Concern at Sharm airport check in

In article <f6t4fi0177i@news2.newsguy.com>, Ken
<ken@k1at.freeserve.co.uk> writes


>
>At the check in at the usual well-oiled wheels of Sharm el Sheikh airport
>(ha ha!) the check-in staff were adamant on wanting to take cash off divers
>for checking in diving equipment REGARDLESS of the weight. The group of six
>or eight in front of me were obvious divers, with diving brands emblazoned
>on T shirts, hats, kit bags (and obviously NOT suitcases). They refused, and
>rightly so. Explorers (Thomsons, TUI) start you off with 20kg and grant
>another 5kg on production of diver certification. But these Egyptian
>jobsworths were having none of it. In order to avoid payment they wanted to
>see receipts or guarantees from the travel company that they had already
>paid or were exempt from such charges. Of course none could be produced as
>none are issued.

It's a scam they didn't know there was a rep in the area.
>
>Eventually when the Explorers rep was called for, the argument disappeared
>as fast as the officials who were clamouring for payment.

This year in Sharm, I got the same treatment I even showed him a copy of
the web site page showing the allowance. But I pointed out to the check
in guy, that I would only pay if I got a receipt plus I photographed
him. Big stink "You can't take photos in here." Me " Oh yes I can, that
only applies to customs, security and the aircraft dispersal area and
runways."

Rep turns up to see what the fuss is and the problem goes away, no one
else was asked for money.

It's a scam!

>
>But the possibility remains that extortion might be applied by uniformed
>officials at that end of the journey. I rang Explorers this morning to tell
>them of the incident, that they might get in touch with officaldom in Egypt
>to stamp out this improper practice. Unusually for Explorers, they were not
>willing to look into the matter, or so I was led to believe. Sad days.
>

Last year in Sharm the bar man in the hotel was only taking money on the
first evening saying the room credit thing had not been set up but
require sight of you room key to check you were resident. I checked next
morning with the manager and it was a scam. Bar man was fired and the
drinks on our room that evening that we had already paid for were
cancelled.
--
Mick Whittingham
'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.'
William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2.

In article <f6t4fi0177i@news2.newsguy.com>, Ken
<ken@k1at.freeserve.co.uk> writes


>
>At the check in at the usual well-oiled wheels of Sharm el Sheikh airport
>(ha ha!) the check-in staff were adamant on wanting to take cash off divers
>for checking in diving equipment REGARDLESS of the weight. The group of six
>or eight in front of me were obvious divers, with diving brands emblazoned
>on T shirts, hats, kit bags (and obviously NOT suitcases). They refused, and
>rightly so. Explorers (Thomsons, TUI) start you off with 20kg and grant
>another 5kg on production of diver certification. But these Egyptian
>jobsworths were having none of it. In order to avoid payment they wanted to
>see receipts or guarantees from the travel company that they had already
>paid or were exempt from such charges. Of course none could be produced as
>none are issued.

It's a scam they didn't know there was a rep in the area.
>
>Eventually when the Explorers rep was called for, the argument disappeared
>as fast as the officials who were clamouring for payment.

This year in Sharm, I got the same treatment I even showed him a copy of
the web site page showing the allowance. But I pointed out to the check
in guy, that I would only pay if I got a receipt plus I photographed
him. Big stink "You can't take photos in here." Me " Oh yes I can, that
only applies to customs, security and the aircraft dispersal area and
runways."

Rep turns up to see what the fuss is and the problem goes away, no one
else was asked for money.

It's a scam!

>
>But the possibility remains that extortion might be applied by uniformed
>officials at that end of the journey. I rang Explorers this morning to tell
>them of the incident, that they might get in touch with officaldom in Egypt
>to stamp out this improper practice. Unusually for Explorers, they were not
>willing to look into the matter, or so I was led to believe. Sad days.
>

Last year in Sharm the bar man in the hotel was only taking money on the
first evening saying the room credit thing had not been set up but
require sight of you room key to check you were resident. I checked next
morning with the manager and it was a scam. Bar man was fired and the
drinks on our room that evening that we had already paid for were
cancelled.
--
Mick Whittingham
'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.'
William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2.

