Couple ditched in one of the world's most dangerous cities by airline
A British couple are holed up in a hotel in one of the most dangerous cities in Africa after they were inexplicably bumped from their flight, they claim.
Dylan Clements and his partner have been forking out £200 a night to stay in a hotel surrounded by armed guards in Dar Es Salam, Tanzania.
They allege that they ended up in the city after they were removed from their booked flight with Oman Air with no warning, only discovering the bumping when checking their reservation two days before.
After ditching their 'dream' safari trip early to head to the city, Dylan claims the airline refused to put them on a new flight for two days.
"It is pretty bad how we've been treated, it was a once in a life time trip," Dylan, who runs Clements Travel, told The Mirror.
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"We were sitting at dinner two nights ago and went to check our seats. We saw our reservation was cancelled. It has been a stressful nightmare. We are spending the whole holiday trying to sort it out."
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The hotel they're staying in has a large security presence (Dylan Clements)Now they are battling with the airline to be put on a new flight today to avoid forking out £2,700 on new tickets to continue their 'holiday of a lifetime' in Oman - £2,100 more than they originally paid.
At around midday on Thursday the airline told them to return to the airport to board a flight to Oman, although Dylan fears they'll be bumped once again.
The 39-year-old has "spent hundreds" on calls and taxi rides to the airports, as well as losing several nights refundable stay in Oman at a cost of £1,500.
Since arriving in Dar Es Salam the couple have stayed in their hotel, aside from brief trips to the airport to try in vein to get on a flight.
"It's not the nicest place to be stranded as we're stuck in our hotel," Dylan said. "We can't leave. The hotel has barriers and guards. Every time we enter or leave the guards search your car and x-ray all your bags."
According to the Numbeo Crime Index, which surveyed 77,000 people, the city is the 10th most dangerous in Africa.
They've forked out £200 a night to stay in the hotel (Dylan Clements)"There is serious risk from crime in Dar es Salaam," the report warns.
"Street crime is rampant in the country’s urban areas, including in Dar es Salaam. Most incidents are crimes of opportunity, targeting people carrying bags, backpacks, computer cases, cameras, purses, or items left in plain sight inside a vehicle."
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The British High Commission says it receives regular reports of British nationals who have been the victims of mugging and bag snatching, while "armed robbery and burglary have increased throughout the country".
"In Dar es Salaam, tourists have been kidnapped, assaulted, robbed and forced with the threat of violence to withdraw cash from ATMs and arrange cash transfers of up to £5,000 through Western Union after being befriended by strangers or using unlicensed taxis," the UK Foreign Office warns.
However, the organisation does note that "most visits to Tanzania are trouble-free".
Dylan has been running his own travel firm for a decade and a half and says he has not heard of an airline ditching guests in this way during that time.
"They didn't tell us the flight was cancelled," he said. "I've never seen an airline leave someone high and dry like this, and I've been doing this for 16 years, and we've been through Covid and the ash cloud."
Oman Air has not responded to a request for comment.
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