By: Midmark Onsongo
Worth Noting:
- The lack of regard doesn’t stop at the flight experience itself. Many Africans have horror stories of being singled out during boarding, treated with suspicion at airport security, and seated next to the bathroom no matter how much they paid for their tickets. It’s as if the continent’s rising global status hasn’t quite translated into a better standing with the airlines.
- Let’s pause for a tongue twister: “Speedy airlines swiftly steal, slyly serve, and silently slouch!” It may be a playful twist of words, but this tongue twister mirrors the bitter reality. Speedy in collecting money, slow in delivering service, and silent when you need answers. Commercial airlines take your hard-earned cash with smiles but provide service as though they’ve reluctantly agreed to it.
“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,” so goes a wise proverb. Yet, commercial airlines seem to be rushing headlong into a pit of arrogance and disdain for African passengers. With the booming economy across many African countries, the continent is no longer a beggar at the table of commerce. Yet, airlines charge sky-high prices while offering subpar services, almost as if to remind us that despite the influx of wealth and progress, some attitudes toward African passengers remain stuck in the past. But why, dear reader, does this happen? Why do we pay more only to receive less?
Let’s begin by unraveling this complex issue. Consider this rhetorical question: how can an airline claim to cater to the world and yet treat African passengers with so little respect? To say that African travelers are treated as second-class citizens would be an understatement. Many have encountered situations where flights are delayed without explanation, and the customer service lines become silent tombs when complaints are lodged. And yet, when payment is due, oh, how swiftly and efficiently the bills arrive!
One can argue, “All passengers face similar issues, no matter where they’re from!” True enough. But let’s look deeper. African passengers, especially those flying from or to Africa, face inflated ticket prices in comparison to passengers from other continents traveling similar distances. It’s as if the airlines think Africa is a distant outpost requiring a king’s ransom to reach. And what do we get in return for this overpricing? Less legroom, indifferent service, and meals that could make even the most optimistic traveler lose their appetite. “Why buy a cow when you can get the milk for free?” the airlines seem to say. Only in this case, they make sure to charge you for that ‘free’ milk.
The lack of regard doesn’t stop at the flight experience itself. Many Africans have horror stories of being singled out during boarding, treated with suspicion at airport security, and seated next to the bathroom no matter how much they paid for their tickets. It’s as if the continent’s rising global status hasn’t quite translated into a better standing with the airlines.
Let’s pause for a tongue twister: “Speedy airlines swiftly steal, slyly serve, and silently slouch!” It may be a playful twist of words, but this tongue twister mirrors the bitter reality. Speedy in collecting money, slow in delivering service, and silent when you need answers. Commercial airlines take your hard-earned cash with smiles but provide service as though they’ve reluctantly agreed to it.
When you board a flight as an African, ask yourself, “Is this what I paid for?” And as you ponder, you’ll recall your last flight. The slow response to your requests, the unapologetic delays, and the questionable in-flight meals. How does one justify such disregard? “A leopard cannot change its spots,” you may think, but does that mean airlines will forever treat African travelers this way?
Riddle Me This: What Has Wings But Cannot Soar with Equality?
Here’s a riddle for you: I have wings but cannot treat all passengers equally. I fly high but leave some hopes grounded. I serve meals, but not everyone leaves satisfied. What am I? The answer, of course, is commercial airlines. The irony of it all is bitter. You would think the global airline industry, with its far-reaching influence and image, would be a beacon of fairness, not inequality. Yet, African passengers are left asking themselves, “Why pay more to be treated as less?”
Consider this: How many times have you found yourself traveling for hours across Africa with no inflight entertainment, delayed luggage, or insufficient communication? Worse yet, there is a normalization of these inconveniences as if it’s the ‘African experience’ to tolerate bad service. Does a lion become a lamb because it’s flown to a different jungle? No! Similarly, Africa should not become a byword for mediocrity in air travel.
Another Kenyan proverb states, “When the moon is not full, the stars shine brighter.” Indeed, in the absence of affordable, reliable service from international airlines, smaller African carriers have begun to emerge as alternatives. But the reality is, for long-haul flights, African passengers often have little choice but to turn to major international carriers that continue to dominate the skies. This limited choice puts African travelers in a bind—subject to higher prices, yet they receive less respect and attention. “You cannot serve two masters,” the airlines might argue, citing business pressures and market demand. Yet, if the customers are paying top dollar, they expect top service. Anything less is a gross failure.
“A child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.” The longer airlines ignore the pleas and dissatisfaction of African passengers, the closer they come to losing a valuable customer base. Africa is growing, and its people are moving faster, further, and more frequently than ever before. To alienate this market, to treat them as though they’re invisible, is to lose out on one of the most promising consumer demographics of the future.
But the onus is not solely on the airlines. We, as passengers, must demand more. “It takes a village to raise a child,” but it also takes passengers united in voice to demand fair treatment. Why should we not rally together and say, “Enough is enough!” If we can topple governments and bring social change, surely we can hold airlines accountable for the treatment they give us.
“Even the best cooking pot will not produce food,” goes another African proverb. In the same way, even the best airlines, with the latest technology and global reach, will not provide world-class service until they learn to respect all passengers equally. African passengers are not asking for special treatment; they are simply asking for the same regard given to others. They pay the same, often more, and should receive equal value for their money.
If airlines wish to continue flying high in African skies, they must learn that African passengers are no longer willing to accept subpar treatment. Just as the eagle soars high, looking down with a sharp vision on the earth below, it is time for African passengers to lift their heads high, demanding better service. The tides of time are shifting, and with it, the expectations of travelers across the continent.
In the end, “The eagle that soars highest must pay attention to the winds,” and airlines better heed the winds of change blowing across Africa, lest they find themselves grounded while African passengers take flight with those who finally offer them the respect they deserve.
This article was scripted by;
MIDMARK ONSONGO
(Sustainable economist, Geopolitics strategizer)
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