Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Chaos in Punta Cana: Armed guards evict stranded U.S. Airways passengers from Dominican airport
There's still no word on whether U.S. Airways has managed to sort out a horrific customer relations breakdown, after it kicked 274 of its passengers out of the Punta Cana International Airport in the Dominican Republic's last Friday in the face of Tropical Storm Fay.U.S. Airways had to cancel its flight from Punta Cana to Philadelphia due to the storm, which had caused the delays of several other flights. Also, some passengers have told television stations that U.S. Airways reps said crew members had run out of hours and therefore could not fly.
Now, the airline will certainly point to its contract of carriage, which states that it is under no obligation to put up stranded passengers and pay for their food in the event of weather delays.
However, it appears the manner in which passengers were treated could have been handled a bit, well, better.
Armed guards were sent in to evict the passengers from the airport, even though none had other accommodation secured. Reportedly one passenger came close to getting arrested after demanding answers from airline staff.
There were no hotel rooms available in the area, and passengers reportedly slept on a bus.
This weekend they were still struggling to get back to Philadelphia as U.S. Airways flights from the Dominican were severely overbooked.
The Consumerist has some video and a few eye witness reports.
Filed under: Airlines, Airports, Consumer Activism
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
byStephani@aol.com Aug 28th 2008 6:08PM
I can understand the anger over the bra incident, although I don't wear them, (when traveling) I have little concern for the nipple ring wearer, I wear no jewelry when going to the airport, in fact I make sure to have no metal of any kind on my body, no jewelry, no metal in my clothing, bra, no rivets, zippers, snaps, hooks nothing. Still I am treated like a criminal, because I set off the alarm going through the metal detector every time because I have a metal joint in my knee. I also request a security person well in advance and am usually never accomadated. I am a woman and since there are mostly men working as security personal, I have to wait for my public, humilating strip search. Even though I wore shorts so that the scar on my knee is clearly visable and it would be clear that the only part of my body that would respond to the metal detector wand, would be the knee, I still have to be physically searched, like a common crimminal. No one has ever offered to take me, to a private room or area. Last time this happened I had to run and sprained my foot & couldn't walk comfortably for 5 months. I also nearly missed my flight, I was the last one on the plane, the pilot was already on and I believe had already started the plane, I was lucky to get on.
I really think this treatmeant is a bit excessive for people just because they have a disability. And rest assured Airlines, I will not stand for it, I can't believe you review your policies for nipple rings and not artificial joints. Shame on you fools. I can't wait to see you sued for violating the Americans with disabilities act. You people at the TSA can be such idiots. I can understand the need to screen the people wearing jewelry, and we should remove it, and folks need to be removing naval, nipple and tounge rings also and we ladies need to be aware of metal bra under wires, they make them with plastic now. Or just don't wear an underwire one when traveling, I don't for that very reason. But for christ sakes, we CAN NOT remove a steel joint!!! You at the TSA, however can show a little respect when you have to further investigate the reason for the metal dectector going off.
So could the person who wrote this article on the bra incident please this on tho the airport people.
Michael Sep 8th 2008 7:00AM
Punta Cana is a wonderful place to vacation and to visit. I do not see how sensationalist reports do any good for anyone. I was there at the Punta Cana airport when the flights were cancelled. I too had to find a place to sleep for the night. Someone call a wambulance for the crybabies. Yes there are always a few people who think that they are better than the rest of the world under strained conditions such as unflyable conditions. Travellers should always be prepared and always have back-up plans. There were places to stay, but you had to pay for them and these special people thought they were too good and that it was not their responsibility to pay so they choose to sleep in buses or where ever else they could find for free. Now as far as the writer, all the guards are armed and the police, etc. just like in the US. When security guards escort unruly people from an airport in the US, they normally are armed and if they have to escort them out, they take them to jail. That is where some of these people needed to go in the Dominican. However, the Dominican wants tourists and no matter how childish they act, treat them the best they can. I was there that day and yes it was unfortunate weather conditions, act like a mature adult and not a little spoiled kid.