Deejacy2: This 9,999k is it to n fro??

One Way ONLY

Indications have emerged that undue political pressure being mounted on Caverton Helicopters was behind the attempt by the company to disown its relationship with the Rivers State-owned aircraft, a Bombardier Global Express, currently grounded by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, in Port Harcourt.

Findings by Vanguard revealed that apart from applying to the Aviation Ministry for permit to import and operate the said aircraft, Caverton has been responsible for obtaining most of the operational clearance for the aircraft with call signal N565RS, which the Rivers State government acquired from the United States of America in September 2012.

Documents exclusively obtained by Vanguard from the Aviation Ministry indicated that Caverton came under pressure to deny any business dealings with the Rivers State government, when in reality it has been dealing with several aviation parastatals on behalf of the state government.

It was learnt that following a business relationship with Rivers State Caverton formally applied to the Aviation Minister on August 27, 2012, requesting for approval to bring in the aircraft and operate on behalf of the state.

READ MORE: http://flynaija.org/how-political-pressure-forced-caverton-to-disown-rivers-govt-over-aircraft/

chinamims: THIS A FALSE NEWS , THE POSTER HAS TO BE BANNED. THE CHEAPEST U CAN GET ON AERO NOW IS 18K SO WHERE DID U GET URS FRM? AND PLS OUR FAIR IS NOT DEFERRENT FRM ODA COUNTRY, MOST WHITE USE TRAIN COS THEY CAN AFFORD THE FAIR ,

You dont have to type in caps to get your point across. FYI..there are fares for N9,999 but not on all routes. Moreover, it was a press release from Aero themselves......i didnt write it.

blank:

I have already collected mine since.

How did you go about it please?

umulobi: Aero will soon crash.

Speak positive

Arik Air is West and Central Africa’s largest airline operating a domestic, regional and international flight network.

Arik Air is a wholly-owned Nigerian airline with a commitment to the people of Nigeria to deliver new standards in aviation. It operates mainly from two hubs at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Arik Air is recruiting to fill the vacant position of:

Job Title: Account Officers

Revenue Audit
Finance
Tax

Job Specifications:

Revenue Audit
Sales verification and Coupon audit
General audit and special investigations.
Enforcing compliance with policies and procedures.
Interface with the service provider (Revenue accounting system).
Finance
Accounts reconciliation.
Book keeping, postings and adjusting entries.
Any other tasks that may be assigned by the Finance Manager.
Tax
Timely submission of tax returns to relevant tax authorities.
Liaison with company’s tax consultants.
Keeping books and records in accordance with tax policies
Any other duties as may be assigned by VP Finance.

Requirements:
At least a first degree in Finance.
About 1-3 years experience in aviation or allied sector.
Good computer skills – Microsoft tools, ERP.
Attention to detail and high level of accuracy.

Application Closing Date
28th May, 2013.

Method of Application
Interested applicants should send their applications and detailed CV to:aviationfinance@arikair.com

Source

ROSYL: Even if they slash their fare to zero naira, I'm not gonna allow anyone I know get close to them.
I came back last dec for my cousin's wedding, I had earlier booked Arik air from Lagos to Enugu for 7am, thinking that I was gonna make it out of Murtala Muhammed airport earlier. By the time my luggage came out( that reminds me,those thieves working at the airport really dealt with my luggage. they ripped one of them open, took all my......well lemme save this for anoday day)it was already 9am. I then decided to take the next available flight which was Aero. God, God, God, I thank God we made it to Enugu.
The plane was out of date, noisy and seats offer less space. While trying to relax myself when a steward, bumped my right shoulder without apology.For a moment, I actually thot I was in one of primark's factories in Bangladesh. The noise coming of this coffin(plane) was horrific. The plane was shaking like someone suffering from severe epilepsy, while simultaneously their staff standing around selling stuff, beer, rice, beans, gala and co.That was how I started praying, binding, casting, my heart was in my stomach till the plane touched down.Then there, right there, the touching down was anoda horrible xperience on its own. The plane landed on the tarmac, GBAM GBAM GBAM.......I was shouting Jesus, blood of Jesus, blood of God, I peeped thru the window, and said to myself, if worse comes to worst, I will just jump out thru the window and land on top of somebody's house.
I thank God we finally landed!Then on arrival, we had to stand in that scorching sun for anoda hr, before they brought our luggage in one rickety lorry.This was no doubt the most uncomfortable and dreadful plane journey I have ever experienced!Infact I don't wanna rem it again.

Meanwhile, on my way back to Lagos, I quietly joined my brother in his car.Yea, it was a long journey but at least I had my heart in its normal position till we got to Lagos.

I feel you bro...these people hardly buy new aircraft

dgb4: igelomo, where are you getting this info from?

see what i got now!

