Worst Destinations in the World

[robo283]

I met the inbound IBZ-LBA flight in the early hours of this morning and there appeared to be an unusually large number of battered and bruised pax staggering off the a/c. Plenty of black eyes, cuts and war wounds. Tattoos a-plenty, most chewing gum with their mouths open whilst they stared vacantly through glazed eyes.
Having checked with the Senior and No.2 that they had not personally assaulted the pax in their care, I came to the conclusion that a war had broken out in Ibiza over the weekend.
Sadly, this appears to be the norm for IBZ.
Any nominations for even worse routes and grottier pax? (Genuine war zones don't count, just leisure destinations).

[verticalhold]

F***ING LAGOS!!!!!!!!!!!!:yuk::yuk::yuk::{:{:{

[simsalabim]

The throat slitters in and out of Belgrade.

[crib08]

LAGOS That must come from a virgin crew member right???

[cabincat]

Agree!!
Definately Lagos!!:eek:

[William Whizz]

Spanish-sun-alcohol destinations are the worst.
The other day one of my colleagues, PSR, had the police waiting on arrival at Alicante, as the passengers were having fights on board in between them!!!!! Of course DELAY

[verticalhold]

Sorry to disappoint. Front seat VVIP. I hate Lagos with a passion, although a quick check through the logbooks suggests Kano may be worse.

Sadly I've never even been allowed near a member of Virgin cabin crew, let alone their "personal in flight supplies."!!!:E

Was Lagos based for a few months. On my first trip out there the P1 took me to WH Smiths in LHR where we bought every copy they had of Mayfair, Penthouse and Playboy. God knows what the girl on the cash desk thought. Turned out the boys who wanted "dashing" would more often than not settle for a bit of soft porn instead. Seems they preferred well waxed western girls to the local variety. :E (Can't say I disagree with them either)

[VS-LHRCSA]

Lagos, Kingston and Islamabad spring to mind.

Mind you, I have often found that the experience DURING the flight has no bearing on the actual LAYOVER once down-route.

For example, Mauritius is a lovely place but operating the flight can be horrendous. Pax can be absolutely VILE, way worse than Lagos, etc. The same can also be said for Orlando. Fun when you get there, but the flight....:eek:

[pinkus]

2 way tie between Casablanca and Dhaka.
Casablanca pax are so demanding. Last one I did was about 60% full in economy and the crew did not sit down the entire 8 hour flight including the 3 additional crew sent to help from business and first class because they were almost empty. We ran out of sugar tea and coffee with about 3 hours to go and almost had a riot on our hands.
Dhaka is all labourers that have never seen a western toilet let alone a plane before. They s%$t in the sink, on the floor and all four walls of every single toilet and this is usually before pushback. The smell in the cabin is unbearable and they pinch all the air fresheners so you can't even spray them.They pretty soon crack on to the fact that if you press the button on the control panel the pretty lady comes to your seat and leer at you when you get there. Their English consists of three words whisky beer and "fefsi" ( pepsi)

On the topic of war zones I have also flown to Khartoum and the passengers were angels.

[whatzmyname]

Istanbul+Cairo+Casablanca are the worst for me. Arrogant,rude and very demanding. Especially their kids...:}

[airbus777]

In 10 years of flying the vilest flights i ever did were the KIN when down at LGW on worldwide..

[vodkaholic]

Yes you are right IBZ passengers can be rough as you like...however, in my company we find that we get mainly families going to IBZ. Our worst flights BY FAR are Reus and Bourgas...it's the chav express!! I honestly have never been spoken to so rudely in my life before.

[Jetlagged Purser]

Okay everyone, after reading your comments, I am going to stop complaining about my occasional trip to Puerto Vallarta. Your destinations and passengers seem much more difficult than the worst ones that I've recently worked. I've always heard about Lagos, but, Casablanca and Istanbul are complete surprises to me as being diffucult distinations. Thanks for the education and enlightenment! Happy flying to all! :)

Oh, just looked up the term 'chav' on a site for slang - great description for your passengers! I love it - 'the chav express' ! Thanks again for the education.

[toolowtoofast]

I like the Council House Associated Vermin the best :)

[Dan Air 87]

I have three more to add to the list:
1. Port Harcourt- simple message don't go there. It makes Lagos look tranquil and safe.

2. Brazzaville.- Slightly better than PHC but only just.

3. Rhodes. Over run with tourists with awful facilities.

[William Whizz]

Spanish passengers on a Cuba flight treat the crew as whores. They think because they are going to a country were they can have women any time, that they can start with the crew!!!!

