Jet Blue Leaves Passengers in Jet for 11 Hours

[seashoreCM]

From what I heard in the news, Denver International has been the scene of recent passenger strandings. Fortunately the rest rooms did not fail like those at the New Orleans Superdome. Now not everyone would want to pay for a cab to get to the nearest hotel even if they could get one. OT: Which begs the question for the Jet Blue incident, suppose that they opened a plane door and let people alight but only those who would hire a cab back to the terminal (some accompanying the stair truck) and also forfeit their fare for the flight and also have to come back to the airport at the airline's convenience to retrieve luggage that initially stayed in the plane? Whereas if they stayed aboard but got to the destination so late as to miss the intended business and them immediately returned home, they really should get a full refund for a futile trip.

I know you state "many big airports"... Denver (the city) got stiffed for hundreds of millions of dollars by United for gate rental. DIA is actually owned by Denver. However, United escaped their liability for the disastrous baggage handling system and the rent by declaring bankruptcy and the city was left holding all of United's monetary responsibilities--and yet was unable to sell Frontier Airlines the gates United wasn't paying for. ie

OT: (copied from another post) MBA needed to comprehend. No the city was not unable, only unwilling. Apparently they got Southwest to take a few gates. Getting a little gravy quickly sure beats waiting and hoping for someone to share the nut. Of course the citizens of Denver had to help make the pigs fly.

 

[LadyShiva]

From what I heard in the news, Denver International has been the scene of several recent passenger strandings. Now not everyone would want to pay for a cab to get to the nearest hotel even if they could get one. OT: Which begs the question for the Jet Blue incident, suppose that they opened a plane door and let people alight but only those who would hire a cab back to the terminal (some accompanying the stair truck) and also forfeit their fare for the flight and have to come back to the airport at the airline's convenience to retrieve luggage that initially stayed in the plane?

OT: (copied from another post) MBA needed to comprehend. No the city was not unable, only unwilling. Apparently they got Southwest to take a few gates. Getting a little gravy quickly sure beats waiting and hoping for someone to share the nut. Of course the citizens of Denver had to help make the pigs fly.

Well, at least one honeymooner couple gave up on JetBlue and went home. I think speculating on whether a bus that could make it through the ice to the plane should at least take the fact that at least 2 people were reported to pay to go home, versus use JetBlue's rather dubious "services" to get to a honeymoon in Aruba.

Brandie

 

[LadyShiva]

From what I heard in the news, Denver International has been the scene of recent passenger strandings. Now not everyone would want to pay for a cab to get to the nearest hotel even if they could get one. OT: Which begs the question for the Jet Blue incident, suppose that they opened a plane door and let people alight but only those who would hire a cab back to the terminal (some accompanying the stair truck) and also forfeit their fare for the flight and also have to come back to the airport at the airline's convenience to retrieve luggage that initially stayed in the plane?

OT: (copied from another post) MBA needed to comprehend. No the city was not unable, only unwilling. Apparently they got Southwest to take a few gates. Getting a little gravy quickly sure beats waiting and hoping for someone to share the nut. Of course the citizens of Denver had to help make the pigs fly.

About DIA... You couldn't get down Pena Boulevard to leave DIA. It was closed. Blowing snow and a layer of ice on the road. Pena Boulevard goes on and on and on, without any way to know if you're still on the road. And people's unwillingness to actually drive the speed limit, probably! *chuckle*

Red Cross distributed cots, blankets, water, baby formula, diapers, and food overnight at the airport.

And about Denver selling the gates... United would give the ok to sell the gates only IF Denver allowed them to not pay their back gates fee charges and the debt from the baggage system. Hundreds of millions of dollars. Frontier did get a piddly amount of gates after threatening to open another hub in another state.
Here's a pretty straight-forward explanation that leaves out the gates to Frontier:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/airlines/article/0,2777,DRMN_23912_4285678,00.html
Here's a link to explain the tussle over the gates, and the subsequent write-off of United debt:
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2003/12/29/story8.html

Brandie

 

[TDC Nala]

It's avoidable in that someone at Jet Blue should have cancelled those flights before they left the gate. No crime has been committed here, nobody's going to jail, and lawsuits probably won't work unless someone can prove they were severely damaged from having to sit on a plane for 9 hours.

