Discriminated at the airport by check in staff

I was bound for Japan-Fukuoka flight back to Singapore earlier today. Was really excited and after boycotting Jetstar for two years, I decided to give them another chance and I really got a great deal on the tickets BUT Boy am I in for a rude shock.

1) Jetstar Staff in Japan Discriminate Malaysians

During checking in, after learning that I am a Malaysian, the staff kept flipping through my passport, staff asked me if I reside in Singapore and I replied yes. She asked where is my VISA to stay in Singapore and asked me for a valid VISA to prove that I stay in Singapore. MALAYSIANS DO NOT NEED A VISA TO VISIT SINGAPORE whether I am a resident of Singapore, Singapore have the right to refuse my entry but what have it got to do with the Japan check in staff? Is she a customs officer or what? So long as I am not breaking the law, unless she is the customs officer, it is really non of her business. When I tried to explain to her there is non as now we are COMPUTERISED but I have a Singapore NRIC to prove, she kept repeating VISA, show me your VISA. So I took out my PR NRIC and she finally shut up. Seriously, it was a waste of time trying to talk to her I feel that half the time she do not understand me at all (or pretending not to).

2) Charged Over Baggage

Verified with Jetstar crew in Singapore Changi Terminal that in the case if my partner is not able to travel with me, was I able to use his baggage allowance. I was told YES I CAN. So of course I went shopping happily in Japan and did not think of purchasing extra baggage. But was told otherwise when I checked in at Fukuoka and was charged 15,000 Yen about SGD172 for 10kg. Who in the right state of mind would go way over baggage knowing that the airline charges crazy amount for over baggage?

I than asked to speak to the manager, she mumbled a few words to a lady I believe is the manager and told me sorry, she is unable to attend to me. (The manager walked away).

Following this, I asked if I can transfer some stuff to my bag pack which is like 3kg only (limit is 10KG) and immediate response from her is that the check in gate closes in 5mins and showing me her watch as if I am stupid. (Does she even understand English?) So I repeated my question and finally got my go ahead.

After that I was so fed up and did not want to waste time transferring my stuff so I told the lady I will only check in one bag and will post the other bag back home. She keep insisting that I pay up.

Following that, she made me weigh my hand carry baggage (including my handbag, why is this considered baggage?) too. Note: Quite a few people carried big backpacks or hand carry luggages with bags and NON was asked to weigh their bags. I even saw a backpacker at the same flight later on (they must be blind to not see the bag), filled to the brim, unless you tell me the bag is filled with pillows. I have backpacked quite often and was never asked to weigh my bag.

I tried to show respect and for my understanding, no matter how long I spoke to the counter staff, she do not understand me at all.

This sums it, travel with a non Malaysian if travelling to Fukuoka (I was not questioned like so when I backpacked in Osaka, oh, I forgot, maybe its cos I paid slightly more for a BETTER but also budget airline.) or try to apply to be a Singaporean. Just saying.

International
Singapore-Singapore

Comments

'she do not understand me at

'she do not understand me at all'............either do I!