There were a group of Batik/Malindo staff waiting at the terminal. They called for TK61 passengers. We were told TK61, due to depart 23:05, had already departed. They had waited 20 minutes. Not very happy with them, but as we subsequently learned of Malindo’s history of delayed arrivals, I cannot really blame them.
I use “Malindo” as many of the uniform polo tops had Malindo embroidered on them, and they are still known as Malindo in the flight and hospitality communities.
We were told that TK61 that night (Saturday) was booked out and we would be put on Sunday night’s flight. Accommodation and meals would be provided. Much arguing ensued and a few people refused to leave the airport. I now applaud them: they probably got on a flight that night.
We were escorted to the luggage area as our bags had been offloaded. We were escorted through immigration and ferried to an airport hotel at KLIA2. We were told we would be contacted the next morning with flight arrangement.
That’s all, folks! We never heard from them again.
Around 12:30 pm on Saturday a few of us went to the Malindo counter at KLIA1 and started asking questions. Promises were made. We went back and reported. Others made the journey around 3:00pm. We original few went back at 7:00 pm to find those others still there, still arguing! The 10 lads going to Seoul were there, but checking onto the Batik Air flight to Seoul. Sorted!
A German man pulled the pin and booked Emirates to Lucerne, as he was going home and had no further legs to fly.
We just demanded tickets be issued. TK didn’t want to know us without the OD booking reference. My TA held a seat for me, but TK still gave it away. Finally a man and his young done were booked for the morning flight, which I believe was TK63 at 8:05am. Some of us left with the promise we would be on TK61 on Sunday night. Some stayed and I heard another made the early flight.
I went with luggage to check in to again find no ticket had been issued. Back to the Malindo counter. With us standing ear over them and refusing to leave, electronic tickets were eventually issued to five people. I was going to fly to Singapore the next morning and take the TK 23:30 flight from there.
I arrived again with luggage at 11:00 am on Sunday. No ticket! Where is it? The flight is checking in. There were 7 people there arrived that morning from Melbourne who had also missed their TK connection. AND their luggage had been off loaded and left behind! One of our group was handed, after an hour of arguing and fiddling around, his boarding passes for SIN and TK. The Melbourne group all eventually received theirs, although teo ladies had to wait for the 7:30pm OD flight to SIN.
Me - still waiting!
OD said there was no flight from IST to DBV on Sunday, so I could either hang around IST for 36 hours or fly TK61 on Monday night. I had my travel agent on the phone listening in. OD said they had to duplicate original touting and would not book to DBV via Zagreb. They said I could go back to the hotel and I would be emailed. No way! If I left, nothing would be done.
At 4pm I joined those at the future TK check in counter for a chat. Where else did I need to go. There was an older Perth couple there who had been sent a shuttle to bring them over.
I went back to Malindo and one of our group on that night’s TK61 was having his ticket sorted. With the new flight ticket, OD had removed his return flights! They had to be reissued. I again asked for my electronic ticket. I said I had not received any email. A few minutes later it arrived in my inbox. Confirmed, no less, and with a PNR.
Anyway, end result is I am flying tonight but have had a traumatic 3 days of seemingly constant aguing and demanding, and 3 nights at a hotel that is just okay for an overnight in transit. I know the inter-terminal train system really, really well!
My flight back KUL-PER is with MH. The outward flight should have been, too.
OD is 3/5 to actually fly on an aircraft with, but they practif ally disown their customers if there is a problem.
Avoid them like the plague!
The older couple who just remained at the hotel as they were told, are also still in KL. I think they were supposed to fly via Singapor, but weren’t actually told. The wife has mobility problems. He emailed the didn’t board last night, but are now at a KLIA1 hotel. I’ll see them tonight. Hopefully I can guest them both into the lounge. They are an example of out of sight, out of mind as far as OD was concerned.
I have missed 5 nights on a small yacht visiting islands around the coast of Croatia. I will be able to join the small group for the last two nights aboard, as well as the three weeks of the land based Balkans tour. It will cost me a little more, probably only one (expensive) hotel night and a ferry ticket. My TA has spent hours on the phone to TK but they would not or could not help. The tour group manager is staying behind to meet me and has made the catch up arrangement. However, i now feel quite drained and depressed. Once I am handed those boarding passes tonight and find the airline lounge, I am sure I will shrug the nightmare off and start looking forward again.
Thank you everyone who reads this. I had to vent somewhere.
DO NOT FLY BATIK AIR.
www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au