But one free flight is not enough compensation. They ought to give free flights for life to everybody who was on those planes.

Or at least one free flight for every hour they were stuck in the planes.

 

[kelleigh1]

I heard this morning that one of the attorneys in our office was actually on that plane, but I haven't talked to him and don't know him that well, so I don't have much info other than that.

 

[TDC Nala]

Oh, and to the poster who said I should carry 2 days worth of meds... Can we get 2 days worth of food, drink, and sewage on the plane? I'd appreciate that. So would my child and the diabetics on the plane. To offload the responsibility of reasonable care on the customers shows blatant indifference by the airline industry.

You should still carry two days worth of meds.

And these people were perfectly safe, they were just stuck on a plane.

 

[LadyShiva]

You should still carry two days worth of meds.

And these people were perfectly safe, they were just stuck on a plane.

I agree to disagree on the "perfectly safe" part. Medication for a diabetic also means food at regular intervals. Thankfully, my meds don't require refridgeration.

After taking a plane for Paris that landed in fogged in Amsterdam, I keep 2 days worth of diapers on me, in addition to the meds. *grin* There's no way I could keep enough Puffs on me to keep my 2 year old ok for 11 hours on a plane.

This problem has also occurred in the summer. Plane stuck for hours "waiting" to take off without A/C. Temperatures climbed rather quickly, and the passengers couldn't get off until the flight attendants and pilots rebelled and forced the evacuation of the passengers.

As I said before, it is time the airline industry were forced to properly care for their passengers, because self-regulation is not working. Now whether that happens due to FAA fulfilling their mandate (as I read the FAA link) or Congress passing legislation, that I don't know.

Brandie

 

[lovesdumbo]

I feel so bad for everyone stuck on those planes. I sat on a Jet Blue plane at the gate for 2 1/2 hours before takeoff due to an electrical problem and then over 1/2 an hour in Orlando until they could find us a gate. It wasn't fun and I just can't imagine what 9 hours would be like but....


I wonder if this will mean Jet Blue will have to offer some special deals to get people to fly with them again? I would love to get a credit on my May trip.

 

[seashoreCM]

Who would like an equal number of minutes of airborne time on JetBlue, no fare charged, on flights of the aggrieved passenger's choice subject only to prior sale of the seats, and transferable to any passenger of the aggrieved passenger's choice, and rounded up to the conclusion of the flight on which the allotment ran out?

 

[safetymom]

I think the refund of the fare paid and a free future round trip ticket is quite fair. Let's be reasonable here. I survived sitting in a plane on the tarmac for 5 1/2 hours and didn't receive anything. I just received great service while we were on the ground. I didn't think I deserved anything else.

 

[TDC Nala]

I agree to disagree on the "perfectly safe" part. Medication for a diabetic also means food at regular intervals. Thankfully, my meds don't require refridgeration.

After taking a plane for Paris that landed in fogged in Amsterdam, I keep 2 days worth of diapers on me, in addition to the meds. *grin* There's no way I could keep enough Puffs on me to keep my 2 year old ok for 11 hours on a plane.

This problem has also occurred in the summer. Plane stuck for hours "waiting" to take off without A/C. Temperatures climbed rather quickly, and the passengers couldn't get off until the flight attendants and pilots rebelled and forced the evacuation of the passengers.

As I said before, it is time the airline industry were forced to properly care for their passengers, because self-regulation is not working. Now whether that happens due to FAA fulfilling their mandate (as I read the FAA link) or Congress passing legislation, that I don't know.

