Woman bound for Tampa ends up in Puerto Rico

[nycbusdriver]

I'm curious too. Not to be mean to an 83 year old lady but most times those in wheelchairs are pre-boarded so they hear the destination announcement over and over. "Welcome aboard Flight ____ to San Juan Puerto Rico." About 20 years ago, we took a lady from CLT to DFW who was going to FAY. She couldn't believe that dinner was being served on a 30 minute flight. By her own admission, she boarded, started reading a book and blocked out all announcements. People need to be a little more aware of what they're doing and be accountable for it.

I had a similar experience flying SJU-CLT several years back. About 45 minutes into the flight, a woman asked the flight attendant why the lfight was taking so long. She thought she would be on the ground about 20 minutes after leaving SJU. Turns out, she was going to Charlotte-Amalie (which is the capital city on Saint Thomas/STT, which would indeed have been a 20 minute flight at most.) She admitted that it was her mistake and wasn't really upset (must have been an islander...."Don't worry; Be happy!) But here again the agent didn't bother to look at the ticket.

 

[NCFL]

I'm curious too. Not to be mean to an 83 year old lady but most times those in wheelchairs are pre-boarded so they hear the destination announcement over and over. People need to be a little more aware of what they're doing and be accountable for it.

I agree with you 100%. A lot of pax not only check their luggage at the curb, they also check their brains.

On the flip side of your idea that she heard the announcements over and over, it's possible that at 83 years old she's as deaf as a post and heard nothing. Or doesn't have all of her wits about her in a sort of "dotty old woman" way - but not so much that she'd have met the requirements for needing a personal care attendant outlined in 14 CFR 382.31.

When a customer makes a complaint about a potential violation of Part 382 to the DOT, the burden is on the airline to provide proof that it did not occur in order to exonerate itself. This is not directly stated in the regulation itself, but from more than a decade of dealing with this, I know that is the stance the DOT takes. Translation: guilty until proven innocent.

Proving it was not the airline's responsibility (i.e. no advance WCHC in the PNR from a Travelocity booking and pax complains lift device was not readily available) doesn't take the monthly complaint away. It does remove the complaint from those that might be considered for a fine if the DOT were to pursue enforcement action against the carrier.

 

[airportworker08]

I recall years ago a woman was flown to Rome NY and she wanted to go to Rome Italy. It was pretty wild. I think it happens a lot with the lack of communication and not using a language line enough in res.

 

[ggiby]

I recall years ago a woman was flown to Rome NY and she wanted to go to Rome Italy. It was pretty wild. I think it happens a lot with the lack of communication and not using a language line enough in res.

When the people in Res don't even speak English as their first language.... much less never
have been out of Mexico.... what do you expect? When I call res to get the Y fare from
DCA to LAX they can't even quoat me anything remotely close to the correct fare...
I say....just look at your little screen..... do you see a Y? What is the figure next to it???
Still could not do it..... I had to wait till I had a trip and ask an agent to pull it up for me...

Sad..... This is why people end up in the wrong state a lot..... but Country??? that is sad...

When I worked in res..... 25 years ago.... we were required to quoat the City.... and State...
everytime and in a very exact procedure.... and if someone got mixed up.... tapes were
pulled to make sure the agent did his job properly. But I am sure that never happens these
days....