Since I have promised to publish e-mails of all people seeking for help and support, I have decided to publish an appeal of one passenger who is currently trapped at Dubai International Airport.
On his first letter I’ve responded with my wish that everything will be resolved in the best way for him. But he is still at the airport in, apparently, bad physical condition, so I will publish his story because every human being and every passenger (inadmissible or not) has rights which need to be respected in order for humans to deserve their humane name.
Mr. Edgar was travelling from Europe to Australia via Dubai. He was proclaimed inadmissible in Australia and put on the next flight back to Dubai, where he is stuck now because EK security took his passport in order to make him pay for his return ticket home. Mr. Edgar is living at the airport for couple of days now, he doesn’t have access to his personal documents or his baggage and he doesn’t have the money to pay his return ticket home. Emirates Airline managers don’t want to release him until he pays for his deportation.
This is the initial comment that Mr. Edgar wrote on my blog, seeking for help:
My name is Edgar xxx, 31 years old , hungarian citizen. I was on my way to visit Brisbane, Australia on the 7th of december this year, when the whorst nightmare that I could dream of began, without me realizing that… On my arrival, a lady from Immigration stoped me and begun asking me all kind of questions, about my visit in their Country. They probably didn’t like my passport and also didn’t want to believe me when I was telling them that I was actually intending to visit a friend over there and It should have been a surprize…so they decied that they have a surprize for me also: that is Canceling my visa and sending me home the next day.
After I have been kept 8 hours in an interogation room , like some sord of a criminal , they sent me to a deportation facility ,where they keep people, who are about to be sent home to their country. At 9 pm the next day , they sent for me, and they said that ,I will be sent home . Before putting me on the plane ,a lady called “Jo” ,from Emirates Airlines office, from Brisbane , asked me if I have money to pay for the return ticket, to wich I answered that I don’t have enaugh founds. She said, that it’s no problem, they (Emirates)will pay for the ticket anyway. After my arriving to Dubai International , where I should of had a connection later that day to Bucharest, an agent from Emirates picked me up from the Airplane , kept my documents with him in an anvelope and esocrted me to their office ( EK INAD/DEPO HANDLING OFFICE – transfer desk “J” , Dubai International Airport ,Terminal 3). They showed me a bill that I supposed to pay: it was the ticket from Brisbane , untill Dubai. So they lied to me, they were not going to pay for my ticket .
The intresting part of the story starts only now : When I told them, that I cannot pay for the ticket, because I don’t have the money, they said that ,it’s no problem, they will keep me here, they will give me food, and I can LIVE here, untill I pay them the return ticket. And they were saying this very ironicly, with a big wide smile on their face …At the begining I thought that they are just trying to scare me and when they will realize, that I don’t have the money to pay the ticket, they will send me home. But it turnes out, that I was very wrong….two days have passed since I arrived, and practically I’ m living on the terminal ,just like in that movie with Tom hanks ” The Terminal “….people are allready saluting me , staff members I mean, who see me walk around every day…they give me food vouchers 2-3 times a day so I can go and eat at the fast foods from the Terminal ,but except that I’m practically living on my own here . The Hungarian Consul called them and tried to convince them to give me back my passport at least ,so that I can fly home, but they are refusing to do that , wich after everyone’s opinion is against my human rights. How can they retain my passport when they are just a company (Emirates) ,not any kind of autority , like Police , Immigration, etc ….I even tried getting back my passport wit the Police , and even them , cannot do anything ,because legaly they are protected(Emirates)
It seems like ,that I will be living on the Terminal for a long time, because they decided to keep me here, untill I will pay , so considering that I don’t have the money to pay the ticket , I will be living on Dubai International Airport. What’s next ? Me searching for a job on the Terminal ?! …
It is absolutely incredible what is happening to me…even my friends from home said that this is a story, that should make the Evening news…but who cares about one person in such a big Airport, and in such a Famous City….outside these walls, life continues to go on naturally. I wonder what I need to do , so that someone observes my situation and really does something about it ?
Or maybe , I will be spending Christmas together with the staff of Emirates ?… that would be hard to forget right?