Brandie

They have food on the planes. They don't have full meals, but I have never been on a plane that didn't have something that diabetics could eat. I don't recall anyone ever having to be carried off one of these planes.

That said, Jet Blue should have had enough sense to cancel these flights and avoid the whole problem.

What happens if the medication requires refrigeration, how is it transported? If it's in the hold, suppose the airline loses it?

 

[LadyShiva]

They have food on the planes. They don't have full meals, but I have never been on a plane that didn't have something that diabetics could eat. I don't recall anyone ever having to be carried off one of these planes.

That said, Jet Blue should have had enough sense to cancel these flights and avoid the whole problem.

What happens if the medication requires refrigeration, how is it transported? If it's in the hold, suppose the airline loses it?

Food on JetBlue flights: http://www.jetblue.com/about/whyyoulllike/about_whysnacks.html

I don't consider that list to be anything but munchies. Definitely not something to eat for 11 hours. My father-in-law would be a pain (Type II diabetic) with those foods. Definite lack of protein on that list to sustain sugar levels.

Diabetics that travel with insulin must have it refridgerated (see various posts about whether XYZ room/cabin has a fridge). I have heard of people carrying it in soft-side coolers to go through security. All diabetic supplies are allowed (after screening) to be carried on a plane: http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/prohibited_and_ permitted items_2-8-07.pdf

As for restitution... I think I will be contacting my legislative representatives on Monday to ask for his support on Kate Hanni's iniative for a Passenger's Bill of Rights. It really isn't for me to have an opinion on whether another ticket would appease me; I wasn't on one of those planes. I just live in Denver, and my mom is flying out today. This issue has been on my mind for a while, but I haven't acted. I think I'm actually mad enough to act now.

Brandie

 

[manning]

There is a retired judge who appears on fox cable a lot and I can't think of his name.

Here is what he says

Don't accept anything from the airline and do not sign anything. What you want to do is file a class action lawsuit in behalf of yourself and everyone on the plane. No one has done this because they are seduced by the offer of a refund and a free first class round trip ticket. He said if more people did this you would see this practice from the airlines stop.

This from a retired judge.

 

[Skuba2]

I'm sorry, but the answer to everything isn't a lawsuit. I do agree with the fines for the airlines and/or the frequent flier miles for the time sitting on the ground. I think the airline was more than fair. We were stuck for almost 3 hours on a plane--my dh was stuck 3 hours on a train (squirrel zapped wire)---we've been stuck 4 hours in a car (anyone for green eggs and ham). LOL!! It happens. A lawsuit to change the system---great--perfect. A lawsuit to win the lottery---sad.

Getting stuck on a tarmac isn't a new problem and the conditions that day were absolutely unpredictable and horrid. We should all learn from the experience and bring what we need for a lengthy delay--especially traveling in winter and you know a huge storm is predicted.

Come one--take responsibility for your own well-being. Medicine can be carried on and should be carried on. Any food or drink can be brought onboard from within the secured areas. I packed apples, water, and nuts for my last plane trip. We were stuck on the tarmac for almost 3 hours and there was no weather delay. I couldn't have predicted any problems, but I had the stuff I needed. Prepare for the worse----hope for the best. Not sure anyone could have prepared for that long of a delay, but any preparation would have helped.

I just hope the powers-to-be figure out what they heck they did wrong and fix it. I wouldn't file a lawsuit, I'd call your local representatives. Make your voice count for something and try and focus on finding a solution.

My cousing became paralyzed by a biking accident without a helmet. Did he sue--no! He worked to change the law and create a helmet law in his city.

Good luck

DG

 

[manning]

Getting Congress to change the law? That was asked the judge. He said good luck congress is beholden to the airlines (contributions).

The judge said get enough of these lawsuits and you will see how fast the airlines will change their practice.

Being stuck for over 11 hours with overflowing toilets is a lot different than 3 hours in a car or train. At least there you have the option to leave the car and train.

