Need some help, going to miss San Juan embarkation.

[lizzilo]

I hope the remainder of your cruise is less eventful than the beginning of it.

 

I'm also glad the US air stepped up and did the right thing.

 

I ran into similar problems when I was supposed to get married last May on a cruise to Cozumel.. (think swine flu...)

[micdee]

Glad that US Air stepped up to the plate and made things right for the OP and other cruisers. However something is definitely wrong with flight #1071, Philly to San Juan departing at 8:40am. It has been consistantly late for the past 4 weeks. Last week it didn't depart until 5pm, and both weeks before it didn't leave until after noontime. The reason I know is because I've booked this flight for 2/27, and started tracking it this past month. Fortunately our cruise leaves the next day, but it sucks that we thought we'd be arriving mid afternnon and now it seems we probably won't arrive until later in the evening. US Air flights before and after take off to San Juan without a hitch, but not this one. Wish I would have known this back in July when I booked the flights.

[lcguy]

Then there was a mad rush upstairs to the us airways desk to get confirmed for the flights to Tortola, on American airlines, which us air did pick up the cost $281. And about half of the line of people waiting, including me, were able to get hotel accomodations overnight in San Juan from us air.

 

So for at least half of us on rcl and celebrity, they were able to fly us out to our respective destinations tomorrow morning. So kudos to the us air staff in San juan for putting up with a hoard of grumpy vacationers.

 

And while I can't blame us air for their first, then second, then third equipment malfunction on the first plane, they should have just switched the plane out with their other a330 they had sitting in the hangar.

I'm glad the OP made it and US Air "came through", but FWIW, US Air HAD TO STEP UP. At the first mention of "equipment malfunction", each passenger should have invoked Rule 240, which requires the carrier to get the pax to their respective destinations- at the airline's cost- even if it means putting the pax on another airline. In addition to the hotel in San Juan, the airline also should have provided the pax vouchers for meals.

 

Now if US Air really wanted to step up, although not required to... due to the large number of PAX involved, arrange ground transportation in San Juan and Tortola.

[Mark_K]

I'm glad the OP made it and US Air "came through", but FWIW, US Air HAD TO STEP UP. At the first mention of "equipment malfunction", each passenger should have invoked Rule 240, which requires the carrier to get the pax to their respective destinations- at the airline's cost- even if it means putting the pax on another airline. In addition to the hotel in San Juan, the airline also should have provided the pax vouchers for meals.

 

Now if US Air really wanted to step up, although not required to... due to the large number of PAX involved, arrange ground transportation in San Juan and Tortola.

Rule 240 has not been an actual rule for many years, although many airlines have something similar to it in their Contract of Carriage. Taking a quick glance at US Air's, it does not appear to require rerouting on another carrier.

[petesweet]

How did my comment on your post get in the stack ahead of the original post?

 

This is the second time in two days I've seen that. Both times I thought I missed the original statement. The first time the quoted statement was a snarky comment, so I originally thought it had been deleted. This one - not the case.

Kathy

[lcguy]

Rule 240 has not been an actual rule for many years, although many airlines have something similar to it in their Contract of Carriage. Taking a quick glance at US Air's, it does not appear to require rerouting on another carrier.

"Technically" Mark is right... however every major US airline has adopted some form of rule 240.

 

On the other hand, US Air does use of alternate airlines and forms of transportation. See specifically US Air's terms of transportation, page 18 (Revision 9, dated December 30, 2009).

 

Passengers should keep a copy of the airline's Contract of Carriage or Terms of Transportation when flying that airline

[Knatz]

All those folks from Philly that got stranded last Saturday and missed the boat will be returning today. Hmmm, does lightning strike twice?

[GXmanDC]

All those folks from Philly that got stranded last Saturday and missed the boat will be returning today. Hmmm, does lightning strike twice?

 

Yeah, flights are probably cancelled into PHL.

[JerseyGem]

PHL does still have a very few flights scheduled . . . on from SJU is still showing. But who knows????

[nrdsb4]

I wonder how many of these people were turned away from the flight to BVI due to lack of passport? Hopefully they all had one, but odds are against it.

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

I wonder how many of these people were turned away from the flight to BVI due to lack of passport? Hopefully they all had one, but odds are against it.

 

 

Between that and the big snow shutting down the NE, this will be interesting! :eek:

 

Hope to get some feedback from OP and others.

