Jet Blue flight with many complications

[Monkeyfeet]

Yesterday, my dh, dd(7), ds (3) and I had a direct flight leaving out of Orlando at 5:20pm. Total flight was to be 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Anyway, due to a storm, our plane that we were to to board could not land and then had to fly to Tampa to re-fuel. We eventually boarded the plane at 7:30 pm. Several passengers were irate at this point.

As soon as the main cabin door closed, my husband noticed a rescue truck outside and commented on it. Then the main door opened back up and paramedics came on and removed an elderly man that was flying alone. We were told that he had passed away in his seat Several passengers became upset that we were even further delayed.

Once they shut the main cabin door again, a woman decided to check the battery on her husband's oxygen tank and said it was too low. They had to re-open the cabin door and get a supervisor on board to speak with them. It was decided that he had enough charge left to make it to our destination. So we then had to get in line to take-off once again.

While all of this was going on the flight attendents passed out water. We took off a little after 9pm. We were all given free headphones, all we could eat snacks and drinks and the 3 movies that usually required payment were made free for all of us. Still some passengers were throwing fits.

About 30 minutes into the flight an elderly woman was having issues. There was a Dr on board that was able to take care of her (he attended to the other two passengers as well). ABout 30 minutes from landing the elderly lady's conditon worsened. Upon landing we had to wait a bit for the paramedics to remove her off of the plane.

Seriously, it was all a serious of unfortunate events. The flight crew said there have been little things on flights before but never to this extent. The pilot came out and talked to us twice as well. They all handled these events compassionately and professionally. it was obvious that it was a very long day for all of them.

I wrote an email to Jet blue this morning stating how much we appreciated all they did. I am sure they will be receiving many complaints

I can understand passengers being frustrated but I do not get how they can take it out on the flight crew.

 

[Jestocost]

It sounds like the crew did an excellent job of dealing with terrible circumstances.

 

[dburg30]

That's very nice that you wrote a 'positive' letter in such a bad situation.


This statement just makes me shake my head though...

" Several passengers became upset that we were even further delayed." after a person passed away? Really people?

 

[pigletto]

Kudos to you on remaining calm and compassionate!!
My parents have a similar awful story of passengers becoming irate during a series of events that kept everyone on the plane much longer than they needed. They were forced to land at a small local airport due to a terrible thunder storm and kept on the tarmac overnight because there was no equipment or customs people to get them off the plane.

It makes everything so much worse for everyone if people can't maintain their cool in these situations. I'm sorry to hear of all of the unfortunate circumstances on your flight.

 

[greenclan67]

It was nice to hear you wrote a positive note. I would have done the same thing in that situation. These were all things that could not be changed and a very big set of unfortunate circumstances. Yes it threw peoples plans awry, but when as a soceity did we become so self centered? Where has people compassion gone? A person passed away, someones else was not doing well medically, and bad weather. All stuff beyond human control. I am glad to hear you at least acknowledeged the positive about the staff, good for you.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I am truly shocked that folks were "upset" with the delay over the illness/death.

I fly a lot and have had a couple of unexpected landings due to these type of issues and the thing I was most impressed by was that people didn't complain even if it meant we were missing connections etc......

Luckily most passenger have the same sense of prioirities as the OP and realize! (Plus did the complainers want to fly with a dead body on the plane? YUCK!)

 

[Alexander]

Wow, talk about a series of unfortunate events! However, as you clearly understand, the airline was responsible for none of them. It is a shame that so many people have such a me, me, me mentality and cannot see the big picture or have compassion for those around them. I think you did a great thing by writing a note indicating how much you appreciate the crew doing what they could do.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Several passengers became upset that we were even further delayed.

Un-blasted-believable. What is with people? I'm sure the man didn't intend to inconvenience any of the "me-me-me" crowd

 

[Alexander]

Un-blasted-believable. What is with people? I'm sure the man didn't intend to inconvenience any of the "me-me-me" crowd

Oh, I bet he figured he'd just get on the plane and up and die just to irritate people some more! Where is the compassion?

 

[Monkeyfeet]

It really was sad. The poor man was all alone on the flight We saw many people praying once we knew that he had passed so that was nice to see.

My husband and I heard two people near us complaining like crazy. One said to a flight attendent that it was all "f'in ridiculous." It really was sickening

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

My husband and I heard two people near us complaining like crazy. One said to a flight attendent that it was all "f'in ridiculous." It really was sickening

Wow.

Bless you, OP, for keeping it all in perspective, and for having such wonderful compassion for the folks involved. What a nice gesture to send your positive comments to JetBlue. I hope they make it back to the flight attendants involved.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Were you flying on Friday the 13th?

 

[Deesknee]

Kudos for you to send a positive note to JB. How unfortunate for all those involved with the medical issues. I wonder why the man was flying alone. My Dad just moved back here from FLA. He is still healthy, but elderly and he wanted to make sure he was close to us "kids" if anything were to happen. I wonder if that man had the same thoughts. Regardless, someone on the recieving end of that flight was expecting to see someone they care about, and won't recieve that welcome hug. Yet, how dare HE inconvenience the other passengers flights. I would like to think perhaps they misunderstood the circumstances. I hate to think humans can truly be that cold and selfish.
Also, thank you for sharing the information that JB handled things well. Sometimes we only here the negative.

 

[Alexander]

It really was sad. The poor man was all alone on the flight We saw many people praying once we knew that he had passed so that was nice to see.

My husband and I heard two people near us complaining like crazy. One said to a flight attendent that it was all "f'in ridiculous." It really was sickening

Oh my, I don't know if I could have held my tongue! I'm not so good at that!

 

[Monkeyfeet]

Were you flying on Friday the 13th?

LOL, not Friday the 13th. It was the 20th

 

[Monkeyfeet]

Oh my, I don't know if I could have held my tongue! I'm not so good at that!

I had thought about saying something about showing some compassion but we were traveling with our two young children and I was afraid of the colorful language starting back up.