I hope my voice , more exactly my words are being red by the right person, someone who still has some human responsability and tryies to make a difference in our society….OR we can just close our eyes, and lift our shoulders , because it’s not our problem…Sincerly,
Edgar xxxthe moble number of their office (where my case can be checked) is :
+971504534263
their email: ekinadhandling@emirates.com
you will find a photo attached with me and other 6 person with similar problems, who are practically living in EK Office’s waiting room on this Terminal
Edgar’s ticket to Brisbane via Dubai.
I’ve asked Edgar for detailed information and he sent me following two e-mails:
Hi !
well it makes me smile and also a little bit sad,when you say that it’s a little bit science fiction …because I AM living it right now. I allready made a picture with me and the people stuck in there last night , (even without you asking me to do that …) I will send that to you and also a picture with me in the same place with a paper, wich I have made to your request. I don’t know if it’s today’s paper, because we don’t really live in a hotel right now to get daily paper, but there is one here…so I can do what you asked me to…Also regarding australia , I had a return ticket booking for the 19th dec, you will find that attached also , and I asked my travel agency to cancel it as soon as I found out that I will be put on next day flight…so that I don’t loose the money for that also, because It would have been with different airline companies. Anyway, this is not about Australia here …it’s about the situation ,here on Dubai Airport….Australia initially demanded that I will be sent home , not to Dubai, but a lady who is manager here at EK Emirates, demanded that ,that I should be sent only this far and force me to pay the ticket….so it’s a very wrong thing that they did and still keep on doing. My embassy contacted this manager yesterday, tried to convince her for half an hour over the phone….and still no result…they are somehow protected by the law and nobody can do anything to get back my passport..not even the police from the airport…it’s incredible…if I would know who tot talk to, I would ask the news ,or reporters to come here , to see what is happening…this is no sci-fiction….this is happening ..right now, right here….
Edgar’s e-mail
They don’t let me take my stuff out from my bags. This is why I went even to the police , thinking that they can recover my passport and they really tried….still they couldn’t get back my passport, stating that EK OFFICE is holding my passport legally and no one can do anything about that. And as you mentioned, I refuse to accept that someone can hold on to my passport without me commiting any kind of crime!!
Regarding to your question about why the Immigration refused me to enter Australia, well, believe it or not, I had a Valid visa, I was there 2 months ago and stayed about 3 weeks and after I went back home. So there is no question about it, that I was not intending to immigrate in their country. Also they stated that I have insufficient founds to stay 10 days in their country, because I was not having any cash in my wallet. I have a Mastercard wich I use when I go abroad, so that I don’t have to worry about the exchange currency and me being cheated in any way.
I will not rest untill these people will not pay for what they did and still doing to me as we speak…
Cheers,
Edgar
Edgar’s e-mail
Edgar’s cancelled return tkt.
Do Not Fly Emirates 
December 12th, 2014 at 18:52
“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.”
George Washington
Thank You for publishing my story Dragana and RESPECT for what you are doing !
Best regards,
Edgar
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 12th, 2014 at 20:14
Take care, Edgar.
LikeLike
December 15th, 2014 at 15:31
Edgar, how do we get in touch with you?
LikeLike
December 13th, 2014 at 20:01
I hope Edgar will continue to update about his experiences from the airport and bring more attention of media to his situation.
Edgar, I hope you are using time at the airport wisely!
Stay well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 13th, 2014 at 20:20
Edgar is in unenviable situation at the airport because he is not a free man there. But I am sure that he is using his time wisely.
Some people are not to mess with. It seems to me that Edgar is one of them.
LikeLike
December 13th, 2014 at 22:34
This is incredible. .edgard as soon as you get out of this situation go to the news and explain everything that happened at least other turist witch that country aka india depends on, needs to be aware of what danger they can get to be exposed to…this needs to get to the news a.s.a.p
LikeLike
December 14th, 2014 at 00:19
What complicates Edgar’s situation is the fact that his return ticket is on a different carrier(s). If he had booked his ticket RT on Emirates(or any other airline for that matter) he would already be back in Hungary.Obviously, Emirates is playing hardball and holding him hostage until he pays for the Brisbane-Dubai leg.
If you are traveling on a return ticket, most airlines are fair enough to let you use your return ticket for the unexpected return flight. Aside from that, most air lines regulate this in their terms of carriage and hold the passenger liable for any further costs.
