Air Transat flight AT546 Feb.8/01 to Manzanillo Mexico

[Rick and Cathy Ford]

For your information

This was an actual occurrence that happened. I am forwarding it to you in hopes that you become aware of potential problems that may exist in commercial travel.
This message was sent to AIR TRANSAT complaint department at this address. relationsclientele@vacancesairtransat.com (relationsclientele@vacancesairtransat.com)
Feel free to pass it on or just delete it. I'm not looking to boycott AIR TRANSAT, I'm hoping this message will get around to all commercial air travel companies to increase customer satisfaction.
We've all heard or experience the horror stories, but sometimes it can be prevented through a little extra effort by the airline companies.

Let's hope this has some impact.



To whom it may concern

The above mentioned flight was delayed 5 1/2 hours due to bad weather.
This is acceptable.

But to keep all the passengers on board for the entire waiting period is not only unconstitutional, it is in-humane.

There was no reason at all that the passengers who wanted to have a cigarette couldn't have been allowed to go to the IN TRANSIT area to do so.

I'm not a smoker, my wife is, and there were others aboard who are also.
Remember, these people pay for flights just the same as non-smokers.

The baggage handlers spent 3 hours fumbling around trying to load the baggage, so it is apparent that we weren't waiting for immediate clearance to un-dock and taxi over to the de-icing ramp. I too am a pilot, so I'm fully aware of all ramp/taxi-way/runway procedures.

On top of that, were not finished yet, we were served 1 glass of orange juice in that 5 1/2 hour period. Again I'm not complaining for myself as my sister-in-law experienced a 12 hour delay during Christmas time. I prepared myself with an assortment of snacks that I took on board in my carry-on luggage. Here, you should be thinking of the children.

Your air-line was very lucky that day as every-one aboard was very patient and well mannered. The pilot thanked everyone for their patience and understanding, but it is quite apparent that AIR TRANSAT lacked a great amount of understanding.

So, the message I can take back to my friends & family is not a good one as far as AIR TRANSAT goes.

I do hope that you put some kind of policy in motion to take action in the event of long delays like this in the future.

Personally I won't fly AIR TRANSAT again unless I know of policy in place to pay more consideration to the paying customer.

This message will be going out to friends and family to pass on to their connections to be aware of a possible problem in commercial aviation travel, thanks to the power of the internet.

Once again, I hope you put a policy in place to take more consideration for the paying customer.

[Bob Patterson]

Hi Rick !

You are NOT alone in your bad experiences with Air Transat !
We used them to go to Fort Meyers last year for Sun 'n Fun - would
normally go to St. Pete's, but left it too late to book, and it
<appeared> that Air Transat had better flight arrival and departure
times ....

The flight was over 3 hours late departing - fair enough, there
was a heavy snowstorm in progress. However, the return flight was
delayed over 3 1/2 hours - in the sunshine !! Having arrived at the
terminal 3 hours early, as we were advised to do, this meant a 6 1/2
hour wait to board !!! Throughout the hours of waiting, the posted
departure time was revised about every half-hour, forcing everyone
to stay in the boarding lounge. Leaving Ft. Meyers at midnight meant a
return home to Toronto in the VERY early hours - not the easiest
time to get a cab ! The only word we got on the reason for the
delay was just before boarding, when we were told that "Someone forgot
to order the wine" ! I guess that's why there were no drinks served
on the flight, and only a totally inedible snack of some 'mystery
meat' sandwiches ! We heard from several travellers during our
loooong stay at the terminal that Air Transat were famous for ALWAYS
being late - some joked that they should reprint their schedules !

Like you, we will NEVER fly Air Transat again, unless there
are some assurances that they are a <little> more customer-oriented !!

......bobp & Anna

-------------------------------orig.---------------------------------------
At 05:50 PM 2/18/01 -0500, you wrote:

For your information

This was an actual occurrence that happened. I am forwarding it to you in

hopes that you become aware of potential problems that may exist in
commercial travel.

This message was sent to AIR TRANSAT complaint department at this address.

relationsclientele@vacancesairtransat.com

Feel free to pass it on or just delete it. I'm not looking to boycott AIR

TRANSAT, I'm hoping this message will get around to all commercial air
travel companies to increase customer satisfaction.

We've all heard or experience the horror stories, but sometimes it can be

prevented through a little extra effort by the airline companies.

Let's hope this has some impact.



To whom it may concern

The above mentioned flight was delayed 5 1/2 hours due to bad weather.
This is acceptable.

But to keep all the passengers on board for the entire waiting period is

not only unconstitutional, it is in-humane.

There was no reason at all that the passengers who wanted to have a

cigarette couldn't have been allowed to go to the IN TRANSIT area to do so.

I'm not a smoker, my wife is, and there were others aboard who are also.
Remember, these people pay for flights just the same as non-smokers.

The baggage handlers spent 3 hours fumbling around trying to load the

baggage, so it is apparent that we weren't waiting for immediate clearance
to un-dock and taxi over to the de-icing ramp. I too am a pilot, so I'm
fully aware of all ramp/taxi-way/runway procedures.

