Point Afrique: Opinions?
 

Hello everybody,

I'm seriously considering a trip to Mali in January and would like to
know about anyone's experiences with flying through the Point Afrique
agency in France (http://www.point-afrique.com/). I have read one
negative review from someone who sounds like they had possibly never
been on a third world flight before (their experience actually sounded
a lot like coworkers of mine who last flew United Airlines here in the
U.S...delays, poor communication to the passengers, etc.) I have seen
another person say "avoid", but gave no reasons at all. However, I
find that many, many outlets for tourism in Mali direct you to Point
Afrique for flights.

The flights are really cheap so I'm obviously not expecting a
brand-new plane with three meals and a movie, but is there a real
safety concern?

So...let's have it: Point Afrique. The good, the bad, the ugly?

I thank everyone in advance for their time.

-Ben

Hi Ben,

I've been flying with Point Afrique a number of time, mainly to Niger (Agadez) and - working in tourism in West Africa - have been "following them" over the last few years.

As an airline, they are Ok, not from far the most reliable as far as departure and arrival times are concerned.

They can sometime decide to take off one day before scheddule or change their airport from Niamey to Ouagadougou or Paris from Marseille. It can be quiet stressfull at time, especially if you are responsible for a group (ie getting the right nb of seat on time, making sure that all your guys are onboard, etc...).

I'd say that as an individual, if you have the right approach, it is
a. less stressfull
b. you have more chances to get onboard.
A reproach many people make to PA is that they are both a charter airline - that present itself as a lever to devellopement, a job creator and the whole eco-tourism shebang - and at the same time propose ultra cheap package in country which makes it very difficult for local tour operators too compete.
It is a long and complicated debate.

Otherwise they have been in business - with no crashes - for a good few years. As far as I remember they wouldn't charter the most dangerous planes in Africa.
And in many cases they are the only way to get to some W. African destinations. They are as well very cheap compare to the regular airlines.

Your other options a
- Royal Air Maroc: Very good value for money but still more expensive than PA
- Air France, which - painfull to say as a french citizen - is rather crap and very expensive.

HAVE A GOOD FRIGHT,

--
Charlie O Rapoport
Geographical Expeditions
+ 353 (0) 87 81 62 947

# ICQ : 331722862

www.geographicalexpeditions.com


These are not every day holidays....

________________





"drumzspace" a écrit dans le message de om...
Hello everybody,

I'm seriously considering a trip to Mali in January and would like to
know about anyone's experiences with flying through the Point Afrique
agency in France (http://www.point-afrique.com/). I have read one
negative review from someone who sounds like they had possibly never
been on a third world flight before (their experience actually sounded
a lot like coworkers of mine who last flew United Airlines here in the
U.S...delays, poor communication to the passengers, etc.) I have seen
another person say "avoid", but gave no reasons at all. However, I
find that many, many outlets for tourism in Mali direct you to Point
Afrique for flights.

The flights are really cheap so I'm obviously not expecting a
brand-new plane with three meals and a movie, but is there a real
safety concern?

So...let's have it: Point Afrique. The good, the bad, the ugly?

I thank everyone in advance for their time.

-Ben

Hi Ben,

I've been flying with Point Afrique a number of time, mainly to Niger (Agadez) and - working in tourism in West Africa - have been "following them" over the last few years.

As an airline, they are Ok, not from far the most reliable as far as departure and arrival times are concerned.

They can sometime decide to take off one day before scheddule or change their airport from Niamey to Ouagadougou or Paris from Marseille. It can be quiet stressfull at time, especially if you are responsible for a group (ie getting the right nb of seat on time, making sure that all your guys are onboard, etc...).

I'd say that as an individual, if you have the right approach, it is
a. less stressfull
b. you have more chances to get onboard.
A reproach many people make to PA is that they are both a charter airline - that present itself as a lever to devellopement, a job creator and the whole eco-tourism shebang - and at the same time propose ultra cheap package in country which makes it very difficult for local tour operators too compete.
It is a long and complicated debate.

Otherwise they have been in business - with no crashes - for a good few years. As far as I remember they wouldn't charter the most dangerous planes in Africa.
And in many cases they are the only way to get to some W. African destinations. They are as well very cheap compare to the regular airlines.

Your other options a
- Royal Air Maroc: Very good value for money but still more expensive than PA
- Air France, which - painfull to say as a french citizen - is rather crap and very expensive.

HAVE A GOOD FRIGHT,

--
Charlie O Rapoport
Geographical Expeditions
+ 353 (0) 87 81 62 947

# ICQ : 331722862

www.geographicalexpeditions.com


These are not every day holidays....

________________





"drumzspace" a écrit dans le message de om...
Hello everybody,

I'm seriously considering a trip to Mali in January and would like to
know about anyone's experiences with flying through the Point Afrique
agency in France (http://www.point-afrique.com/). I have read one
negative review from someone who sounds like they had possibly never
been on a third world flight before (their experience actually sounded
a lot like coworkers of mine who last flew United Airlines here in the
U.S...delays, poor communication to the passengers, etc.) I have seen
another person say "avoid", but gave no reasons at all. However, I
find that many, many outlets for tourism in Mali direct you to Point
Afrique for flights.

The flights are really cheap so I'm obviously not expecting a
brand-new plane with three meals and a movie, but is there a real
safety concern?

So...let's have it: Point Afrique. The good, the bad, the ugly?

I thank everyone in advance for their time.

-Ben