Jets Go travellers be aware!

[princess pooh]

I cried when I heard the news. I was supposed to be leaving for Orlando next Friday with my mom and brother, and Jetsgo was so much cheaper then the other airlines. I feel so stupid. Now I ruined everyone's vacation

I wonder if I'll even be able to get my money back? I have to call American express when I get home.

 

[mbb]

What I find unbelievably rude about the whole thing is the way that Jetsgo handled it. I mean up until they shut down the website they were *still taking reservations*. Knowing that they would never be able to fullfill the terms, they were still taking reservations. The website was up and running when they released the news to the media (according to CTV).

Of course the website is totally gone now. No "sorry, thanks for the years of business". No note telling people what to do. Not even a copy of the press release - it's just totally gone.

...................

ITA Talk about take your money and run!!

Pixie dust to those going through this!!

 

[offwegotoneverland]

I cried when I heard the news. I was supposed to be leaving for Orlando next Friday with my mom and brother, and Jetsgo was so much cheaper then the other airlines. I feel so stupid. Now I ruined everyone's vacation

I wonder if I'll even be able to get my money back? I have to call American express when I get home.

IF you can call now...you'll need the time to deal with new air line tickets at home. All the credit card co can do for you is refund not rebook. (even then it can take longer than you think).

 

[Snowwark]

I cried when I heard the news. I was supposed to be leaving for Orlando next Friday with my mom and brother, and Jetsgo was so much cheaper then the other airlines. I feel so stupid. Now I ruined everyone's vacation

I wonder if I'll even be able to get my money back? I have to call American express when I get home.

Princess Pooh, it's not your fault. You didn't ruin the vacation, Jets Go did!! Don't give up yet! Make some calls (re: the info on this thread, and the "Help!!" thread, and see if you can make some new arrangements. Don't feel stupid, okay?

I feel very fortunate. I had originally booked (3 seats) with Jets Go for my whirlwind trip next week, but cancelled them due to a cost miscalculation on the part of my TA, and rebooked with Air Canada. I can't tell you how happy I am that my TA was having an off day!! Whew....

 

[Amberle3]

Just a semi-update - I've had the news station on all morning and now they're saying that Westjet will try to accommodate people (special fares) who had booked on Jetsgo up until the announcement was made.

There's been no update on the Westjet site about it, so it could be the media just getting things wrong (again). Or it could be that Westjet has extended their policy.

If you were booked on a Jetsgo flight, by all means call Westjet and see if they can help you.

I notice that Westjet was also offering special standby fares ($35) to Jetsgo's stranded crew - it's not just the travellers that were affected! Can you imagine working for a company, you're in another city (maybe even another country) and being "you're out a job and you're on your own to get home"?

 

[Tantor]

My best friends hubby works as a mechanic for Jetsgo. Got the phone call this morning from one of his fellow employees. He had no idea. They did get a paycheck yesterday though. He had to go in and get all his tools today. I feel so sad for them. His wife called me this morning and is in shock.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

We are booked to leave on the 15th of March on Jetsgo--stupid, stupid, stupid. Anyway, how do I book out of Buffalo and which airline should I go with????? Help!!!!!!!!! I have to make a decision today.

You could check the direct websites of Southwest, JetBlue (non-stop) and Air Tran (connections thru Atlanta). This will tell you who has seats available and how much.

Good Luck!

I can't imagine what all the JetsGo passengers are going through.

PD to everyone!

 

[princess pooh]

My brother called up Air Canada and found us two seats leaving the same day as our Jetsgo flight. It's a lot more money, but the schedule is more convenient and we'll have more time at Disney. I would have booked with West jet originally but there were no seats available. I thought I was going to have to cancel the trip so I'm very happy now

Plus, I just called American Express and we're getting our money back

From now on when something seems too good to be true...

 

[Amberle3]

Okay, I have to say this:

If Michel Leblanc (President of Jetsgo) ever opens up another airline, run.

I thought I remembered something about him... I found this from 2002:
"Leblanc is the former CEO of Royal Aviation, which he sold to Canada 3000 for $84 million in stock less than a year before Canada 3000 went bankrupt. "

Okay, so he couldn't make a go of Royal and "sold" it to Canada3000 (was bought out by) in exchange for a bunch of stock... in an airline that went bankrupt.

So if you count Royal's demise by being eaten by C3K, and then C3K's death, and now Jetsgo - doesn't that make 3 strikes?

The Jetsgo website is back and has their final statement on it. Although in it they say "Jetsgo intends to keep its stakeholders, including its employees and customers, informed of the development of its restructuring process."

