Why should you use a Travel Agent?

Dasha van Zijl on 12 April 2018
Plane ticket – check, passport – check, enough space in my luggage for all the shopping I will be bringing back – check, ergo I am packed and ready to go - India beckons! With visions of linen, tailor-made leather jackets, antiques, good food, adventure, I drive early to Johannesburg International.

A day flight means that the airport does not feel like a one-day end of season sale, so check-in goes fast and even immigration is a breeze for once. Next stop duty free! There is something about shopping in the duty-free area of an airport which just compels you to buy. Do you really need the extra t-shirt? Do you want it? Hey, do you even really like it? No! But! It's duty free! Never mind that the prices seem suspiciously the same as in any of our malls - it's duty free! Which basically translates to my brain as buy, buy, buy! Sometime later, I have made it through with as little damage to the plastic money as possible and I'm on the plane!

The feeling of a powerful engine lifting the massive weight of metal, fuel, lots of luggage and of course all us human bodies, is one of absolute wonder! I must close my eyes and savour it!

The plane lands, and there's the excitement of being in a different country, the anticipation of experiencing a new culture - I can't wait. All that is left is the simple process of presenting my passport, clearing immigration and it will all begin.

In my mind I hear the start of the drum-roll as I present my passport and then ...the drum-roll comes to a screeching halt...

"Where's your visa?" demands the intimidating immigration official.

"Where's your visa?"

What visa? Oh gosh, it’s ok, stay calm –he is just making a mistake - they do that don't they?

Please say they do.

"Oh no" I say; "you see I'm South African - I don't need a visa" (ever the optimist). "Go over there" he instructs and points to counter 10-feet away.

10 feet is not far, but suddenly it feels like the longest walk to disaster! Just stay calm - this is only a small technicality! But the stern and unforgiving faces make me wonder if this time the glass is indeed half empty. I explain that I'm under the impression that no visa is needed for a South African passport holders ... blank stares, I offer to buy a visa ...blank stares. Oh boy the panic is building up... please?, please?, please?...blank stares. I’m told: "Go sit over there"; meekly I obey and sink into a typically hard airport chair and await my fate.

My passport is somewhere, I hardly understand anyone, I am alone! After about 15 minutes I am handed my passport with a paper exclaiming in big letters INADMISSABLE. Can you believe it? I feel like a criminal! I am escorted (in case I make a break for it and scramble into the country) to international departures and left on my own to await my flight back home on the same Airbus I just arrived on. I try to make myself as comfortable as possible and await take off. This time the feeling is not quite as exciting as yesterday (was it only yesterday?) 10 long, long hours later the captain announces descent for Johannesburg International oh joy! Landing is smooth and at immigration I present my proudly South African passport. No problems!

The lesson learnt?

As exciting and enticing as travel is, and as prepared you think you might be, it is better to use the expertise of a travel agent who will advise you of any pitfalls which might put a very quick end to your planned trip!