But i just posted the screen shot of fare from LOS - ABV for 16th May for N9,999

philips70:

Thought they said all routes. Now this is an attempt on booking Lagos to Benin route even for a far date of 31st

Obviously, it is NOT all routes, even the same route have different fares for different flight..the press release is a bit ambiguous, wonder why domestic airlines do that anytime they offer promo fares.

Symphony007: Don't be too happy o! Because cheap thing dey purge! I once used this cheap aero flights from p.h to lagos. We were suppose to take off from the p.h airforce base on a sunday. I got there on sunday and was told the flight has been cancelled. So i resheduled for the next day.

On getting there the next day, we were told the plane was'nt gonna take off from the base again but from the p.h airport. And they brough little buses where we were shoved together like sadines. It was most embarrasing and i was scared because i was the most little amongs the travellers without anybody.

On getting to the airport we were made to wait for hours. And finally by 9:00pm a luggage handler ran into the hall and screamed "if you dey go lagos from nav. Base, come now o"..only a few of us heard this an ran and boarded the plane.many people did'nt hear as it was not annouced on the speaker. It was so bad that we boarded and started to taxi, i could still see people running passed the gate waving the plane. I felt horrible for them that after all the days stress, the still did'nt travel. Cheap thing dey purge o!

P/s: the plane was like a gulfstream, small,noisy and old!! The guy next to me called it "gongoro".

Damolux01: when will Aero include IBADAN in their routes? seem Arik is the only airline on that route

Overland too

Josh121: It a big fat lie not working ooooo, I got a text I went online tried it did not work , saw it now on NL try again not working jor

I dont work for Aero so i dont have any reason to be doing all the defending, but if something is true, i will say it is.

blank: This goes against the rules of this forum:

8. Don't post false information on Nairaland.


I think the poster should be banned and the post hidden.

And who are you again?.......Dont be too quick to conclude, its true!

Nigeria’s second largest airline, Aero Contractors, has slashed its air fares to N10,000 on all domestic routes when booked online, the airline said on Wednesday.

Aero said the promotion would last between 14 May and 31 May, 2013 and is only available when the booking is made online and ahead of time at www.flyaero.com.

Aero said the special offer is in a bid to satisfy, encourage and reward its teeming regular and prospective customers.
Aero’s Acting Managing Director, Obaro Ibru, said: “We want our customers to take advantage of these offers and fly to any domestic destination of their choice. At Aero, we believe air travel should be affordable, safe and reliable and we are determined to continue to lead with the best customer friendly e-airline services.”

Aero flies to major domestic destinations including Lagos , Kano , Owerri, Abuja , Uyo, Enugu , Warri, Calabar , Benin , Port Harcourt , Sokoto and with plans to open more routes.

http://flynaija.org/aero-slashes-fares-to-n9999k-to-run-may-13th-31st/

JOB TITLE: ENGINEERING TRAINEE
Job specifications:

· Work together with Technicians to provide technical support and rectification action in response to operational problems, incidents and

AOG situations, minimizing the impact of operational disruptions and cost.
· Assist in Air Safety Reports investigations as required.
· Be able to provide technical support in other technical areas.
· Liaise closely with Flight operation (Fleet managers)Engineering Development,Maintenance Control, QA, Materials

Management and Line Maintenance providing maintenance services to the airline.

· Support all certifying engineers through the provision of spares, parts and man power provisions ensuring the fleet is maintained to the highest standard

· Review personal training needs as required.
· Maintain own skill levels, keeping up to date with Leading edge technologies in aviation.

Requirements:
· Degree in any engineering course
· NYSC Certificate
· An understanding of the safety and reliability issues surrounding aircraft maintenance, support, components and systems.

APPLY HERE: http://flynaija.org/graduate-trainee-engineers-wanted-at-arik-air/

Damolux01: Please, how much can i get a ticket from Ibadan to Abuja

Follow @fly_naija on twitter.

Arik Air is West-Africa’s leading airline operating a domestic, regional and international flight network. It operates mainly from two hubs at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Arik Air’s head office is theArik Air Aviation Center on the grounds of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.

Arik Air, West and Central Africa’s largest carrier, seeks the services of experienced and competent candidates to fill the existing vacant position blow:

Job Title: Managers Human Resources

Job specifications:

Employment law – working conditions, disciplinary and grievance procedures, equal opportunities, redundancies, paternity pay and maternity rights

Recruitment hiring staff, producing job descriptions, placing adverts, working with recruitment consultancies, organizing interviews and running assessment centers. Training and development putting together a staff training programme and identifying suitable courses for staff.

Salary reviews – researching salaries and ensuring they are in line with legal requirements and industry standards

Documentation writing staff handbooks, contracts, staff memos, and issuing written offers of employment, promotion etc.

Staff welfare – providing counseling facilities and sports and social activities for staff.
May also work closely with company lawyers and trade unions.

