Does Ibom Air now resell already paid seats by passengers to last minutes buyers with deep pockets?

Mods, please help me move this topic to the promise land.


Today the 30th of August, 2021, myself and my family(my bro and mum) had to catch a flight from Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport(ABJ) to Victor Attah International Airport(QUO). We initially thought that the flight was for 10:30am not knowing it was for 10am.

Got a bolt ride ride at just about exactly 9am to the airport from our hotel at Wuye. While in the ride, I decide to check the booking again and realize that it's actually 10am, so I tell the driver that we're a bit in a hurry. We arrive the airport and hurriedly join th he queue only to be checked and then a staff of Ibom air by the name Ekaette Eyibo with all amount hostility tells us we're late and that she's been instructed not to board anyone anymore on that flight and that we should rush to the ticketing stand to reschedule our flight.


I watch the baggage while mum goes to reschedule, only to be told that to go on the 2pm flight we'd have to pay a 85k extra and for the 6pm flight we'll pay extra 36k. We had to choose the 2pm flight since my bro had a test in Uniuyo by 3pm and you know Nigerian lecturers don't take excuses no matter how genuine. It was really painful shelling out that amount but we had to.


We were told boarding for the 2pm flight begins by 12noon. Sharp 12noon, we proceed to have our baggage checked by the ever hostile Ekaette Eyibo. After our baggage completes the due process, we proceed to departure hall and on our boarding passes, it is boldly written that boarding ends by 1320HRS GMT+1. As at the time boarding was supposed to end, it had not even commenced. Boarding for that flight began by 1324HRS GMT+1, 4 Minutes after it was supposed to end. We got on board some minutes later. As 10 minutes to the flight time, boarding was still going on, the cabin crew had not even started the usual pre-flight instruction session. By 1400HRS GMT+1, boarding was still going on by the crew, comprising majorly of Egyptians (since the plane is on a wet lease from Egypt air) and one Akwa Ibomite by the name Essien. Boarding finally ended by 1410HRS GMT+1, 10 minutes after it was supposed to take off. The airbus A220s finally started moving on the tarmac by 1429HRS GMT+1 and took off about 5 minutes later.


So many questions bug my mind at this point.
Why did boarding begin after it was supposed to end?
Was the plane still being boarded when takeoff time had passed?
Who are those passengers that were still boarding after takeoff time?
When did they book their flights and how much did they pay?
Did they have to take somebody else's seat just cos they could pay much more? And a lot of other questions only Ekaette Eyibo and the rest of the guys at Ibom Air can answer..


The same Ibom air had their flights on Saturday the 28th, and Sunday the 29th both by 1030HRS GMT+1 both shifted to 1400HRS GMT+1 of same respective days at the last minute without any form of compensation to the passengers whose schedules they had altered. Ibom Air just chooses to treat passengers as they wish just cos they can? Is this how they intend to behave when they start flying international? I really feel pained that I'm one of those that has been rooting for Ibom Air. That 85k is quite very painful and I also lost my ring in the course of the whole confusion caused by Ekaette Eyibo.

justwise and DisGuy, has any of you flown Ibom Air before? Have you had a terrible experience with them too?

Nothing works well in Nigeria..

If there's a hospital that treats nation, Nigeria is due for treatment.

Quite unusual

Happens with ALL local airlines.

I have missed my flight twice in a day and I experienced same thing or worse.

Some tips though

1. Morning flights are usually on time, i.e, they stop check-in as stated or 5 mins before. Sometimes, they take-off earlier than stated sef.

2. Whenever they delay/reschedule flights, they usually allow a little more time for latecomers

3. Nigerian airlines will frustrate you. When you're late, don't beg please just goan reschedule because those attendants will act like you're begging to have your name on the book of life.

4. The trick is to have someone in the airport that can help you check-in if you're running late.

5. It's rather amazing how we cannot edit/modify a ticket online/over the phone because the travel date is in the past. In this age, you still have to go to the airport or any out their outlets.

6. Another trick, asking for refund from Nigerian airline is like asking for the tongue of an angry lion. Simply request a chargeback from your bank if you booked with your card.

Pheww

I once had a flight that was supposed to take off 9am, they refused taking off because the governor of that particular state was supposed to be on the flight. He called and the flight was delayed for 2hours..... Till he was ready to fly


This is Nigeria.....
Sorry about your experience....

