A Travel and vacations forum. TravelBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » TravelBanter forum » Travel Regions » Africa
Site Map Home Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Point Afrique: Opinions?



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old September 15th, 2004, 03:40 PM
drumzspace
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default 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
  #2  
Old September 16th, 2004, 12:25 PM
geoex@eircom
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


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

  #3  
Old September 16th, 2004, 12:25 PM
geoex@eircom
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


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

 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
a 100 point ID? Anonymous Australia & New Zealand 2 July 30th, 2004 01:18 PM
Eurail pass vs. point to point Joe Europe 1 May 12th, 2004 08:08 PM
Point to point vs savers pass (2 months with 14 days) Europe Amanda Backpacking and Budget travel 2 May 8th, 2004 02:41 AM
Point to point vs savers pass (2 months with 14 days) Europe Amanda Europe 4 April 29th, 2004 03:17 AM
a 100 point ID? 4000 psi Australia & New Zealand 7 March 21st, 2004 02:36 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:13 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 TravelBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.