"Trapped Like Animals" On Jet Blue

[-Cp]

Question to you all - if this happened to you, what would you do? I for one, would be getting OFF that damn plane.. I don't care if I had to open up a door and pop the emergency slide... they will not keep me imprisoned:


JFK JetBlue Passengers Face Turmoil On The Tarmac

JetBlue Airlines apologized late Wednesday to dozens of passengers who were kept sitting on planes at New York's JFK Airport for 10 hours or more without ever taking off.

The airline said half of its 550 flights were cancelled because of a winter storm that also caused massive traffic and transit delays throughout the Tri-State area.

Ten JetBlue flights, however, were loaded with passengers on board. Some made it to the runways only to run into icing problems that kept them grounded. Some of the planes at the gate became frozen to the ground and passengers weren't able to disembark.

One couple told CBS 2 News they thought they were about to honeymoon in Aruba. Others were dreaming of the sun and warm waters of Cancun. Instead, many said they felt like hostages being held on the tarmac.

"We had very limited toilet usage while we were on the plane," said Elizabeth Regale, who logged 10 hours of what she described as hell on a trip to nowhere.

"To sit on a plane for that long to be pulled into a gate for nine hours was horrible," said another passenger.

Early Thursday morning, the airline's Web site warned that other "flights to and from New York City (JFK, LaGuardia, Stewart and Newark, NJ), Boston, Washington D.C. and Upstate New York (Rochester and Buffalo) may be delayed or cancelled." It urged passengers to check the status of their flight before heading to their local airports.

JetBlue's apology said anyone stuck on one of its flights for more than three hours Wednesday would receive a full refund and a free roundtrip ticket for a future flight.

Some, however, were in no mood to accept that apology.

"Disorganized. No one knows anything. It's all chaos," said one.

http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_046052033.html

[jillian]

It was a horrible situation and I'd have been livid. But if ya pop the door, you get arrested. Not exactly worth it.

That said, Jet Blue owes these people bigtime. We were stuck on a flight to Puerto Rico for 3 hours (different airline). Wouldn't have been so terrible except that there was nothing to feed my son and they wouldn't give any snacks or drinks to the kids. Of course, when the same thing happened on the flight before ours, they let Alec Baldwin get off and go to the bar.

[-Cp]

It was a horrible situation and I'd have been livid. But if ya pop the door, you get arrested. Not exactly worth it.

'

Really? And what would the charge be? MAYBE "Disorderly conduct" - that carries a light penalty - and on principle, it'd be worth it...

Not to mention you could easily turn around and sue the airline for false imprisonment...

[darin]

It's the result of SOMEBODY afraid to make a decision.

[jillian]

'

Really? And what would the charge be? MAYBE "Disorderly conduct" - that carries a light penalty - and on principle, it'd be worth it...

Not to mention you could easily turn around and sue the airline for false imprisonment...

Actually, you'd be charged with a Federal Crime, not disorderly conduct, and there wouldn't be any lawsuit for unlawful imprisonment....

Now, I'm not saying it's not exasperating or that you wouldn't have any right to be angry. But I don't think the principle is worth the time in a Federal prison.

Just saying.

[jillian]

It's the result of SOMEBODY afraid to make a decision.

Might be. Certainly a lack of preparation.... or caring about the customer.

[Abbey Marie]

Well, seeing as I am claustrophobic, I would have gone nutso on them. They probably would have had to sedate me and/or take me off the plane in handcuffs.

[jillian]

Well, seeing as I am claustrophobic, I would have gone nutso on them. They probably would have had to sedate me and/or take me off the plane in handcuffs.

That's why G-d made valium.

[Abbey Marie]

That's why G-d made valium.

I must be the only person who has never had one.

Are they handing those out on flights now? Exxxxceleeeeent!!

[jillian]

I must be the only person whose never had one.

Are they handing those out on flight snow? Exxxxceleeeeent!!

Heh! Nah... you have to have your own. But Bloody Mary's work just as well.

[Ado]

It's ridiculous to hold people that long.

They knew the conditions; it sounds like flights
should have been canceled, but they didn't want
to lose the income.

Some of the passengers are pushing for passenger
bill of rights so they legally can only be held for
3 hours, in these types of situations.

It is a wonder there wasn't some type of
altercation.

[5stringJeff]

JetBlue is only partially to blame. How about the Port Authority of New York, who left the plane on the runway for 9 hours?

[darin]

JetBlue is only partially to blame. How about the Port Authority of New York, who left the plane on the runway for 9 hours?

The organization with the deepest pockets is ALWAYS to blame.

[Roopull]

The story I read said there were either 10 or 12 flights that this happened to. I'd wager that JetBlue's "discount airline" status has something to do with THEM being the one catching the heat at certain news outlets.


Something similar happened to me about three years ago, but it was only for about two hours.


The last time we traveled to Dallas Texas from here in Atlanta, we drove... with our baby, it was a 16 hour drive. Flying has gotten to be such a degrading pain in the ass, I couldn't care less if ever damned airline went out of business.

If I wanted to be treated like a worthless dog with no rights, I'd just go bitch slap a cop. I sure wouldn't take 10 damn hours.

[Mr. P]

The story I read said there were either 10 or 12 flights that this happened to. I'd wager that JetBlue's "discount airline" status has something to do with THEM being the one catching the heat at certain news outlets.


Something similar happened to me about three years ago, but it was only for about two hours.


The last time we traveled to Dallas Texas from here in Atlanta, we drove... with our baby, it was a 16 hour drive. Flying has gotten to be such a degrading pain in the ass, I couldn't care less if ever damned airline went out of business.

If I wanted to be treated like a worthless dog with no rights, I'd just go bitch slap a cop. I sure wouldn't take 10 damn hours.

Time to spare? Go by air!

After 28 years in aviation I refuse to fly an airline unless I just have no other choice. (there are many reasons for that position)