Nollywood actress and popular On-Air Personality, Simidrey, has raised her voice against an airline after a harrowing travel experience that left her stranded in South Africa for more than a day. The incident, which she described as deeply distressing, involved being denied boarding for a flight she had fully paid for, culminating in a controversial demand from the airline.
The Ordeal: Confirmed Ticket, Denied Boarding
According to Simidrey's detailed account, she held a fully paid and confirmed business class ticket for her return journey. However, at the airport, she was repeatedly refused boarding. The reason given was an alleged internal error by the airline itself. While her ticket showed as valid in the carrier's system, staff reportedly informed her that her name was missing from the operating airline's passenger manifest.
The situation quickly descended into a cycle of frustration. She was placed on multiple waitlists and standby flights, but each time, she was not allowed to board the aircraft. This prolonged delay stretched beyond 24 hours, leaving the actress in a state of limbo far from home.
The Coercive Ultimatum: Waive Rights or Stay Stranded
The controversy reached a peak when the airline finally presented her with a stark choice. She was informed that a single seat was available on the next flight out, but it was in the economy cabin. To accept this seat, she was required to agree to classify the move as a "voluntary downgrade" and, crucially, to sign a waiver forfeiting her right to any compensation for the significant downgrade and the extensive delays.
Simidrey described this demand as nothing short of coercive and unfair. She stressed that having paid for a business class service, she was now being pressured to give up her legal rights simply to secure a way home after a problem entirely caused by the airline's operational failure.
Emotional and Physical Toll on a Nursing Mother
Adding a deeply personal and urgent layer to the incident, Simidrey revealed that she is a breastfeeding mother who was desperately trying to return to her baby in Nigeria. The entire experience, marked by uncertainty, waiting, and confrontation, was not just an inconvenience but a source of significant physical exhaustion and emotional drain.
In an emotional video shared on social media, the actress called for urgent intervention and accountability. She argued that the treatment she received went beyond poor customer service, pointing to a troubling pattern of lack of transparency, care, and responsibility toward passengers. The video was reposted by prominent blog Linda Ikeji on January 7, 2026, bringing widespread attention to her plight.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about passenger rights and corporate accountability within the travel industry, especially for Nigerian travelers facing issues abroad. Simidrey's decision to speak out publicly underscores the need for airlines to uphold their commitments and treat passengers with dignity, particularly in resolving errors of their own making.