[hetrotrolleydolly]

Freetown Sierra Leone !!!!:}:eek::yuk::yuk::yuk::suspect::suspect::suspect::=

[titmitch]

Hetrotrolleydolly, you don't work for AEU by any chance!! Freetown isn't so bad if get over to the otherside.
Worst destination i had was norway in the winter, it was dark, dinghy and there was nowhere to go, the rooms were freezing as well.

[Doobs]

Conakry - Guinea, West Afica. What a hell hole
Georgetown - Guyana. Dangerous
Islamabad - Even more dangerous!!

[lvaxf]

Lagos: the pax can be very nice or very rude... no in betweens. staying in a hotel u can't leave where the power goes off every half an hour doesn't please me very much.

Dhaka: most smelliest and unhygienic flight i've done. not to mention their passion to smoke in toilets. hotel rooms stink, but great dvd copies!

Casablanca: on a full flight with dozens of kids it feels like going to hell. the place itself ain't that bad, just gotta watch ou a little extra and take nothing with you in the street.

Khartoum: when we landed at KRT, i looked out the window. i saw UN vans, planes, and their troops were sorrounding our A332. that day i was really glad i was doing a turnaround.

Istanbul: flew there as pax and crew. always a tough one, on my pax trip the captain came on the PA asking the pax to calm down or they would be ooffloaded and the delay would be even longer (we were experiencing a 2 hr delay already).

[AR1]

As ordinary, SLF, Orlando . Screaming brats everywhere. However I've never done the porn/party routes, what I've read makes my blood curdle!

Got thrown up on in economy returning BA from DFW! - BA staff fitted me out in Sleeper suit and another economy seat. An in-figiht upgrade wouldnt have gone amiss, but I did appreciate the response.

You workers have the cabin occupants to contend with, I have my doubts about the A/C instead. Spent 4 hours on a shagged out TU154 just waiting for it to roll on its back and descend earthwards. On the other hand, the CC who threw the in-flight catering at me didn't seem too bothered, so maybe I was over reacting.

[glamourgirl!]

Sorry has to be tel aviv! Dont mean to offenend anyone, but Im sure Jewish people get taught at school how to be akward passengers as they all seem to be the same?

[flytheplanemay]

Jeddah comes to mind.

[hetrotrolleydolly]

Hi titmitch,
No I dont work for AEU but I can assure all readers that the Bintumani hotel is a never to be repeated experience and should be renamed bintoomany after one visit !the place is full of $5 hookers ,stinks,no water for 36hours!!!etc etc
Yeah ok before anyone says it $5 is cheap!

On a more serious note it is a humbling place to visit, many people have absolutely nothing and it is sad to see so many desperate ,sad individuals with apparently no future ,I will take a cold night in Norway anytime !

[r.s]

I feel the need to defend Lagos! It's a nice little earner at my airline what with good allowances and great commision on duty free sales, and such a short flight time to boot. The pax have never been too bad in my experience, and Nigerians have a great sense of humour.

The worst for me by far has to be Bardados, followed by any other island in the Caribbean. Rude rude rude british holiday makers who seem to feel they are going to some far away magical place that you as the hired help could never afford to go, so they speak to you like dirt the whole way there and back. They seem to enjoy thinking up bizarre demands (demands - not requests) so they can revel in you not being able to oblige.

"My daughter wants you to paint her face so she looks like spiderman"

What with??

"I want a can of Carling!!! I don't like Stella or Heineken, so go and get me some f*cking Carling"

This particular chap was met by LGWs finest.

The return sector is even more a delight when they get on angry that they are sunburnt / got a funny tummy / have to go home etc etc... and it's all your fault.

I do love counting the number of women and children with braided corn row things, and being impressed by the redness of their scalps though.

[lvaxf]

you get commission on lagos flight?
we don't even take duty free...

[titmitch]

Hetrotrolleydolly - now i sympathiase as you stayed at the Bintumani. I actually told one of the prostitutes to F**k off as she was banging on my door at 3am looking for 1 of my colleagues (who is totally gay) as he told her he would buy her presents as a wind up and she thought he was in my room. After slamming the door in her face, she banged on it again. I opened it, walked out the room, ignored her shouting at me, went to the reception, woke up the chinese manager and got her and her mates removed from the hotel.
Usually i would be out enjoying myself with the rest of the crew, that night i wasn't feeling well and she got my anger full force for being woken up. As for the other trips i did to Freetown i had fun and tried to make the most of each trip and enjoy it.
Another place we flew to is Malabo in Equitorial Guinea. I was always weary when we fly there and didn't like it at all :uhoh:

[Virginia]

Amman.

Saudi.

Iran.

