2600 Years of History vs. A Full Inbox: A Study in Contrast
It is incredibly frustrating to deal with administrative "stone age" hurdles while also navigating the stress of regional instability. The contrast between a global giant like Etihad, refunding everything with an apology in five days, and a local authority that can’t even clear its inbox is a bitter pill to swallow. Our daughter was scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on March 1st for a long-awaited family trip to the North. We had spent months planning, but as the Middle Eastern crisis escalated, safety took priority. She cancelled her flight on February 28th, and I immediately moved to cancel our local arrangements, a bus booking and a hotel stay. The difference in how these cancellations were handled is a sobering wake-up call: The Global Standard: Within four days, Etihad Airways refunded her points. By the fifth day, her full fare was returned along with a sincere apology letter. Seamless, professional, and empathetic. The Local Struggle: While th...