Open letter to Arik Air and FAAN

There was nothing showing the name of the airline I boarded.

Well, this wasn’t absurd enough, the baggage tags were hand written! Abeg, how much would it cost you to send down a proper printer to the ‘Famous Old’ Jos Airport?

Arik is the only flight that flies in and out of Jos hence I want to believe the monopoly is one of the reasons you give out ridiculous air fare to customers, making our friends and family think flying from Jos is a luxury and not convenience. (Let’s leave that here)

Now, another thing Arik does that needs explanation is the ‘Kabu-Kabu’ style of flight they operate. Let me explain how this works (grab some pop-corn).

They pick passengers going to Jos and Kaduna from Lagos in the same airplane then drop-off Jos passengers, then pickup those going to Lagos from Jos and take them to Kaduna to drop-off those ones from Lagos and pick up the passengers going to Lagos from Kaduna and combine with those from Jos and fly them to Lagos.

I want to believe they are trying to be economical but why not indicate that on the flight booking portal so we (passengers) know whether or not we have that extra 30 mins to spare and follow the flight to Jos and Kaduna or take an alternative. Don’t strong arm me to follow you to another location without duly informing me prior to booking not after I board.

Let’s talk about inflight services. On takeoff from Jos (On Wednesday, May 11, 2016), we experienced some very scary turbulence!!! Passengers began calling on their Gods/gods for safety. Well, I expected the pilot or anyone in charge to notify the passengers ahead of time for the expected turbulence or apologize for the experience or even explain what was going on but no one did, even after arriving Kaduna.

On landing, I don’t know if it’s because of the state of the tarmac or bad landing but the way the plane landed eh! It woke me up from the quick nap I was having.

FOOD TIME!!! See ba, I don’t know if it’s just me or someone does this too; one of the reasons I am particular about some airlines is because of their food! Growing up, my dad brought home his flight food for me or whenever I go to airport to see him, there’s this Big Aunty that always gave me food from the flight so that got me ‘addicted’ to inflight food and it kind of became a habit.

Abeg my people, make una see wetin Arik give me to eat after I pay almost 20k, meanwhile some other airlines you pay 15k and can’t finish what they offer you to eat. Abi I lie? Eh, don’t get me wrong, not like I was expecting pounded yam and egusi or the likes, but at least a proper packaging or a little variety goes a long way in making some of us want to come back. Don’t come and share cupcake and one pack of juice for ten people in a disposable cup.

And to FAAN, una own palava eh, make I no start with una o!

First of all, just finish that airport.
Stop searching bags manually.
Get an ATM working there.
Get your luggage belts to start moving.
Get constant and centralized power.
Get a proper departure door.

In conclusion, I am not trying to witch hunt anyone or put someone’s job in jeopardy but someone has to speak out and call your wrong actions to order. This is the second time I am experiencing this kind of service delivery and I don’t intend to experience the third. So please do something ASAP!!!

Yours in flight

Anonymous passenger.