NkanAkpanika UnbanEbenezar Hunchoo, una don see una airline so? After somehow becoming the main abi only airline flowing QUO route!!

Not works well in this country anymore...
Railway service nko...?




Its goin to be a thread...

That is ibom air for you. Same thing happened to me few days before Christmas and I was with 3 children and maid. They actually sell the tickets to higher buyers right there.

Op my concern be sey did your brother met up with the test at Uniuyo? If yes, relax. Please wash your hands and use your nose mask.

psucc:
Op my concern be sey did your brother met up with the test at Uniuyo? If yes, relax. Please wash your hands and use your nose mask.

Yeah he did. The test started really late

wizi4tyn:
NkanAkpanika UnbanEbenezar Hunchoo, una don see una airline so? After somehow becoming the main abi only airline flowing QUO route!!

The guy story is so unusual if Ibomair honestly. Are we sure is not a paid sycophant?

Lol

The Nigerian factor.

NkanAkpanika:

The guy story is so unusual if Ibomair honestly. Are we sure is not a paid sycophant?

I wouldn't gain anything from doing such.. And I'm not that cheap please.

Here's a picture of the boarding pass

NkanAkpanika:

The guy story is so unusual if Ibomair honestly. Are we sure is not a paid sycophant?

My story wouldn't be this detailed if it wasn't real. And besides, would you say toludestin is also paid being that she's also testified to having such an experience with ibom air?

wizi4tyn:


My story wouldn't be this detailed if it wasn't real. And besides, would you say toludestin is also paid being that she's also testified to having such an experience with ibom air?

You and that’s imaginary individuals are the only ones with such unusual issues with ibomair..
Ibomair is still the best tho in the country .

NkanAkpanika:

You and that’s imaginary individuals are the only ones with such unusual issues with ibomair..
Ibomair is still the best tho in the country .

You this fellow. Always name calling and insulting even when no one is doing that to you.

wizi4tyn:
Does Ibom Air now resell already paid seats by passengers to last minutes buyers with deep pockets?

Mods, please help me move this topic to the promise land.


Today the 30th of August, 2021, myself and my family(my bro and mum) had to catch a flight from Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport(ABJ) to Victor Attah International Airport(QUO). We initially thought that the flight was for 10:30am not knowing it was for 10am.

Got a bolt ride ride at just about exactly 9am to the airport from our hotel at Wuye. While in the ride, I decide to check the booking again and realize that it's actually 10am, so I tell the driver that we're a bit in a hurry. We arrive the airport and hurriedly join th he queue only to be checked and then a staff of Ibom air by the name Ekaette Eyibo with all amount hostility tells us we're late and that she's been instructed not to board anyone anymore on that flight and that we should rush to the ticketing stand to reschedule our flight.


I watch the baggage while mum goes to reschedule, only to be told that to go on the 2pm flight we'd have to pay a 85k extra and for the 6pm flight we'll pay extra 36k. We had to choose the 2pm flight since my bro had a test in Uniuyo by 3pm and you know Nigerian lecturers don't take excuses no matter how genuine. It was really painful shelling out that amount but we had to.


We were told boarding for the 2pm flight begins by 12noon. Sharp 12noon, we proceed to have our baggage checked by the ever hostile Ekaette Eyibo. After our baggage completes the due process, we proceed to departure hall and on our boarding passes, it is boldly written that boarding ends by 1320HRS GMT+1. As at the time boarding was supposed to end, it had not even commenced. Boarding for that flight began by 1324HRS GMT+1, 4 Minutes after it was supposed to end. We got on board some minutes later. As 10 minutes to the flight time, boarding was still going on, the cabin crew had not even started the usual pre-flight instruction session. By 1400HRS GMT+1, boarding was still going on by the crew, comprising majorly of Egyptians (since the plane is on a wet lease from Egypt air) and one Akwa Ibomite by the name Essien. Boarding finally ended by 1410HRS GMT+1, 10 minutes after it was supposed to take off. The airbus A220s finally started moving on the tarmac by 1429HRS GMT+1 and took off about 5 minutes later.