Job Qualification:
A relevant first degree. A master’s degree in Human Resources or an MBA will be of advantage.
Relevant professional qualifications (CIPM, CIM)
At least Three years work experience in a similar job role.
35-50 years

APPLY HERE: http://flynaija.org/arik-air-job-opening-for-managers-human-resources/

Hello

The memory of 3 June, 2012 will for a long time remain green in the minds of the families of the 153 passengers on board of the Dana aircraft on that fateful day as well as the families of victims on ground of the crash. “It was like a scene from a thriller movie’ recalled Chinyere Okafor, one of the displaced victims. But almost a year later, the stark reality of the crash had not only started the victims rudely in the eyes, it has brought Okafor and others like him to shocking re-awakening.

Almost a year after the management of DANA air is yet to compensate any of the family members of the ground victims and those on board of the aircraft. While speaking with Saturday Mirror, Chima Iloka, one of the ground victims who lost his brother-in-law who was living with him in the crash lamented that the management of Dana has deliberately refused its insurers to pay the statutory compensation to them.

“The deliberate refusal is as a result of the wicked machinations of Dana Airline and its representatives. It is a very sad situation we have found ourselves in. The third of next month will mark the first anniversary of the crash. And since then, we have not been compensated.
The only thing we got from them was N200, 000 which they gave us about a month after the incident. They said we should it to secure accommodation. It was not even enough for that purpose.

We have been patiently waiting all these while thinking that they would do something but till this minute, nothing has been done so far. All we keep hearing is that we should be patient and that they are waiting for updates from their insurance company.

This is not just fair at all. We are even working on going to the state government to help us use their good office to help us talk to DANA management to pay up the compensation. Life has been very tough for us since the incident.

Ever since the death of my brother in law, my aged mother in law has been the one taking care of the three children he left behind back in the village. The government should please help us step into the issue and talk to the management of DANA to do something about our situation.”
For Chinyere Okafor, the story is not particularly different as she also told Saturday Mirror of her many battles with poverty and lack of a befitting environment to stay compounded with rumours of compensation being paid.

“Life since that incident has been extremely tough. We cannot even afford enough to get a befitting apartment to live ever since. The most painful part of the whole story is the fact that we keep reading and hearing that the victims have been compensated, whereas we have not gotten anything from DANA management.

The only money they gave was the N200, 000 they gave to us about one month after the incidence. The only thing we have been hearing is that they are still working on the updates from their insurance company and this has been their song for months.

As I speak with you, nothing positive has been done to this effect. Everywhere we go people will be telling us that we are the ones reigning now that our compensation has been paid and that is not the case. It has been very devastating for us.

The government should please help us step into the matter and talk to DANA management to pay up the compensation so that we can move on with the rest of our lives” Buttressing the former, Chike Okwuosa one of the victims and a member of the Community Development Association of the area disclosed to Saturday Mirror that instead of the compensation to be paid by the management of the airline, the talk is about the updates they are compiling.

“We have done so much and yet no positive results have been out. As if the situation is not even bad enough, there has been other havoc done to us in this area. They have been pulling down our fences in the name of constructing the roads.

We are now left with the burdens of repairing our walls which had been pulled down. The bad thing is that we were only given three days notice to the effect.

This added more to our frustration. We have decided to do a petition to the Lagos State government on DANA so that the government can help us use their good office to instruct DANA to pay up the compensations.

We have been patiently waiting all these months with no positive news from them we even hired a lawyer to solicit for us in the person of Barrister Chris Ubani who has been talking to their management yet with no concrete response till now.

I think it is really time for us to take a drastic action on this issue. We are really tried of the empty promises we have been getting from DANA management. And to think of it, barely seven months after that gory incidence, the airline got their licence back and yet no compensation had been made to us till now. It has not been fair on us” remarks Okwuosa.

While speaking with Ubani, the counsel for some of the displaced victims, he stated that the law firm of DANA Airline has been clumsy about the payment of compensation to the victims. “Their law firm has been prevaricating on the payment of compensation to ground victims. Our best bet is a legal action in court.

That is the last option and I think it is not impossible now as things stand” However, in a telephone conversation with Tony Usidamen, the spokesman on legal matters for DANA Airline, he told Saturday Mirror that the problem is not with the management of the airline but the delay is from their insurance companies.

“The problem is not with DANA because we are not the one in charge of paying the compensation and we have been waiting for our insurance company to collate the updates and send to us.

That is what has been delaying the whole process. Not until we get the updates from our insurance company, there is virtually nothing we can do or I can say about the issue,” he said.
http://flynaija.org/dana-air-yet-to-pay-up-our-compensation-crash-victims/

An unconfirmed report on Thursday said another Nigeria Air Force jet has crashed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Earlier in the week, an Alpha Jet in the fleet of the NAF crashed in Niamey, Niger Republic.

The report said the Port Harcourt accident occurred on Thursday morning. The aircraft crashed within the NAF base runway while taking off.
According to the report, the aircraft burst into flames, on impact with the ground.
It added that the pilot and co-pilot, who were the only two persons.

