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Dubai, New York and London, How Nigerian Airports Compare
A travel journal by Chizitalu Uwechia, London, UK
Dubai is arguably one of the most luxurious cities in the world. It has consistently grown as a top hotspots for travelers who want to enjoy the glitz and allure of the modern, yet unique atmosphere it offers. The city's Dubai International Airport offers the first glimpse of its exuberance. After all, a country's or city's airport gives the traveler a compelling first impression of the place on arrival. Airports portray the city or nation in some cases and they can set the tone for one's stay or even help those with just a connecting flight decide whether to consider a layover or connect as a destination in the future.
Some of the airports used most by Nigerian travelers include; John F Kennedy Airport in New York City which represents the city fairly well. The New York attitude, the brashness, the haste and impatience are extremely present beginning with the airport staff, although there are still bits of sweetness one encounters occasionally. There are more McDonalds and Dunkin Donut shops than probably any other kind. Nothing is free or cheap. The trolleys will cost about $6 and there is no public Wi-Fi available. To get connected, you have to charge a credit card. Customs lines seem to be forever moving slow, even for US citizens. The plus, however, is that safety is a priority at JFK. Some of the terminals also have a lot of space and the airport is generally clean and smoke free. Let's go to Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja, Nigeria, which is better all-around compared to the more popular Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. However, compared to a number of other international airports it is far behind. It is small, holding one arrival entrance for all international flights with the departure entrance a few feet away. There is one departure and arrival entrance for domestic flights as well. The shops inside are limited in number and type. Like JFK nothing is free but can be considered cheap depending on the currency you hold. Disorganization is evident during check in, through customs, and baggage retrieval. And, of course, everything afterwards. Power goes out occasionally, adding to the frustration. Finally, the Nigerian ego is extremely evident with every officer acting as the head chief but in counter balance of that is the very humble, warm and welcoming spirit of Nigerians which is absent in JFK and many other international airports. One will never see as many genuine rich smiles anywhere else. In the UK, Heathrow airport represents the city of London almost to a T. The airport is extremely clean and considerate of its travelers. Trolleys are free and so is Internet Wi-Fi, for up to four hours, which is life saving for those who need to keep in touch or work on their journey. There is also a good variety of shops and restaurants. Everything is organized and runs smoothly. Check in, security and customs lines move fairly well even if one is not a citizen. And baggage retrieval does not take forever either. While it may seem that Heathrow is at no fault, the distance to the city maybe its major problem. It is about an hour plus from the city in taxi, and even though there is a 16-minute express train ride to the city it costs about £23. Now back to Dubai International Airport, where many Nigerian businessmen and tourists have been heading in the past decade. Dubai has everything you can find in Heathrow but with the interior ofa 5 star hotel. It actually has one such hotel in the complex. Dubai International has Palm trees, a waterfall and silver chrome decor along with luxury shops and supermarkets. Dior, Gucci, Burger King and Starbucks all give the International feel to the lounge. If you feel like picking up the latest iPhone or the Samsung galaxy, they are readily available. The staff are friendly and helpful and security is a breeze. Dubai International's biggest issue just might be how big it is and how crowded it can get. The journey to get to some gates can be a bit much, especially with a crowd of people surrounding you. Just about every one of these airports could pick up at least one thing from the other, whether it is hospitality, organization or presentation. Hopefully, at least in the youngest generation's lifetime Nigerians will see Nnamdi Azikiwe and Murtala Muhammed airports attain Dubai's standard. One can dream, right?