5 struggles anyone travelling within West Africa by air can relate to

International travel can be a big hassle - period.

But anyone who's ever travelled within West Africa can agree that travelling within this region by air (or road for that matter) can be an even bigger hassle.

Here are 5 scenarios anyone who's ever travelled within West Africa by air can relate to.

1. Complicated flight layovers: Many times, some of the major airlines that operate out of some countries have to make stop-overs in their hubs. So, don't be surprised if you're flying to Dakar (Senegal), for instance but first have to make a stop-over in Paris or Lisbon.

2. Unscheduled stop-overs: An upwards of an hour from Lagos by road, Cotonou lies right next to Lagos which should make a flight to the Beninese city quick and straightforward enough, right? Not so. Flights in West Africa tend to make more stops than a BRT bus (we jest, but you get the point). Often times they stop, unscheduled ofcourse, along major capitals to pick passengers along the way.

3. Frustrating airport officials: From asking totally unrelated questions to adopting not-so-mild extortion techniques, West African airport officials can try the patience of even the biblical Job.

4. Erratic flight schedules: It's not unusual to have a morning flight out of a West African city only to be told at mid-day that the flight is a no-show, with little or no remorse too.

5. Lack lustre in-flight entertainment: If you're looking to catch up on a quick movie while on a flight within a West African city, you may have to rethink that. In addition to the uninspiring food (though airplane food is universally known to be crappy), the in-flight entertainment and even general state of airplanes operating in this region, leave a lot to be desired.