Come to the airport 3/12 hours ahead of your 40-minute flight? Only in Kenya!

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nairobi
Avatar of Linda Hohnholz
Written by Linda Hohnholz

Travelers from Nairobi yesterday had a rude shock when Jambojet, in a widely-publicized message on social media, urged their passengers to be at the airport some three-and-a-half hours prior to schedu

Travelers from Nairobi yesterday had a rude shock when Jambojet, in a widely-publicized message on social media, urged their passengers to be at the airport some three-and-a-half hours prior to scheduled flight departure. Citing added security checks when entering the airport, the airline responded to dozens of messages that it was not only not their doing, but they were trying to ensure that no one would miss their flight as a result of the extremely long queues of vehicles trying to get into the airport through the main entrance gate. It appears that this was a one off measure, though no details were available that triggered the added-security measures on August 8. There is presently no indication that this will be repeated over the following days, but passengers flying out of Kenyaโ€™s airports are advised to stay in close contact with their respective airlines to receive instant situation updates should something like this occur again.

As flights with Jambojet, Kenyaโ€™s latest low-cost carrier, are non-refundable and non-transferable, passengers missing their flight, for whatever reason, will have to purchase a new ticket, often at considerably higher expense for departure on the same day, as opposed to the very low fares available when booking weeks in advance.

Many passengers, though, took exception to these measures, claiming that for a 40-minute flight from Nairobi to for instance Eldoret the added time needed to be at the airport was unreasonable and unjustifiable.

FOR TODAY ONLY: Dear customers, due to the heightened security checks today, please ensure you get to the airport early so you can go through the security checks in time and avoid missing your flight.

