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Lifestyle Guide: Arik Air is a Mess | Avoid Them if You Can or Else…

Arik Air
Arik Air

Throughout last week I was in Nigeria. First, I wanted to talk about the security fears of most people since Nigeria seems to be gradually feeling the plague of merciless terrorists known popularly as Boko Haram, who kidnap and slaughter in broad daylight and more recently have started bombing anywhere they like. Especially after an incident where the airport security wanted me to open my suitcase myself because he said it could explode!

Anyway, all that seemed like it would be on my radar to rant about until I encountered yet another lousy trip on Arik Air. I was initially going to spare them the bad publicity and let it slip but why have I chosen to talk about it? Because it was not the first time Arik Air has given its customers like me sub-standard service. Somewhere a little over two months ago, they delayed my flight from Lagos to Accra for a good 3 hours. Arik started by explaining that there would be a 10 minute delay, which turned into 30 minutes, one hour…until they stopped apologizing and started serving us juice and cupcakes. Amazing level of incompetence.

Well, on the 18th, my flight W3 075 Y was scheduled to leave Lagos at 5pm, I got to the airport by 2 pm because check in was to start at 3pm. I waited for a bit and approached the counter; I was told the flight had been moved to 7pm. I wasn’t amused but I kept calm. Then an hour later, many people started queuing to check in, while we were queued checking in, a dark, big woman who they said was the manager came and called for our attention. She said she had bad news. I got scared because I know these Arik people; they are number one with crap services.

The woman said our flight had been delayed yet again and moved to 9pm. But while she was explaining to us, mid conversation, she just stopped and walked away to attend to something else. One of the passengers, a grown man in his 50’s got so angry he just lost his cool and shouted at her to come back and professionally address us.

Told her it was very disrespectful to walk away mid conversation without excusing us or completing her message. I was appalled how this manager did not even realize that what she was telling us was a serious issue. I guess she is so used to delivering rubbish service she does not understand the things that can go wrong in people’s lives when you delay flights that long!

Another woman also got so angry because she had a church crusade to minister at upon landing. And the delay of the flight had just killed all hopes of being at that program. Well, after we all got angry, madam manager came back, apologized and begged us to understand, saying they want to stick to schedule and the aircraft to take us had gone to Freetown so we have to wait.

And if we are lucky, we may leave earlier than 9 pm. Well, I must say, we were very unlucky indeed because we ended up leaving at 9pm. To make matters worse, they did not finish serving us on that flight! They were halfway through serving when the flight started to descend so they had to end right there.

I pity those who didn’t get anything to eat at the airport during the long delay. When I complained, my friend who uses Arik Air to Lagos a lot also complained about delays. He said it is normal for Arik air to delay flights! Such a shame, I remember how passengers on Arik air to New York recently almost suffocated because the air conditioner in the plane wasn’t working.

Arik Air, are you going to continue with such careless work ethics till something tragic happens before you realise this is unacceptable? We pay to be treated that badly? #onlyinafrica

Share with us your experience with Arik Air…

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3 thoughts on “Lifestyle Guide: Arik Air is a Mess | Avoid Them if You Can or Else…”

  1. So things like this really go on? As a frequent traveler (in Europe), I know when your flight is delayed for 3 or more hours (not caused by natural occurrences) you are mostly compensated and the amount is really huge so Airlines try as much as possible to avoid such long delays.

    The last time Virgin pulled me through such a delay, I was given over 500 pounds as compensation….

    But from your write-up, you did not mention of any sort of compensation, were you given anything at all?

    Reply
  2. Are you guys surprised? There is no rules or customer service in Africa especially when it comes to the airline industry. Time keeping is not known in their books and Arik Air did not just start this, they’ve been a messed from day one.

    They cancelled my flight twice in the past and gave me nothing for that in fact it looks like you should be happy that they are taking you to your destination rather and the delays or the bad treatment does not matter.

    I will never take them anywhere but that is only if there are other good optons

    Reply
  3. I did not mention a compensation because there was none! Really. Their service is so bad and they act like they are doing you a favour even minding you. i mean, these passengers were from all walks of life but they spoke to us like we were some lost people. International flights treat you better but Arik just has such a long way to go. Imagine with someone had to transit upon arrival? they just mess you up. Do not make plans on schedule if you are traveling with them. Just leave the whole day clear

    Reply

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