Just as an example, here are Lufthansa’s terms regarding denied entry :
Here is Philippine Airlines :
And here is Emirates Airlines :
Unfortunately, I don’t think Edgar has a legal leg to stand on.I would cut my losses now, and try to negotiate a reduced fare with EK for the BNE/DXB leg.That airfare is around 1500.00(US). See if they’ll take 1000.00 -1200.00(US) and whip out that MasterCard and be done with it.I checked Orbitz and Turkish Airlines has a one way fare of 430.00(US) from DXB-BUD.Book that flight asap and get back home to Budapest.Everyday he stays in the terminal is a loss of income.At least at home he can get back to work and recoup his losses in a few weeks.
Edgar’s story is not entirely uncommon.Here at LAX there are international passengers denied entry on a daily basis for various visa issues.They are placed in a holding area and eventually sent back on the next available flight. Edgar’s case is somewhat unique in that the airline, by taking his passport is holding it as collateral for payment.Emirates Airlines should have handled this case much differently.
Edgar’s current problem has everything to do with his denied entry into Australia.I think there is more to the story than he’s telling us.That being said, I certainly don’t condone the behavior of Emirates Airlines.Quite appalling and totally unnecessary.
LikeLike
December 14th, 2014 at 00:43
No airline can keep a passenger as a hostage.
Thanks for the comment Nik.
LikeLike
December 14th, 2014 at 08:32
There is nothing to be negotiated ! In Brisbane , a lady from Emirates Airlines office tcalled me,to let me know that I would be sent home and if I don’t have the neccesary founds, the airline company will take care of that . I have been lied to, that is what uppsats me the most . If everyone whould have been correct with me from the begining ,it would have been a different situation. It has been a looong ride …after 25 hours of flying ,to be ket another 18 hours by Immigration and still I didn’t get home…try to imagine how tired I feel…today is the 4th day here on the airport .
It has been promissed to me that, TODAY someone will try to resolve my case, so I’m waiting to see what happens…
LikeLike
December 14th, 2014 at 09:15
Edgar. Please get all the names of the people involved. Also please email Tim Clark. And the BBC as well as CNN. Name and Shame!!
LikeLike
December 14th, 2014 at 10:48
Dragana, let me try and explain something to you, this passenger has been deported from Australia, that means its HIS responsibility to get home. He arrived in Australia with no cash, but he has a master card, and he was able to purchase a ticket to go to Australia (which is not cheap). Now he says he can’t afford a ticket (doesn’t want to buy a new ticket) back to Hungry, so if you are that poor (or cheap) no wonder Australia deported you. He is now in Dubai and expecting a free trip back to Budapest? Are you both insane?? Or am i missing something? How dare you expect them to pay for your ticket back!! They are most likely holding your passport so you don’t try and jump on a plane/enter Dubai without paying!
LikeLike
December 14th, 2014 at 11:27
Dear WTF,
As I have written in the introduction of this story, I’ve put this article online because EVERY passenger, inadmissible OR not, has rights.
I am not interested in the fact that Edgar was not accepted by the Australian immigration. If he has valid visa and a return ticket, it is enough for me. I know that he didn’t try to enter Australia illegally or with forged documents.
He should have been allowed to rebook his return ticket via China to go home, but EK manager asked him IN Australia IF he has the money to pay for a ticket, and Edgar said “no”. So, Edgar was told that he will be deported any way, on the expense of EK. You can not put someone on the flight almost forcefully and then force them to pay for that flight, especially if they told you previously that they don’t have money.
Everything beyond this is torture and keeping a passenger as a hostage for ransom and every day that Edgar spends at the airport is more trouble for Emirates. Why EK managers never listen to advices and people who tell them what is the right thing to do? And when something bad for the business happens, Emirates accuses others for their problems? Why you never see how many mistakes you make, bringing all the attention to you? Why you never see that you should just apologize and treat people like people?
As EXEGHQ said: no airline can keep a passenger’s passport. It is a criminal offence to keep it. EK can sue a passenger for not paying a ticket and use other legal means defined in the contract between airline and a passenger, but one airline can never, under ANY circumstances, retain a passport of the passenger who committed no crime!