So many questions bug my mind at this point.
Why did boarding begin after it was supposed to end?
Was the plane still being boarded when takeoff time had passed?
Who are those passengers that were still boarding after takeoff time?
When did they book their flights and how much did they pay?
Did they have to take somebody else's seat just cos they could pay much more? And a lot of other questions only Ekaette Eyibo and the rest of the guys at Ibom Air can answer..


The same Ibom air had their flights on Saturday the 28th, and Sunday the 29th both by 1030HRS GMT+1 both shifted to 1400HRS GMT+1 of same respective days at the last minute without any form of compensation to the passengers whose schedules they had altered. Ibom Air just chooses to treat passengers as they wish just cos they can? Is this how they intend to behave when they start flying international? I really feel pained that I'm one of those that has been rooting for Ibom Air. That 85k is quite very painful and I also lost my ring in the course of the whole confusion caused by Ekaette Eyibo.

Check-in on a local flight is supposed to end 40 minutes before boarding. If you left Wuye by 9am, there is no way you could have been at the airport by 9.20am or 9.30am to meet the check-in deadline. So let's get that out of the way.

Secondly, morning flights are usually booked to the brim. Afternoon flights less so (except flights to Lagos for obvious reasons). So it is possible that afternoon flights will be merged or delayed until a minimum number required to make that flight profitable is reached. A one-hour flight from Abuja to Uyo can consume about 3500 pounds of Jet A1 fuel, which is nearly 2,000 litres of aviation fuel an hour.

Aviation fuel is about N300 per litre and it is all imported at the exchange rate of N530. So to fly from Abuja to Uyo will cost the airline N600,000 on fuel costs alone. The pilots, air hostesses, aircraft engineers, etc are all paid out of these funds. The planes go for maintenance. There was a time all our planes in Nigeria were serviced in Nigerian Airways hangars. Not anymore. Now a C-Check has to be done at any of several facilities abroad, usually at the General Aviation Maintenance centre in Istanbul at the cost of millions of DOLLARS (not Naira).
I have not added insurance premiums.

That plane has to fly at least 20 passengers to cover the fuel costs, and by the time you add all these costs, how do you think Ibom Air will fly an empty plane to Akwa Ibom because your brother had to go for a test? They must fill those seats brother!

The margins in aviation business are small and yet it requires massive capital injection. Do your own bit to keep our airlines profitable.

stagger:


Check-in on a local flight is supposed to end 40 minutes before boarding. If you left Wuye by 9am, there is no way you could have been at the airport by 9.20am or 9.30am to meet the check-in deadline. So let's get that out of the way.

Secondly, morning flights are usually booked to the brim. Afternoon flights less so (except flights to Lagos for obvious reasons). So it is possible that afternoon flights will be merged or delayed until a minimum number required to make that flight profitable is reached. A one-hour flight from Abuja to Uyo can consume about 3500 pounds of Jet A1 fuel, which is nearly 2,000 litres of aviation fuel an hour.

Aviation fuel is about N300 per litre and it is all imported at the exchange rate of N530. So to fly from Abuja to Uyo will cost the airline N600,000 on fuel costs alone. The pilots, air hostesses, aircraft engineers, etc are all paid out of these funds. The planes go for maintenance. There was a time all our planes in Nigeria were serviced in Nigerian Airways hangars. Not anymore. Now a C-Check has to be done at any of several facilities abroad, usually at the General Aviation Maintenance centre in Istanbul at the cost of millions of DOLLARS (not Naira).
I have not added insurance premiums.

That plane has to fly at least 20 passengers to cover the fuel costs, and by the time you add all these costs, how do you think Ibom Air will fly an empty plane to Akwa Ibom because your brother had to go for a test? They must fill those seats brother!

The margins in aviation business are small and yet it requires massive capital injection. Do your own bit to keep our airlines profitable.

Thanks for the succinct explanation. I was actually going to respond to the OP on what you addressed in your first paragraph. Leaving Wuye (or any location that is not close to the local airport you are using) an hour and thirty minutes to departure time is not very wise and in his case, they even found out it was just one hour to the flight. I would not fault the airline for that at all. Let us try to make sure we do what is right before we complain.

stagger:


Check-in on a local flight is supposed to end 40 minutes before boarding. If you left Wuye by 9am, there is no way you could have been at the airport by 9.20am or 9.30am to meet the check-in deadline. So let's get that out of the way.

