[needaholiday]

From ABC Newsonline

"No frills airline Jetstar has been criticised after its staff allegedly refused to help a group of Hobart schoolboys whose flight home from Melbourne was cancelled."

"Parents of the team are upset at the way the situation was handled by Jetstar staff.

They say staff called security and asked them to leave the terminal without offering accommodation for the night."


More..http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...7/s1687860.htm

and http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...7/s1687988.htm

[Dave Noble]

They probably treated the boys like any other customer. Why should they expect any special treatment?

Dave

[JohnK]

Originally Posted by needaholiday

They say staff called security and asked them to leave the terminal without offering accommodation for the night."

If Jetstar is the future I think all other airlines flying to/from Australia will experience exponential growth in passenger numbers.

[Dave Noble]

There are 2 sides to the story. JQ claims that security was called due to some of the passengers being aggressive

The flight problems were caused by fog and so was weather related .Unsurprisingly, JQs policy is not to cough up compensation when it isn't required. I don't see the newsworthyness of the story unless it was "really slow news day".

Dave

[NM]

Originally Posted by Dave Noble

There are 2 sides to the story. JQ claims that security was called due to some of the passengers being aggressive

The flight problems were caused by fog and so was weather related .Unsurprisingly, JQs policy is not to cough up compensation when it isn't required. I don't see the newsworthyness of the story unless it was "really slow news day".

Dave

In my opinion, the newsworthiness of the story is that the soccer team management had not planned for this contingency. Anyone taking children on such a trip has a duty of care to ensure they are properly looked after. In my experience with children's activities, that includes considering possible disruptions to the plans.

Now this is a particularly sensitive issue as the team's management now needs to find appropriate accommodation for their charges. It news articles note that some parents were accompanying the team, but does not state of all children has a parent/guardian with them. So the team management has the problem of ensuring each child is safe and that is not easy when it comes to 12yo boys in hotel accommodation (who shares with who?).

As someone who works regularly with children of this age, I am very aware of the "duty of care" requirements imposed by our state law.

Now the soccer team's poor planning should not become Jetstar's problem. Jetstar is not a charity or child support agency.

[oz_mark]

Having slept in an airport terminal before, it is not the most comfortable of nights. However, I agree that the soccer team management should have been able to deal with the situation that arose.

One wonders if they were travelling with any kind of travel insurance.

[Dave Noble]

Originally Posted by NM

In my opinion, the newsworthiness of the story is that the soccer team management had not planned for this contingency. Anyone taking children on such a trip has a duty of care to ensure they are properly looked after. In my experience with children's activities, that includes considering possible disruptions to the plans.

Now this is a particularly sensitive issue as the team's management now needs to find appropriate accommodation for their charges. It news articles note that some parents were accompanying the team, but does not state of all children has a parent/guardian with them. So the team management has the problem of ensuring each child is safe and that is not easy when it comes to 12yo boys in hotel accommodation (who shares with who?).

As someone who works regularly with children of this age, I am very aware of the "duty of care" requirements imposed by our state law.

Now the soccer team's poor planning should not become Jetstar's problem. Jetstar is not a charity or child support agency.

If the tone of the piece was criticising the Association Football Team's organisers for not properly planning for eventualities like this in their risk assessment, I'd fully agree. At the minimum they should have ensured that the parents/guardians had taken appropriate insurance or were prepared to pay up expenses that could be incurred in such a situation

My thought, as you refer to, is it is nothing to do with Jetstar that there was a kids AF team booked.

I think it is great that QF does assist beyond the legal necessities when weather problems occur, but that is not a requirement and is quite common elsewhere for airlines to not provide accommodation et al when weather related problems occur

Book on an LCC and you cannot expect frills imo

Dave

[JohnK]

Originally Posted by Dave Noble

Book on an LCC and you cannot expect frills imo

Is it a concern that the Jetstar brand will be the future of QF?

[danielribo]

Unfortunatley when travelling to/from Tassie, LCC's are pretty much the only option. Hopefully people will smarten up and start flying DJ over this JQ thing. At least Virgin put you in a hotel when they cancel your flight and leave you stranded overnight.

[CO BNE]

Originally Posted by danielribo

At least Virgin put you in a hotel when they cancel your flight and leave you stranded overnight.

Are you actually speaking from experience of a Virgin Blue flight cancelled due to weather?

I'd like to refer you to the following and let you make assumptions on what the words mean.

Originally Posted by Virgin Blue Terms and Conditions of Carriage

8. The Guest acknowledges that the Carrier may need to cancel or delay and reschedule flights or services due to industrial action, landing restrictions, airport loading restrictions, unsuitable weather conditions, technical problems or any event beyond the Carrier's reasonable control, and scheduled flight times or destinations are not guaranteed. In no circumstances will the Carrier be liable for any Losses which a Guest may incur as a result of any such delayed or rescheduled flight or service.
full terms and conditions of carriage