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| EMBATTLED ARIK AIRLINE |
A doctoral student/researcher ( University of Lagos) currently stranded with his wife like others travelers in New York without food and other decent treatment from Arik Air.
Sequel to the spoke person for Arik Air in Punch concerning the Air- lifting of Nigerians stranded in New York, be aware that Arik official lied! I am currently in a hotel in New York abandoned by Arik after disappointing Nigerians traveling to their country to contribute their quota. The Flight that was billed for 1: 25pm on 29th of December, 2016 was changed by Arik few hours before the flight to 8:00pm same day. But to our greatest surprise, we arrived at JFK about 12pm to start our check-in only to be told that we can’t board till Saturday 31st of December without prior information. As if this was not enough, we were disrespectfully sent to an hotel in New York to stay till Saturday because some passengers could not return to their various states, on getting to the hotel, we were sent back like slaves because according to the hotel, Arik did not send our vouchers to lounge, besides there were not enough rooms to accommodate us. In the rain and cold, old, young even new born babies returned to JFK disappointed. Eventually, we were taken to another place in New York, Rockville Centre Inn, 415 Ocean Avenue, Rockville Centre, New York 11570. Sadly, getting to the hotel, same scenario happened. When the hotel eventually agreed to allow us in, the manager said Arik told them to give out 30 rooms while about 55 of us were stranded, as I write you now, about 18 Nigerians are outside in the cold without room allocation. Those that even got lucky with rooms like me are paired with strangers in Twos and fours without any provision for meal. To add salt to our injury, the hotel management informed us that Arik had instructed them to check us all out 5am American time Friday 30th of December, 2016 to where we don’t know.
This is pathetic and unfair on Nigerians flying this terrible Airline! : Appointment truncated; Plans disrupted; schedules disorganised (for instance: 1. Families missing loved ones’ wedding ceremonies 2. Important business meetings missed 3. Rich Nigerians had to purchase another emergency ticket at their costs without compensation from this terrible Arik, and just to mention a few, important burial ceremonies missed- A man was heard shouting at the Arik supervisor right before me “I am the first son of my father. He would be buried on Friday and I am billed to be present, you have ruined my lifetime opportunity to give my father his last respect”
This is a true of situation of Nigeria’s state, nothing works! Coming with the same flight to New York was terrible! My wife and I had to sleep on bare floor at MMI because our flight meant for 11: 30pm was changed to 7am the next day without prior information. Getting on the plane was another bad experience: Toilets terrible, staff so rude, no entertainment for all the duration of our flight! All the entertainment gadgets spoilt- it was a long boring flight! Strangely, while in the air, in the quest to entertaining themselves, Nigerians played movies and music on their laptops and I-phones! This is so bad. Do we really have ministry of Aviation in Nigeria! Nigerians that want to come celebrate New Year with their families at home and contribute to the economy of the country (spending their dollars) are here in Rockville, New York stranded and still maltreated!
Arik is indeed “Shame of Nigeria”. I hope this message gets to the right authority to correct Arik’s perpetual madness! Any sane person should not fly Arik! The cry of a new born baby in the cold here breaks my heart!
New Development this morning- US time
Arik in their usual lack of communication style decided to fly some passengers as early 6:15AM New York time without informing the stranded Nigerians with Arik issued boarding pass that were lodged in the hotel. As a result of this lack of communication, some passengers with boarding pass meant for the early morning flight were left behind and all effort to reach Arik officials on phone has been futile because none of them picked-up the phone lines and the result is double-jeopardy for the yet again New York bound Arik passengers.
