Don't fly with Batavia Air (a poem; a warning; a true story)

Oh please gather round, for A Tale of the East,
A story from far Indonesia.
Not of silks, nor of spices, insurrections or crises,
but I hope that my tale will still please ya.
Our honeymoon travels, our troubles and trials,
I hope you don't find it a bore.

We booked in to fly from Sumatra to Bali,
the airline we chose was Batavia.
They say "trust us to fly", their domain is the sky,
we picked them, not Lion or Air Asia.
Medan to Jakarta, then on to Denpasar,
we booked both flights some months before.

****************************

Flight one was at ten - we got to the airport
quite early: a bit before eight.
"Our flight's not on the list - is there something we've missed?"
"Sorry sir that flight not operate,
nor flight to Denpasar - we book you replacements,
your new first flight will leave at four."

"And still on to Bali?" "Yes - not with Batavia,
our flight there don't go at that time.
But sir have no concern, for alternative firm
have agreed they will take you - it's fine.
Arrive at Jakarta, and pick up your baggage.
Your check-in will be just next door."

****************************

Thirty minutes past five, flight 1 started boarding
(it was late by an hour and a half).
The airport in Medan for eight-plus hours can
make one somewhat reluctant to laugh.
"Will we still be able to make our connection?"
"Yes sir you'll have one hour or more."

****************************

Leaving time for flight two was at twenty to nine;
flight one didn't arrive 'til half eight.
"We missed our departure - we're stuck in Jakarta.
It's Batavia's fault we were late."
"But sir why all such fuss? This missed flight not with us -
this isn't our problem no more."

"You sold tickets to flights that never existed.
You only replaced them once we insisted.
New flight one was disgracefully late and, as well,
our baggage turned up on the wrong carousel.
Check-in for flight two (which you said was not far)
was a different terminal, ten min by car.
Over and over again on this ride
by your staff we've been smirked at and laughed at and lied
to and now that we're stuck in Jakarta tonight,
though it's all thanks to you that we missed the last flight,
you will sit there and tell us the problem is ours?
Say you can't do a thing? That you don't have the powers?
Here's a better solution: this you can fix.
Send us free on your first flight tomorrow at six."
"Ok madam, for you that is what we will do.
Check-in here in the morning at four."

****************************

Arrivals, next morning, the sun not yet up,
a hundred and ten people wait,
and through bleary eyes they see - what a surprise! -
Batavia's staff are all late.
At four forty-five we are checked in at last.
Three hours later we're on Bali's shore.

****************************

A honeymoon journey from Hong Kong to Bali
will have its fair share of mishap.
Though the roads in Cambodia may irk, rile, and goad ya,
Batavia give you more crap.
So when flying in Asia, avoid please Batavia!
We'll certainly use them no more.