In article <f6t4fi0177i@news2.newsguy.com>, Ken
<ken@k1at.freeserve.co.uk> writes


>
>At the check in at the usual well-oiled wheels of Sharm el Sheikh airport
>(ha ha!) the check-in staff were adamant on wanting to take cash off divers
>for checking in diving equipment REGARDLESS of the weight. The group of six
>or eight in front of me were obvious divers, with diving brands emblazoned
>on T shirts, hats, kit bags (and obviously NOT suitcases). They refused, and
>rightly so. Explorers (Thomsons, TUI) start you off with 20kg and grant
>another 5kg on production of diver certification. But these Egyptian
>jobsworths were having none of it. In order to avoid payment they wanted to
>see receipts or guarantees from the travel company that they had already
>paid or were exempt from such charges. Of course none could be produced as
>none are issued.

It's a scam they didn't know there was a rep in the area.
>
>Eventually when the Explorers rep was called for, the argument disappeared
>as fast as the officials who were clamouring for payment.

This year in Sharm, I got the same treatment I even showed him a copy of
the web site page showing the allowance. But I pointed out to the check
in guy, that I would only pay if I got a receipt plus I photographed
him. Big stink "You can't take photos in here." Me " Oh yes I can, that
only applies to customs, security and the aircraft dispersal area and
runways."

Rep turns up to see what the fuss is and the problem goes away, no one
else was asked for money.

It's a scam!

>
>But the possibility remains that extortion might be applied by uniformed
>officials at that end of the journey. I rang Explorers this morning to tell
>them of the incident, that they might get in touch with officaldom in Egypt
>to stamp out this improper practice. Unusually for Explorers, they were not
>willing to look into the matter, or so I was led to believe. Sad days.
>

Last year in Sharm the bar man in the hotel was only taking money on the
first evening saying the room credit thing had not been set up but
require sight of you room key to check you were resident. I checked next
morning with the manager and it was a scam. Bar man was fired and the
drinks on our room that evening that we had already paid for were
cancelled.
--
Mick Whittingham
'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.'
William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2.

In article <f6t4fi0177i@news2.newsguy.com>, Ken
<ken@k1at.freeserve.co.uk> writes


>
>At the check in at the usual well-oiled wheels of Sharm el Sheikh airport
>(ha ha!) the check-in staff were adamant on wanting to take cash off divers
>for checking in diving equipment REGARDLESS of the weight. The group of six
>or eight in front of me were obvious divers, with diving brands emblazoned
>on T shirts, hats, kit bags (and obviously NOT suitcases). They refused, and
>rightly so. Explorers (Thomsons, TUI) start you off with 20kg and grant
>another 5kg on production of diver certification. But these Egyptian
>jobsworths were having none of it. In order to avoid payment they wanted to
>see receipts or guarantees from the travel company that they had already
>paid or were exempt from such charges. Of course none could be produced as
>none are issued.

It's a scam they didn't know there was a rep in the area.
>
>Eventually when the Explorers rep was called for, the argument disappeared
>as fast as the officials who were clamouring for payment.

This year in Sharm, I got the same treatment I even showed him a copy of
the web site page showing the allowance. But I pointed out to the check
in guy, that I would only pay if I got a receipt plus I photographed
him. Big stink "You can't take photos in here." Me " Oh yes I can, that
only applies to customs, security and the aircraft dispersal area and
runways."

Rep turns up to see what the fuss is and the problem goes away, no one
else was asked for money.

It's a scam!

>
>But the possibility remains that extortion might be applied by uniformed
>officials at that end of the journey. I rang Explorers this morning to tell
>them of the incident, that they might get in touch with officaldom in Egypt
>to stamp out this improper practice. Unusually for Explorers, they were not
>willing to look into the matter, or so I was led to believe. Sad days.
>

Last year in Sharm the bar man in the hotel was only taking money on the
first evening saying the room credit thing had not been set up but
require sight of you room key to check you were resident. I checked next
morning with the manager and it was a scam. Bar man was fired and the
drinks on our room that evening that we had already paid for were
cancelled.
--
Mick Whittingham
'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.'
William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2.

