The CEO of Fly540 airline Donald Smith Earle Frustrated clients are up in arms against local aviation firm, Fly540, for running what looks like a fraudulent scheme to steal from Kenyans.
Over the past week, commuters travelling with the low-cost airline have complained of meeting sudden frustration following last-minute cancellations of their flights.
To make matters worse, the company is yet to offer its esteemed clients their deserved refund, despite causing them a major inconvenience.
They only sent out a vague apology that fails to pinpoint what exactly led to the mishap.
Writing to this blog on Thursday, October 13, a client who booked a flight to Malindi over a month ago furiously lamented how Fly540 notified them of its cancellation just a few days ago.
The trip was scheduled for next week. "Good morning Nyakundi. Kindly I need your assistance to expose Fly540. We had booked our tickets to fly to Malindi with the airline in September. Just days before our flight next week, they cancel the flight and ask us to look for alternative flights without reimbursement of our money. Went to check on their Facebook page and apparently many people are complaining of the same issue and some have also got their flights cancelled on the same day also by this pathetic airline. It's very disappointing because all our hotel accommodations were booked and can't be cancelled and we had to buy alternative airline tickets at more than double the price we paid because we booked in advance. Kindly will appreciate all your help to expose these crooks at Fly540" the source writes.
A spot check on the Fly 540 Facebook page sufficiently leads to the conclusion that dozens of other unsuspecting Kenyans have also fallen victim to the continuous pattern of cancellations.
In one of the negative comments that the page admin has been promptly deleting, an angry client expressed deep regret after unprofessional customer service providers at the airline wasted her precious time and took her on a wild goose chase that bore zero fruit.
The lady explains that she had booked a flight to travel in early August, but the trip was aborted.
When she dialled the Fly540 helpline, a customer service employee flat-out lied that he could place her on an alternative flight on the said date and even convinced her to go all the way to the airport only to find the airline stand empty.
Engulfed in shock, she attempted dialling the customer care line again.
This time around, the operator hung up on her.
They later ridiculously asked her to find someone to sell the tickets instead.
The lady says she is currently working on a legal suit against the company. "Dear 540. I booked a flight with you to travel on the 3rd of August 2022. You cancelled the flight on the same day with just hours to my travel time. When I tried to get an alternative your senior staff member told me she is placing me on an alternative flight and made me go all the way to the airport only to find no one there. I had to purchase a fresh ticket with a different airline. When I tried to follow up with her, she kept hanging up my calls. I have tried to utilise these tickets from August to date. The story always changes and no one ever picks up your calls. Many emails later and 100 different stories being told to me from August to date I have not received my refund or a chance to use the tickets. I was even asked to hawk the tickets to someone I might know who wants to travel. If you have such unprofessional managers how do you operate? I won't even talk about how your flights are always delayed and no one informs you till check-in at the airport. I need a solution to this ASAP. I have actually had to involve an advocate to assist with this matter," her comment reads in full.