Arik Air Nigeria

ON Wednesday the 22nd of August i had a meeting in ABuja with the Ministry of Mines and Steel development and the Lawyers representing us in the case between us and one of our bankers.

Aviation Minister

Going to join the plane around 5pm in Lagos to Abuja. Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st August 2012 were declared holidays and the meeting had to be postponed to wednesday 22nd. I would have booked online but i decided to get to the airport to purchase my ticket and board immediately. I was wrong. Terribly wrong. I saw shocking going-on at ARIK Airline stand at the domestic Airport.

Waiting for hours for the aircraft at the airport. I got to the Airport by 12.30pm and i had to go queue to buy my ticket. There were so many travelers and touts milling around the whole place. Was on the queue when touts and Arik Airline staff will walk to the counter and will be attended to immediately. A particular man was just stationed at the counter and he was just collecting money and the intending travelers details on a piece of paper. One of their staff told me that i cannot make the 1pm flight but i can get ticket for the 3pm flight. There i stood with complaining from all of us but the queue was not moving. All our complaints fell on deaf ears. The staff were not perturbed and they had this attitude of 'if you are not satisfied with our inefficiency, go patronise another Airline'. Eventually, it got to my turn and the cashier informed me that my departure will be by 7pm. WHAT? YOU MEAN I WILL WAIT AT THE DUSTY, CROWDY PLACE FOR 7HOURS? No way but I had no choice. The meeting was 8am thursday and i cant travel by road again because it was already late. By that time, i miss DANA Air. i travel mostly with Dana Air. Maybe because i worked with the Indians and that was their preferred Airline. I never had much complains except the hostesses were always demanding tips.

When the young man at the Counter said the available flight would be 7pm, I left temporarily. I was really confused because there was Fuel scarcity in Abuja and my friend who would have come to pick me at the Airport was in Lagos for a course at their training school. Afterwards, i had to go back and decided to trust God to see me through. God did. My friend called that a church member had fuel in his cab and he would wait at the Airport for my arrival. It was such a relief. God was not through because when i entered that disorganised and crowded check-in point, one of their staff that saw me going up and down to get a seat, came forward to help. That day it rained heavily and i had gone to the eatery by the gate to buy a bottle of water. By the time, i got back all the seats outside were taken and i was wet. The staff offered to help me board the 5pm flight. I treated him with suspicion initially until i saw him behind the Counters. God used him and i boarded the 5pm flight to Abuja. The next day, i got to the Airport 15 minutes after my flight time and i had to pay additional N5000 despite the return tickets with me. I still heard the boarding announcements as i alighted from the car that took me to the Airport but the staff refused me going to board the plane. I was subjected to the stress of queuing again to re-validate and pay. I was so frustrated and annoyed at the same time at their poor service. I Hope Arik’s Chairman, Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide and his son will will do something to improve the services of their Airline. Now that the Airline indebtedness to the federal authorities is in billions of Dollars, i doubt if there will be any improvement in their operations and services.