Where, oh WHERE!!!
In Melbourne, that's where we are! The whole family, together again at last. The flight was tiring although it wasn't as difficult as what I have prepared myself mentally. Both kids were sleeping 90% of the flight. If it was tiring for me, imagine how it must have been for them! It wasn't the kids that made the journey tiring, it's the journey itself.
Oh I would like to take this opportunity to point my finger to SINGAPORE AIRLINES to make the journey even more frustrating and tiring.
Singapore Airlines is known to be good at their service, that's why I chose to fly with them, and that's why I'm a member of their Krisflyer. However, since I had kids, I've changed opinion about them. At first I thought it was just a coincidence and that I must have been the unlucky one, but when it happened more than once, I really get pissed off. Singapore airlines is a good airline only when you're travelling WITHOUT KIDS. Travelling with kids is frustrating with them.
I don't book my flights online (simply because we don't like to charge things to credit cards), so we book our tickets via travel agent. It was done in Singapore and I re-iterated many times to the travel agent about how important it was to LINK all tickets together so that ALL OF US CAN SIT TOGETHER. The idea of travelling with my parents is that so they would be next to me as I have two kids to look after, not so that they would sit far away from me. What's the point, right? It happened once before (me and Nagi had to sit separately, APPARENTLY we did not book our tickets together, and if we were to sit together, I had to forego the infant seat (front most seat) that I especially requested! What on earth, I was pissed off but since there was nothing we could do at that time, we did booked our tickets separately (me from Indonesia and Nagi from Melbourne), so I just thought okay, we must have been unlucky, that's all. We don't usually hear bad things said about Singapore Airlines, so based on that judgement I trusted Singapore Airlines to fly us again this time.
Since we had experienced that problem, I MADE SURE this time that we BOOKED THE TICKETS TOGETHER if that's the only way all of us can SIT TOGETHER in Singapore Airlines. I made sure more than once (that all the tickets are linked), and we DID BOOK the tickets together. Guess what happened when we arrived at the check-in counter in Singapore? Yep, all guesses right. They claimed my parent's ticket weren't booked together with mine and the kids. Mine and the kids had the request for bassinet hence we're on the front, and they had put my parents further back near the emergency exit! I was crossed. Apparently this was because a lot of people who booked their tickets online had already checked in (although we were 5 hours early before the check-in time, people had been checking in via internet in the past 48 hours prior to departure time) and filled the front rows so they can't do anything about it. I was pissed off at the check-in lady, which I probably shouldn't have done, because it's not her mistake, but I had no one else to blame and I was very upset. Tried calling the travel agent but I knew very well that they couldn't help, and it was out of hours anyway, so no one picked up the phone.The only thing she could do was putting a "gate request" so that if the people who had the seat next to me were extra ordinarily kind-hearted, they're willing to change seat with my parents. I was grumpy but I told her everything else had to be right. I must get a bassinet for Lila per request, and Aga will have a toddler's food. Yes mam she said. To my luck, they were a couple of extra ordinarily kind-hearted people - they changed seats and we were able to sit next to each other.
Phew! By now you all must have thought my problem was all over. Guess again. Didn't I tell you that Singapore airlines are crap with kids? At dinner time, I was asked if I had wanted my dinner to be served now or later. Lila had gone to sleep at that time, so I said now would be good, and now would be good too to bring Aga's food. Then I was told that I did not have a child food requested for him. To this I said HUH, OF COURSE I DID! They checked and rechecked again and sent the 'manager' to see me only to say that there was no child meal requested for Agastya. So, despite the fact that I had told the check-in lady (I remember her name was Noor something, and I definitely won't forget her face for a long long time. Watch out where you're walking, Noor something lady!) TWICE about the toddler's food, she still managed to screw it up. And I was feeling bad for yelling at her at the counter! First of all, there must be something AWFULLY WRONG WITH THEIR SYSTEM. Aga's ticket is a CHILD TICKET, and shouldn't he by default have a CHILD MEAL booked? Second of all, I HAVE ALREADY REQUESTED MANY TIMES (YES - MANY TIMES - AT LEAST TWICE, with that Noor something lady)AT THE CHECK IN COUNTER. What more do they want so that Aga could get his food?