You are keeping a passenger as a hostage for the ransom and I am just SURPRISED that your legal department is not aware of this fact.
As I told you before, I have never contacted journalists and I have no intention to do that since I don’t want to harm EK’s image globally, but this is just outrageous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 14th, 2014 at 11:44
Off course every passenger has rights. No one is denying that dear Dragana.
You are right, its not up to you to decide if he is permitted into australia, different country to yours so different rules.
You never mentioned in your article if he was asked if he had another return ticket with another airline, this to me is the problem. EK office in Brisbane would have assumed he had a return ticket with EK, not China southern airlines, so it would have been a easy process to allow him to travel back.
The point is now, he is in Dubai, and its not EKs responsibility to repatriate him.
‘Everything beyond this is torture’ Please do not throw around the word torture like that, its embarrassing, he has an option, to pay for a new ticket to return home. He clearly does have the funds, he just does not want to pay. Use your credit card.
‘no airline can keep a passenger’s passport. It is a criminal offence to keep it. EK can sue a passenger for not paying a ticket and use other legal means defined in the contract between airline and a passenger, but one airline can ever, under ANY circumstances, retain a passport of the passenger who committed no crime!’ He did commit a crime, he’s been deported, why is that not registering with you? It is the airlines responsibility to keep his passport until he has returned to his point of origin, the same process works for every airline in the world…
‘I don’t want to harm EK’s image globally, I am not a malicious person. But this is just outrageous.’ Really? Which is why your blog is called donotflyemirates?
LikeLike
December 14th, 2014 at 11:56
Every assumption is your mistake, not Edgar’s. Edgar had a return ticket and he has a proof for that. Every court of law will accept his evidence and your obligation was to ask him about his ticket.
It’s not EK’s responsibility to repatriate Edgar, but it’s your responsibility to give him back his passport.
It is a pure torture and your cold messaging here just proves it. I repeat: you promised him that he will be deported on your expense. He notified you that he has no money BEFORE the flight. You simply can not put someone on the flight knowing that they have no money and then demand them to pay you while keeping their passport. It’s called a “blackmail”.
He had a valid visa and a return ticket. Every country’s immigration has the rights not to let in a person by their choice even if they have all valid documents. That is not a crime, he was simply refused to enter a country.
My blog is called “donotflyemirates” as a metaphor for “do not be an unethical and immoral asshole”. I think I already explained this in one of my articles.
But I guess that you don’t understand what a “metaphor” means, same as you don’t get a concept of “rhetorical question”.
When will you learn that no one wants to harm you here? Just do the right thing before this goes beyond your powers to resolve it in a quiet way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 14th, 2014 at 12:30
Dragana, let me help you out, please? if you don’t agree with an EK goon you are:
a) wrong b) immoral c) stupid d) all of th above.
They get so upset when they can’t bully. EK Management can’t hit back at you through their mode of “reason” so they revert to type. Bullying.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 14th, 2014 at 12:37
Anyway, my blog is called “Truth about Emirates Airline Management”. The domain’s name is “donotflyemirates”.
LikeLike
December 14th, 2014 at 11:39
“Hungry” is correctly written as “Hungary” and it is a part of European Union.
LikeLike
December 14th, 2014 at 11:55
Sorry for the spelling mistake, but english is not my first language. Anyway, I think you need to do more research on the rules of deportation, you may think this is torture, but this is a standard process. One of the posts above by Nix Nox explained the situation about the ticket payment much better.
LikeLike
December 14th, 2014 at 12:02
Did you miss the part when Nik Nox told you that you should have handled this case much differently?
You have one problem here that other airlines in these cases don’t have: Edgar told you BEFORE the flight that he has no money, you didn’t ask him about his return ticket, you didn’t allow him to rebook that ticket, you just put him on the flight, took his passport and you are blackmailing him now.
If I was a manager responsible for this mess I would resign before huge scandal happens. But, then again, this would never happen to me because I respect people’s integrity and freedom as well as universal human rights and laws.
