Med-View Airline pleads with aggrieved passengers over delayed luggage
Med-View Airline on Thursday assured no fewer than 100 passengers whose luggage were delayed at the Gatwick Airport, London, that they would arrive Nigeria by Dec. 31
The Airline Managing Director, Mr Muneer Bankole, gave the assurance during an interactive session with the aggrieved passengers at the airline’s office in Lagos.
Bankole explained that 365 baggage were left at the London airport affecting 100 passengers, saying that adequate compensation had been given to the affected passengers.
According to him, an aircraft will depart Lagos for London on Friday morning and return same day, saying that the remaining luggage would be transported through the British Airways on Saturday.
Bankole said he felt the pains of all the “airline valued passengers’’, who were affected by the late arrival of the baggage.
“The situation happened in United Kingdom when the airline off-loaded some baggage for safety reason.
“So, the affected passengers are those who stayed with us for possible solution for their inconveniences.
“The airline and passengers ordeal started on Dec. 19 when Gatwick Airport closed the main runway for maintenance, and directed the airline to use the shorter runway.
“This was because the aircraft loads were heavier than the shorter runway, and the affected baggage were off-loaded.
“However, we accepted the blame, and we regret all the inconveniences and sincerely apologise for all the troubles they went through.
“We feel their pains, and really appreciate the patronage and we have apologised sincerely.
“We are addressing some of their needs and that is why we are here with my team,” he said.
The managing director said that some baggage arrived on Thursday, while their owners had been contacted for collection.
He said that the incidence was an unfortunate one that was not foreseen by the airline.
Bankole, therefore, assured them that the airline would take care of their accommodation, feeding and other costs that they might had suffered in the past five days.
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1 Comments
I am one of the passengers that was on the flight on the 23rd Dec from Gatwick to Lagos whose bag was left at Gatwick. I was also at the Medview office on Thursday 29th of Dec when Mr Muneer Bankole addressed the passengers and the media. I was originally suppose to return to London on the 30th of Dec but changed my flight to the 1st of Jan after speaking to Mr Bankole in person where he guaranteed all the bags would arrive on the 31st of Dec. I went to the airport and the head office again today (31st Dec) and was told the bags will arrive on the 1st or the 2nd Jan. It is clear now i changed my flight for no reason
After initially arriving on the morning of the 24th Dec i was assured that the bags would arrive on the 25th of Dec, then the 27th, then the 29th and finally the 31st.
As my emails to Medview regarding the compensation i was entitled to were largely ignored i had to go to the head office to discuss compensation in person. Here Mr Bankole stated that compensation will be dealt on a person by person basis – the impression being it will only be discussed with those who came to the office and demanded it, not to all who are entitled.
The reason that flight on the 23rd Dec was delayed, as i was told by the Medview staff at the time, was because the Medview staff overloaded the plane with too many checked-in bags. They then proceed to unload some of the bags. The reason there were so many bags was because some passengers were travelling with up to 12 bags, i even saw 3 large wide screen Tvs being checked in. Upon arriving at Lagos airport on the morning of the 24th Dec, i met passengers who had flown as early as the 19th Dec who were still waiting for their bags, and described images similar to what i saw of people with much more luggage than permitted being checked in.
This is by far the worst experience i have ever had flying. This was my first and will likely be my last flight with Medview. From no one being at the Medview staff offices at the airport, to staff members hiding or refusing to give out their phone numbers of their names, to the entertainment system not working on the flight and even as far as the personal lights above your seat not working. It appears that Medviews incompetence knows no bounds.
We will review and take appropriate action.