I always say that we (NIGERIANS) are the cause of our own
problems. How else can you explain the superior and rude attitude of some of
the Nigerian staff of Emirates Airways to their fellow Nigerians when the
airline clearly overbooked its flight yet again.
There was palpable anger today at the International Mohammed
Airport, Lagos, over the rude and sarcastic attitude of Emirates Airways officials after its airline
overbooked its flight to Dubai.
The angry passengers who had already paid for their
flight and were ready to board the
flight for their 2.45pm take off were rudely shocked when they were told that
they flight was already full.
The flight EK784 Emirates Airline was said to have been
fully booked, leaving over 45 passengers stranded. These passengers had booked
their economy tickets (not promo tickets) and collected boarding passes.
They were were however not allocated seat following the
airline's over booking practice. For example, at the boarding gate (E55),
economy passengers' names were being replaced with those of downgraded business
class by the airline's officials Omowurola Oni, J.K. Nwobi and Abosede Soyede.
When the passengers complained, they were rudely told to
wait for the next flight. Expectedly, the passengers staged a showdown at the
airport which earned them a threat from the airline officials.
Some of the affected passengers were one B.I. Adeyemo,
Nwabueze Adiuku, Stephen Adeyewo, Grace Adeware, Precious Igbonwelundu, and
Taiwo Agbaje.
Oni (airline official), who obviously did not care told the
passengers that her primary concern was to make sure that all the business
class passengers, who have agreed to be downgraded get a seat on the flight.
She said the flight was over booked and the problem emanated
from Dubai, just as she told the aggrieved passengers to take their complaints
to Dubai.
One of the Adeyemo's (B.I.) who said he has was transiting
Dubai for the United States and would miss his flight if the issue was not
sorted out early, narrated how he boarded a bike from Mowe to the airport.
He said, "What kind of discrimination is this? I bought
my ticket, checked in online and was allocated a seat. To ensure I arrived on
time, I abandoned my family at Mowe when my car had an accident
"I took a bike to this airport only for this woman to
replace my name with another passenger who bought Business Class. And I checked
in online and the rules states that I be
here 90 minutes to departure, I was here one hour and 15 minutes before take
off.
"I won't leave this place. You better go and call SSS
or Police to arrest me. I know my rights and I must stand by it. Do you know
what it means to fly a bike from Mowe to the airport?
"You want to give my seat to another person right
before me. You are substituting my name right before me? You better arrest me
now because I will cause problems here."
Another woman, who already had two of her children onboard
the flight but could not board because she insisted she must be on the business
class she paid for, flared up when Oni refused to attend to her.
As she was yelling, another staff, approached her pleading
with her to accept the economy seat so that she can go with her children or
wait for the next flight.
"I cannot wait for the next flight. It is impossible,
can you see my daughter running round this airport? How do you expect me to
control her? Do you want to give me emotional problems? I don't know how you
will do it but I must go with this flight. You must put me on the flight.
"I have accepted the economy offer and yet I do not
know what she is doing (pointing at Oni). I later said they should give me the
downgraded ticket, yet, she's busy attending to other people. I must go with
that flight," she said.
To Agbaje, who has a connecting flight to Iraq, the
situation was quite unfortunate. Although he is a Gold member of Emirates,
Agbaje, said it was an obvious case of class disparity.
He said: "This is very unfortunate. I was to fly
business class but because it was not available, I booked economy since I have
a connecting flight from Dubai to Iraq.
"But getting here and seeing this kind of injustice is
really painful. The worst part is that I did not come late. Why would they even
over book their flight? Or don't they know when to stop?
"I just hope they sort this thing out and connect me to
my flight from Dubai, am really sick of this Emirates now."
All effort by the aggrieved passengers to storm the tarmac
and stop the aircraft from moving was stopped by airports staff, who came in to
restore normalcy.
After about one hour of the protest and bitterness, Emirates
as a palliative, took some of the passenger to its lounge while they waited for
the evening flight.
One of the staff who also complained about the development
said they faced a similar challenged yesterday and about 10 passengers were not
allocated seats.
"Ordinarily, the system is supposed to stop booking
once the seats are full but in thiis situation, it did not.
"We have been having that challenge. It is entirely our
fault. Yesterday, we had about 10 passengers with same problem.
"I just want to advice you that when next your agent is
booking your flight, insist he gets a seat immediately. This is an in house
advice."
As I write this now, the passengers are on air now heading
to Dubai. A clear 9 nine hours after after their scheduled flight. Nigeria we
hail thee.
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