I’m not complaining. I’m imploring someone to raise the bar for service levels in Pakistani businesses just a little bit, so customers can maintain some dignity and self-respect. That, and realize that there’s plenty of space for improvement.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

With Flying Colors

My God, sometimes I just reflect my true colors all over again, and that really gets my juices flowing. I could have given myself a migraine had I been the travel agent who booked my itinerary over the course of close to four grueling hours yesterday evening.

But Mustafa Bhai at Tahiri Travels, a small but successful agency right behind every head office on I. I Chundrigar road, showed plenty of patience, resilience and commitment to satisfying my every whim.

As usual, I was after eating my cake and having it too – juggling event dates, seasonal fares, airline schedules, and office leaves – till I finally managed a tentative date with a complicated timetable and told him to take my documents home incase I just decide to take my life by storm and fly out that very night.

(Note to self: don’t even consider any airline that’s not Emirates if a broad range of flight options, i.e. precious time and flexibility, is more valuable than x amount more airfare).

A midnight call to tell him tonight’s off didn’t have him bothered him either. No wonder he has a ‘Best Supportive Agency’ on his wall. Mustafa Bhai at Tahiri Travels also certifies my personal Tough Customer Approved rating – which is about as difficult to get these days as a nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize.

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