Check back for full reports
http://flynaija.org/another-naf-plane-crashes-in-port-harcourt/

Caverton Helicopters was established in September 2002 as a charter, shuttle, sales and maintenance company and is part of the Caverton Offshore Support Group which provides a variety of services to the Marine and Oil & Gas Sectors, including equipment, supplies, provision of Marine Vessels, Workboats, Jack-up rigs, Tugs and allied equipment and services.
The company’s focus and primary business is to provide logistics and environmental support services to Oil and Gas fields with broader plans to support energy operations along the West African shelf as well as other ancillary support services. We promote the interests of people who excel in their fields – as Professionals who offer flexible and permanent solutions and encourage fair and equal opportunities.

Caverton helicopters, hereby invite qualified, dynamic and professional personnel to fill the position of Engineering Ground Trainer.

Job Title: Engineering Ground Trainer

Requirements:

Experience working in an AMO
Holder of an AMEL with both helicopter and fixed wing types preferred.
Experience as an approved ground instructor.
Have good facilitation, teaching and communication skills.
Have a willingness and be able to travel nationally and internationally.

How To Apply
Interested Candidates should forward their CVs and credentials to:careers@caverton-helicopters.com

Application Deadline Date
Closes by 10th May, 2013.

Nigeria and South Africa have agreed to exempt holders of diplomatic and official passports of the two countries from procuring visas before traveling from one of the countries to the other.

The agreement that gave legal backing to the decision was one of the nine Memoranda of Understanding and agreements signed on Tuesday by the two countries during the ongoing official visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to South Africa.

While briefing journalists after a closed-door session at the Presidential Office in Cape Town, Jonathan and his host, President Jacob Zuma, expressed the conviction that the agreements reached during the visit would lead to stronger cooperation between the two countries.

This, they said, was necessary for economic, social and political development on the continent.

Other aspects of the MoU signed during the visit included those of cooperation in legal field, oil and gas sectors, power sector development, environment, defence cooperation, women development and empowerment as well as child development.

Others are those that concern geology, mining, mineral processing and metallurgy as well as Information and Communication Technology.

Jonathan and Zuma announced that respective ministers would ensure the effective implementation of the instruments and the conclusion of outstanding agreements.

Zuma expressed delight at the number of South African companies operating in Nigeria, saying such companies were up to over 100 with the biggest investment being in telecommunications.

He promised that other sectors, such as engineering, construction, banking, oil and the media would soon be expanded.
Zuma noted the need for both countries to promote people to people relationship especially through tourism, which he said had generated huge Foreign Direct Invetment for the country.

“Last year alone, South Africa received a total of 73,282 Nigerian tourists, which is a 13.8percent increase from 2011 contributing about 720million Rands to the South African economy within the period,” he said.

Jonathan on his part, described the signing of nine bilateral agreements between the two countries as a major achievement that would enhance the critical role of Nigeria and South Africa in transforming the continent.
http://flynaija.org/nigeria-safrica-approve-visa-free-regime-to-officials/

A Nigerian fighter jet taking part in military operations against al Qaeda-linked Islamic militants in Mali crashed in western Niger, killing its two crew, Niger and Nigerian officials said on Monday.
The incident marked the first casualties in Mali for Nigerian troops, which form the largest contingent in a West African regional force participating in the French-led campaign to drive Islamist rebels from the country’s desert north, reports Reuters.

Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force, said the plane was an Alpha jet stationed in Niger as part of a Nigerian squadron supporting the mission in Mali.

“An investigation is going on to find out what happened. They were on a normal routine flight about 60 km (37 miles) west of Niamey when something happened,” Anas told Reuters.

Asked if there was any evidence of anti-aircraft fire, he said: “We don’t know but it was inside Nigerien territory.”
A Niger security source said the jet crashed near Dargol in the Tillabery region which borders Mali.
“The plane was not shot at. It was not in enemy territory so for now we are looking at maybe a mechanical problem,” another security official from Niger, who asked not to be identified, said.
http://flynaija.org/breaking-two-die-as-nigerian-air-force-jet-crashes-in-niger-republic/

