This is my third trip to Guam and every time I go there I always have fun memories (not in Guam but in Manila Airport)...
I was very excited the first time because i get to have a US VISA and the company pays for all my expenses (VISA processing, Air tickets, Hotel Accommodation and meals).
Guam is really a nice place, I guess this is because of the people living there. Most of them came from Philippines who were naturalized and became US citizens.
So after a month of doing a project, I finally get to go home to Singapore. Here's the fun part: Upon checking in my luggage in the Guam Airport I asked the lady in the counter if she can put my luggage direct to Singapore so I do not have to pick it up in Manila airport and her reply was "I am not sure, let's try" (there is no direct flight from Guam to Singapore so needed to get a connecting flight via Manila to Singapore). I smiled at her trying to get her assurance that I will be able to pick up my luggage when I am back in Singapore. I was reluctant in checking in my luggage upon hearing her reply but I guess I had no choice. So it was checked-in, I got my luggage claim stub that says the luggage is going direct to Singapore. My flight arrives in Manila at around 8:00 PM and my next flight is at 9:00 AM the next day. I am actually happy about this long waiting time as i was thinking of visiting my mother in Manila.
Upon arriving in Manila Airport, I asked the people in the transfer desk if I can check-in to my next flight, again the answer was something I did not expect. The counter attendant said "the person who is in charge is not yet in". Then I asked him if I can go out of the airport, his answer was "not sure". He said I can try going out but that depends on the immigration officer. I then asked him to at least put a note on my ticket that I am a passenger in transit so if ever i go out I do not need to pay airport charges on my way back. This he immediately did.
So, I tried my luck and went directly to the immigration counter. The immigration officer was quite friendly. I was the last person to pass through immigration as I needed to check things in the transfer counter. I then asked the immigration officer if I can go out and he said "pwede pilipino ka naman". I were a foreigner, will he deny my request? I then handed to him my passport together with the immigration form. He looked at these documents and said "no need for these, just tell the check-in attendant that you are in transit so you do not have to pay for airport taxes and other things", he then added "if I put a chop in your passport, you might need to pay the airport charges". He also told me that I just need to tell the check-in attendant to put a stamp on my boarding pass the following morning.
I was surprised about this, Isn't there a proper procedure on these situations or is this the right procedure for this kind of situation? I do not know if this is legal or not but I was a little happy knowing that I do not have to pay anything when I check in the next morning.
Before I went out of the airport, I waited near the conveyor belt just to make sure that my checked-in luggage is going directly to Singapore. To my surprise (again), I saw my luggage going around the conveyor belt (in Manila airport!). What if somebody picks up my luggage and bring it home? Olive (my beloved wife) will nag for at least a week as her bags (bought in Ross, Guam) are all in there. Don't they scan the tags of these luggage before putting them in the conveyor belt?
I picked my luggage and looked for the person in charge, luckily he was still there doing some paper works. I then told him that this luggage (the one i am holding) is supposed to go direct to Singapore. This time he was the one who is a little bit surprised. He paused for a few seconds then told me to give him my luggage and he will take care of it. At this point I wanted to take my luggage with me while I visit my mother. But then again, this luggage is already checked in. With a very doubtful facial expression, I handed him my luggage...
My visit to my mother's house was very short, it was only for a few hours. I arrived in the house at about 11:00PM and went to sleep at around 1:00AM.
I woke up very early the next morning because I know that the traffic in Manila is really bad during peak hours, arriving in the airport 2 hours before the flight and ready to check in. While checking in, I told the check in counter attendant that I was in transit and should not pay any airport charges. I had this feeling that she did not know what to do in cases like these. She stared at my ticket and finally called here supervisor to ask what needs to be done in cases like these. They them discussed for a few minutes and when they finished she told me that I need to pay the "processing fee" (not airport tax) of 200 pesos. I was taken aback by this...the immigration officer assured me that i need not pay a single cent! So then again I had no choice but to pay. Before I went to the cashier, I told her that I have one luggage checked in and she has to chop "in-transit" to my boarding pass. I was stunned upon hearing her reply, she said "I forgot the rubber stamp that is used chop "in-transit" in our basement office, just give me your last night's boarding pass and I will attach it to your new boarding pass, you just have to tell the Airport Tax collector that you are in transit". Waaaahhh...what is happening? What if I do not have my previous flight's boarding pass anymore? Everything seems to go wrong! Isn't there a proper procedure here?!!
So I paid the 200 pesos and picked up my boarding pass and went directly to the Airport tax counter. I handed my papers to the counter attendant, he examined my boarding passes and my ticket for about a minute and then told me that I have to see their director. He then went out of his cubicle to assist me to their office. In their office, somebody told me to sit in the waiting area while they check what needs to be done and if I need to pay the USD15.00 airport tax. After a few minutes, I was told that I need not pay the tax and jut go direct to immigration officer. Again he mentioned that I just need to tell the immigration office that I am a transit passenger.
I had no problem at the immigration counter (hayyy thank God). I was actually expecting them to bring me again to their office and ask me a few questions.
So I thought everything is settled, I just need to board the airplane and relax. While waiting at the Boarding gate, I heard my name being called from the PA. I then approached one of the the attendant who led me to another attendant who told me that my luggage is missing. Waaaahhhhhhhhhhhh....is this my luck?!! She told me in a very apologetic manner that it was not their fault. I told her "I don't care who's fault this is, I just want my luggage back". I thought I was a little harsh to her. I know it is not her fault but I did not know what to say anymore...
Before boarding she approached me and told me that my luggage is still missing, this I already expected. She then added that I need to report my missing luggage when I arrive in Singapore.
I made no comment on this anymore as I was already tired of asking things. I am actually not worried about my missing luggage as I've heard before that the airlines pays you if they cannot find your things.
When I arrived in Singapore (around 1:00 pm) I immediately went to the missing baggage counter and reported my issue. They asked for my passport number and then told me that they already found my things and will deliver to our house within the day. True enough, they delivered within the day...somebody knocked on the door minutes before midnight!!