I know travelling with two kids would be hectic, so I took time preparing in advance, ticking points of what should be done to ease my travelling and to avoid ugly surprises like these. I had done everything I'm supposed to do, yet Singapore Airlines had managed to give me unpleasant surprises. I had paid for the flight tickets and they're not cheap, but still my child was left without food, and was offered adult food since they had no child food left in the aeroplane. How nice of them! I told them NO. My child cannot and will not have this food. There were two choices of adult (ordinary flight) meal: beef or chicken. The beef was too spicy (it has black pepper sauce), and the chicken was too chewy. I was so upset i so want to punch that air-stewardess for giving me a look when I said Agastya cannot have this food. She had a long glance on Agastya, she might be thinking "What on earth is this crazy over-protective mom on about? This strong little fella sure can munch on these beef with black pepper sauce!" I mean come on, these beef and chicken were both way too chewy for him, and besides he has a CHILD TICKET for a reason. I know it's not her problem but suggesting that while giving me that look was unforgivable. I gave him some of my potatoes and some of the emergency biscuits I brought myself, but he was too sleepy so he only ate a bit and dozed off. Thank God for that. From that 'manager', the only thing he could do was to say sorry for my inconvinience and to report this incident to the company. What a load of rubbish. I really should get my money back, at least for Agastya's ticket, huh? If only I have time for that business.
BYE BYE SINGAPORE AIRLINES. I will fly with you once again because I have to (my ticket was a return ticket, damn!), I'm not giving my tickets away for your convenience to get more money from other customers! But after that's done, I'm not flying with you again. You had made travelling with kids extra extra hard and frustrating. It was tiring enough without your added complications. If this is the quality of service I receive, I might as well spend less money by buying cheaper airline tickets.
I didn't expect my ranting went on that long. I was going to tell you about Agastya's latest thing. It's a WHERE CYCLE.
Agastya: Where is Opa (grandpa), mommy?
Me: Outside.
Agastya: Outside where, mommy?
Me: Outside there (pointing at my dad, outside).
Agastya: Outside there where, mommy?
Me: <>
Agastya: Where's daddy, mommy?
Me: Gone out.
Agastya: Gone out where, mommy?
Me: Gone out to work.
Agastya: Gone out to work where, mommy?
Me: Gone out to work at his office.
Agastya: Gone out to work at his office where, mommy?
Me: <>
People, please tell me if you have a good answer to end these "where cycles"!!!
One afternoon, Aga woke up from his nap, sobbing. I rushed to his side to comfort him, asking what's wrong. He didn't answer. I asked if him if he was hurt anywhere. He said no. I asked him if he wants pee pee. He said no. I asked him if he wants to meet someone, anyone. He said yes. I asked him who he wants to meet. He said Vio. My eyes suddenly were brimmed with tears. He must have had a dream about Vio or something. I feel sorry that he had to leave his friends and his familiar environment in which he had lived in for 10 months. I know he misses people at home [My grandma, Mbak Anty, Mbak Puput, Pak Yanto, even Pak Pon! (Pak Pon is our gardener who only comes once in 3 weeks)], his school, his friends, his teachers, his bike, his neighbours, his toys which I had to leave behind due to limited weight. [Oh. Another bad point about Singapore Airlines. Their free luggage limit is 20 kgs! I know other airlines give more. - I better stop here before I start another row of rants about Singapore Airlines!]
Edit: 28 Sept 2007
My parents had just left - and of course they flew with Singapore Airlines because they had a return tickets too with them. Funny enough, their tickets show that they have BABIES!!! To think that we had the problem in Singapore that we had to sit away from each other, now they also separated my mom and dad because one of them "appear" to have an infant seat! Wrong, again. Stupid system. Infant and child tickets are linked with MY ticket not them. That's why I wasn't seated with them. I seriously fail to understand Singapore Airlines' system. It's very bad I must not fly with them again, and neither should everyone who intend to fly with kids. Very very frustrating I tell ya!
Tears yesterday for my parents' departure. Not from Agastya. Just from me and my parents. He's a strong boy. Proud of him. He clearly understood that he's not going to see my parents for a while, and Semarang is a long way away, but he didn't cry. He made a scene after they left saying he wants to go to Semarang, 'where opa's going', but I told him we'll see them during holidays and he's fine. Phew. This morning it's Aunty Bella's turn to get his attention. Then Uncle Aaron, Opa Hendro and Oma Susi. I showed him their photos and he was all smiles again, satisfied.
I still haven't got internet connection, thanks to Optus who screw up 3 times. Expect to get connection on Tuesday, with Telstra instead. Might tell you what happen when I find the time.