 

***

[cruzwpj]

Hope the big group from Philly gets on a plane home. Sure does not look good, like someone said lightening hopefully will not strike twice. Good luck, I am watching this thread for any news. :)

[beachdiamonds]

I am in the Philly area and even if their flights land (which I highly doubt) they will have an impossible time getting home. We have 24 inches of snow on the ground right now and the snow is not predicted to stop for anothe 5-6 hours. Most roads even the majors (I-95, etc) are impassable and people have been told to stay off the roads.

[nrdsb4]

I am in the Philly area and even if their flights land (which I highly doubt) they will have an impossible time getting home. We have 24 inches of snow on the ground right now and the snow is not predicted to stop for anothe 5-6 hours. Most roads even the majors (I-95, etc) are impassable and people have been told to stay off the roads.

 

Wow, that's too bad. After all this group has been through, they're going to need a vacation to recover from their vacation. I hope they handle stress well.

[PhoenixCruiser]

Between that and the big snow shutting down the NE, this will be interesting! :eek:

 

Hope to get some feedback from OP and others.

 

***

 

Yikes!! I hope they all enjoyed the "middle" of their vacation :D

 

###

[cruzwpj]

Travel blessings to anyone trying to get home from their cruise.:)

[harry614]

A few years back late flight to San Juan (weather) RCCL personell waiting at Airport. Contact them immediately

[harry614]

Did not look at Date sorry

[Cuizer2]

Did not look at Date sorry

 

Why, who was your date? :confused:

[Schooner Bar Girl]

All those folks from Philly that got stranded last Saturday and missed the boat will be returning today. Hmmm, does lightning strike twice?

 

Yeah, flights are probably cancelled into PHL.

 

I understood it that the group was re routed through Philly due to weather in another city not that the group was from Philly.:confused::confused: If so then the group may not be caught up in the weather delays depending on what city they are flying into.

[cruzwpj]

Can't wait to hear if the big group got on their plane home, wherever that is? Ho:):)pe they had a good cruise and that they tell us all about it.

[wraithe]

I am wondering the reason that RCI could not hold the ship. Seems like there were at least 70 passengers that were arriving late. I understand if it were only a few folks...but that many! I am glad the USAir stepped up to the plate to make it a little easier for the many disappointed passengers. I was also very impressed with the attitude of the OP...I probably would have been one of those lunatic people carrying on....:).

Hope RCI explains their decision.

 

In addition to the port rules, what about the other 1900+ people on the ship that were ready to go? Can you imagine the howls from 150 or so of those folks that made it to the ship because RCL was "delaying" their vacation waiting on other pax? RCL can't win, so they chose the lesser evil, sacrifice the 40 for the 1900+.

[Ocean Boy]

In addition to the port rules, what about the other 1900+ people on the ship that were ready to go? Can you imagine the howls from 150 or so of those folks that made it to the ship because RCL was "delaying" their vacation waiting on other pax? RCL can't win, so they chose the lesser evil, sacrifice the 40 for the 1900+.

 

When we sailed Explorer out of Miami our departure was delayed two hours because of weather and delayed flights. It really was no big deal at all. Explorer made up the time and none of the ports were affected. Except for the shops and casino everything else on the ship was available. People did not seem to mind the delay at all.

[wraithe]

When we sailed Explorer out of Miami our departure was delayed two hours because of weather and delayed flights. It really was no big deal at all. Explorer made up the time and none of the ports were affected. Except for the shops and casino everything else on the ship was available. People did not seem to mind the delay at all.

 

I agree, most won't mind at all, but there are always a few.

[ShirleyTemple]

I had been on a flight to SJ that got cancelled & there was about 40 cruise passengers on the same flight. We called & gave RC all our passenger info & they told us they were going to try to get the ship to wait for us....unfortunately the ship didn't wait & we all missed the boat. I had to book a flight out the next morning that went to Panama & switch planes there to fly to Aruba. I booked a hotel in Aruba, (Divi Dutch Resort was really nice & affordable & on the beach), and met the ship at the port in Aruba the next day. When I arrived at the ship, and showed him my SeaPass, the man told me I wasn't on the list, but I just kept giving him my SeaPass & finally he called guest services & they got me onboard.

 

Big hassle but it worked out in the end. Try to get your airline to pay for your flights to the next port, since they couldn't get you to the ship in time.

 

Good Luck!