LikeLike
December 14th, 2014 at 12:26
WTF Please do explain to us the rules of deportation as you clearly know them. Great to see the management trolls rattled. Dragana, please do forward to BBC and CNN and Mr. Clark. That way senior EK staff can’t claim they didn’t know thatbholding his passport is illegal.Thanks WTF for handing out the “ammunition” to further show the culture of brilliance of EK management. Keep it up! I guess we will have to up the silver najm to a gold one. Great work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 15th, 2014 at 21:11
Sadly not illegal, but recommended practice. Not EK alone thats just the industry. And as far as deportation rules are concerned they send you back to where you came from. In this case Dubai; doesn’t matter if he had a return ticket to Tahiti with Easy Jet. He has to go back to Dubai and unless theres no flight with emirates within 24 hours of deportation decision being made then he has to fly Emirates. (this is all in ICAO and IATA).
All costs are Edgar’s liability its in the terms and conditions. People you can scream bloody murder all you want but if you don’t agree to the contract don’t buy the ticket.
(insert here paranoid delusional statement that I am EK management bully and paid to post etc. etc.)
LikeLike
December 15th, 2014 at 21:28
Paranoid delusional? Nobody here is afraid, so nobody is paranoid or delusional.
Also, nobody here actually argued that these are not the rules, we talked about the abuse of these rules.
Does this contract says what are legal means to use if passenger refuses to pay?
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 16th, 2014 at 16:12
Paranoia:
noun. 1. a mental disorder characterized by systematized delusions and the projection of personal conflicts, which are ascribed to the supposed hostility of others, sometimes progressing to disturbances of consciousness and aggressive acts believed to be performed in self-defense or as a mission.
2.
baseless or excessive suspicion of the motives of others.
Fear doesn’t enter into the equation.
A. One may say deceived, one may say victim of incompetence.
B. Dubai Authorities have no legal right to hold his passport at all and are not a party to his deportation or his monetary conflict. the most they can do is dictate what sort of care he should receive (e.g. the meal vouchers), or arrest him for breach of contract or being unable to pay his bills so to speak (absolutely not a better alternative). On a side note Dubai Airports do have staff whose job it is to try and sort out these sorts of conflicts between passengers and airlines. Perhaps he can try to avail himself to these individuals.
C. Holding passenger hostage is very emotive language, intended to illicit certain emotional reactions, rather than a rational argument. I do not condone these actions but sadly EK (and the industry at large) are well within their rights, in these cases. Otherwise it wouldn’t happen.
This is a daily occurrence globally not a one off situation; you want to alert the media go ahead lets see who picks it up. And its not because of the all powerful EK machine threatening and using its titan like might to silence the media. Its because it happens everywhere and they’re not doing anything illegal. Whether it be unethical or immoral is a matter for debate.
And as to your final point; Yes in Dubai as in a lot of places you refuse to pay your bills you go to jail… is that what you really want for Edgar?
LikeLike
December 16th, 2014 at 16:46
So, if you are projecting conflicts here it means you are delusional and paranoid? Because, no conflicts here, just a rational debate. Btw, fear has everything to do with paranoia and delusions. Google more.
So, as I understand the situation, EK told Edgar that they will pay for his ticket back home and, therefore, they lied to him. Then EK has detained him at the airport for 6 days, forcing him to pay the bill. Tell me just one thing: who is EK to keep anyone in detention?
It was better for EK if they called Dubai authorities or Dubai Airports staff immediately after Edgar refused to pay, because they are the ones who, actually, have the authority to deal with it. Even if it means that Edgar could be arrested. At least he would be arrested by someone who has the right to do it. EK has no rights to arrest the passenger (which is what EK actually did in this case).
You still didn’t answer my question about legal means that EK can take after a passenger refuses to pay for ticket, stated in the contract?
You have hold a passenger for ransom. That is the only way to describe what you did. You took the justice in your hands (instead turning to legal authority), forcing a man, who didn’t commit any crime, to sleep on your chairs for 5 or so nights.
Me contacting newspapers? 🙂 You have got it wrong. My goal was to free Edgar from EK’s claws. This blog IS a form of newspapers. I am really surprised that you haven’t got it so far.
Edgar has the final word on your treatment of him. I am not interfering in that.
LikeLike
December 16th, 2014 at 17:04
Also, whose “victim of incompetence”? EK staff’s?
