Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 11:30 amRugby fans furious at being left stranded by Jetstar NZPA
June 21, 2009, 8:20 am
After a rough first week's operation, budget airline Jetstar is now under fire for leaving All Black rugby fans stranded in Auckland last night.
At least 10 people with tickets for the second test against France -- and the Jetstar flight to get there -- say they were left behind when the Qantas subsidiary closed its gates half an hour before the 3.40pm takeoff time for its final flight of the day to the capital.
"We got to the counter and were told we weren't able to board," John Cole told the Sunday Herald.
Cole, who was travelling to the rugby with his wife and daughter, said conversations with Jetstar managers proved fruitless, so the family shelled out an extra $180 each for Pacific Blue tickets to ensure they made the match.
Another passenger, who didn't want to be named, said he was standing in line when staff closed the counter. He also booked a ticket with Pacific Blue.
"They took too long to check everyone in. Next thing you know they announced that the next passenger would be the last. It wasn't just poor service, there was no service."
DJ Kris Hyman and his friends Michael Earley and Rhys Grosvenor were booked to play music and provide visuals at a gig for about 800 people in Wellington.
"We were in the line before boarding time," Mr Grosvenor said.
The friends missed the gig because other flights were full with rugby fans and Mr Earley plans to contact the Commerce Commission tomorrow.
Jetstar corporate communications manager Simone Pregellio said a service announcement was made saying the flight was due to close and no passengers made themselves known.
"A small group of passengers arrived 22 minutes late... eight minutes before the flight was due to depart. It was far too late to allow people to board," she said.
Mr Cole said the response was "a blatant lie. My wife heard the announcement but was already standing in the queue."
Jetstar began flying between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown last week, replacing Qantas on the routes.
Half of the domestic services departed more than an hour late in the difficult first week.
The airline had rejigged its schedule from June 24 to improve its on-time performance.
June 21, 2009, 8:20 am
After a rough first week's operation, budget airline Jetstar is now under fire for leaving All Black rugby fans stranded in Auckland last night.
At least 10 people with tickets for the second test against France -- and the Jetstar flight to get there -- say they were left behind when the Qantas subsidiary closed its gates half an hour before the 3.40pm takeoff time for its final flight of the day to the capital.
"We got to the counter and were told we weren't able to board," John Cole told the Sunday Herald.
Cole, who was travelling to the rugby with his wife and daughter, said conversations with Jetstar managers proved fruitless, so the family shelled out an extra $180 each for Pacific Blue tickets to ensure they made the match.
Another passenger, who didn't want to be named, said he was standing in line when staff closed the counter. He also booked a ticket with Pacific Blue.
"They took too long to check everyone in. Next thing you know they announced that the next passenger would be the last. It wasn't just poor service, there was no service."
DJ Kris Hyman and his friends Michael Earley and Rhys Grosvenor were booked to play music and provide visuals at a gig for about 800 people in Wellington.
"We were in the line before boarding time," Mr Grosvenor said.
The friends missed the gig because other flights were full with rugby fans and Mr Earley plans to contact the Commerce Commission tomorrow.
Jetstar corporate communications manager Simone Pregellio said a service announcement was made saying the flight was due to close and no passengers made themselves known.
"A small group of passengers arrived 22 minutes late... eight minutes before the flight was due to depart. It was far too late to allow people to board," she said.
Mr Cole said the response was "a blatant lie. My wife heard the announcement but was already standing in the queue."
Jetstar began flying between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown last week, replacing Qantas on the routes.
Half of the domestic services departed more than an hour late in the difficult first week.
The airline had rejigged its schedule from June 24 to improve its on-time performance.
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