Following the Boston Marathon bombings, masterminded by two immigrants (brothers) one of whom is in the USA on a student visa, American lawmakers are critically looking into immigration laws, and making reforms.
One of such reforms, which will leave many Nigerian hopefuls devastated, is the cancellation of the Diversity Visa or the DV Visa lottery programme.
Africans could be the big losers as the United States reforms its immigration laws and eliminates the green card lottery, of which Africans are the main beneficiaries.
Half of the 50,000 residence permits handed out at random each year are earmarked for Africans. It is a hugely popular program that has allowed hundreds of thousands of Africans to settle in America since the mid 1990s.
But the ambitious reform project under debate now in Washington, which would provide papers for million undocumented immigrants, contains a clause that would do away with the lottery.
In its place would be a more selective immigration system based on skills, career and family ties.
For years the lottery has been in the crosshairs of Republicans, who control the House of Representatives and say it adds no value to the American economy.
“It’s clear that there are better ways to allocate visas than to randomly give them out through a lottery system,” said Bob Goodlatte, the Republican who leads the House Judiciary Committee. “Our immigration laws shouldn’t be based on the luck of the draw; rather, they should be designed strategically to benefit our country.”
The ‘diversity visa,’ as it is known formally, is set-aside for people from countries that do not experience a lot of emigration. So Mexicans, Chinese and Filipinos, for instance, are not eligible. Africans quickly became the main ones to cash in.
All applicants’ need is a high school diploma or two years of work experience. Between 2010 and 2012, one in five Africans who came to the United States to stay did so through the lottery. That made it the third most common method, at 21 percent of the total, after family reunification (43%) and refugee status or asylum seekers (23%).
By comparison, in the same period only 10 percent of Europeans who became permanent residents and 3% of Asians did so through the lottery.
“It has proven to be a way of helping those who come from the continent of Africa, those who come from a number of other areas where it is very difficult to get a visa,” said Sheila Jackson Lee, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, whose members are all Democrats.
But in an effort to preserve the comprehensive reform being negotiated for months by the two parties, the Democrats and President Barack Obama agreed to ditch the lottery.
Representative Charles Schumer, who authored the program in 1990, said it was impossible to keep it.
Schumer said the system that will replace it in 2017 is merit-based and will also give Africans a chance. On average they are more educated than people from other continents. And English-speaking Africans would get a boost because of that language skill.
But Michael Fix of the Migration Policy Institute said, “It really probably won’t admit enough people to offset the effects of the loss of the diversity visa for some years after that. It’s a long time away. It won’t be immediately offset by any means.”
The diversity visas would vanish starting next year under the reform being negotiated. Only four percent of African immigrants — compared to 21 percent of Asians and 22 percent of Europeans — received a green card for employment reasons in 2012.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People says the number of African immigrants will go down even with the merit-based system.
“In essence, we’re concerned,” said Hilary Shelton, the NAACP Washington bureau director.
Dame Babou, who hosts a radio show that caters to Senegalese people in New York, said the scrapping of the lottery is disheartening for Africans.
“Every year many people thought this was going to be their year,” Babou said. “Again, what is being eliminated is hope.”

Vicjustice:
This article is completely misrepresenting the fact, I doubt that the person who wrote this misinformation has ever travelled abroad

Really?

Making withdrawals off of debit cards through ATMs abroad can sometimes be wrought with problems, annoyances, confusion, or, in rare cases, all out disaster. Additional foreign transaction bank fees and ATM fees add up, sometimes your card will not work in certain countries. Occasionally, the machine will “eat” your card, there is always a risk of being mugged during or after making an ATM transaction, there is a chance that your card number and/ or password can be scraped by thieves using a variety of methods, and, sometimes, the machine simply does not give you all (or any) of the money you attempt to withdraw.

There are so many potential hazards and annoyances to using ATMs abroad why would anyone bother using this method?

In point, even with these drawbacks the majority of travelers today find making international withdrawals with a debit card through ATMs to be the most convenient, cheapest, and, yes, most secure way of accessing your money abroad. I am of this camp, as the only other options that I know of are carrying all my cash, putting it in local banks, or using traveler checks — all of which carry hassles and risks which I feel to be greater than those inherent to relying on ATMs.


Tips for using ATMs when traveling

Only use ATMs immediately connected to reputable and major banks. There are plenty of instances that have been recorded of crooks purchasing ATMs and setting them up in the street or in front of businesses as well as tons of examples of ATM security being compromised. Give yourself the best odds of this not happening to you by trying to only use ATMs at major banks.

Only use the ATM of a bank during business hours. It is a great convenience for users that many banks have ATMs available 24 hours, the problem is that if something goes wrong with your transaction there will be nobody around to assist you if the bank is closed.

Always scope out the location of an ATM prior to using it. Before using an ATM for the first time be sure to check out its surroundings as a security precaution. Stand across the street from it and observe the people in your general proximity. Are there people milling about listlessly? Are there shady looking characters hanging out on nearby street corners? Do other banking customers appear to be getting harassed or followed as the exit the bank? Scope out the scene around a few different ATMs in a city (if possible) and select the securest seeming option.

Avoid ATMs in the street if you can. If it is possible, only use ATMs that are inside of the bank itself or are in a room right next to it — avoid ATMs that are in the street.

Prefer ATMs with designated guards. Guards are good when using ATMs. Just don’t let them help you make a transaction — security guards can be thieves too.

Prefer ATMs that have a lot of other users. There is often safety in numbers, or at least the zebra effect where chances of you being predated upon are less when in the vicinity of other choices of prey. Avoid ATMs in more or less deserted locations.

Always use the same ATM. If you’ve used an ATM successfully once, chances are that you could do so again. Find a good ATM in a city, and use this machine every time you make a withdrawal.

