₦airaland Forum

coolcharm:
You mean they didn’t tell you what your offense was? That’s strange.

No, they didn’t! And we even learned later that this was their usual practice with Nigerians, especially women (generally female travelers, regardless of age) traveling with them. There are also many negative reviews about the airline on the internet. You can google them and see for yourself.

Hello fellow Nairalanders, I would like to share my bitter experience with you in the hands of both Egyptair staff and Egyptain Immigrations.

Two weeks ago, my two younger sisters (ages 8 and 11) and I (27, female) embarked on an Egyptair flight to Canada. At Murtala Muhammed International Airport, our check-in was smooth. The staff verified our passports, visas, BTA, and all other mandatory documents with friendly smiles. Everything seemed in order — until one of the check-in agents pulled us aside. The agent’s demeanor suddenly shifted. He expressed concern and warned us that, despite our complete documents, we might face challenges with Egyptair staff and Egyptian immigration during our connection in Cairo. He explained that many Nigerian passengers had experienced undue mistreatment and harassment. Although he promised to do his best to protect us, his warning cast a long shadow over our journey.

When we arrived in Cairo for pre-boarding, the situation quickly deteriorated. As our turn came, an Egyptair staff member singled us out. He collected our passports and began an extensive interrogation. He asked about our final destination (which we answered was Canada) and demanded various documents. We provided our BTA for a $7,000 CAD two-week tourism trip, hotel bookings, Viator activity confirmations, company letters, bank statements, our Dollar Mastercard, a consent letter for my sisters, and a school permission letter signed by the proprietor. Despite our cooperation, he continuously delayed us, ultimately causing us to miss our flight. When we asked what our offense was, he curtly responded that we would have to return to Lagos and rebook our flight. His behavior grew increasingly hostile — yelling at us, making inappropriate jokes in Arabic, and even threatening that he’d charge us for his hospital bill if anything were to happen to him. The humiliation was unbearable, and both my sisters and I broke down in tears.

Once it was decided we would be sent back to Lagos, we were escorted in a security vehicle with armed officers, treated as if we were fugitives. The same staff member who denied our boarding was even present in the vehicle. We were the last to board, forced to sit at the very back of the aircraft. Two security officers sat with us throughout the flight, constantly watching our every move. We were not served water or food, and my sister, already weak from the ordeal vomited twice during the flight. Upon landing at Lagos Airport, our passports were handed over to Nigerian immigration officers, who were prepared to stamp us as deportees. Fortunately, some empathetic officers listened to our account and recognized the situation as a case of racism, preventing further punitive action.

I share my experience as a warning: if you value your safety and financial well-being, steer clear of Egyptair.

A word is enough for the wise.