Merpati service

From Kompas

On Oct. 31, 1994 I tried to book a plane ticket from Yogyakarta to Jakarta. I was told that all flights were booked out. I half-heartedly went to the Merpati's counter. I found out that only the executive class seats for MZ371 at 5 p.m. were available, which were more expensive. I had no choice, I booked the executive class seat. During the flight I repeatedly looked at the cabin behind me, economy class. Many seats were vacant. My guess was about 50 percent. There were a few passengers in the executive class. More than half of the seats were vacant.

I was seated besides the Managing Director of a trade company in Singapore, who was a Pakistani citizen, Mr. Syed K. Ali. He said: "Your country is large and beautiful. But that is all a gift of God. Unfortunately, all the grandeur of your country is tarnished, at least to my mind, by the management or system as practiced in Merpati. I felt that I was completely cheated."

I felt ashamed to hear such a comment. But I could not make a counter comment. He was saying the truth. Please Merpati Nusantara Airlines, why did you do that? I really lost face. We're promoting our tourism sector. How can we attract tourists if they feel they come only to be cheated? Business is profit oriented, but not at the cost of valid ethics.

MOHAMAD SOBARY

Center for Research and Development

of Social Affairs and Culture

LIPI

Jakarta