Dear Malev Hungarian Airlines,
This past Monday, May 15th 2006, I was scheduled to fly at 8:20pm on flight MA753 from Copenhagen to Budapest, connecting to flight MA214 to Tel Aviv, where I had come from on May 10th. I just had enjoyed 5 lovely days in Copenhagen, as well as a pleasant 9 hours in your home country.
My journey from the Holyland began in Budapest where I was privileged to find possibly the only restaurant in all of Hungary that serves tofu and my traveling companions visited the world renowned, “Las Vegas Casino.” Your fine airline then brought us (the Holylanders- Israeli National Ultimate Frisbee Champions) to Wonderful Copenhagen (both the city and the ultimate frisbee tournament) where we took in the sites and beers of the city when we weren’t getting our asses whooped by stronger, taller, blonder, Nordic ultimate teams. I actually ditched the Israeli men’s team and found a German women’s team in need of extra players. Although they didn’t believe me that my mom and brother are blond, they took me in and taught me the word “punkte.”
If you thought things couldn’t get any better than this Malev, you thought wrong. Denmark happens to be home to Illums Bolighus, “a Mecca for people of all ages interested in designs,” aka shopping for the rich and famous. And while strolling down the Stroget in Copenhagen we ran into former US president Bill Clinton exiting the store, who shook my hand and waved to the throngs of Danes and tourists who gathered to watch him walk to his car.
After all the fun and excitement, we were tired and sunburned (it may have been colder, but we enjoyed daylight until nearly 10pm) and I was ready to go home. With my teammates, I arrived at the airport nearly 3 hours before our flight and went through check-in quickly, with no problems. We then had ample time to spend waiting in the “family area” of the airport, which was complete with giant ball pit; perfect for practicing layouts and making friends with non-english speaking children. After some good fun we headed to the boarding gate and just minutes before the flight was scheduled to take-off, I handed the agent my boarding pass and became an illegal immigrant and suspected terrorist (probably due to my non-scandanavian looks).
She asked me if I had a visa to Israel or a return flight to the United States, the country of my citizenship. I replied that I am eligible to receive a 3-month tourist visa at the airport in Tel Aviv, and my plane ticket back to the US was in Israel because why would I bring it with me to Denmark? The agent placed a phone call and then told me that I could not board the plane as it was Israeli policy not to allow tourists to enter without a visa or a return plane ticket and Malev risked a large fine if I flew to Israel and was then turned away by the Israeli authorities.
I offered to sign a contract promising to take financial responsibility as well as give Malev my first born son and 4 dunams of my orange orchards if I was turned away, but the agent refused and also refused to let me speak to the manager. I asked if I could call my travel agent and give her my flight number for my flight back to the US, if I could call the embassy, if I could call my pushy grandfather, but she told me there was no way I could be on this flight and I could call whomever I want, after the flight took off.
After the flight left, she continued to be of no help. Detained in Denmark, I found a place to sleep and the next morning arranged to have a very convincing fax of a fax of a fax of my return plane to ticket to the US sent to Malev in Copenhagen. I was given permission to fly, but forced to pay Malev 1220 Danish Kroner (approximately $208) to change my flight.
While I understand it is within the right of Malev Airlines to refuse me travel without the proper paperwork, I believe Malev is at fault for the way I was treated. (For example, had I been informed at the check-in desk that I needed proof of my return ticket; I would have had ample time to get a copy of said ticket faxed to Denmark before the flight took off.) Therefore, Malev should take responsibility for the $208 ticket charge, the expenses of an extra night in Copenhagen, a lost day of work, a missed fireworks display in Tel Aviv, extensive emotional damage as an international refugee, 40 acres and a mule. Please consider my request for reparations with due respect.
Sincerely,
Unhappy European Traveler
This past Monday, May 15th 2006, I was scheduled to fly at 8:20pm on flight MA753 from Copenhagen to Budapest, connecting to flight MA214 to Tel Aviv, where I had come from on May 10th. I just had enjoyed 5 lovely days in Copenhagen, as well as a pleasant 9 hours in your home country.
My journey from the Holyland began in Budapest where I was privileged to find possibly the only restaurant in all of Hungary that serves tofu and my traveling companions visited the world renowned, “Las Vegas Casino.” Your fine airline then brought us (the Holylanders- Israeli National Ultimate Frisbee Champions) to Wonderful Copenhagen (both the city and the ultimate frisbee tournament) where we took in the sites and beers of the city when we weren’t getting our asses whooped by stronger, taller, blonder, Nordic ultimate teams. I actually ditched the Israeli men’s team and found a German women’s team in need of extra players. Although they didn’t believe me that my mom and brother are blond, they took me in and taught me the word “punkte.”
If you thought things couldn’t get any better than this Malev, you thought wrong. Denmark happens to be home to Illums Bolighus, “a Mecca for people of all ages interested in designs,” aka shopping for the rich and famous. And while strolling down the Stroget in Copenhagen we ran into former US president Bill Clinton exiting the store, who shook my hand and waved to the throngs of Danes and tourists who gathered to watch him walk to his car.
After all the fun and excitement, we were tired and sunburned (it may have been colder, but we enjoyed daylight until nearly 10pm) and I was ready to go home. With my teammates, I arrived at the airport nearly 3 hours before our flight and went through check-in quickly, with no problems. We then had ample time to spend waiting in the “family area” of the airport, which was complete with giant ball pit; perfect for practicing layouts and making friends with non-english speaking children. After some good fun we headed to the boarding gate and just minutes before the flight was scheduled to take-off, I handed the agent my boarding pass and became an illegal immigrant and suspected terrorist (probably due to my non-scandanavian looks).
She asked me if I had a visa to Israel or a return flight to the United States, the country of my citizenship. I replied that I am eligible to receive a 3-month tourist visa at the airport in Tel Aviv, and my plane ticket back to the US was in Israel because why would I bring it with me to Denmark? The agent placed a phone call and then told me that I could not board the plane as it was Israeli policy not to allow tourists to enter without a visa or a return plane ticket and Malev risked a large fine if I flew to Israel and was then turned away by the Israeli authorities.
I offered to sign a contract promising to take financial responsibility as well as give Malev my first born son and 4 dunams of my orange orchards if I was turned away, but the agent refused and also refused to let me speak to the manager. I asked if I could call my travel agent and give her my flight number for my flight back to the US, if I could call the embassy, if I could call my pushy grandfather, but she told me there was no way I could be on this flight and I could call whomever I want, after the flight took off.
After the flight left, she continued to be of no help. Detained in Denmark, I found a place to sleep and the next morning arranged to have a very convincing fax of a fax of a fax of my return plane to ticket to the US sent to Malev in Copenhagen. I was given permission to fly, but forced to pay Malev 1220 Danish Kroner (approximately $208) to change my flight.
While I understand it is within the right of Malev Airlines to refuse me travel without the proper paperwork, I believe Malev is at fault for the way I was treated. (For example, had I been informed at the check-in desk that I needed proof of my return ticket; I would have had ample time to get a copy of said ticket faxed to Denmark before the flight took off.) Therefore, Malev should take responsibility for the $208 ticket charge, the expenses of an extra night in Copenhagen, a lost day of work, a missed fireworks display in Tel Aviv, extensive emotional damage as an international refugee, 40 acres and a mule. Please consider my request for reparations with due respect.
Sincerely,
Unhappy European Traveler
posted by Hannah @ 3:32 PM
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