In article <f6t4fi0177i@news2.newsguy.com>, Ken
<ken@k1at.freeserve.co.uk> writes


>
>At the check in at the usual well-oiled wheels of Sharm el Sheikh airport
>(ha ha!) the check-in staff were adamant on wanting to take cash off divers
>for checking in diving equipment REGARDLESS of the weight. The group of six
>or eight in front of me were obvious divers, with diving brands emblazoned
>on T shirts, hats, kit bags (and obviously NOT suitcases). They refused, and
>rightly so. Explorers (Thomsons, TUI) start you off with 20kg and grant
>another 5kg on production of diver certification. But these Egyptian
>jobsworths were having none of it. In order to avoid payment they wanted to
>see receipts or guarantees from the travel company that they had already
>paid or were exempt from such charges. Of course none could be produced as
>none are issued.

It's a scam they didn't know there was a rep in the area.
>
>Eventually when the Explorers rep was called for, the argument disappeared
>as fast as the officials who were clamouring for payment.

This year in Sharm, I got the same treatment I even showed him a copy of
the web site page showing the allowance. But I pointed out to the check
in guy, that I would only pay if I got a receipt plus I photographed
him. Big stink "You can't take photos in here." Me " Oh yes I can, that
only applies to customs, security and the aircraft dispersal area and
runways."

Rep turns up to see what the fuss is and the problem goes away, no one
else was asked for money.

It's a scam!

>
>But the possibility remains that extortion might be applied by uniformed
>officials at that end of the journey. I rang Explorers this morning to tell
>them of the incident, that they might get in touch with officaldom in Egypt
>to stamp out this improper practice. Unusually for Explorers, they were not
>willing to look into the matter, or so I was led to believe. Sad days.
>

Last year in Sharm the bar man in the hotel was only taking money on the
first evening saying the room credit thing had not been set up but
require sight of you room key to check you were resident. I checked next
morning with the manager and it was a scam. Bar man was fired and the
drinks on our room that evening that we had already paid for were
cancelled.
--
Mick Whittingham
'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.'
William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2.

In article <f6t4fi0177i@news2.newsguy.com>, Ken
<ken@k1at.freeserve.co.uk> writes


>
>At the check in at the usual well-oiled wheels of Sharm el Sheikh airport
>(ha ha!) the check-in staff were adamant on wanting to take cash off divers
>for checking in diving equipment REGARDLESS of the weight. The group of six
>or eight in front of me were obvious divers, with diving brands emblazoned
>on T shirts, hats, kit bags (and obviously NOT suitcases). They refused, and
>rightly so. Explorers (Thomsons, TUI) start you off with 20kg and grant
>another 5kg on production of diver certification. But these Egyptian
>jobsworths were having none of it. In order to avoid payment they wanted to
>see receipts or guarantees from the travel company that they had already
>paid or were exempt from such charges. Of course none could be produced as
>none are issued.

It's a scam they didn't know there was a rep in the area.
>
>Eventually when the Explorers rep was called for, the argument disappeared
>as fast as the officials who were clamouring for payment.

This year in Sharm, I got the same treatment I even showed him a copy of
the web site page showing the allowance. But I pointed out to the check
in guy, that I would only pay if I got a receipt plus I photographed
him. Big stink "You can't take photos in here." Me " Oh yes I can, that
only applies to customs, security and the aircraft dispersal area and
runways."

Rep turns up to see what the fuss is and the problem goes away, no one
else was asked for money.

It's a scam!

>
>But the possibility remains that extortion might be applied by uniformed
>officials at that end of the journey. I rang Explorers this morning to tell
>them of the incident, that they might get in touch with officaldom in Egypt
>to stamp out this improper practice. Unusually for Explorers, they were not
>willing to look into the matter, or so I was led to believe. Sad days.
>

Last year in Sharm the bar man in the hotel was only taking money on the
first evening saying the room credit thing had not been set up but
require sight of you room key to check you were resident. I checked next
morning with the manager and it was a scam. Bar man was fired and the
drinks on our room that evening that we had already paid for were
cancelled.
--
Mick Whittingham
'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.'
William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2.

