'SINCERELY APOLOGISE,' means Something else.......

‘We Sincerely Apologise,’ means you’re EFFED!!!!

This is a sample of email sent by my administrations to the Airlines of PNG for the service that they were providing which is getting frustratingly worse each and every day – week in and week out!!!

What is happening I have no idea but you get reasons for delays and cancelations due to technical problems, shortage of aircrafts, pilots running out of flying hours etc; etc; etc - all sorts everyday now. Then to add salt to injury APNG get passengers fitted into aircrafts running another sector hoping for a round trip that never happens, luggage’s loaded onto aircrafts scheduled on a different sector (ensuring passengers will catch it at the other end), inform passengers 2 days after the flights are cancelled, change sector schedules and the list goes on………..of course poor Papua New Guineans having no other options of third level service provider had to just make do with this service. Need you be told about the airfare prices too………it’s as if you are paying to cross the continent in two places with premium overnight stays in the choicest of accommodations!!!!

Its getting bloody worse – to be honest it is coming to stage where loyal passengers are coming to loggerheads with the front office staff – even the odd isolated APNG agent (mind you this person is not a dedicated APNG employee – more self employed) get abused by his own local people for the ****up of APNG Operations.

So if you are sitting out there at the airport with an APNG ticket and the voice on the PA system goes, ’APNG sincerely apologises……blah, blah, blah etc,’ you know very well you are seriously ‘EFFED’ in a big way.

Sometimes you can just pick up the tone of embarrassment on the voice coming from the PA (this person knows it’s time to look for a better employer), and then there is the tone that comes on very smart and with a don’t-give-a-EFF attitude – this one has a very narrow brain space and has no other job options in life; the best he/ she can hope for is stay there until death crosses his/her path.

So spit back our money as quickly as you swallow it at the purchasing counter. Oh and SMILE while you are at it……………..

(Reservations) / Operations / Accounts,

Airlines PNG

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

We had only been informed on Mon.10th May that CG5373 ......... dated Friday 07th May '10 was cancelled without notice. It was very disappointing to us and the operating team as it has disrupted the Doctor's program and work scheduled to be carried out there. As well as that, the related logistics and costs incurred to get him in and out. We had people in the Aramia District all waiting for the distribution of medical supplies. ADI Doctors Australia has voluntarily provided such service to the people in remote communities of PNG. They might reconsider such services if frequent cancellation of flights was an issue here.

We hope that won't happen again but to look forward to a better consistant service in the near future.

Provided below is the copy of the ticket and we request for a refund for unflown sectors at your earliest please.

Thank you

----- Original Message -----

From:

To:

Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 10:26 AM

Subject: Emailing: Online Booking - Booking Confirmation (2)

Please do not respond to this email. e-ticket Itinerary, Receipt and Tax Invoice Airlines of Papua New Guinea Limited GT7584 We have made the following booking for you: Booking Reference: Date of Issue: 20/04/2010 10:23:25

CONTACT INFORMATION PASSENGER INFORMATION FLIGHT TICKET NUMBERS ETKT626 ................../01 ETKT626 ................../02 ETKT626 ................../03 Tel: POM TRAVEL/3213400/

DEPARTING: Date Fri 07May 10 All Times Local Flight-Number Cabin (book class) From: Kiunga Departure 12:15 CG 1311 Y (q) To: Daru Arrive 13:20 Rules Flight 1: CORPORATE ADVANTAGE (Q) Flight and date changes are permitted at any time and no change fee is payable. The new fare must be of equal or higher value than the original fare. If the fare for the new booking is higher than the original fare, the difference in fare must be paid at the time of changing the booking. Name changes are permitted at any time free of charge. Re-routing is not permitted. The fare is fully refundable (a refund administration fee of PGK110.00 or AUD50 per passenger applies) or the amount may be held in credit for further travel for up to 12 months from the date of issue of the original ticket. Full payment must be made within 24 hours of making the booking. Failure to check in for a PNG domestic flight by the deadline, not showing up for the flight (no show), or failure to board the aircraft after checking in for the flight will incur a fee of PGK165.00 or AUD85.00 per passenger payable at the time of rebooking, or deducted from any refundable fare amount. Children (2-11 years) pay 75% of the full adult fare. Infants (under 2 years) who do not occupy a seat travel free of charge. Infants occupying a seat pay 75% of the full adult fare. .

