Hi all
I'm stuck in Manila with no money, but I know that is my fault but my return flight isn't until 23 August. I have no family to borrow the money from, Would I be allowed to stay in the airport for 3 weeks, or is there anyway that the British embassy would loan me the money �100 to change my flight date.
Any suggestions much appreciated.

Welcome to Flyertalk and I'm sorry to hear of your predicament. You should contact the UK Embassy for assistance. It's my understanding that in limited circumstances they may provide financial assistance to their citizens.

Plead with the airline, tell them it's a breavement, technically this is something insurance should cover but you may find some of them are willing to accomodate you. The staff at the airport would be more open than the call centre.

This is just an unconscionably unethical and dreadful suggestion.

I won't lose any sleep, if a little lie get's a deseperate guy home boohoo for the shareholders. Foot on other shoe, no worse than 'cancelled for technical reasons,; when really it's just to merge planes or not cost effective due to load, or the nasty crap airlines pull daily with no reprucussions in most scenarios.

The staff might requires a death certificate, which the OP will be unable to provide. Said staff might see through the lies and be less sympathetic to OP afterwards. I would suggest this is not a good idea.

True, one of the big airlines I know requires a death certificate to be shown or faxed of immediate family member, or serious illness (what is a serious illness?).

You could just try to explain your circumstances and hope the airport might be sympathic after seeing you mopping about for multiple days that check-in manager gets ticketing authorization to put you on standby, ive heard all sorts of stories where airport staff bend the rules - missed flight for a day due to 1am departure and thinking it meant next day, mother sick, passport having less than 6 months so change flight to direct to UK please and so on. Then again security might kick you out.

Gofundme.com is another route

I'd like to hear more from the OP before any speculation. Specifically, does this fall into a genuine emergency (robbed, beaten, etc) or a good time like The Hangover? Or somewhere in between? Gofundme for someone who blew flash money on holiday, for example, is just sad.

Forget the embassy*. Embassy generally only offer assistance when one of their citizens/nationals has become the victim of a crime or if there is a crisis (natural disasters, civil unrest, war, etc.). They often intervene as liaison when a citizen is arrested, has been attacked, hospitalised in a critical condition and no next of kin is with that person, or has died.

@OP, surely you have a friend, a relative or colleague that could advance the �100 to change your flight?


*Unless you have been victim of an actual crime and there's absolutely no other alternative.

Agreed, the embassy may be of the same view when its comes to loaning a ticket change, a lot of competition on gofundme in Asia region with the backpackers ending up in the doghouse due to not having insurance or not having correct insurance.

Fire sell your laptop, computer, phone, anything of value first before pleading with the embassy

Lying to the air carrier to commit fraud is the worst suggestion of all. At least the other suggestions are helpful and can't hurt. If you say that there is a dead relative and you can't produce a death certificate, you then have notes in the PNR and a more reasoned approach won't work:

First, have you asked the carrier, in person, whether it might waive the change fee because you have no money at all? No idea of your carrier, but a city ticket office or, if necessary, the airport counter, would be best. Next is a call to the carrier. Don't make this overly-dramatic, stick to the facts, and ask for the waiver.

Second, while the Consulate is a last resort, this is a GBP 100 change fee, not an air ticket and to the extent that you will wind up making a local public assistance complaint and possibly being booted out, you may find that a consular officer intervenes with a request to the carrier for a waiver of the fee.

Third, you may not have relatives or friends locally, but the fee can be wired or more importantly paid, pretty much anywhere. These could be relatives or friends anywhere in the world who can come up collectively with the equivalent of GBP 100 pretty much anywhere. Without prying, is there really no one person or even a group of people who can come up with that sum for you somewhere in the world?

As to the "living at airport" issue, I doubt that it works, but it is also a bad idea because food will be very expensive and that will far outweigh whatever else you might save.

The easiest way to resolve this is probably to contact someone at home to wire or transfer the �100 (or slightly more) to the OP. The FCO Consular Office can assist if necessary. And though Embassies can be tough on individual travelers, Consular offices can be useful - it’s often depending on location or even individuals within the service. I’m speaking from decades of experiences with execrable and excellent Consular staffers, including helping expats get assistance.

Lying, attempting to defraud an airline, going transient and moneyless at an airport for three weeks could bring more trouble - particularly the latter, which could land you in a Filipino jail, deportation and blacklisting if you ever wish to return. Don’t dally, contact potential help at home or get to the Consular officials ASAP. Magmadali! (Hurry)

Mind you, in this day and age it’s difficult to believe someone is halfway around the world from home without a single credit or cash card. But here’s the deal: if you’re in your current destitute state because you overspent or blew your funds through a rip-off, mismanaging funds, or even stupidity (bars and bar girls, etc.) and you’re dealing with Consular authorities, don’t try to make up a story they’ll find not credible. They’ve heard it all, and their B.S. detection wetware is generally quite good.

Good luck, go home and learn this important lesson. In the future, laging handa (be prepared).

I would try this approach at the ticketing counter: "Hello, I'm in a tough situation. I need to get back to the UK now rather than Aug. 23 when my flight is but I don't have the 100 pound change fee. I'm desperate and I am happy to standby until you have a flight with a lot of empty seats. Maybe you could put me on one of those flights and maybe even then be able to sell my ticketed seat to someone else??? I have heard of young, inexperienced travelers missing their flight home and the gate agent taking pity and putting them on the next flight w/o a change fee. If they ask you what your tough situation is you can smile sheepishly and admit that you just didn't bring enough money with you to last you the trip.

I would beg. Near the airport or a significant tourist hotel might work. Explain that any donation would be helpful. A sign that shows your $100 goal might prompt people to help.

A travel agency might take pity - the larger ones may have some clout to get fees waived.

I have given to tourist in need several times before. E.g. when the person in front of me overstayed her visa in Thailand and was out of money (fine was $10). She wouldn't be allowed to leave and miss her flight without it. I also gave a couple $25 when the ATMs and credit card processors went out of service in an entire town for 24 hours - to tie them over.