First of all, we booked our ticket with Air Excel through Viva Air and only paid around 35 euros a person for a one way flight, booked the day before departure.
When arriving at the airport, it wasn’t what we expected. Don’t get me wrong, we didn’t expect a fancy airport in a place like Arusha but a sandy underground and a security scan in a tent wasn’t what we expected. Checking in doesn’t go as usual. Before entering the airport, there is a quick security scan as seen on the picture. When arriving inside, we arrived in the general hall. We had to head to a small desk (well, more a person than a desk) where we got our boarding pass. They were weighing our hand luggage and our cabin luggage and seemed to be quite strict with the maximum weight (all your bags together and also hand luggage was part of the total kilos you were able to take).
The airport it self was not much. There was one big area (mainly outside) with a bar/restaurant where you were able to get a beer/coffee/snack/lunch. Next to that area, as displayed on the pictures there was a small shop. Next to the shops, there is an entry towards the gate. There is only one gate at the airport where you will wait for all your flights. Be prepared, there are no screens telling you where to go and when your plane is leaving!
Well, here the most exciting bit starts – which was also the part that surprised us most. As explained before, there are no screens available that pass you boarding information. You have to pay attention to the stewards walking around and picking people from the boarding area to head to their flight. Don’t ask me how they know who is on which flight, but apparently they do. By the moment, you are called towards the plane, you follow them along the path to where your plane is departing. We were a little bit stubborn and stressed and followed a different group that was leaving at approximately the same time. But, they didn’t like that too much. In the end, we also figured our flight was delayed by about 45 minutes. Summarizing, just trust on the stewards, they will guide you to the plane when the time is there. However, it never hurts to ask about the process so you feel slightly more comfortable
When we were flying from Zanzibar to Dar Es Salaam, we had a slightly larger plane, which also meant that the announcement was a bit more clear. Everything described prior to this, was focussed on a plane that fits around 20 persons.
Next on, the flight itself. Call me a little bit unexperienced, but I never – NEVER – expected that we would be in a plane this small with no own room for the pilot. We even had a passenger sitting next to the pilot, which also meant there was no co-pilot on the flight. It really felt like we were in some kind of simulator. Even though the experience was in the beginning quite nerve wrecking, I did love the flight! It is certainly an unforgettable experience and even that might be a reason to take a domestic flight in Tanzania.