LikeLike
December 16th, 2014 at 08:27
I have something to add here since I was EK PRO and had dealt with such cases and even worst. First thing, I don’t care that much of “destroying” the image as I believe What’s right is right and EK is not run by one man….EK have “Legal Department” and it can be advised of such action before doing it…so, I don’t buy that “talk”.
For inadmissible passengers, the airline must check the flight documents of a passenger because if the documents were forged or not sufficient, the immigration of that country can “deport” the passenger back on the SAME flight at carrier expense regardless if the passenger has a return ticket but on other carrier, that’s why EK has established EK Security Department for that reason as they have to check passengers documents before boarding.
The Australian immigration decided to “deport” Edgar back for sure, they called EK representative at the airport to advice the airline (EK) of the same and hand it or give Edgar’s document (including passport) to the airline (EK) as Edgar would be care of EK from that moment and EK MUST put him on same plane going back to Dubai as per the agreement (if not, EK will handle the responsibility that could ban EK from landing at Australian soil!!).
From that moment, EK representative must arrange for his return ticket and since his original return ticket was booked on different carrier, EK must arrange that with the other carrier. For Sure, Edgar was escorted to the plane with EK staff and gave his documents to the flight purser. In Dubai, same thing happened….the flight purser has handled Edgar with his documents to EK Security staff to start his new sufferings.
LikeLike
December 14th, 2014 at 11:06
WTF I was wondering how long it would take the Brit management trolls from EK to jump in with the bully boy tactics. True to type and well done. Your title WTF title speaks volumes for yout arrogancy and intimidation. Well done indeed. Just supposing Edgar is “cheap” like you say, WTF right does EK have to hold his passport??? Please educate stupid people like me and other readers to understand this? You are INDEED missing something. EK have no right to hold his passport. PERIOD. Keep up the arrogance, as it attracts even more attention to EK. Hope you get a Najm (EK star award) for your post.
LikeLiked by 2 people
December 14th, 2014 at 11:47
EXEGHQ, since he is being deported, they HAVE to hold his passport. This practice works for all airlines around the world. Next.
LikeLike
December 14th, 2014 at 12:20
The Immigration or relevant Government Authority has the authprity to. NOT EK. Next?
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 14th, 2014 at 11:17
Edgar’s sad story highlights EK’s mindset that they can do anything. I will write a story about HR when this saga ends as I don’t want to write anything that detracts from his story. I hear there are now bets on which VP or above will be next to be marched out of the building. Great to see the clowns from HRBS (I wonder what the BS stands for?) wondering which one of them will be next? Michelle? Malini? Who knows?? You guys and the circus of a department that you are a part of (for now) are now firmly in the limelight and I really look forward to you ALL reaping the rewards for your past actions.
LikeLike
December 14th, 2014 at 16:54
…I’m not a master of words nor a connoisseur of human rights ,but as a “cheap” person as I am , I would like to say a few words. As I sit here at the coffeshop, watching all these people passing by, with happy faces and big fat shopping bags, I think about the night ,that I’m about to spend again in the same place ,in the same conditions with the same people. I have made a request 2 days ago, for getting my medicine from my baggage, because I was allready feeling sick then. Last night I couldn’t sleep because I couldn’t breath well. I’m very sensible in the winter to flue and not to mention my immunity problem, if I am being put under stress or sleepless nights. But , I dind’t write anything about this so far, so that nobody can say that I’m a “drama queen”. I hope to get my medicine at least tonight , because it’s clear to me ,that I will be needing them in the next couple of days.
I’m not gonna attack anyone or respond to any accusations/arguments that had been brought up against me, I just want everyone to undestand ,that I felt like a soccerball , which has been kicked from one field to another , since they have put me on that plane back from Brisbane. No matter how powerfull an autority or a company is, no one has the right to humiliate another human being. I guess that’s what turns on the fighting spirit in every other person who has dignity and selfrespect and that is an ideal for which I am prepared to go all the way. Although I hope people will start careing after one another more and being more resonable one day, because ,after all as Nelson Mandela said : “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
I
LikeLiked by 2 people
December 14th, 2014 at 18:25
People love money more than themselves.