Secondly, morning flights are usually booked to the brim. Afternoon flights less so (except flights to Lagos for obvious reasons). So it is possible that afternoon flights will be merged or delayed until a minimum number required to make that flight profitable is reached. A one-hour flight from Abuja to Uyo can consume about 3500 pounds of Jet A1 fuel, which is nearly 2,000 litres of aviation fuel an hour.

Aviation fuel is about N300 per litre and it is all imported at the exchange rate of N530. So to fly from Abuja to Uyo will cost the airline N600,000 on fuel costs alone. The pilots, air hostesses, aircraft engineers, etc are all paid out of these funds. The planes go for maintenance. There was a time all our planes in Nigeria were serviced in Nigerian Airways hangars. Not anymore. Now a C-Check has to be done at any of several facilities abroad, usually at the General Aviation Maintenance centre in Istanbul at the cost of millions of DOLLARS (not Naira).
I have not added insurance premiums.

That plane has to fly at least 20 passengers to cover the fuel costs, and by the time you add all these costs, how do you think Ibom Air will fly an empty plane to Akwa Ibom because your brother had to go for a test? They must fill those seats brother!

The margins in aviation business are small and yet it requires massive capital injection. Do your own bit to keep our airlines profitable.

I know I was late but then, if they keep to time like that, why did they now delay my afternoon flight and people were still boarding after the scheduled takeoff time. Anybody in my shoes would feel cheated.

Just remember my experience with ibiom airline from abuja to lagos. My flight was around 1pm so I came around 12:15 and I was told no boarding of passangers and I have flight to catch up in lagos going to the uk very early the next day. I beg the manager and he refuse saying I should reschedule my flight again that day which was later around 6pm. I have to pay 25k again. When 6 reach then our flight was delayed due to technical issues. I was scared and saying so my village people dey use ibiom airline to punish me because I was scared of my next flight going to the uk the next early morning. Until we where later told to board flight and when it got to my turn to enter flight then one of the guy told his second to give me special checking. I just pour all my anger give the guy.now small thing remain we nor throw blow. Last last I got to lagos around 9. Mehn ibiom airline was a bad experience to me.

Hhhhmmmm na this one wey my brother #DESTALKER go tell me say make I follow reply so that them go think say me too I don enter flight (ehm I mean aeroplane ✈️�).

Una weldone oooooo

wizi4tyn:
justwise and DisGuy, has any of you flown Ibom Air before? Have you had a terrible experience with them too?

yes that what they are doing and making passengers pay extra 15k for RESCHEDULING

wizi4tyn:
justwise and DisGuy, has any of you flown Ibom Air before? Have you had a terrible experience with them too?

Nope, never flown with them before unfortunately.

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NkanAkpanika:

You and that’s imaginary individuals are the only ones with such unusual issues with ibomair..
Ibomair is still the best tho in the country .

When you say best please specify in what areas. If I can recall ibom air operates out of lagos into 4 or 5 cities (abuja, uyo, calabar, enugu and port harcourt). If i'm to compare with an airline like airpeace I'll say that air peace operates 100 or more flights daily to even remote airports like ilorin, ibadan, gombe, yola, akure, warri, calabar from both abuja and lagos. They also fly out of kano to phc, asaba, abuja and lagos. On the regional front they operate into douala, freetown, accra, dakar, banjul, johannesburg. In terms of fleet 2021 has been good for them with a new aircraft delivery every 2-3 months. These aircrafts are new generation aircrafts coming straight from embraer's factory in Brazil. More new aircrafts are expected this year and next year. They've also got firm orders for 10 boeing 737 max 8 which is also a new generation aircraft.
On the route expansion side they are aggressively trying to operate into china and india and other regional routes. On the social responsibility side they are there.

Then there is arik that has contributed immensely towards the knowledge base of the aviation sector and was only second to Nigerian airways. A good number of arik's pilots and technical staff have landed jobs in ethiopian, emirates and other european carriers

I cannot rate ibom air above these two airlines . Ibom air's selling point is on-time performance but then all airlines in nigeria had great on-time performance when they operated few routes but were unable to sustain it when they started operating into multiple airports due to the operating environment here. I also don't know thestatus of the aircrafts ibom air operates. They wet-leased A220s from egypt air. For the CRJ 900s we dont know if it was a dry lease or an outright purchase. They claim to be building a hub out of uyo but in real sense lagos is their hub