I'd like to acknowledge however that I've received Fazal, Miss Felice and Ibunda Azwa's email, so sorry but will reply once I get internet connection at home.
Oh I would like to take this opportunity to point my finger to SINGAPORE AIRLINES to make the journey even more frustrating and tiring.
Singapore Airlines is known to be good at their service, that's why I chose to fly with them, and that's why I'm a member of their Krisflyer. However, since I had kids, I've changed opinion about them. At first I thought it was just a coincidence and that I must have been the unlucky one, but when it happened more than once, I really get pissed off. Singapore airlines is a good airline only when you're travelling WITHOUT KIDS. Travelling with kids is frustrating with them.
I don't book my flights online (simply because we don't like to charge things to credit cards), so we book our tickets via travel agent. It was done in Singapore and I re-iterated many times to the travel agent about how important it was to LINK all tickets together so that ALL OF US CAN SIT TOGETHER. The idea of travelling with my parents is that so they would be next to me as I have two kids to look after, not so that they would sit far away from me. What's the point, right? It happened once before (me and Nagi had to sit separately, APPARENTLY we did not book our tickets together, and if we were to sit together, I had to forego the infant seat (front most seat) that I especially requested! What on earth, I was pissed off but since there was nothing we could do at that time, we did booked our tickets separately (me from Indonesia and Nagi from Melbourne), so I just thought okay, we must have been unlucky, that's all. We don't usually hear bad things said about Singapore Airlines, so based on that judgement I trusted Singapore Airlines to fly us again this time.
Since we had experienced that problem, I MADE SURE this time that we BOOKED THE TICKETS TOGETHER if that's the only way all of us can SIT TOGETHER in Singapore Airlines. I made sure more than once (that all the tickets are linked), and we DID BOOK the tickets together. Guess what happened when we arrived at the check-in counter in Singapore? Yep, all guesses right. They claimed my parent's ticket weren't booked together with mine and the kids. Mine and the kids had the request for bassinet hence we're on the front, and they had put my parents further back near the emergency exit! I was crossed. Apparently this was because a lot of people who booked their tickets online had already checked in (although we were 5 hours early before the check-in time, people had been checking in via internet in the past 48 hours prior to departure time) and filled the front rows so they can't do anything about it. I was pissed off at the check-in lady, which I probably shouldn't have done, because it's not her mistake, but I had no one else to blame and I was very upset. Tried calling the travel agent but I knew very well that they couldn't help, and it was out of hours anyway, so no one picked up the phone.The only thing she could do was putting a "gate request" so that if the people who had the seat next to me were extra ordinarily kind-hearted, they're willing to change seat with my parents. I was grumpy but I told her everything else had to be right. I must get a bassinet for Lila per request, and Aga will have a toddler's food. Yes mam she said. To my luck, they were a couple of extra ordinarily kind-hearted people - they changed seats and we were able to sit next to each other.
Phew! By now you all must have thought my problem was all over. Guess again. Didn't I tell you that Singapore airlines are crap with kids? At dinner time, I was asked if I had wanted my dinner to be served now or later. Lila had gone to sleep at that time, so I said now would be good, and now would be good too to bring Aga's food. Then I was told that I did not have a child food requested for him. To this I said HUH, OF COURSE I DID! They checked and rechecked again and sent the 'manager' to see me only to say that there was no child meal requested for Agastya. So, despite the fact that I had told the check-in lady (I remember her name was Noor something, and I definitely won't forget her face for a long long time. Watch out where you're walking, Noor something lady!) TWICE about the toddler's food, she still managed to screw it up. And I was feeling bad for yelling at her at the counter! First of all, there must be something AWFULLY WRONG WITH THEIR SYSTEM. Aga's ticket is a CHILD TICKET, and shouldn't he by default have a CHILD MEAL booked? Second of all, I HAVE ALREADY REQUESTED MANY TIMES (YES - MANY TIMES - AT LEAST TWICE, with that Noor something lady)AT THE CHECK IN COUNTER. What more do they want so that Aga could get his food?