LikeLike
December 15th, 2014 at 15:37
Edgar, I’m a journalist and cover Emirates. Tell me how to get in touch. Or email me rory.jones@wsj.com +971551093346
LikeLike
December 15th, 2014 at 18:48
Hi Rory,
We are anxious to know if Emirates Airline within its authority in Dubai is threatening journalists to write something in favor of this blog? I got confirmation of doing that to some TV channels…if no, why then local news and media don’t speak and/or write something about the blog?
LikeLike
December 14th, 2014 at 17:44
Wow what a horrendous situation Edgar is in! Could you imagine what other passengers who have a worse passport from a poorer nation must be treated like by Emirates. This is only Edgar’s story but I wouldn’t be surprised what kind of situations others are in. Please do share Edgar if you get to chat with the other poor fellas stuck with you. Good luck and I hope you get your mess or even better manage to get home asap. This sort of bullying needs to stop and thanks to troll wtf points proven easily. As always please share with media – someone will one day hear but they better hear soon!
LikeLike
December 19th, 2014 at 18:18
Since they are quite a few comments pro and against the events, wich took place last week, I feel that I have an obligation to write a few words, about how I FEEL , after this experience at INAD’s office’s “waiting room”. Because some people seem to omit the fact, that I actually slept on two benches and had to wear the same clothes during 6 days,in wich I was kept there as a hostage. You can call it in a hundred ways and explain the rules a hundred times, those explanations will not change the fact, that IT HAPPENED and will surely NOT JUSTIFY IT! I have been blackmailed and kept as a hostage for that period , just because of someone’s SICK ambition to intimidate me. This personal ignorance and cruelty has caused me so much damage and stress ,that even today, after 2 days,since I returned home, I still feel nervous most of the time, not to mention the nightmares that I have each night. The moment I was put on that plane to Budapest, I felt sick, because that was the moment, when I realised, what had really happened to me. Not to be able to breath fresh air for almost a week, to feel no sunlight , beeing unable to take a shower in normal conditions, not to be able to change clothes and underwear, to eat all day junk food, to feel the cold in your bones from the moment you wake up,’till you fell asleep again, is an experience, wich I wouldn’t recomand to anyone ! Not to mention the fact ,that after my first shower over there(wich is situated in the toilet, on the Terminal), I got sick and I was not allowed to get my medicine from my bags for two days, untill the intervention of some highly ranked gentleman wich I believe are part of the same company. Then being interogated like some sord of criminal or terrorist. Why was all of this necesarry?! Why did I had to be humiliated in such ways and kept there for so many days, when in the end I have been sent away on their expences anyway?! Why no one took this decision, after let’s say 24 hours ,since my arrival on that Airport? Don’t even try to explain this to me, because there is no logic and moral explanation, wich cold justify it. You don’t need to be a genious to understand that.
What does Australian Immigration, has to do with anything ?! What does it metter, if I have a mastercard, but don’t have sufficient founds on it?! Who’s business is that, anyway ?! Why are you trying to deviate attention for irrelevant facts ? Why was I put on that plane, and then forced to pay for that ticket , when I was pretty clear from the begining, when I said that I HAVE NO FOUNDS FOR PAYING IT ?! Why was my passport kept by an airline ?! If this was,legal , (and we will soon find out,if it was or not), then someone HAS TO CHANGE the rules ,because it may be another “Edgar” sleeping in that waiting room , for some similar reason , right now, as we speek… and this is something that I’m willing to fight for, not to happen again. Because , unlike the people, who work in that office , I CARE !
LikeLike
December 21st, 2014 at 19:08
I haven’t read the blog for a while now. I wish I could have met you Edgar. I’m from Hungary and working at the airport. I’m still behind with the reading, but how is everything?
Hope all is well!
LikeLike
December 21st, 2014 at 22:26
Well, it’s better , that you haven’t met me on the airport, because I wasn’t in a very good shape … Thank you for the good thoughts anyway. And tell meu what is your opinion after you will read the story.
Cheers!
