MikeLigalig.com

by Bohol Chronicle

The official ticketing agency of Philippine Airlines here absorbed the impact of the sit-down strike of PAL Employees Association (PALEA) members last week which is expected to smoothen out as the Airline management's outsourcing program for non-core operations started yesterday.

Emma R.Caseñas, manager of PAL official ticketing agency in Tagbilaran City, said she had to arrange alternative flights for their clients who had already booked ahead of time and the hotel accommodation of passengers coming from outside the city.

Caseñas was left with little time to arrange with PAL's sister company, Air Philippines, considering that the illegal strike was declared unexpectedly..

In fact, her company shouldered the cost of hotel accommodation of foreign clients who had connecting flights for Japan, Hongkong, and Korea.

For passengers of the supposed PAL flights here that were canceled because of the strike in Manila, Caseñas arranged with Air Philippines for their seats so they could still catch up with their schedule on the same day.

Caseñas even thought PAL flights could return to normal on Wednesday, but the strike continued and no PAL planes arrived from Manila throughout the week.

Passengers who chose to cancel their trips had their tickets refunded without penalty, while those transferred to Air Phil 11:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. flights had been arranged without any extra expenses or surcharge on the part of the passengers.

Aside from income losses, Caseñas' company shouldered the cost of hotel accommodation for those from outside Tagbilaran City.