Karibuni Kenya

Sitting in the lounge, I heard the call for Mafia and so followed the man who had shouted it and was led out onto the tarmac.  Looking at the plane, it said tropical air on the tail, even though I had booked through coastal aviation.  Thinking nothing of this, assuming it was just another company contracted to fly y coastal, I got on the plane.  There someone came on and said they didn’t have my name on the flight list, which was just a sign in sheet for those flying.  Although I had already signed another sheet, I assumed this was a new one or the one for tghe plane rather than the airport, and so just signed my name again, although I was careful to ask him if they had my bag, to which he answered in the affirmative.

So we took off, had a lovely flight with some brilliant views, and then landed and they unpacked the baggage.  Mine wasn’t there. Bit of a drama, especially as I was told this was the only flight for the whole day.  I talked to the guys running the shack that is the airport, and asked them to call dar es salam.  After a few phone calls they said it might cme on the next flight.  ‘Next flight?’ I asked, ‘yes, the coastal flight’ he responded.  ‘oops, I think I may have got the wrong flight’, I said and showed him my ticket.  Sure enough, I had got on the wrong plane.  I had arrived in the right place, byut one hour before I was scheduled to do so.  A short wait and then the coastal flight came in with my bags and evrythingwas ok.

Some tips from my experience: 

- If flying a domestic flight, say you are a resident, since they never seem to checkon domestic flights if you have booked it through a travel agent and it saves a good amount of money.  Also, if flying to Mafia try to fly with tropical air as they are cheaper, although no one seems to know how to contact them (I will enquire and put up details if I find them).

- Assume nothing, and make sure you are on the right flight before you depart!