Yesterday was my last day for the trip. We had half day lecture and quiz. After that we had our lunch in the cafeteria on 7th floor of the building. Thai team has prepared the menu for us.
Sui Ying managed to take a picture of us. We had to eat fast because it would take at least 1 hour to our animal lab. It’s located in Mahidol University, Veterinarian Faculty.
Everyone in the van was sleeping on the way to the university. When we reached the place, we had our weekly teleconference with our big boss. I let my direct supervisor to talk for the team.
I only had half way through doing the Lap. Low Anterior Resection because it was already 3.30 PM. I and Mr. Kim must catch the plan. We were worried that the traffic will be bad, especially it’s Monday. It took only 1 hour from the university to airport. I said goodbye to Mr. Kim before entering the airport as our check in desks are in separate location.
I had to complain again when I checked in. Airasia charged me 7 kg of excess baggage, Baht 165 per kg. My baggage was 22.7 kg. They said the limit is 15kg. I told them my baggage was more than 15 kg when I departed from Jakarta and Airasia Jakarta had no problem with that. And the staff said it doesn’t apply in Thailand. Whaaat??? How come it’s not standardized? Soooo silly. Anyway, my training binders caused it so I can claim to office. But still, I was disappointed.
Since the boarding time would be at 7.45 PM and the time was still 5 PM, I had enough time to do my prayer. The airport muslim prayer room is nice as compared to Jakarta airport. I had my Zhuhur and Ashar prayer there then working with my laptop until Maghrib time came. I had my dinner at Tate Café, at Level 3 of the airport, same level with the prayer room. There are many restaurants there to choose. I was hoping to see Dairy Queen because I was craving for strawberry banana ice cream they are promoting.
The S & P café in the airport doesn’t serve ice cream and cakes as they do in the other place across Dusit Thani Hotel.
I started to move to immigration section as time was 7.00 PM. Passing the immigration section I found a beautiful piece of art. It’s a long statue of Thai people holding long snake. I didn’t have a time to take the picture of it. Also, there’s a throne-like seat near the statue.
Many shops inside. Damn, The Creamy & Fudge is there, Dairy Queen is also there. Again, no time to buy ice cream, must hurry up to gate F4. Even there’s a corner of Thai spa products that I’d like to buy some from if I had enough time to shop.
I must go through a security check. I pulled out my laptop, took off my blazer, let the officer checked my bag and the dried foods I brought. When I arrived at boarding room, Airasia officers checked our handcarried bags. They weighed the bags, if they are exceeds 7 KG, we must pay the excess baggage. Oh man, Airasia really pissed me off on this trip! My handcarried bag was 14 KG, excess of 7 KG. The problem was that they said it was too big to be placed in the head storage so they must check it in. Means, the excess baggage was not 7 KG, but 14KG! I said I had my laptop inside it, I didn’t want to check the bag in. They asked me to keep the laptop with me. I only had plastic bag so I put the laptop in the plastic bag.
The amount to be paid was Baht 1,980 (12 KG excess baggage after I took out the laptop). When it was in the check in counter, I could go to ATM to withdraw some money, but at that time I only had Baht 500 and IDR 450,000! My credit card is over limit, so I really didn’t have that much to pay them.
Since it was boarding time, they accepted whatever money I had. They took Baht 500, so they only charged me 3 KG.
I didn’t mind to pay the excess but how Airasia did it really made me angry and upset. They should have weighed the handcarried bags at check in counter so passengers have chance to get some money from ATM or exchange their money. Another thing is that their regulations must be applied in any countries. Isn’t it strange Airasia in Jakarta let me go with my excess baggage then Airasia Bangkok charged me?????
The flight took 3 hours 25 minutes and I didn’t feel comfortable at all sitting inside the plan. I needed water but they ran out of it, so I must buy orange juice. What’s the problem just to stock the bottled mineral water on board?
Not to mention I kept thinking about my handcarried bag which didn’t have any lock. If I had a choice, I would have not chosen Airasia to fly for flight that is more than 2 hours. But it was my Vice President’s decision.
There’s another story during the hectic of my overweight hand carried baggage.
There were 2 females from Indonesia who wanted to boarding but they didn’t have boarding pass. One is at age of 40s and one is still a teenager. They can’t speak English. So I approached them and asked what happened. They came from village and will work overseas as house maids. They came from different labor agents. I saw their plane tickets. The older female will fly on January 20 while the girl must fly that night. I feel bad to see their situation. I wanted to help but I must board my plane. They are in other country and don’t know English at all. They showed airport staffs their documents but they don’t understand what the staffs said. I pray for them.
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