I know travelling with two kids would be hectic, so I took time preparing in advance, ticking points of what should be done to ease my travelling and to avoid ugly surprises like these. I had done everything I'm supposed to do, yet Singapore Airlines had managed to give me unpleasant surprises. I had paid for the flight tickets and they're not cheap, but still my child was left without food, and was offered adult food since they had no child food left in the aeroplane. How nice of them! I told them NO. My child cannot and will not have this food. There were two choices of adult (ordinary flight) meal: beef or chicken. The beef was too spicy (it has black pepper sauce), and the chicken was too chewy. I was so upset i so want to punch that air-stewardess for giving me a look when I said Agastya cannot have this food. She had a long glance on Agastya, she might be thinking "What on earth is this crazy over-protective mom on about? This strong little fella sure can munch on these beef with black pepper sauce!" I mean come on, these beef and chicken were both way too chewy for him, and besides he has a CHILD TICKET for a reason. I know it's not her problem but suggesting that while giving me that look was unforgivable. I gave him some of my potatoes and some of the emergency biscuits I brought myself, but he was too sleepy so he only ate a bit and dozed off. Thank God for that. From that 'manager', the only thing he could do was to say sorry for my inconvinience and to report this incident to the company. What a load of rubbish. I really should get my money back, at least for Agastya's ticket, huh? If only I have time for that business.
BYE BYE SINGAPORE AIRLINES. I will fly with you once again because I have to (my ticket was a return ticket, damn!), I'm not giving my tickets away for your convenience to get more money from other customers! But after that's done, I'm not flying with you again. You had made travelling with kids extra extra hard and frustrating. It was tiring enough without your added complications. If this is the quality of service I receive, I might as well spend less money by buying cheaper airline tickets.
I didn't expect my ranting went on that long. I was going to tell you about Agastya's latest thing. It's a WHERE CYCLE.
Agastya: Where is Opa (grandpa), mommy?
Me: Outside.
Agastya: Outside where, mommy?
Me: Outside there (pointing at my dad, outside).
Agastya: Outside there where, mommy?
Me: <
Agastya: Where's daddy, mommy?
Me: Gone out.
Agastya: Gone out where, mommy?
Me: Gone out to work.
Agastya: Gone out to work where, mommy?
Me: Gone out to work at his office.
Agastya: Gone out to work at his office where, mommy?
Me: <
People, please tell me if you have a good answer to end these "where cycles"!!!
One afternoon, Aga woke up from his nap, sobbing. I rushed to his side to comfort him, asking what's wrong. He didn't answer. I asked if him if he was hurt anywhere. He said no. I asked him if he wants pee pee. He said no. I asked him if he wants to meet someone, anyone. He said yes. I asked him who he wants to meet. He said Vio. My eyes suddenly were brimmed with tears. He must have had a dream about Vio or something. I feel sorry that he had to leave his friends and his familiar environment in which he had lived in for 10 months. I know he misses people at home [My grandma, Mbak Anty, Mbak Puput, Pak Yanto, even Pak Pon! (Pak Pon is our gardener who only comes once in 3 weeks)], his school, his friends, his teachers, his bike, his neighbours, his toys which I had to leave behind due to limited weight. [Oh. Another bad point about Singapore Airlines. Their free luggage limit is 20 kgs! I know other airlines give more. - I better stop here before I start another row of rants about Singapore Airlines!]
Edit: 28 Sept 2007
My parents had just left - and of course they flew with Singapore Airlines because they had a return tickets too with them. Funny enough, their tickets show that they have BABIES!!! To think that we had the problem in Singapore that we had to sit away from each other, now they also separated my mom and dad because one of them "appear" to have an infant seat! Wrong, again. Stupid system. Infant and child tickets are linked with MY ticket not them. That's why I wasn't seated with them. I seriously fail to understand Singapore Airlines' system. It's very bad I must not fly with them again, and neither should everyone who intend to fly with kids. Very very frustrating I tell ya!
Tears yesterday for my parents' departure. Not from Agastya. Just from me and my parents. He's a strong boy. Proud of him. He clearly understood that he's not going to see my parents for a while, and Semarang is a long way away, but he didn't cry. He made a scene after they left saying he wants to go to Semarang, 'where opa's going', but I told him we'll see them during holidays and he's fine. Phew. This morning it's Aunty Bella's turn to get his attention. Then Uncle Aaron, Opa Hendro and Oma Susi. I showed him their photos and he was all smiles again, satisfied.
I still haven't got internet connection, thanks to Optus who screw up 3 times. Expect to get connection on Tuesday, with Telstra instead. Might tell you what happen when I find the time.
I'd like to acknowledge however that I've received Fazal, Miss Felice and Ibunda Azwa's email, so sorry but will reply once I get internet connection at home.
posted by Monica | 11:07 AM
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