Arriving at an empty Check-in desk

I am utterly shocked at the appalling lack of service and support I received yesterday.

I had booked a flight from Or Tambo to George - flight 4Z697. I checked in online the day before and received my boarding pass. Flight time was 16.15 and boarding time 15.45. Boarding my gate was not on there and merely stated “check monitors”.

So I took the Gautrain, arrived at the airport at 14.45 - way in advance. Upon arrival I checked the monitors which now stated that my flight is leaving at 16.30 (15min later than originally stated). Nevertheless, I proceeded to go through the security gates and waited at the boarding gates side.

I arrived at counter E10 where the monitors stated I am boarding at 16.00 on the dot, only to find that there was NOT A SINGLE there. The gate had already been closed, there was no announcement or calling whatsoever. Yet, I still had 30before the plane left and the boarding was only supposed to start at16.00. I was frantic and the lady from Kulula at counter E9 politely said she could unfortunately not do anything to help me but that I could go to counter E12 which was also an Airlink flight to PMB and ask them for assistance.

I ran over there, only to meet the most rude lady I have ever come across. She said she could do nothing and proceeded to shout over my head as she was calling other passengers to board the Pietermaritzburg flight. I begged and pleaded with her to try call someone or check if the flight had left but I was invisible to her and she flat out ignored me. I asked her again if there is anything she could do to help me but again I was ignored.

How on earth is it possible that a passenger that is checked in is not accounted for on a flight?

Also, I am appalled that there was no attempt made to try get me on my flight. Even after that, no one offered to try get me on another flight.

I had to buy another ticket from another airline, as I will NEVER support Airlink again and I will make it no secret to my friends or family that the service (or rather lack thereof) from Airlink is disgusting.