RESTRUCTURING? Please tell me they don't intend to try and come back from this! I mean honestly, how many people that have been "inconvienence" by this are going to book with Jetsgo again?

They also have this bit of information:
"If you are a customer of Jetsgo and have paid for a flight that is no longer scheduled, you may wish to communicate with the Canadian Transportation Agency: by telephone, 1-888-222-2592, by fax, 1-819-953-5686 or on its website at www.cta.gc.ca"

 

[Tantor]

My hubby remembers when Royal used to advertise their fare to London, England on the side of the jet. That alone tells me to stay clear................................

 

[Pixie]

A co-worker and her daughter had booked with JetsGo and now they might miss this trip that we planned together. I'm flying American Airlines, we couldn't all get on that flight so she booked with JetsGo. When I think about the look on her face when we heard the news yesterday, I feel like crying. We're trying to get her booked on another flight but it seems everyone and their brother is flying tomorrow.

 

[bunnyfoo]

I feel sorry for all of their stranded passengers, especially the children who were looking forward to the March break vacations. I also heard that Jetsgo pilots had to pay $30,000 for their training which they aren't likely to get back

Is there any kind of insurance that would cover this kind of situation... if you're left stranded and you need to purchase replacement tickets.

 

[Amberle3]

Yes, travel insurance with cancellation/interruption would. They sometimes have a limit on the amount, and they wouldn't be valid if the insurance company said that Jetsgo wasn't covered for bankruptcy when the insurance was purchased.

Even for trips within Canada I often recommend cancellation or package insurance. You can never tell what might go wrong. The problem is that many of the people who booked with Jetsgo booked their own tickets, online, and didn't give a second thought to travel insurance. As a TA we're trained that you always offer travel insurance, even if it's just to remind people that it exists.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Yes, travel insurance with cancellation/interruption would. They sometimes have a limit on the amount, and they wouldn't be valid if the insurance company said that Jetsgo wasn't covered for bankruptcy when the insurance was purchased.

Even for trips within Canada I often recommend cancellation or package insurance. You can never tell what might go wrong. The problem is that many of the people who booked with Jetsgo booked their own tickets, online, and didn't give a second thought to travel insurance. As a TA we're trained that you always offer travel insurance, even if it's just to remind people that it exists.

Thanks for the help Amberle3! Is cancellation/interruption insurance available for people who book tickets through an airline's website? I think I've booked through Air Canada's site a couple of times and I can't remember if that was an option or not? What about if I booked tickets through Aeroplan? Could I get insurance then?

 

[Amberle3]

For the most part airlines don't offer the insurance on their websites. You'd need to find a website that sells it or call a travel agent to purchase.

It's one of the things I find sad about the online travel business. Most often travellers are never reminded about travel insurance, so if they wind up in a situation where they need it - ooops, too bad.

And now my own self-serving PSA - please check with a travel agent... any travel agent... when planning any trip. Even the quick little in-Canada trips to Edmonton to shop the West Ed Mall or to TO for "culture". If the travel agent's price is the same as online - consider booking with the travel agent. You'll have an extra line of defense when things go wrong, someone dedicated to working for you to set things right, and most importantly someone to remind you of the things like travel insurance that you might overlook.

For instance: Did you know that most provincial health care plans may not fully cover you out of the province? On the other hand a multi-trip annual health plan, valid for up to 8 days each trip, can be purchased for as little as $41 per person per year. Family plans will cover 2 parents and up to 5 kids. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind, but something most people never think about.

 

[Debbie]

Family plans will cover 2 parents and up to 5 kids. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind, but something most people never think about.

We have that and I love that I don't worry when I head over the to the States for a few hours of shopping, or when my kids head over the border with the choir, or. . .well worth the money IMHO.

 

[PanamaMike]

For the most part airlines don't offer the insurance on their websites. You'd need to find a website that sells it or call a travel agent to purchase.

Travel insurance protects you in the event that you have to cancel your trip (illness, schedule conflict, etc) and is well worth the few extra dollars.

In Ontario however, if you book your trip through a travel agent, you are protected under the Travel Industry Compensation Fund in the event your airline, cruise ship, resort, etc, ceases operation before your vacation.

Consumers who booked through registered Ontario travel agents can claim compensation of up to $5,000 per traveler directly from the Ontario Travel Industry Compensation Fund. The reimbursement is limited to $5-million per major event.

The fund is fully industry-sponsored through contributions by travel agents and wholesalers.

Quebec and British Columbia have similar protection.