Haha...this is how I think! Well, I don't think anyone can really
answer your question, because obviously the stakes are so high. This
is what you face all over Africa, tight schedules with not all that
many air options if something gets messed up. I've only flown Air
Namibia a couple times...and I must say that the lines at the Windhoek
International Airport were the VERY WORST I have EVER seen last
summer. This airport has more tourists than it was ever created to
handle, and it gets inundated at peak times. If you are trying to
negotiate the line during this time...well good luck. I got there
really early-- more than 2.5 hours before the flight and I barely made
the flight! I heard them telling people that they would have to wait
to get a seat assignment, and those people just totally freaked out.
(Warning: this was for a flight to Joburg, so it was a big plane. I
think they are less likely to overbook a small plane to Maun.) There
is another airport in Windhoek that also handles international
flights...perhaps to Maun? I've heard that this is less crazy. Which
airport does your flight use?
So the upshot is this: there is a chance, during the August peak
season, that they have overbooked. Are there additional flights, on
Air Namibia or anyone else AFTER your flight? (For example, are there
options to go thru Joburg or Gaborone to get to Maun? )If there is,
that is a bit of insurance...because they are likely to put you on one
of those flights first. If there are not other air options, and you
are the one bumped from the flight, there is no other way to get there
that day. So you have two choices: (1) plan to get to Maun a day
early or (2) make sure you get to the airport really, really early for
your flight so someone else is the one to get bumped!
Advantages of getting to Maun a day early: this one helps if there is
another problem, like mechanical problems or flight cancellations.
Disadvantages: there is nothing to do in Maun before your itinerary
continues...and you waste a precious day in Africa. And I'd only do
this if you can't get on a earlier flight on the day you originally
planned.
So this is a situation where it really makes sense to get to the
airport early. Really early...ungodly early. There isn't much to do
(they do have a duty free shop at the International Airport, but not
much else.) Bring a snack and water, and a good book. AND make sure
you call to reconfirm your flight when you are in Namibia. Good
luck-- when you worry like this, things are less likely to go wrong!
wrote in message news:...
> Just wondering if anyone has had any good/bad experiences on regional air.
> As we will be travelling to Nairobi from Johannesburg
> Also there were a few posts in regards to air namibia over selling their
> aircraft (I know most airlines do the same) What i would like to know as i
> have tickets flying from Windhoek to Maun on their 19 seat aircraft what if
> they over sell that what do they do to get you to Maun as they only fly 3
> times a week.
> thanks |
