As I had another 2 1/2 hours at Hokitia Airport to kill – I thought id order a Mocha, a piece of fudge brownie and dig in to do some paperwork until my flight leaves.

I made my way over to the food ordering counter and noted that there wasn’t anyone currently serving on it, so I looked over the selection of slices and cakes – so that id know what to order when the staff asked me what id like.

To the left of the main counter an older lady appeared wearing an apron with nothing short of an expression to match a bulldog licking piss off a nettle.

When her eyes met mine – she said with a huff ‘Are you ok?’

‘Yes’ I said – ‘I’m just deciding on a cake’ I told her.

‘I’m busy’, she said ‘I have things to do between arrivals’

(how confused I was to think that friendly customer service, making coffee and serving biscuits might be part of her job as well)

I was a little taken back by her rudeness.

I thought may be I was sending out negative vibes or something, as less than an hour ago I was abused by a Hertz Rental Car employee.

I decided not to take the conversation any further.

She asked ‘What would you like?’

‘Can I have a Mocha and a piece of fudge brownie please?’

With a deep sign and an under her breath mumble she commenced making my coffee.

I asked her ‘Is this your café?’

‘Yes – I own it’ she replied.

(I was thinking a letter to the owner might help her attitude towards customers who are ultimately paying her wages – but then again as she owns the café, she should already know this)

She went on to say ‘I am the only reason you are still allowed in the airport between flights’, ‘If the Air NZ staff weren’t here – as often they are not, as they only get paid when customers are checking in or arriving. If I closed the café – you would have to leave as the terminal would be closed’.

I wanted to tell her not to bother with the coffee or cake, but as she had already made it and I was thirsty – I thought id just conclude the transaction and go my own way.

Based on my experiences today at the Hokitika Airport – I will never fly to or from this airport again.

I have just spent a week in town for business putting over a $1000 back into the local community and as far as I am concerned the local towns people are warm and friendly, always jovial although its often cold and gloomy here.

The airport and some of its staff appear to be in some sort of twilight zone.

In future I will be driving back through the scenic Arthur’s Pass rather than subjecting myself to ridicule and abuse.

 

I have just been verbally abused by a car rentals attendant because I asked if he worked for Thrifty Rentals.

The man well into his senior years sporting a haircut similar to Christopher Lloyd from ‘Back to the Future’, he was sitting at the customer service desk for car rentals (a shared desk with multiple car rental names displayed).

I reached into my pocket as I entered the men’s bathroom only to discover that I still had the car rental key, I stopped just shy of the door put my two carry on bags to the left of the doorway and turned to ask the man at the desk if he worked for Thrifty.

His reply was swift and cutting ‘No I don’t – does it look like it says ‘Thrifty’ on the back of my jackets?’

I was surprised by his response but said ‘I am sorry I cant see the back of your jacket?’

His retort ‘It says fucking Hertz’,

I was now shocked and said ‘There is no need to be rude to me, I only asked a question’.

He then told me – ‘Get fucked and gestured the fingers to me’,

I was enraged – I lost my rag and told him, ‘There’s no need to be a fucken arsehole about it’,

He just carried abusing me and told me that ‘there were two fucking arseholes here’.

I had to bite my tongue and use every bit of my strength to stop me climbing over the counter.

I told him ‘I’ve never heard any one speak to a customer the way he had spoken to me today’.

He said ‘Your not a Hertz customer’.

I replied ‘You don’t know that – I have accounts with many car rental companies’,

He shrugged his shoulders and said ‘I don’t care’.

I told him ‘This wouldn’t be the last that he hears about this today’,

He laughed and told me to ‘do your worst – you’d be doing me a favour’.