On a plane you don't go anywhere unless the captain let's you. If you leave or attempt to leave a plane without permission you are subject to 20 years in prison. Surprise surprise, that one surprised me.

The airlines won't change their ways until they are hit with financial loss!!!

I don't thnk there would be any lottery amounts here for individuals, but if enough win it would be huge amounts for the airlines. And one way to avoid that is to stop the practice.

 

[Jestocost]

The judge said get enough of these lawsuits and you will see how fast the airlines will change their practice.

You'll also see how fast they raise their fares to pay for the litigation costs. That will be another thread on these boards

 

[NYDisGuy]

I would still do it.....

I am talking about reaching my DESTINATION already. I paid for a tx to get me to my destination. I think making a paying passenger wait 8 hrs to get OFF at my destination is ludicrous. I am not interfering with any crew member......they aren't doing ANY work....they are just sitting on the tarmac like the rest of us passengers!!

Its the difference between staying 4 more hours on a plane or 20 years in a federal controlled maximum security prison, with cold blooded murders and rapists. You will be charged as a terrorist along with the other people who gang rushed airline officials. These are federal employees, they were also stuck on this plane for 9 hours with the people on board, just imagine their job for a second.

People amaze me sometimes. We want 1000 rules in place for airlines so one will never crash into a plane again, but when 1 inconviences us we are quick to say its stupid and it should be changed, like luggage checks. CNN will forget about this in a week, while you sit in a holding cell waiting for your bail which will probably be a remand since you took out federal employees. The airlines will claim "saftey of passengers" and use 9/11 and you wont have a leg to stand on with your hostage claim. Honestly, airlines arent something to mess with, just have patcience, and if you have a medical problem they wont let you die, tell an attendent and they will assist you.

 

[Dis Ohana]

On our return flight from Disneyland in December we were told at the terminal that our flight was cancelled and that we'd have to fly home on another airlines 8 hours later. We were given a $400 flight credit for each of us towards a future flight. We were checked into the rescheduled flight then we were free to leave the airport. We had a fun day, had lunch and went shopping before our flight. I see now how fortunate we were, not only in how it was handled but for receiving compensation from the airlines.

So anyhow, we have these flight credits so we decided to visit the World for our next trip. I just planned a December vacation and am about to book the flight. The most affordable route is in through Newark, NJ. This thread has me very concerned, it's a very long flight for us and I cant imagine being stuck in this situation. I suffer from panic attacks, this would surely trigger one off.

It seems like this sort of delay happens frequently, I'm sure nothing like the 11 hours these poor people experienced, but even 1 or 2 would be difficult for me. Just how often does a delay happen? We're flying in December, so I'm sure that makes matters even worse.
There is a flight that connects from Dallas, Texas but it costs a lot more. Would that be a airport that would be less prone to delays like this?

 

[safetymom]

Dallas has problems with weather also.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Food on JetBlue flights: http://www.jetblue.com/about/whyyoul...whysnacks.html

I don't consider that list to be anything but munchies. Definitely not something to eat for 11 hours. My father-in-law would be a pain (Type II diabetic) with those foods. Definite lack of protein on that list to sustain sugar levels.

Given the reduction in food service/availability on flights over the last several years, it would be the passenger's responsibility to provide her/his own food in the case of a medical condition, NOT the airlines'.

As for restitution... I think I will be contacting my legislative representatives on Monday to ask for his support on Kate Hanni's iniative for a Passenger's Bill of Rights.

Lotsa luck. I'd be shocked if your legislative representative's office is open Monday.

Don't accept anything from the airline and do not sign anything. What you want to do is file a class action lawsuit in behalf of yourself and everyone on the plane. No one has done this because they are seduced by the offer of a refund and a free first class round trip ticket

That judge must be speaking theoretically, or else has no knowledge of JetBlue. The airline has a single class on all flights.