NEXT-FLIGHT: Date Fri 07May 10 All Times Local Flight-Number Cabin (book class) From: Daru Departure 15:05 CG 5373 Y (q) To: Awaba Arrive 15:35 Rules Flight 2: CORPORATE ADVANTAGE (Q) Flight and date changes are permitted at any time and no change fee is payable. The new fare must be of equal or higher value than the original fare. If the fare for the new booking is higher than the original fare, the difference in fare must be paid at the time of changing the booking. Name changes are permitted at any time free of charge. Re-routing is not permitted. The fare is fully refundable (a refund administration fee of PGK110.00 or AUD50 per passenger applies) or the amount may be held in credit for further travel for up to 12 months from the date of issue of the original ticket. Full payment must be made within 24 hours of making the booking. Failure to check in for a PNG domestic flight by the deadline, not showing up for the flight (no show), or failure to board the aircraft after checking in for the flight will incur a fee of PGK165.00 or AUD85.00 per passenger payable at the time of rebooking, or deducted from any refundable fare amount. Children (2-11 years) pay 75% of the full adult fare. Infants (under 2 years) who do not occupy a seat travel free of charge. Infants occupying a seat pay 75% of the full adult fare. .

NEXT-FLIGHT: Date Sat 15May 10 All Times Local Flight-Number Cabin (book class) From: Balimo Departure 11:45 CG 5352 Y (q) To: Kiunga Arrive 15:40 Rules Flight 3: CORPORATE ADVANTAGE (Q) Flight and date changes are permitted at any time and no change fee is payable. The new fare must be of equal or higher value than the original fare. If the fare for the new booking is higher than the original fare, the difference in fare must be paid at the time of changing the booking. Name changes are permitted at any time free of charge. Re-routing is not permitted. The fare is fully refundable (a refund administration fee of PGK110.00 or AUD50 per passenger applies) or the amount may be held in credit for further travel for up to 12 months from the date of issue of the original ticket. Full payment must be made within 24 hours of making the booking. Failure to check in for a PNG domestic flight by the deadline, not showing up for the flight (no show), or failure to board the aircraft after checking in for the flight will incur a fee of PGK165.00 or AUD85.00 per passenger payable at the time of rebooking, or deducted from any refundable fare amount. Children (2-11 years) pay 75% of the full adult fare. Infants (under 2 years) who do not occupy a seat travel free of charge. Infants occupying a seat pay 75% of the full adult fare. . PRICING PAYMENT Total of (1) Passengers Form of Payment Cheque Price PGK 1831.82 Payment Amount PGK 2025.00 Taxes and Charges PGK 193.18 Total Price PGK 2025 Agent Name: Agent ID: Agent Office: Port Moresby VERIFICATION STAMP (IF REQUIRED) ___________________________________

CHECK-IN TIMES
Check-in will open 2 hours prior to the scheduled departure time. You must check in NO LATER THAN 60 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. You will not be able to check in after this time. Arrival after this time, not showing up for the flight (no show), or failure to board the aircraft after checking in for the flight will result in loss of the fare with all fare types except Premium Economy (E class) and Corporate Advantage (Q class).

Samarai Reunion, Samarai

Recently, and only just now a 'working group' was formed made up of a core group of seven (7) people identified & nominated (who will have voting rights) with memberships open to anyone (residents & or ex-residents) that are interested, have links to the island (whether real or imaginary) but most of all "especially has the heart for Samarai Island, China Strait and the neighbouring islands & mainland communities.