As should be obvious, never let ANYONE (even a cop or security guard) help you use an ATM. Even if you don’t understand the language the teller machine is using, making guesses is often better than taking assistance from someone who may rob you. If worse comes to worse, try to find a fellow traveler or a local you feel you can trust to assist you.

Never make more than two errors per ATM visit. This means if you type in your code wrong or do anything that could lead to the transaction being canceled more than twice your card stands a chance of being eaten by the machine. If you screw up the transaction twice, take back your card and go to another ATM a couple of hours later.

Always take a receipt. If you have a problem with an ATM (i.e. if it doesn’t give you your money, eats your card etc . . .) you have a much better chance of having things set right if you have the transaction slip. When I recently had a problem with an ATM in Mexico, the first thing the bank director asked for was my transaction slip.

Be aware of how much your bank charges you per ATM transaction. If you are being charged over a 1% international transaction fee by your bank, you are being hosed and should move your money. I’ve heard of some pretty large international ATM transaction fees being charged, so be sure to check this before going abroad.

Check bank statements regularly. As you travel the world it is almost impossible not to throw your debit card number around. I NEVER use my debit card for anything other than ATM transactions or for secure online purchases made with my own computer, but I still know that my card number could still get away from me. I check my bank statements at least twice a month for any potential fraudulent purchases.

Additional tips for keeping debit cards secure

Keep debit card secure. Always, always, always keep your debit card in a secure location. When changing locations, keep your debit card in a hidden money belt or a hidden pocket. When in a hotel room, hostel, or apartment keep your debit card, passport, money, and everything else that is important or valuable in a bag that is securely locked shut. This bag should also be locked to a bed frame or other immovable object in the room. Your debit card numbers can be stolen and used when you’re still in possession of the card — all someone needs to do is copy the relevant numbers, so keep your cards securely concealed at all time.

Be careful making online purchases from public computers. Many public computers (yes, hostel computers are public) are FULL of viruses, malware, and, occasionally, programs that can record your debit and credit card numbers as well as usernames and passwords. I recommend traveling with your own internet accessing device for this reason alone. Just because you are making a secure online purchase, does not mean that your important details are not being logged on the computer you are using — even a client of an internet cafe or hostel can install and use these key and screen logger programs easily. Try to avoid using public computers whenever possible.
Problems I’ve had with ATMs while traveling

Generally speaking, if you follow the above tips to a practical degree you will more than likely have few problems when using ATMs abroad. In over 12 years of travel through 50 countries, it has been rare that I’ve had ATM problems. I’ve only experienced two instances where the ATM did not give either myself or my travel companion all the money it should have. I traveled in Iraq during a time when the country was blacklisted by VISA, so my debit card would not work. In Colombia, my wife discovered to her surprise that her VISA endorsed debit card could not be used, as her bank had blacklisted the country. In point, I’ve made hundreds upon hundreds of successful ATM transactions throughout my travels, and, if following the basic guidelines above, the automatic teller machine is, in my opinion, the best and most secure way to access money while traveling abroad.

On situations and circumstances

I use the guidelines and tips set forth above as a criteria for using ATMs in an ideal circumstance. Sometimes, the ebbs and flows of travel lead to situations where a traveler may need to make an ATM withdrawal in circumstances that are anything but preferential. So be it — use the tips above where practical, and use common sense and your own experience to guide you the rest of the way.
http://flynaija.org/what-you-need-to-know-about-using-atms-abroad/

One of the biggest misnomers in travel is the term “visa free entry.” Visa free entry only rarely exists, but this term is thrown around like it’s a widespread and common phenomenon.

It’s only visa free entry when you can enter a country without having your passport stamped. Some examples:

Americans and Canadians don’t need visas to visit each other’s countries.
Western Europeans can travel around the EU visa-free.

Australians and New Zealanders can freely travel and live in each other’s countries.
There are actually very few examples of visa-free entry in the world of immigration, but you would not know this by how often this term is used. More often than not, what visa-free really means is visa on arrival. It’s not visa free entry if you need to have you’re passport stamped. That stamp that the immigration official puts in your passport IS A VISA.
What is a visa?

An endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is allowed to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in a country.

These stamps are all visas.
“Do you need a visa to go there?”

This is a common question of World Travel. The answer is simple:
More often than not, when you hear or read the phrase “visa-free entry” it’s a lie. Unless you’re visiting a country that has a true visa-free arrangement with your country of citizenship, you need a visa. Whether you need to apply for it in advance or not is the question.
There are two ways of receiving a visa:

You apply for it at a consulate in advance.
You show up at the border and get the visa on arrival.
But, in the end, both of these visas are the same: they both tell you how long you’re permitted to stay in a country.

Is this misleading terminology confusing?

I do a little visa consultation work on the side, and every so often I get an email from someone who got busted for overstaying a visa they didn’t even know they had. They read that they could stay in a particular country “visa-free,” and they believed it. I then have to explain that visa-free entry really just meant that they did not have to apply for a visa in advance of arrival, and that the stamp in their passport is really a tourist visa.