Edgar
LikeLike
February 8th, 2015 at 12:12
I am apreciate people that stands for what is right and good in our life! I have also a big problem now! I met a girl from portugal, we decide to get married, so she fly with emirates from Lisbon to dubai, but is stuck at dubai now. She have some old jewelery with her, what her mom gave her as a gift, it is more than 1kg. she told me, but at Dubai airport they took the jewelery and her passport, because we haven’t a 1 000 dollars for the tax they want. From dubai she must already have been on a flight to King Shaka international airport Durban South africa that did already arrived yesterday 7th. Feb. Her name is Valentine Akpey, passport number L007850, flight number EK192, departed from Lisbon at 13.35pm. on 6 feb. and arrived 00.55am. on 7th.Feb. She must have been departed at 10.30am. from dubai to Kings Shaka international airport Durban! I have spent two days already now on the internet for phone numbers and sites for help, no help from anyone so far. She is booked in at a hotel near the airport now. We have not the money for her to be in the hotel for long and also for the tax. I told her to leave the jewelery by Dubai’s securety til we can manage for the tax. But they don’t want to let her be on a flight to King Shaka South Africa. PLEASE can you help us?
LikeLike
February 8th, 2015 at 13:05
Dear Johan, while I empathize with your situation, I can’t do anything to help. Let your fiancée contact her embassy. If she didn’t commit any crime her passport should always be with her.
LikeLike
June 5th, 2015 at 17:20
I am from Australia.
i was searching for the excess baggage charged and ended up on this blog in curiosity.
I will share my 2cents.
I dont want to be judgemental but from what i see the AUSTRALIAN BORDER PROTECTION staff did a very good job in deporting Edgar. A guy with no money will only come here to work on visit visa. Full stop.
Admin is so upset at Emirates that she dont even wanna listen to logic. Emirates must have done something to deserve it tough.
Edgar wanted a free ride (and he got one) that is all. Now he cries they made him suffer for 6 days. I think they (Emirates) knew they r getting no money from him and just wanted to get some satisfaction in watching him suffer.
He should thank he has Hungarian passport. Imagine what Emirates would have done if he had some 3rd world passport.
Plus he should thank he got a free ride back inspite what terms and conditions of ticket says which he agreed to.
There are million ways to pay for ur ticket back home. Lend from family etc. He didn’t do any and we are getting all emotional supporting him.
Bravo to us…!
LikeLike
July 30th, 2016 at 22:25
Too many assumptions you
LikeLike
July 30th, 2016 at 22:48
“I don’t want to be judgemental?” and “A guy with no money will only come here to work on visit visa”, is sadly an idiotically contradictive statement. Many racist statements start like that.
If this is the Immigration department don’t won’t to accept people below a certain financial status they shouldn’t have given him a Visa in the first place. Once they have given them the Visa, they have made a promise of accepting him into their country so that he can then safely pay for hit ticket and come. If their problem is connected with him being broke they should have asked him for his bank account statements BEFORE giving a visa, like the UK does to potential visitors from third world countries.
So Alek, you are being both judgmental and ignorant I am afraid.
It is your choice whether to use empathy or not and it has to do with your upbringing and sensibility, I won’t comment on that. But there are facts to consider regardless of your “feelings”. An airline has no right to hold anyone’s passport on ANY grounds.
FACTS:
Emirates has a legal obligation towards the Immigration department to deport the subject on the next flight. Then Emirates has a legal right to claim a payment from Edgar. If Edgar won’t pay, Emirates has to use the legal system, they can’t behave like the local Mafia.
It is irrelevant whether Edgar is avoiding to pay and acting in bad faith. A bank employee cannot beat up a customer who won’t pay back his loan. That is the difference between corporations and your average street thug. Why not put a gun to his head and “make him an offer he can’t refuse?”
Lastly Alek, you are a moron.
LikeLike
July 30th, 2016 at 22:54
Emirates is a company, it has no “feelings”. There is no company policy to torture a misbehaving client so that Emirates “feels” better. People however do have feelings. Like the Emirates employee who had any sort of sadist enjoyment by abusing power and “punishing” Edgar, although he has no stake in the payment. There is nothing for the employee to gain other than finding room to satisfy his psychological problems.
LikeLike
July 31st, 2016 at 14:08
“They (EK) can’t behave like a local mafia” Clearly, dear writer you do not know EK. They operate without any kind of employment law. They “adjust” contracts without the employees’ permission. They are unaccountable for bullying, racism and not paying final salaries. All these comments are factual.
LikeLiked by 1 person