:yuk:

[I Just Want To Fly]

Virgin sells duty free on Lagos. Cash Only, and they pretty much buy what ever they can. "Give me Perfume"... "Which one sir?" "Anything!" So I find the most expensive one... I've never seen wads of cash that size!

[The SSK]

For those who remember the French airline UTA, they used to have a Twin Otter based in Lagos, to fly the night-stopping crew across the border to Lome in Togo.

[FlyingDr]

I am going to rally behind the Virgin Lagos night stops - is a great trip for communters....nice late check in - ok money - no jet lag - short flight - rude as you like passengers - think that Nigerian Traffic Warden off the BBC3 comedy programme - hilarious! Seriously we're not too precious to have a laugh for 5/6 hours...?! Then you get down route - if you're lucky on a weekend you'll get the club...that's got to be worth it really!?!

I've only ever witnessed two fights on a flight - both were to Barbados - both were mothers who were drunk and a complete embarassment to their families. Yep the thought of being super rich eating their free meal in economy really goes to the head when the person in front wants to recline after dinner - honestly people hate that right?! I was scared.... handcuffs at the ready!

[ladyflyby]

I have to defend Amman - it's a great city! and Jordan is a beautiful country with lovely people and fantastic cuisine! Same for Iran. If you are going to be negative about a destination at least give a reason why!

[Virgin Boi]

I want to defend Lagos too!

Nigerians are fantastic as passengers. They are very nice people who generally have a fantastic sense of humour and are very easy to work with once you get to know how to handle them.

In short their culture is very different to English culture. I find that if you are polite and firm, and tell it exactly like it is, you gain their respect and you will have no trouble whatsoever. LOS pax are so much easier to deal with that nasty, rude, drunk English pax on the holiday flights.

I had an elderly Nigerian gentleman on a recent flight who was REALLY angry that he couldn't use his credit card on board. He came storming into the back galley to find me (purser) to vent his anger. However, he was under the impression that the restriction on credit cards was only applied to Nigerians.

Once I had explained that regardless of nationality NOBODY could use their credit card on the flight (including crew members!) he calmed down and even ended up appologising to me for the "dishonesty and coruption of his nation forcing the airline to do this"!

[whatzmyname]

Hey guys,

Everybody has a different idea of 'a worst destination'. What is great for one,is a disaster for another. Just let people write what they want because that is what a forum is for. Why does everybody always need to be defended etc. This is not a personal attack. Only people writing their opinions relating to the topic. Relax!
I find it very interesting to see some of the destinations listed here.

[DozyWannabe]

r.s.
"I want a can of Carling!!! I don't like Stella or Heineken, so go and get me some f*cking Carling"

Hmm - that's a BNP line if ever I heard one. Shaven-headed chap a little on the tetchy side perchance?

[bikki]

The throat slitters in and out of Belgrade.
what did u say?

[Virginia]

Well ladyflyby (http://www.pprune.org/forums/member.php?u=176994), after having lived and worked in Jordan (for an airline) I found Amman to be very dull indeed and the food...urgh.

Just my opinion!

[gramlin]

Just one word; Heathrow.

[Patolucas]

Worst passengers, Kingston, Jamaica!!! Extremely aggressive and heavy drinkers. They seem to hate everyone, regardless your race or religion, they even hate Jamaicans. Awful flight.

To be honest, Nigerians suffer from their reputation but they're lovely people, good sense of humour and do not forget that the Nigerians that fly to Europe are mostly wealthy and well educated ones. I've left the hotel several times(another myth) and people are delightful. The problem sometimes is ignorance, some crew are so ignorant that they mistreat LOS pax and that's the worst thing you can do to a Nigerian.

[flyblue]

I find it very interesting to see some of the destinations listed here.
Indeed, and especially to see the different ways of dealing with difficult pax/situations.

I'd like to quote Tightslot's reply to the thread Which destination do you dread seeing on your roster... and why?? in September 2004. Still the best and inspiring prose on the subject I've read so far :ok:


OK, interesting thread, so here's the challenge. Find the route you hate the most, and then do some work on it! Clearly, most (not all) of your customers don't wake up and think to themselves "How can I P**s off my crew today?", so they're probably unaware of the effect they are creating. We're talking about cultural and sociological differences that grate out of context. So rather than wage a war with customers that ultimately you will not win, is there anything you can do as crew, that will enhance their experience as customers, and make life easier for you as crew?
I'm not being cute, I know full well that some groups of people can be difficult. I just wonder, if this thead doesn't demonstrate that there are some areas where we need more knowledge?
Take for example, my previous problem flight to Ovda (VDA) in Israel. Most crew in my company, hate these flights. If people want to pray, roll with it, and let them, at the doors if necessary. If they want to bicker about seats, just let it wash over you. If they want to stand up during the meal service, work around the problem - it;s not easy, but it's easier with the right frame of mind.
In short, I wonder if threre isn't more we can do on 'difficult' flights to make our own, and customers, life easier.

