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Passengers sue airline for 32 hour delay from hell
Next time you find yourself angered by a minor delay at the airport, always remember that it could be worse. Much worse.That was the experience of the 120 passengers on Easyjet flight EZY8977 from London Gatwick to Sofia, Bulgaria.
Halfway through the flight, the captain announced that the airplane would have to divert to Bucharest airport due to heavy snow in Sofia. The plane landed at 2am, and the airline managed to put everyone up in a local hotel. So far, nothing too out of the ordinary.
It then took Easyjet till 6pm to find a bus for the trip from Bucharest to Sofia, and once they finally boarded the bus, they encountered bus drivers who did not know their way around, and had to navigate through icy roads in sub zero temperatures. It took the drivers 12 hours to make the 250 mile journey.
When the poor passengers finally made it to Sofia, they were 32 hours late.
To add insult to injury, authorities at Sofia airport are clueless as to why the captain decided to divert the plane, as the runway at their airport had never closed, and several planes landed just fine, even after the diversion. Easyjet continues to claim the airport was closed due to heavy snow.
I've been on my fair share of delayed and diverted flights, but I have to admit that this one really does sound like it could not get much worse. Some of the passengers were heading to Bulgaria for a ski vacation, and the insane delay completely ruined their plans. Whether the passengers have a case will probably depend on EU aviation laws, but I'm sure all the bad press for Easyjet will help bring a swift payment to keep them quiet.
| Less than an hour | |
|---|---|
| Under 5 hours | |
| Under 12 hours | |
| Under 24 hours | |
| It was so horrible, I don't want to talk about it |
(Via: Telegraph.co.uk)
Top 10 stupidest laws you could encounter abroad
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
u07ch Jan 11th 2009 4:30PM
I was stranded in Bangkok for about 24 hours when the plane crashed in Phuket (i was on a Thai Airways 747 somewhere behind it.) One thing i wont forget is the small piles of wreckage and body bags at the end of Phuket airport of the poor people on the flight somewhere in front of me. So whilst getting diverted to another town and stuck on a bus in inconvenient, I wouldn't want to second guess with the driver on any plane on safety. When they make mistakes it does more than muss up the passengers on the planes schedule.
I have never been so glad that I flew business class in for any flight - I spent about 18 hours in the domestic Thai Business lounge and spent the night at the novotel at the airport on thais insurance.
If you ever find yourself stuck at the airport for any amount of time; try and get into a business class lounge. Quite a few will let you pay to get in if your ticket wont; or there are clubs like priority pass that get you into many other lounges. Free internet access, quieter less busy space, drinks and snacks can make life less unpleasant whilst you wait !
judy Jan 12th 2009 8:57PM
I sat in O'Hare airport for 3 days becausde of a storm, other planes were leaving and landing but not NW airlines. I finally got a rental car and drove to Mpls from there. They offered no room, no food and no flights or to help people get flights with other airlines. As it was there were no flights available because all of NW customers were taking them.
abbey Jan 13th 2009 10:13AM
NWA has probably the WORST customer service an airline can provide...especially in my experience. They do NOT care about any of their customers.
frank96 Jan 13th 2009 1:43PM
judy said...
I sat in O'Hare airport for 3 days becausde of a storm, other planes were leaving and landing but not NW airlines. I finally got a rental car and drove to Mpls from there.
==============================
Just because aircraft are taking off doesnt mean ALL aircraft can. A storm may ground an Express flight due to limitations that aircraft has to operate. While, larger aircraft have different limitations.
jonnie Jan 12th 2009 9:09PM
who was driving those buses ? moe larry and curly
TOM Jan 12th 2009 9:40PM
I think they have a case. The reason is that the airport officials said the airport was open.
James Jan 12th 2009 9:52PM
Stranded in St Louis, MO for 36 hours. But as a soldier there is A great USO in the Airport. My wife was 6 months pregneant at the time and the volunteers at the USO were great. They have really nice recliners there to sleep in and fed us pretty good. If anyone in the military ever gets to the St Louis Airport for a couple hours please stop by the USO there and thank the people work volunteer there. I have been through that Airport many times in the last 18 years And I think the people at the USo are the salt of the earth.
Lillian Jan 12th 2009 9:56PM
So, the airline put the passengers onto a bus, onto icy roads, in sub zero temperatures, with a driver who didn't know where he was going.....I think the passengers would have been safer staying at the airport and waiting until the weather cleared enough to be safer to travel. Just my opinion.
dave Jan 12th 2009 9:58PM
when you have time to spare...go by air
mary Jan 12th 2009 10:02PM
I was stranded in Las Vegas yes I know poor me but it sucked. NWA the plane that we were supposed to have boarded had a flat tire and no spare. They had to have it flown in from Minneapolis. They didnt put us in a hotel room hello we are in las vegas. They gave us a food vouchure and that was it. We had to sleep on the floor of the airport. I was so glad to get home again.
tired Jan 12th 2009 10:03PM
Well if I was late for a flight that was 32 hours because of a non existent storm I would have WANTED TO GO INTO A BLIZZARD instead of the hell they were put through
isaac Jan 12th 2009 10:35PM
As I understand it, it is the pilot who ultimately has the final say on whether to fly or not. Kudos to uo7ch for pointing out so vividly as to the (sometimes) fate of those poor souls unlucky enough to have boarded an airline which quite probably pushed its luck because of profits over safety,...
Anyone remember KLM / PanAM incident in the Canary Islands ? Many factors certainly contributed to that tragic disaster, but the ultimate grim evidence points to the KLM pilot who even disregarded control tower instructions and took matters into his own hands ...with passengers and crew of both airlines suffering the disasterous consequences.
Boris Jan 12th 2009 11:02PM
Stuff happens. It's not a perfect world. They
made it to Sofia safely. If I were one of them,
I certainly would not sue the airline. Sue, sue,
sue is all people think. Sick world.
pinkthenred Jan 12th 2009 11:03PM
Sh*t happens
Rosemarie Jan 13th 2009 1:29AM
If the pilot, who is responsible for his passengers safety, his own life and career, doesn't want to fly a certain plane at anytime for any reason, I sure as hell don't either. I've heard many "cry-me-babies" moan, groan, make ugly remarks and insult airline employees because of a minimal delay. Also, people in airports complaining while snow keeps piling up on the run-ways. The above was a horrible experience, I agree, but very unusual with the total flights around the world per day considered. I don't think law suits apply here. As a great man once said, "S...t happens"!
Simzee Jan 13th 2009 3:57AM
Yep, complain, complain, complain. Yea baby....Keep buying those airline tickets while COMPLAINING. YOU deserve everything YOU get. IMAO
MacDaddy Jan 13th 2009 9:12AM
I will while you sit on the porch !
T Jan 13th 2009 12:51PM
Personally I would rather travel, see beautiful things and risk whatever than to sit around watching the world go by like someone such as yourself
Frank Jan 13th 2009 4:02AM
Whenever possible...fly first class with Lufthansa. They run the best airline in the world.
stranded3 Jan 13th 2009 4:10AM
Anyone remember Peoples Airlines (cheap fare). Way back and many years ago when my children were 6 and 2 years old we were stranded inside the plane for over 6 hours. They couldn't get the door of the plane closed and would not let anyone get off the plane. What a joy! I can laugh about it now.
I would go with the pilots decision to not land after reading about the Thai crash.