Sempati's trick

Sempati's trick

Sempati has a nasty case of xenophobia, it seems! Having read of their "40:60" concession for the elderly i.e. 40 percent discount for the over sixties, I thought (being over 60) that I would take advantage of this concession. The travel agents confirmed that this was so, though they quoted 35 percent.

However, when Sempati issued the tickets for my wife and myself, I was surprised, to say the least, to find that I was charged the full fare. "Oh, no," they said, "the concession does not apply to foreigners!"

Considering that very many expats use Sempati, one might have hoped that, as a matter of good PR, they would allow the concession for an "over 60" expat. There can be very few like us, so their profits would only be microscopically affected if they granted the discount to those qualified by age.

As this booking was part of a flight to Australia, it was too late for me to alter my plans, so Sempati have got away with their nasty little trick. But never again! I hope other expats Sempati users will take note of this unfriendly attitude towards foreigners.

RB SAWREY COOKSON

Jakarta