19/01/2025
Have you ever missed your international flight? I always wondered why anyone would miss their flight, like what will you be doing to make you miss a flight that was pre-booked for a journey that was pre-planned? 🤷🏾♀️🤷🏾♀️😳
If I have a flight especially an international one to catch, I’m awake long before I need to be preparing
But my people say I don’t care na who e never happen to before. 😆
I have never missed a flight but had a close shave back in 2023 coming back to the UK from visiting family.
I initially lodged in a hotel in Ikeja and checked out early for my flight at 11am that day, was about to do online check in when I noticed my flight had been rescheduled for 7pm later that day.
My relative’s sister had offered to come pick and drop me off that morning so when she showed up, she said not to rebook my hotel that she’d take us somewhere - me and my relative to wait until it was time. She went and lodged us in another hotel. Really lovely hotel but too far away from the airport, I complained to my relative on our way there because she seemed to drive for what felt like forever but it seemed like I was trying to start something or maybe unappreciative so I let it go. When she checked us in and left, I asked for her to come and pick us at 4pm and she agreed but she ended up coming so late and then we got stuck in traffic’s and by the time we got to the airport, it was just one hour left to departure time. Security outside and the export people insisted on searching my bag that they want to see if I’m travelling with food items I shouldn’t and bla bla bla - but that was a ploy to delay me until I drop something .
I refused to drop something and fought back but my relative just settled them and pleaded with them to let me go. They were taunting me that I’m
About to miss my flight and I’m here arguing with them.
That day was horrible ehn I used tears and quarrel to finish my relative and his sister. Got to check in counter and Qatar airways staff claimed they’re closed and that I’ve missed the flight. Thankfully there were a few others and after much verbal war between me and them my relative managed to calm the situation so I was able to check in. That day I was in full attack mode 😆😆😂
Then my bags were heavily overweight and needed repacking and that took a lot of time and I ended up removing so many good times. I cried from the counter to immigration point where they cleared me even the man clearing me and stamping me out queried why I was crying.
Reaching the boarding gate, they stopped me again saying my hand luggage weight was excessive. At this point, I couldn’t bear to remove anything cause everything in my hand luggage and laptop bag were essential, my new jeans that I just bought, my new pair of Nike Airforce 1. Abi Shulai drop my laptops? One was for me and one I bought for my brother in Lagos
They started threatening to deboard my luggage and that I would miss the flight, I was fighting back but no relative in sight this time to take charge of the situation. I was fighting and I was losing .
Suddenly, some guy appeared and tried to make small talk but I wasn’t having it until he said he knows my elder brother and was there when he returned 2 years back and 3 of us went to eat at the airport. Apparently he works in the airport so he tried to use his influence to let me go but either he isn’t influential enough or those Qatar airways ladies were out to teach me a bitter lesson. Eventually, I succumbed and dropped my laptop with the guy and got my hand luggage under the required weight and was finally allowed to go.
Was last to get on the aircraft and I cried and ran all the way into the plane, cried till I stowed my bag and sat down and cried until take off 🤦♀️🤦♀️
2 years later and I haven’t fully forgiven my relative and his sister 🙄
Decided that I wouldn’t fly Qatar airways again to Nigeria. Instead make I book BA with Klarna 😆. Although Qatar airways inflight meals are so good and I miss it 😊