In article <f6t4fi0177i@news2.newsguy.com>, Ken
<ken@k1at.freeserve.co.uk> writes


>
>At the check in at the usual well-oiled wheels of Sharm el Sheikh airport
>(ha ha!) the check-in staff were adamant on wanting to take cash off divers
>for checking in diving equipment REGARDLESS of the weight. The group of six
>or eight in front of me were obvious divers, with diving brands emblazoned
>on T shirts, hats, kit bags (and obviously NOT suitcases). They refused, and
>rightly so. Explorers (Thomsons, TUI) start you off with 20kg and grant
>another 5kg on production of diver certification. But these Egyptian
>jobsworths were having none of it. In order to avoid payment they wanted to
>see receipts or guarantees from the travel company that they had already
>paid or were exempt from such charges. Of course none could be produced as
>none are issued.

It's a scam they didn't know there was a rep in the area.
>
>Eventually when the Explorers rep was called for, the argument disappeared
>as fast as the officials who were clamouring for payment.

This year in Sharm, I got the same treatment I even showed him a copy of
the web site page showing the allowance. But I pointed out to the check
in guy, that I would only pay if I got a receipt plus I photographed
him. Big stink "You can't take photos in here." Me " Oh yes I can, that
only applies to customs, security and the aircraft dispersal area and
runways."

Rep turns up to see what the fuss is and the problem goes away, no one
else was asked for money.

It's a scam!

>
>But the possibility remains that extortion might be applied by uniformed
>officials at that end of the journey. I rang Explorers this morning to tell
>them of the incident, that they might get in touch with officaldom in Egypt
>to stamp out this improper practice. Unusually for Explorers, they were not
>willing to look into the matter, or so I was led to believe. Sad days.
>

Last year in Sharm the bar man in the hotel was only taking money on the
first evening saying the room credit thing had not been set up but
require sight of you room key to check you were resident. I checked next
morning with the manager and it was a scam. Bar man was fired and the
drinks on our room that evening that we had already paid for were
cancelled.
--
Mick Whittingham
'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.'
William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2.

In article <f6t4fi0177i@news2.newsguy.com>, Ken
<ken@k1at.freeserve.co.uk> writes


>
>At the check in at the usual well-oiled wheels of Sharm el Sheikh airport
>(ha ha!) the check-in staff were adamant on wanting to take cash off divers
>for checking in diving equipment REGARDLESS of the weight. The group of six
>or eight in front of me were obvious divers, with diving brands emblazoned
>on T shirts, hats, kit bags (and obviously NOT suitcases). They refused, and
>rightly so. Explorers (Thomsons, TUI) start you off with 20kg and grant
>another 5kg on production of diver certification. But these Egyptian
>jobsworths were having none of it. In order to avoid payment they wanted to
>see receipts or guarantees from the travel company that they had already
>paid or were exempt from such charges. Of course none could be produced as
>none are issued.

It's a scam they didn't know there was a rep in the area.
>
>Eventually when the Explorers rep was called for, the argument disappeared
>as fast as the officials who were clamouring for payment.

This year in Sharm, I got the same treatment I even showed him a copy of
the web site page showing the allowance. But I pointed out to the check
in guy, that I would only pay if I got a receipt plus I photographed
him. Big stink "You can't take photos in here." Me " Oh yes I can, that
only applies to customs, security and the aircraft dispersal area and
runways."

Rep turns up to see what the fuss is and the problem goes away, no one
else was asked for money.

It's a scam!

>
>But the possibility remains that extortion might be applied by uniformed
>officials at that end of the journey. I rang Explorers this morning to tell
>them of the incident, that they might get in touch with officaldom in Egypt
>to stamp out this improper practice. Unusually for Explorers, they were not
>willing to look into the matter, or so I was led to believe. Sad days.
>

Last year in Sharm the bar man in the hotel was only taking money on the
first evening saying the room credit thing had not been set up but
require sight of you room key to check you were resident. I checked next
morning with the manager and it was a scam. Bar man was fired and the
drinks on our room that evening that we had already paid for were
cancelled.
--
Mick Whittingham
'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.'
William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2.