Interested memberships has no voting power (by the way) when it comes to making decisions about anything or everything that comes before this core 'working group' BUT can of course contribute positively on ideas, suggestions, critiscisms etc during meetings.

The core group of seven (7) have a couple of things in common:

1. they are permanent full time residents on the island making Samarai Island their home.

2. are concerned about the general up keep of the island

3. are aware that sitting on their backside and watching the island plus some historical monuments fall apart is hypocritical.

A profile of each of the individuals will be posted at a later time when all relevant interviews/information are collated and approved by the group as correct (I do not want to be sued for posting wrong and degrading profile descriptions!!). Names of the core seven are listed at the end of this post including the three (3) people nominated as treasury/ book keepers who are by default identified as signatories to the bank account that will be open shortly (Bank account is not openned yet at the time of this post).

Pity I am unable to post a copy of the first meeting minutes on today (as I honestly do not know how to do that yet) but if anyone is interested to look-see the copy of the meeting minutes - email me or post your comment with an email address and I will forward to you in PDF format (so you dont change anything!!)

The aim of the group is:

1. raise awareness of the state of the island and it's surrounding island communities,

2. promote it's history including sites of historical significance

3. promote tourism activities

4. co-ordinate/ manage small project activities that it nominates to fund and do

5. liaise with those living elsewhere concerning their interests, links to the area

6. facilitate information

Note that the group does not see itself as replacing the district tourism authority, the government or the Samarai restoration committee for that matter. It will be non political, non religious, non profit and would be as informal as possible in its activities which mostly be basic and otherwise complementing the bigger picture of the said authorities or bodies.

The groups name identified during the meeting is Samarai Reunion, Samarai (with a comma) and during its first meeting also nominated WestPac Bank, Alotau as its banking facility.

And now shall I introduce names of the core seven (7) who have the voting rights and will drive us all. note that non of them will have official titles as all agreed in the meeting that this is an informal group and having titles is bullshit. Leadership is naturally following the seniority as it is on the island, of course we have other senior citizens that the core group can refer to as and where need be. The names without further ado:

1. Ernie Evernett - longtime resident, self employed (marine/ boats)

2. Rodney Abaijah - longtime resident, brother to former MP Josephine Abaijah

3. Maggie Tanaka - longtime resident who just loves Samarai Island

4. Maggie Sigamata - longtime resident, self employed (runs Samarai island Canteen)

5. John H. Marco - resident for the past 27 years, self employed (fuel servicing)

6. Paul Titus - former councillor (3 terms) and a very active youth coordinator.

7. Betty Andrew - born, raised and married on Samarai, current councillor, active youth coordinator;

The treasury/ book keeping team of three (3) whom are also signatories to the (yet to be openned) bank account are:

1. Carter Tanaka - wife of Richard Tanaka, longtime resident

2. Mary Abaijah - wife of Rodney Abaijah, longtime residents

3. Cypirian Kaisa - husband to Maggie Sigamata, self employed.

And lastly, ME MYSELF & I am the unofficial scribe, link, mail boy between you interested ones out there and the group on Samarai Island itself as I rotate back to Samarai Island from work breaks often enough as I live there.

Also there is TOBY AIWATI (facebook, emails etc) who can do the same I am sure as he also travels back to Samarai quite often too as he is a resident of Samarai.

The groups first priority right now is to raise awareness to everyone and anyone out there about the historical monument - Anglican Church building on Samarai Island.

Briefly, we have been recently informed that the Cardinal General of Anglican church will be visiting Samarai Island with the view to 'RECONSECRATE' (I believe the term is) the Anglican church (which means take everything holy i.e alters, the cross, holy water basins etc) and llet the building fall piece by piece. All Anglican Church services will be held in the rectory next door.

More of this with pictures in the next post........................................stay tuned!!!!