By roe bronx

Aug 6, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this

I was stuck on a jetblue flight on 7/27/08 from JFK to Orlando with my 3 year old and 7 year old....along with many other small children.....for 5 hours before taking off......7 and 1/2 hours all together.
I contacted jetblue.....apparently they will give you a voucher in this type of situation....but only if you complain. Then when we were coming home to JFK FROM Orlando, jetblue delayed the flight an hour and a half....from 5:15pm to 6:45pm.....and then at 4:40pm changed the flight BACK to 5:15pm. We missed the flight and were charged $1182.00 to rebook!!!!!
I don't ever want to fly with jetblue again!! I don't want their voucher!

By roe bronx

Aug 6, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this

I was stuck on a jetblue flight on 7/27/08 from JFK to Orlando with my 3 year old and 7 year old....along with many other small children.....for 5 hours before taking off......7 and 1/2 hours all together.
I contacted jetblue.....apparently they will give you a voucher in this type of situation....but only if you complain. Then when we were coming home to JFK FROM Orlando, jetblue delayed the flight an hour and a half....from 5:15pm to 6:45pm.....and then at 4:40pm changed the flight BACK to 5:15pm. We missed the flight and were charged $1182.00 to rebook!!!!!
I don't ever want to fly with jetblue again!! I don't want their voucher!

By cher

Jul 31, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this

I wish you would all just take greyhound, you can get off at any of the multiple stops anytime you like. Oh, that wouldnt work because your life would be miserable, no drama!! Get a LIFE

By Lex

Jul 30, 2008 6:48 AM | Link to this

We were also stuck in a Delta plane on the tarmac on Sunday. Our "non-stop" 11:30 a.m. flight from Tampa landed in Norfolk, VA, when we couldn't fly into Hartford's airspace, which was related to the weather. I can't see how anyone is at fault for that. HOWEVER, we sat in that hot plane for at least 7 hours! It's no fun getting stuck for this amount of time in an airport, but it can be an unfortunate aspect of air travel. HOWEVER, it's hard to understand why an airline would not find some way to let folks off the plane. The poor attendants had to ask if anyone had Claritin. One woman had an asthma attack and had to have oxygen. There was not much food or drink on the flight to begin with, so it was good that in the evening they brought in a few pizzas for some of the starving folks in coach, some of whom had not eaten all day. At least one toilet on the plane became dysfunctional. With all that it's amazing that everyone held up so well, especially those who were very young or old. Delta seemed to be blaming the situation on the lack of gates available at the airport, but it's hard to believe that something wasn't available in all that time. Say what you want, it really seems like Delta or the airport -- or both -- were at fault.

By Kathy

Jul 29, 2008 6:23 PM | Link to this

I fly 48-50 weeks a year and I won't fly any other carrier but Delta. Those who've posted to this blog blaming Delta for the delay do not know much about flying. Those who have defened Delta, to any extent, either work in the industry and understand the nuances, or fly for a living.
At least one person shared what he's learned about flying and I agree and have a couple more hints:
1. Spring through Summer you have afternoon thunderstorms so be prepared for delays and cancellations - bring a book, magazine or whatever you like that doesn't require electricity and relax when the inevitable happens
2. Winter travel has less delays
3. The crew's main desire is getting us to our destination as quickly and safely as possible. They have no desire to "keep us hostage" - that's absurd!
4. There are airports to avoid, like JFK, if at all possible (I'd rather drive an hour or so than fly into certain airports)

To address the AJC trashing Delta issue. I can hardly believe the AJC is trashing a fellow citizen of Atlanta. Are they trying to cause more economic harm to our area? AJC should be writing unbiased articles with facts and figures - like 22 flights out of almost 188,000 isn't too bad - less than .00053191%; I wonder what the percent of delayed flights sitting on the "concrete" is for the other airlines. How about focusing on the good things Delta is doing like recycling and the way the staff rallied around not only the company but the customers, by making huge concessions in order to help Delta stay in business to serve us and get out of bankruptcy?

It is no fun sitting there waiting and waiting and waiting, but it does happen. Unless you can control the weather it's better to be prepared for the worst and not need it than to only hope for and prepare for the best and the best doesn't happen. Life is not fair and the best never happens all the time so be prepared for the tough times, they will come.

By over-traveled

Jul 29, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

Be patient, people. Things at Delta will improve once the Northwest people start wearing a Delta uniform. It should be noticable immediately.

By Nobody Important

Jul 29, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

Air Traffic Control sets arrival and departure rates to control traffic. New York's unique situation is caused by having to balance traffic at LaGuardia, Kennedy, Newark and Teeterboro all through the same airspace "gates." Weather can close some of these gates which further restricts the flow of traffic.

Some people write like delays are due to careless management, or government incompetence. After all, Air Force One arrives on time, right?

Airlines schedule based on the maximum arrival and departure rates available. Would you prefer that they schedule only half as many flights? They have tried to schedule flights earlier and later in the day, but customers would not buy those tickets. The customers like convenience and going when they want to go.

The airlines are very motivated to avoid delays when gas costs $4 a gallon and the price of maintenance and flight crews are hourly expenses. The little profit an airline might eek out of a flight vanishes with even a 15 to 20 minute delay.

Best fix, book your flight early in the day during the summer to avoid the result of afternoon thunderstorms, or simply take a deep breath, pull out a book and relax.

By Michael

Jul 29, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

I agree if you want worse service than Delta, fly Southwest, they're crap.
Being in Daytona Beach, Delta is our biggest carrier, we lost Air Tran, we lose CO Sept. 2nd.
Not sure what the furture will bring for our airport, but like Atlanta Delta Airliens is our biggest carrier here with the most flights.

By Michael

Jul 29, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this

I agree if you want worse service than Delta, fly Southwest, they're crap.
Being in Daytona Beach, Delta is our biggest carrier, we lost Air Tran, we lose CO Sept. 2nd.
Not sure what the furture will bring for our airport, but like Atlanta Delta Airliens is our biggest carrier here with the most flights.

By Michael

Jul 29, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this

I agree if you want worse service than Delta, fly Southwest, they're crap.
Being in Daytona Beach, Delta is our biggest carrier, we lost Air Tran, we lose CO Sept. 2nd.
Not sure what the furture will bring for our airport, but like Atlanta Delta Airliens is our biggest carrier here with the most flights.