April 7, one day after I got my resident card (Qatar ID), I excitedly booked a Flight to Dubai to visit my sister. Her birthday is coming up on April 17 so I feel that it might be nice to surprise her by coming for a visit. I started drawing all my travel not mention shopping plans with my new found travel buddy, Andre.

We booked a flight online for a two-way ticket to Dubai without hassles. The perks of working for a government institution here in Qatar, you can travel by visa on arrival to any GCC countries provided that your profession is included in the visa exemption list. We have inquired at the UAE Embassy and fortunately, ours was included.

And so we thought everything is set, we were at the airport two (2) hours before our intended flight. As we are about to check-in, the ground steward was asking for our visa. Politely, I have told her that we are flying visa on arrival because we are exempted as government employees and handed her papers proving that we are government employees.

Looking perplexed, she called his supervisor to validate if we will be Allowed visa on arrival. And so that supervisor looked at the documents I handed her. The supervisor told her that yes, government employees are exempted to have a pre-arranged visa. We were then issued our boarding pass.

I felt relieved, but not for long. We were about to enter immigration already when the steward once again called our attention. At the back of my mind, what was it again this time? We were told that they cannot allow us to board the plane because we have yet to serve the minimum 6 months as residents of Doha to be Allowed Entry in Dubai. I was completely shocked in disbelief? Seriously? We were pulled to the side once again by the ground supervisor. He was (in all his might) trying to explain the existence of such policy. At that time, I am slowly losing my patience.

We were then told to go to the ticketing office of Fly Dubai at the 2nd level of the Airport to gain the approval of the Manager if we will be allowed to board the plane.

Without wasting any more time, my friend and I went to the ticketing office with high hopes that the said Manager can help us sort the problem. To our dismay, he wasn’t that much of help at all. Instead, he firmly refused us to board the flight we have booked and paid for.

After a long albeit tedious discussion, the Supervisor on duty then picked up the phone and said will call the Captain of the immigration in Dubai to check if we will be allowed entry once we reach Dubai. After the phone conversation, the Supervisor said that my friend who is on his 5th month as Qatar resident will be allowed entry by the Captain, but I won’t be allowed because I have only completed 2 months and a half as Qatar resident.

I pleaded and asked them to let me board the flight and I will take my chances at the immigration in Dubai. But still, they firmly refused to let me board the FlyDubai plane. I asked if I can refund my tickets, they said that I can’t because it is non-refundable.

I am at the brink of giving up, when another ground steward (named Amjad) from another airline approached and asked me what was wrong. Apparently, he saw me and my friend running back and forth the airport. I told him the entire story and advised me to try to book through Emirates. Since Emirates is the flag carrier of Dubai, I might be allowed entry.

And so I did, I was a chance passenger to the Emirates 5:45 p.m. flight on the same day. Actually, the Emirates flight I was on will be leaving an hour early than my supposed FlyDubai flight. Moments later, I saw my silver lining amidst complete exhaustion and nightmare created by FlyDubai. Just like that, I breezed through Dubai Immigration without any problem. Thanks Mr. Amjad, you saved the day.

Logic dictates that if Emirates allowed me to board the plane and was allowed by Dubai Immigration to enter Dubai knowing that I haven’t been a resident of Qatar for 6 months — why can’t FlyDubai do the same? I must say, your customer service really sucks.

And for that, I swore to never take FlyDubai when flying to Dubai. Experience is the best teacher isn’t?

Well, my experience with FlyDubai taught me that.