When Arik Air got the nod of the American Civil Aviation Authorities to fly the Lagos – New York – Lagos route, there was great excitement from Nigerians residing in the United States.
But their excitement has been short-lived by the frequent cancellation of flights by Arik without minding the implications of the actions on the passengers.
More disgusting, some passengers complained, is the failure of the airline to even notify the passengers of such cancellations, only to reschedule the flight without putting the passengers into consideration.
Such was the recent case involving a frequent passenger whose flight was cancelled and was made to spend the next 15 hours waiting at the airport for the flight only for Arik to reschedule it without even a word from the management.
In a protest letter with reference number, W3-107 (REF: LOSJFKYCL000/14032015 & W3-108 JFK- LOS, sent to Arik Air, copy of which THEWILL obtained, the aggrieved passenger, Awodiji Funmialyo J., said:
“Dear Arik Team,
I am sending this email, with great displeasure and disappointment.
I am highly disappointed with your services. Your respect for service/performance deliverables is zero. Your duty to your customers is nothing to write home about.
For your services to the USA, you have showcased absolute, lack of professionalism. Words cannot begin to explain how I feel. Why should people trust your services? In the industry, you operate in, if your customers cannot trust your words or rely on your services, it then becomes a major challenge.
And if the airline cannot keep to their promises, then I have a major problem with that. There is a golden rule that says treat people the way you expect/need to be treated in return.
Is it a crime to patronize a Nigerian Airline? What crime did I commit to warrant such services from Arik. You have now shifted the flight again by two days… If the organization cannot operate this route efficiently, then shut it down!! for Gods sake..
My name is Awodiji Funmilayo, I initially booked ( ZT6OSC) my flight out of Nigeria for the 11th of March (w3107), and it was cancelled and rescheduled to 14th without contacting me, to check if I would still travel or if the date was convenient for me. In addition to that, we got to the airport and spent close to 15 hours waiting for the flight. Would you do that to a white man? Is it because the airline has not been sued for such actions, that you get away with such services?
I see such actions as fraudulent, because it is obvious that the team cannot maintain these services and they still have it up for people to unknowingly buy the tickets. This is a dubious trend.
You are intentionally putting people under emotional and mental stress for no just reason. You have messed up all my plans all over again, I have to be in Nigeria in time to see my kids on their visiting for the 21st.
I want to use this medium to ask for a full refund of my the un-used segment, as I would never use your services again, why should a fellow black treat me this way?
I need my money back as soon as possible. …
I expect immediate feedback, please.
Thank you
Awodiji Funmialyo J.”
THEWILL gathered that Arik hadn’t responded to the aggrieved passenger’s letter as at the time of writing this report.
Arik Air’s public relations manager, Adebanji Ola, told THEWILL he was driving and needed sometime to respond to questions on the airline’s poor record.Courtesy:thewillnigeria.
