No apologies for delayed flight
published: Monday | August 7, 2006

The Editor, Sir:

On Sunday, July 30, 2006, I arrived at JFK airport expecting to board a flight for 11:00 a.m. on Air Jamaica to Montego Bay. As a co-operative passenger, I came three hours early. However, while checking in, I was informed that the flight was delayed until 5:30 p.m. After waiting for half an hour, we heard an announcement that the crew was just arriving for the flight. Passengers were then told to start boarding according to seat number. But, instead of boarding an airplane, we were queuing to be shuttled to a North West plane. No explanations and/or apologies were given.

By the time persons from the last shuttle arrived, the overhead compartments could not accommodate their hand luggage. They were told to turn around and check in those bags. By the time this was sorted out. it was after 6:00 p.m., so just when we thought no more could go wrong, the flight attendant said that we would have a 20-minute delay because meal service had not arrived. By this time passengers started to voice their disgust. We finally buckled up but then were told that we'd have to wait to take off because there were 35 planes in front of us. We arrived in Jamaica at 11:30 p.m., approximately 11 hours after our initial arrival time.

This indeed was a flight from hell and worst of all, none of the Air Jamaican officials provided any explanations. As a passenger reiterated, if she wanted to fly with the said airline, she would have booked it. If Air Jamaica continues to operate in this slack manner, not even allegiance will save them.

I am, etc.,

KRISTINA YAPP-CHANG

yappchang20@yahoo.com

Via Go-Jamaica.