[Eddy]

I'm not a fan of New York. The flights are difficult because you've got all nationalities onboard and, while the people are lovely, communicating with them can be difficult because of the broad range of languages they speak - and it's amazing how many come onboard and are unable to speak or understand ANY Engish.

I find the destination overrated, expensive (OK, not so much at the moment with the strong GBP (or weak $)) and generally dirty. I've never seen another city of New York's size with such terribly roads in the downtown area. The traffic is hellish and it's crowded and noisy.

I don't hate it, but I'd rather go to Detroit (well, Ann Arbor) or Baltimore anytime.

As for Lagos, I don't mind it. The only problem I have is that whenever you have to say no to someone about something, as someone from Virgin mentioned above, the race card is pulled out. How anyone can accuse any member of airline crew of racism is beyond me. This job would be impossible to do if you had even the slightest racist tendencies.

[ContractFlyGal]

I love Amman, great city. I hate Lagos, I remember "rat boy" selling rat poison on the streets and he had dead rats hanging from a string on his belt.

Banjul is great, Grand Cayman is also wonderful.

Port au Prince is God awful.

[Where the sun is...]

I would definitely go for:
KARACHI as number 1 :yuk::yuk::yuk: flight,
then for MANCHESTER as a continuation of the KHI flight!

[apaddyinuk]

As someone who has flown for both QR and BA I have to say the WORST...(above LOS, DAC, ABV, ISB and CMN) is definately KINGSTON!!! I never ever did a good flight to Kingston to the point where when I got punched by a passenger I stormed into my manager and demanded to be never rostered another one ever again...and it worked!!! LOS is a piece of piss in comparison. Actually, I rather enjoy LOS flights, with the right attitude you can have a right laugh with the passengers!!!

[waves-dubai]

I am not here to condone any bad behaviour that is delivered to cabin crew. With so many indications relating to particular flights, I suggest a cultural study of these destinations in order to better understand these individuals.

Just my two cents

[crewmeal]

What's culture got to do with anything? There is no excuse for violence of this nature from anyone regardless of culture.

Back in the 70's it was DEL & BOM flights I hated ''gimmy 3 whiskys''

''Want baby food'' ''Where is your baby sir?'' ''In belly'' ''Is that your wife's or the aircraft belly?''

[homesick rae]

lvafx:

KRT: so you landed there and saw UN vans etc etc? I spent 10 days in KRT earlier this year and it was one of the most pleasant experiences ever. Safe, quiet and friendly.

IBZ has to be top for me as one of the worst flights but destination? Hmmm, probably DAC.

Istanbul can be daunting due to its vastness but if you know where you are going and keeps your wits about you it is fabulous...especially if you are staying at the Holiday Inn Atakoy!!

Cheers

HR

[dupont3700]

Kinshasa is really hell, very dangerous, very demanding pax.
Freetown Sierra Leone is sooooo nice. A shame we don't stay there anymore. I understand the AEU crew because they're stuck at the airport.We had that problem the last 3 months of our stay as well. Mainland is really nice. Best beaches ever and very cheap to eat really nice seafod.

[tomatolover]

I'd have to agree with one word, Heathrow, or as our Lufty opposites call it, Lagos of the North.

[Hotel Mode]

Theyve clearly never been to Lagos.

[oscarbravo]

Tel Aviv springs to mind,...

Most of the time the crew was made up of f/a on stand by duty as people had a tendency to suddenly get sick just before the flight,..we used to call this the TLV virus,...

A short 3 and half hour flight, full A330, 150 or so Pax in Y and on average 120 Kosher meals with their interesting sub-categories: Kosher Fish, Kosher Meat, Kosher Vegeterian, Kosher Glatt and all this with SLF swapping seats which made it very easy to deliver the right meal to the right person as you can imagine.

Shalom.

oscarbravo

[Evanelpus]

Am I missing something here or what? Are we talking destination airport or downtown destination.

If we are talking the former then Lagos is for sure the ar$ehole of the world.

Just my two cents.

[MCTMAN]

Without a doubt.......Casablanca,with the trashiest pax to boot.....

[DAVID ELLIOTT]

It has definately got to be a 6 Night trip to Theran {THR} when its your Birthday, mind you thanks to the British Embassy staff it wasn't all that bad!!!