It is perhaps understandable that some newbie travelers can get caught up on this misleading and highly overused terminology. The term “visa-free” is often thrown around in immigration dialogues both high and low. Even on the official immigration webpages of many countries the phrase ”visa-free” is still used to mean visa on arrival.

I repeat, if your passport is stamped you have a visa. “Visa-free entry” is one of the most misleading terms in travel. Don’t get caught up by this misnomer.
http://flynaija.org/what-does-visa-free-entry-really-mean/

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on Saturday said contrary to reports, the state government’s private jet costs $45m (N7.1bn) and not $57 (N9bn).

The governor said this through his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, in an interview with our correspondent in Port Harcourt.

Amaechi described the allegations that he inflated the cost of the jet by $10m as unfounded and a figment of the imagination of those spreading such false information.

According to him, the allegations were targeted at distracting the state government from its responsibility of developing the state.

“The state government has never announced that the aircraft was purchased for $57m. That statement did not come from us. The aircraft was bought for US$45m. We see all these as a distraction,” Amaechi said.

Meanwhile, two aides to the Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Mr. Chikodi Dike, were on Saturday barred by a team of policemen from entering the council secretariat.

The two aides were the Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Mr. Tony Okocha and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Emmanuel Chinda.

The incident, which occurred around 2.30pm, came barely 24 hours after a team of policemen had sealed off the council secretariat allegedly on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu.

Workers of the council and visitors on the premises were also ordered out of the secretariat by the policemen on Friday before sealing off the place.

Speaking with newsmen outside the premises of the council, Okocha described the development as a coup against the people of Obio/Akpor and the people of the state in general.

Dike had earlier gone to the secretariat for the monthly environmental sanitation, but was warned by the fierce-looking policemen that had mounted guard at the gate of the council secretariat for two days to stay away.

Okocha, who was peeved by the development, went to the council secretariat in company with Dike and Chinda.

However, the policemen stood their ground when the Chief of Staff and other government officials arrived the secretariat, saying they were acting on the order of the Divisional Police Officer of Rumuokoro Police Station.

Okocha said, “You can see that the whole place is blocked with police vehicles and policemen. This morning, the police PPRO had said no such thing existed. That is why I came to see things for myself.

“I was trying to find out the man who gave the instruction: the policeman I saw said it was the DPO who gave the instruction and he said the DPO is not around. I said okay; give me the name of the next person around.

“What I suspect is a coup in a democratic setting; a coup against Obio/Akpor local government and a coup against Rivers State. We know their plan is to provoke the people of Rivers so that there would be some kind of mayhem for them to declare a state of emergency.”

He told newsmen that the state police boss had told him that the order to seal off the council secretariat was from the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar.

He described the action of the police as anti-government, saying, “I don’t know whose script they are really acting out. I am shocked.”

The PPRO, Mr. Ben Ugwuegbulam, had earlier said policemen were sent to the secretariat following a tip-off that there was a plot to attack the council secretariat.
http://flynaija.org/quote-us-right-our-private-jet-cost-n7bn-not-n9bn-amaechi/

The Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah has presented a new aviation policy intended to bring new and sustainable regulatory structures into the industry for security and safety of airline passengers and crew.

Also, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Folu Akinkuotu has stressed the need for stronger regulations on the aviation industry in Nigeria, stating that 65 per cent of accidents were due to human error and decried an alleged laxity in the operations of the NCAA.

Oduah said the aviation policy was last reviewed12 years ago. The minister presented the new policy, tagged “The Revised National Civil Aviation Policy 2013” (NCAP), to aviation stakeholders and the public yesterday at the headquarters of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja.

Represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation reform, Ms. Ann Enne-Itta, the minister said the policy “identifies and addresses the overall benefits of connectivity and globalization of our economy, with particular emphasis on investment in airline operations, infrastructure and collaboration with private sector, local communities and other stakeholders”

While stating that the revised policy has encapsulated the new vision and mission of the aviation master plan, Oduah also disclosed the areas, which the new policy covers to include: state safety programme; accident investigation and prevention, monitoring and control of general aviation; introduction of an effective search and rescue mechanism as well as the development of an effective and sustainable economic regulatory framework.

The revised NCAP 2013, according the minister, goes in sync with section 769(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 2006 and consists of 10 critical parts of the aviation industry, which “would be reviewed every five years or when necessary.”

Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, George Ossi, represented by Clement Dosunmu, while speaking earlier urged the field operators to keep the ministry abreast of the implementation constrains, adding that the new policy holistically reviewed the policy system, regulatory environment, safety and enabling environment for investors.

Chief Executive Officers of Overland Aviation, Med-View airlines, IRS airlines and the chairman of Quit Aviation Services, in their goodwill messages, commended the minister for coming up with the new policy, stressing that the previous policy had become cumbersome to implement.
http://flynaija.org/trasnformation-in-aviation-sectors-as-minister-unveils-new-policy/

Lilimax: Thanks for the insight.