On top of that, were not finished yet, we were served 1 glass of orange

juice in that 5 1/2 hour period. Again I'm not complaining for myself as my
sister-in-law experienced a 12 hour delay during Christmas time. I prepared
myself with an assortment of snacks that I took on board in my carry-on
luggage. Here, you should be thinking of the children.

Your air-line was very lucky that day as every-one aboard was very patient

and well mannered. The pilot thanked everyone for their patience and
understanding, but it is quite apparent that AIR TRANSAT lacked a great
amount of understanding.

So, the message I can take back to my friends & family is not a good one as

far as AIR TRANSAT goes.

I do hope that you put some kind of policy in motion to take action in the

event of long delays like this in the future.

Personally I won't fly AIR TRANSAT again unless I know of policy in place

to pay more consideration to the paying customer.

This message will be going out to friends and family to pass on to their

connections to be aware of a possible problem in commercial aviation travel,
thanks to the power of the internet.

Once again, I hope you put a policy in place to take more consideration for

the paying customer.

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[Wayne G. O'Shea]

Gee Rick, Sounds like you got one of their better flights!!!!! Not a great place to spend 5+ hours, when they probably should have off loaded you back into the terminal gate area. I guess the only plus side (if there is one) is that you were at the cool end of the trip! We sat one year for over 2 hours, on the pavement in Antigua, on Air Rancid (while it looked like they were bolting an engine back on) in 30*C temps, out in the sun without as much as a door open. Numerous people passed out from lack of air, including my wife.


Take care and next time try flying Skyservice's A330 and see if my brother (Murray) is up front in the left seat. There are 2 nice jump seats right behind the FO's seat with a much better view than coach!
Wayne

----- Original Message -----
From: Rick and Cathy Ford (rc.ford@home.com)
To: Murphy Rebel Builders List (murphy-rebel@dcsol.com)
Cc: Tony & Janet Armstrong (jarmstrong@sprint.ca) ; Len Maybee (lmaybee@home.com) ; John Whincop (skyview@idirect.com) ; John S. Colven (jscolven@home.com) ; John Hayward (hayward298@home.com) ; John Burghard (canindo@idirect.com) ; John & Mary Heyes (mary.heyes@sympatico.ca) ; Graham Sidaway (graham_sidaway@festo.com) ; Doug Johnson (dougj@accel.net) ; Doug & Janice (dduffy@intranet.ca) ; Don Stock (stock@idirect.com) ; Don Dutton (d.dutton@sympatico.ca) ; Bob Muzzin (bobmuzz@nexicom.net) ; Austin Galea (a.galea@sympatico.ca) ; Mandy & R. Cody Pozzolo (ryker@telusplanet.net) ; rodlaw@total.net (rodlaw@total.net) ; lance allen (lallen2@home.com) ; Thomas F. Locke (tlocke@sympatico.ca)
Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2001 5:50 PM
Subject: Air Transat flight AT546 Feb.8/01 to Manzanillo Mexico


For your information

This was an actual occurrence that happened. I am forwarding it to you in hopes that you become aware of potential problems that may exist in commercial travel.
This message was sent to AIR TRANSAT complaint department at this address. relationsclientele@vacancesairtransat.com (relationsclientele@vacancesairtransat.com)
Feel free to pass it on or just delete it. I'm not looking to boycott AIR TRANSAT, I'm hoping this message will get around to all commercial air travel companies to increase customer satisfaction.
We've all heard or experience the horror stories, but sometimes it can be prevented through a little extra effort by the airline companies.

Let's hope this has some impact.



To whom it may concern

The above mentioned flight was delayed 5 1/2 hours due to bad weather.
This is acceptable.

But to keep all the passengers on board for the entire waiting period is not only unconstitutional, it is in-humane.

There was no reason at all that the passengers who wanted to have a cigarette couldn't have been allowed to go to the IN TRANSIT area to do so.

I'm not a smoker, my wife is, and there were others aboard who are also.
Remember, these people pay for flights just the same as non-smokers.

The baggage handlers spent 3 hours fumbling around trying to load the baggage, so it is apparent that we weren't waiting for immediate clearance to un-dock and taxi over to the de-icing ramp. I too am a pilot, so I'm fully aware of all ramp/taxi-way/runway procedures.

On top of that, were not finished yet, we were served 1 glass of orange juice in that 5 1/2 hour period. Again I'm not complaining for myself as my sister-in-law experienced a 12 hour delay during Christmas time. I prepared myself with an assortment of snacks that I took on board in my carry-on luggage. Here, you should be thinking of the children.

Your air-line was very lucky that day as every-one aboard was very patient and well mannered. The pilot thanked everyone for their patience and understanding, but it is quite apparent that AIR TRANSAT lacked a great amount of understanding.

So, the message I can take back to my friends & family is not a good one as far as AIR TRANSAT goes.

I do hope that you put some kind of policy in motion to take action in the event of long delays like this in the future.

Personally I won't fly AIR TRANSAT again unless I know of policy in place to pay more consideration to the paying customer.

This message will be going out to friends and family to pass on to their connections to be aware of a possible problem in commercial aviation travel, thanks to the power of the internet.

Once again, I hope you put a policy in place to take more consideration for the paying customer.