Absolute Disgrace flying with Mango

I had the ABSOLUTE WORST experience with Mango yesterday.

First off, our flight JE263 time changed to flight JE259 which I still don't understand as to why this was changed after enquiring about this when checking into our flight to Durban on Sunday.

Then after checking in we were notified of our gate which was E9 on the ticket. We went for coffee and decided to go to the gate early. Luckily we did, because on arrival there, we checked the flight board and noticed that the gate is D6. After checking with 3 airport staff and a couple of the passengers, nobody knew what is going on, so we all went to gate D6 and there we had the staff tell us that "Yes, the gate number was changed and that someone was supposed to tell everyone at gate E9." Please note that there was NO ONE at gate E9 to assist any of the passengers. According to one of the other passengers, there were staff there, but they left quite abruptly without advising anyone.

Then we get to the boarding part... We were supposed to board at 16H00, which did not happen. We waited and waited, and waited some more. None of the Mango staff addressed anyone as to why there is a delay. At about 16H35, we decided to enquire about the delay which is when we were told that the captain has not arrived. Okey, so in some cases you have a back up plan for this, right. The back-up plan was only informed at 16H45. We only heard about this at 17H00. AGAIN we enquired ourselves here; nobody bothered to keep us informed. Then FINALLY the back-up captain arrived, we all got very excided, just to be told at 17H15 that the aircraft was struck by lightning (HOW? When we were all waiting at the aircraft when the storm hit and didn't see anything???) and then at 17H20 where were told "Okey, we are boarding passangers now".

I mean really??!! Can there really be any more contradictory? A flight that was changed, very uninformed staff, lack of communication, no forward planning and lies. The best part is that after we finally boarded and were waiting to take off (1 hour and 15 minutes late) we are told that they are waiting for 2 more passengers. Honestly?! If the passangers are an hour and 15 minutes late, leave them!!

This is absolutely disgraceful!

Thank you, but I will NEVER fly with Mango again!