Relax - Stranded at airport for 10 hours with no explanation

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Stranded at airport for 10 hours with no explanation

Relax | Wed, Dec 23 2009

Woman was stuck with family at Bangkok airport for 10 hours when Jetstar flight was delayed, but staff never gave explanation as to what happened.

Stranded at airport for 10 hours with no explanation

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A woman and her family were stranded at a Bangkok airport for 10 hours when their Jetstar flight back to Singapore was delayed, causing much distress.

Reader Tricia wrote to the citizen journalism website STOMP about her unpleasant experience with Jetstar 3K514 on December 19.

According to Tricia, her flight was supposed to take off at 1am, but no boarding gate had been announced even when there was only an hour before takeoff. Jetstar staff were also not taking calls and seemed not to know why the flight was being delayed, she said.

The flight time was changed three times without the staff once telling stranded passengers what was going on.

"Later, an announcement was made over the system informing all passengers of flight 3K514 to report to the counter at level four.

"We were asked for our boarding passes and were given food coupons. There was no explanation given as to what was going on. Then, 26 passengers were made to volunteer themselves to take the next flight back home.

"The photos show the passengers crowding at the boarding gate counter questioning the staff. All other passengers were not allowed to board until 26 passengers 'volunteered’ to take the next flight back home.

"By this time, it was already 1 hour past the re-scheduled 1am flight time.

"When prompted for an explanation, Jetstar said that a cabin crew fell sick so 26 passengers needed to take the alternative flight.

"Later, I asked the pilot about the boarding time when I saw him at the boarding gate. The pilot was rude and just walked away saying ‘soon’, while chewing his gum.
"I do not expect luxurious service and plush comfort from a budget airline. All I expect is basic customer service and basic etiquette.

"My family and I felt helpless, clueless and desperate. It was 4am when the plane finally took off.

"All in all, we waited from 6pm till 4am from check-in to takeoff; 10 hours stranded in an airport without a clue of what was going on."

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Readers' Comments

yes totally agree that best is not to take budget airline. even the budget airline is fine, but ground staff can be quite rude. had a very bad experience at budget terminal and will not take any flight from there again

by rcwl8484, posted on 27 12 2009, 01:06

totally agree with Pushkin62.. it is best not to take any budget airline. had a horrible experience with budget terminal too. In my opinion, even the budget airline operators are fine, but the ground staff can be really rude and disrespect.

by rcwl8484, posted on 27 12 2009, 01:03

Delayed flight at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and Jetstar provided no update?
Don't only blame Jetstar, it could be with the airport, its ground staff and maybe it just the Thais. Did you check the notice board at the end of the counters? And if you found the piece of paper pin at the corner, do you read Thai?

by WottaJotta, posted on 26 12 2009, 21:43

SITEX Nov 2009
Certain brand Laptop discounts get larger by the day. Sometimes morning and afternoon as well. What to do?
If you buy on day 1, never go back on day 3 or you'll leave the place X#$%.
Not only with budget..... I mean low cost airlines.

by WottaJotta, posted on 26 12 2009, 21:36

This is standard industry practice of all airlines whether full service or budget. When they are unable to sell seats, they will offer promotions just to sell the seats. It is better to fill up an aircraft with low fare passengers than fly off half empty.

by Pushkin62, posted on 26 12 2009, 09:52

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