Web Delight Fare (unless your name is Sarah Strull)

Well, I'm afraid I'm experiencing the first of many challenging* exchanges between eastern and western commerce.

ERROR

Result We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Reject: Refer to Card Issuer Sorry this transaction cannot be completed Please try again

I'm trying to book a ticket on Bangkok Air from Bangkok to Phnom Penh. Sounds simple, right? Well, I'm failing miserably. (See above.)

The message actually comes with a lovely graphic of a girl in a silk robe, hands pressed humbly together, smiling demurely as if to personally communicate her sadness that my payment couldn't be processed, but I'm also stymied on how to make her appear in this window.

Oh I've tried. But my capacity for repetitive failure is only so accommodating.

So lets get back to the initial failure!

Per the now-familiar (failure) message, I've "refered to card issuer" who ensures me I should be ready to go on this transaction. Thanks, Banker-Guy-Eric!

I've called the Bangkok Air US Representative phone number (which takes me directly to a call center in India, hello India!) and spoken with "Charles" who doesn't see the problem but has taken my phone number and will call me if he thinks of anything. Thanks Charles!

I've gone to the Bangkok Air web site, looked up FAQs, clicked on "help" and re-tried paying for my booking. I've tried 4 times now. Yes FOUR.

I've also canceled my booking and started the process all over again...

And have recieved my second confirmation number (no Charles, it's T-as-in-Tom, not P-as-in-Polly...) and have met with the silk-robe girl and her regrettable message once again.

So now I will give up, at least for the time being. Perhaps my card is just dallying in a small stubborn streak or my work computer somehow knows I'm not doing work and is sabotaging me?

One thing I won't do is pay $60 more to book through Orbitz. They do, of course, navigate these infuriating waters on my behalf, but SIXTY DOLLARS? You've got to be kidding me.

Besides, this is like acclimatization for the trip. Yes. I welcome financial misunderstandings and complications of all types. There's no avoiding them, so I shall embrace them! Well, no, that's too generous. I won't embrace them, but I seriously won't give in and pay more to let the American Company spoon feed me.

This ain't no spoon-fed adventure!

*This is not the word I want to use, but since this is a blog for everyone, I'll exercise some restraint (a lot of restraint, actually.) But I will give you all license to use your imaginations. Dig deep. Yes, there it is. That's how I feel.