor and suggested that they only check our bags through to NRT (rather than all the way through to LAX) (the implication being that TG would pass this supposed problem to the NH staff at NRT). As our layover was not long and we had plans to go into Tokyo, we insisted on them checking our bags all the way through and giving us BPs as well.
The staff member then accompanied us through security to the TG F lounge where we were then asked to use the lounge computers to get a printout (and only one of them was connected to the printer we found).
Finally, we had the printout - one for us; and one for TG to retain! Shortly afterwards, boarding started and we were led to the plane.
(And when we got to US immigration, they didn't ask for the printout.)
) F pax the only solution is to trek to the opposite end of the terminal to pay for net access on some dodgy computers with no printers connected. Just before the F immigration (or was it security), there's some sort of premium business centre (or something like that) but we were told there are no computer inside ?
Comment