Jonah K Mutai That’s a joke! 3.5hrs 1hr = 4.5hrs North rift to eldy, now where is that time saving aspect…
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Jonah. You can get at our check-in counter 40 minutes before departure as usual. We’re just trying to ensure our passengers don’t miss their flights due to the security check.
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John Ronoh How much is the air ticket to Eldoret?
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Fly Jambojet Hello, John. Our fares start from Kshs. 2,950. The earlier you book on www.jambojet.com, the lower the fare.
Jambojet.com – Home
www.jambojet.com
Jambojet is low-cost no frills airline set up to open up the skies for all to travel affordably and conveniently. Now you can fly!
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Phylis Mumbi Nkt! That’s too much time..to waste….
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Phylis Mumbi. These security checks were not being done by us. We were just trying to ensure our customers don’t miss their flights. Normal security checks have been restored.
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Moon Rider lol if I take tuk tuk will arrive 1st
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Fly Jambojet replied โ€ข 2 Replies โ€ข 2 hrs
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Anne Bitok Haiya!!Local check ins = > International check ins(2hrs) Security??. Is it more insecure going to Eldy or London? Food for thought. Jambo, tis tym round, NO!!
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Anne Bitok. These security checks were not being done by us. We were just trying to ensure our customers don’t miss their flights. Normal security checks have been restored. Now, our passengers just need to be at the check-in counter 40 minutes before departure.
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Lillian Wambugu I check in 1.5 hr before depature for international flights. You can only be joking to ask me to be waiting for 3.5 hrs for under an hour domestic flight!
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Lillian Wambugu. These security checks were not being done by us. We were just trying to ensure our customers don’t miss their flights. Even international flights were affected today. Normal security checks have been restored. Now, our passengers just need to be at the check-in counter 40 minutes before departure.
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Emma Ngute 3.5hrs! Then I can as well use the bus
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Emma Ngute. Normal security checks have been restored. Now, our passengers just need to be at the check-in counter 40 minutes before departure.
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Rama Ramz Useless
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Fly Jambojet These security checks were being conducted by the police, not Jambojet. Pardon us for providing this “useless” information and trying to ensure they don’t miss their flights.
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Mickey Kantai I direct u admin to giv me th number of ur CEO jambojet asap!!!! Thanx.
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Fly Jambojet No!
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Erick Okewe So what’s the difference between you and a Mbukinya bus is those hrs are to be spent before departure
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Erick. You don’t have to be at the airport three hours before your flight. Just be there early enough to ensure you’ll go through the security check in time and still catch your flight.
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Evangelist Tony Makau This is ridiculous do something
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Evangelist Tony Makau. Normal security checks have been restored.
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Kim Martyne hehehe, my coast air is still valid…
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Kim. Normal security checks have been restored. Now, our passengers just need to be at the check-in counter 40 minutes before departure.
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JR Mbatia U gotta be kiddin…kwani tuanenda planet ingine…??
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n thats y I hate #jambojet… freaking amateurs
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Fly Jambojet You hate Jambojet because we try to ensure our customers don’t miss their flights? Note that these security checks are done because of security alerts and are not conducted or controlled by Jambojet. They are done by the police, who are working to keep the airports safe.
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Sali Di Seriously???
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Fly Jambojet Normal security checks have been restored. Now, our passengers just need to be at the check-in counter 40 minutes before departure.
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Ahlaam Mtoto Bella last time i remember my ticket told me check in opens 2 hours before departure and closes 40 minutes prior to departure.3.5 hours kwani ni international flight?
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Ahlaam. These checks were being done by the police, not Jambojet. Normal security checks have been restored. You can check-in at the usual time.
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Sam Mkenya 3.5hrs +( 40min) is enough time to drive myself to eldoret…
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Sababu ya ku chukua flight ni ku save time si Ati ni pesa tumekosa Kitu ya kufanyia…
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Look for another way of doing things..
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Sam. These security checks were not being done by us. We were just trying to ensure our customers don’t miss their flights. Normal security checks have been restored. Now, our passengers just need to be at the check-in counter 40 minutes before departure.
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Chrispina Giovanneta Maina BS, I can drive to mombasa in four hours, soon I will start competing with jambojet
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Chrispina Giovanneta Maina. These security checks were not being done by us. We were just trying to ensure our customers don’t miss their flights. Normal security checks have been restored. Now, our passengers just need to be at the check-in counter 40 minutes before departure.
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Gloria Jagel Kadenge We take local flights to save on time…3.5hrs wait for a 0.5hr flight makes no sense, better just take a shuttle.
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Fly Jambojet If security is suddenly heightened, we have an obligation to our customers to inform them of the situation and to ensure they don’t miss their flights. We’d rather have customers angry that they had to come in earlier than usual than have them angry because they missed their flight.
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Justo Ngundi What! Then it’s better to drive there or use a bus. It’s even cheaper.
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Fly Jambojet Normal security checks have been restored.
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Bernard Munga No,No we don’t hv that tym to waste bana…….if u want us to kam 3 5 hrs earlier plz review and lower ua prices by 30%.
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Bernard. You don’t have to be at the airport three hours before your flight. Just be there early enough to ensure you’ll go through the security check in time and still catch your flight.
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John Boscow You cant be serious, 3.5hrs wait for a journey of 40minutes?
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Fly Jambojet Hello, John Boscow. We were just trying to ensure our customers don’t miss their flights following heightened security. Normal security checks have been restored.
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Baba Maxx Flights are meant to save tym, get it right
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Baba Maxx. You don’t have to be at the airport three hours before your flight. Just be there early enough to ensure you’ll go through the security check in time and still catch your flight.
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Abasa Omwoha Eliud Jullz Khakori, Angela Omwoha Mukuna, Joy Omwohaand going abroad ni 2hrs. Washindwe!!!!!
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Fly Jambojet Normal security checks have been restored. Now, our passengers just need to be at the check-in counter 40 minutes before departure.
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Becky Juma Then itakuwa faster kupanda bus ama shuttle. People take local flights to save on time
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Becky Juma. You don’t have to be at the airport three hours before your flight. Just be there early enough to ensure you’ll go through the security check in time and still catch your flight.
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Jullz Khakori Jambojet has started flying to London????
Coz 3.5hrs for a 30min flight
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Cc Angela Omwoha Mukuna Joy Omwoha Abasa Omwoha Eliud
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Jullz Khakori. These security checks were not being done by us. We were just trying to ensure our customers don’t miss their flights. Normal security checks have been restored.
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Kajal Varsani Huhhhhh! !!!!!
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Kajal Varsani. We were just trying to ensure our customers don’t miss their flights. Normal security checks have been restored.
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Lucy Wambui hee na sio mob sana waoo utamiza ladies coz u must 6 hour for preparation
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Lucy. You can still have your “preparation time.” Just be there early enough to ensure you’ll go through the security check in time and still catch your flight.
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Du-Prez Okello Sylvesters Errr..this is a local flight boss
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Fly Jambojet Hello, Du-Prez Okello Sylvesters. Normal security checks have been restored. Now, our passengers just need to be at the check-in counter 40 minutes before departure.
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Logan Christi Hambrick Hi ppl, it’s good advise. This morning the police (not JamboJet) have stepped up security and are taking long to check cars coming into the airport.
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Linet Kafuna Thanks will keep tym.
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Charlie Nyambu Take the advise or hit the road.Safety and security are paramount to aviation.You can’t eat your cake and have it.
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Anne Mute Guys there is a lot of traffic to the airport and I guess that why. . . took about 45 minutes through security check and all. That’s y you need to check in on time to avoid missing your flights
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Benedict Yala So u think one will be sitting down the whole day waiting for a local flight
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Julius Anunda Nitafanya hivyo!
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Nyar Japuonj Cheap is always expensive.
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Roxanne Odhiambo Cest impossible.
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Eng Wuod Caro They’ve kept quite.
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Fabisch Sunguch Terrible is the word.
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Pauline Mwangi All haz been said by my fellow Kenyans so act up
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Godfrey Kaimenyi You are not serious
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Kim Sawe Its 4hours by road to Eldoret…Jambo Jet plz grow up..nkt
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Mercy Didier Chep Oscar hey way.
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Fatma Khamis Jeeez a whole 3 and a half
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Lucy Wambui u mean utakuwa unastay 3 hour just like that unless u want 2 reduce those buzy pax
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Sam Mkenya This is bullshit.. Kwani Tunaingia theatre kufanywa surgery?
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Ahlaam Mtoto Bella 3.5 hours for a domestic flight?really?????
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Ishaq Karia How much from ELDO to Mombasa my email [email protected]
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Jane Kosgei How???? 3 and a half hrs? Get new ways of doing things.
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Riogi Mose Jeso, si afadhali matatu sasa, 3.5 hrs!!!! Then you fly for 45 minutes
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Riek Calvince Machar Thats too much,when a Subaru can take 4hrs to Nairobi from Mbsa,no,not good for me.

Thanks to the instant spread of such news through social media, passengers were able to get to the airport in time even though, as evident above, they were also able to vent their anger and frustrations. Whatever did people do before the onset of social media, but then, whatever did people do before mobile phones became commonplace? Right, in those old days, access to the airport was literally unrestricted and traffic jams literally unheard of. Good old days or bad new days? Whichever, there is only one way forward which is moving with the times, when any event, anywhere in the world, gets instant attention and like in this case, goes viral within hours of publishing the initial post.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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