Two months ago, my family and I were taking a trip from San Diego to Maui, Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines. We arrived at the airport for a 8:00 clock flight at around 6:30. We get to the gate and waited to get on. We waited and waited past the time the plane was supposed to leave. Finally, 1 hour later, someone went on the loud speaker and told us that the flaps on the wing were broken and that they would have to request the part from LAX Airport. At this time it was 9:30. We had nothing to do, so we met some people and talked.
At 10:37 a lady came on the loud speaker and said that the first two planes that came in without the part, and the would request it again (apparently they didn’t have another plane … I doubt it). More waiting … the third plane doesn’t have the part. Finally, the 4th plane has the part. By this time we went to get some lunch at Pizza Hut. Little did we know that they put out drinks and snacks. No announcement.
We arrived back at the gate at 2:00. They came on the loud speaker and said that they had the part and that it was going to take an hour to install it. After more waiting, we boarded the plane at 3:07. The flight was expected to take 4 hours. The flight was alright, but when we arrived at the airport in Northern Maui we couldn’t land. The clouds were too low and it was too foggy to land. So we had to fly to Honolulu and land there for the night. The next day we finally got there around 10:00 AM. The only good thing about the plane ride is that they gave us free tickets on Hawaiian Airlines to anywhere for the 3 of us.
Signed, MZT
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow. I'd be more than happy to wait around that long (and have free food) for free tickets to anywhere.
Yeah, Roto13, but it's not like they knew that when they got on the plane. IMO, it's the least they could have done.
And I find it odd that they made so many announcements regarding the status of your plane and none about their provisions for you all. Intentional? Most likely.
That really is cruddy. A whole day wasted on your vacation – it's not like it's easy to schedule vacation time, too. Most of us have precious little of it as it is! I really feel bad for you.
Nice that Hawaiian Airlines gave you three free tickets! At least that airline tries to make it right with their passengers when the inevitable delays occur. 🙂