You welcome!

One of the general questions: ”About 7 months ago I booked tickets for my girlfriend and me to Hawaii. Unfortunately, we are no longer together, so I want to travel with a friend of mine instead. I’ve called American Airlines and they say my girlfriend’s ticket can’t be transferred to anyone else and no name change is possible. Is there any other option or am I out the entire ticket cost?”

One of the most frustrating aspects of airline tickets, for anyone who has bought tickets for a family member or friend and then had that person unable to go, is the inability to do a name change or transfer the airline ticket to someone else. I’ll give a bit of background on why this is the case, address Eric’s question, and then give some tips on what to do to prevent having this occur.

Why Airlines Don’t Allow You to Do a Name Change for an Airline Ticket or Transfer It To Another Person
While some airlines may lead you to believe it’s for security reasons that you can’t change the name on an airline ticket or transfer it to somebody else, there are no regulations that prevent this, and in fact name changes are accommodated in some instances, such as marriages and divorces.

The real reason is revenue protection. As you know, airlines have fare buckets, with the cheapest fares selling out, then the next cheapest fares, etc. What used to happen, before the airlines enforced strict name change rules, is similar to what happens at many concerts or sporting events: Speculators would snatch up the cheapest tickets, then sell them at a markup closer to the date of departure. Obviously that was a problem for the airlines, who wanted to be able to capture the revenue associated with the most expensive last-minute seats and not lose out to the secondary market created by these speculators. By making airline tickets non-transferable, airlines are able to ensure that you don’t turn around and sell that ticket you can no longer use on eBay or give it to someone who would otherwise have purchased a more expensive ticket.

Can You Change the Name on an Airline Ticket or Transfer It to Another Person?
There are certain times name changes that are officially allowed:
Spelling changes to correct an error
Changes to last names due to marriage or divorce
Changes to prefixes (Mr. to Dr.)
All of the above anticipate the original passenger flying, and simply correcting the name to correspond with their official ID. That doesn’t help Eric, unfortunately, since he no longer plans to fly with his ex-girlfriend and wants to change the passenger.

How about unofficially? There are accounts of passengers who managed to get a sympathetic agent or manager to either refund the ticket with a cancellation fee, or, more rarely, change the name to another person, although usually this is actually a rebooking that incurs change fees and any difference in fare, so not just a simple name change. It doesn’t hurt to try, however–be extra nice, acknowledge the airline’s non-transferability rule, and try to find a sympathetic agent or manager who is willing to make an exception.

Now, some people would resort to illegal tampering and photoshopping of the electronic boarding pass, but I do NOT recommend this, for obvious reasons.

It’s probably not worth it for the cost of a Hawaii ticket, but for expensive international tickets, people have been known to do a legal name change in order to be able to use the ticket. Extreme and a hassle? Yes. But also legal, and could be economically worth it to some people.


Tips

Here are some other tips to avoid airline ticket name change and transfer issues and minimize expense:

Avoid buying a ticket for someone else, especially a friend, girlfriend or boyfriend. That way, if for whatever reason s/he isn’t able to go or chooses not to go, you’ll only have your ticket to worry about, not theirs
If you do buy a ticket for a friend and it’s not a gift, try to settle upfront and get the friend to pay you for his/her ticket. In the event s/he chooses not to fly, s/he can receive a voucher (less the cancellation fee) for the ticket, which will be issued in his/her name
Non-refundable means exactly that. If you want the flexibility to get a full refund, you’ll need to buy a more expensive refundable fare OR better, use frequent flyer miles so that you’ll just incur cancellation and redeposit fees (or even avoid these if you’re elite)
Always check your E-Ticket carefully after purchasing for any spelling mistakes. In the U.S. at least, you can cancel for a full refund within 24 hours of purchasing, or you may be able to get the name corrected for no charge within that period

Avoid doing a legal name change between purchasing an airline ticket and when you fly, if possible
If all else fails and you know you won’t be able to use the ticket, change it for a date far in the future and monitor for any schedule changes, since a material schedule change will allow you to cancel the ticket without penalty. You can even make it more likely that there will be a schedule change by adding more connections and tight ones, but keeping departure and final destination the same.

Have any experience or tips to share about airline ticket name changes or transfers?

http://flynaija.org/reason-why-airlines-dont-allow-you-make-name-change-ticket-transfers/

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Key responsibilities will include developing and implementing initiatives that help build Qatar Airways global brand and establish ownership of the market space, formulating and implementing the area sales strategy to maximise short and long-term revenue opportunities and reduce cost of sale, managing local relationships with other airlines, trade body representatives, government and civil aviation authorities, maximising sales opportunities through vale added partners (hotels, car hire) and recommending the annual revenue budget.

Apply Here: http://flynaija.org/job-alert-country-manager-nigeria-needed-at-qatar-airways-lagos/