Countrynewsman: I'm glad you had a laugh and I laughed at the story you shared as well
! Luisa actually worked at the airport in Sydney though, and 'control-freak' definitely applies as well as a word with four letters that begins with c and ends with t, but then again these terms apply to just about every female employee I encountered at Kingsford-Smith (Sydney), as well as other airports, and the male customs officers in Sydney reminded me of the horrible customs agents in the US as well. Bitterness and envy could be a likely cause, among others - and this type of person seems to gravitate toward airline and airport customer service/security positions these days. I don't know if 'anti-American' is the exact sentiment when describing the attitude of the Fijians - I found the natives to be equal-opportunity scumbags, including the Indian (from India) business owners there - "fresh meat" or "ATM machines" is, from my experience, how any caucasian is viewed by the society. Specialized computer store owners don't even know their products - can you image talking to an Indian computer store owner that knows almost nothing about computers? I can't fault the people totally however, as the series of corrupt governments, excessive crime rate, incredibly weak economy, and the fact that like Iraq, all the educated people that could leave the country already have left or are leaving due to these issues, contributes to the problem. The Indians there view the natives as lazy, greedy, alcoholics, and, I have to say from my experiences there, generally, they're right on the mark. The phrase "Tourist Trap" is literal when referring to Fiji, as once you are there, it is very difficult to get a flight out! And you are correct, they, like the airlines, are penny-wise and pound foolish.
Butch: Thanks for your comments as well, and I really found your side-note interesting. I appreciate your comments on the mentality of 'institutional' (if you will) employees also and agree with you obviously on the disgruntled employee power issues. However, I am very familiar with the 'onward travel' requirement from my travel from the US to Sydney (once again, I had no onward travel ticket, but could prove funds, but was asked to produce neither), and was prepared for it at Kingsford-Smith, as an Air Pacific phone representative tried to give me grief about it when I purchased my ticket, and she actually tried to force me to purchase another Air Pacific ticket - i.e. She tried to tell me I couldn't even choose a different carrier! I don't have a problem with the 'onward travel' OR 'proof-of-funds' requirement; I have a problem with it being arbitrarily, incorrectly, and inappropriately applied in a forceful, discriminatory manner. You know that the rule for international travel is 'onward travel ticket' OR 'proof-of-funds', I know (and knew) it, Fijian immigration knew it, it is clearly stated on just about every nation's immigration website - including the Fijian immigration page I came to the airport with a copy of, and every service rep at Kingsford-Smith knew it as well, especially Luisa. She knew that she was intentionally trying to force me to allow her company to dip into my pockets deeper, and decided she would use the cost of the ticket I purchased from Air Pathetic as leverage against me - i.e. Either let us in your pocket deeper or you are going to forfeit your ticket, your travel plans, and possibly your freedom if you protest too adamantly. The proof of this accusation is in the fact that, as I posted, her (and their) reason was eclipsed by greed so completely that NOBODY ASKED ME TO PROVE FUNDS!
jimworcs: Thanks for reminding Butch of the facts as I reported them, and I agree that complaining about the 'onward travel ticket' OR 'proof-of-funds' requirement is inappropriate ( I think you realize that this is not what I am doing). Also, I think your characterization of the actions of the Air Pacific staff as a 'mistake' is much too kind; this was an intentional shake-down.
In hindsight, if I had known the harassment would take so long that I would not have time to claim the $250 GST from my laptop purchase, and that Fiji was such a third-world hell-hole, I would have cut my loses by simply ripping the ticket in half and telling Luisa where to stick it, gotten my $250 GST credit (which just about covered the cost of the ticket), and applied it toward a ticket to London on British Airways. Penny-wise and pound foolish; no more American dollars from me for Australia, Fiji, Air Pathetic or Qantas, ever again, and every person I speak to in the US about my travel experience hears about this along with my recommendation to stay the hell away from both countries. Good job Luisa, Kingsford-Smith staff, Air Pathetic, and Qantas!