I guess Red Z3 is right about one thing: The whole story mentioned above is either incomplete, or there's a mistake in it somewhere.
I have seen and experienced A LOT of
going on with our check-in, especially from station managers at some outstations. That's why I still don't doubt the story as a whole.
Anyway, RedZ3 summarized it very well in his last sentence:
and furthermore know that rules mean SH*T out in the ME anyway.
... dunno why you wrote all the rest of your comment!
