Post by beagle on Sept 20, 2012 9:24:08 GMT 12
customer service has again been highlighted after another pregnant woman was bumped off a flight, causing her to miss her 40th birthday celebrations.
Janine McKenzie-Minifie, who is 32 weeks' pregnant, was ejected off a flight from Christchurch to Wellington earlier this week even though she had flown with the budget airline days earlier.
Yesterday The Dominion Post reported on 33-year-old Sarah Clear's disgust at being asked her to leave a flight in front of 150 other passengers.
At 35 weeks' pregnant, she had already flown to Auckland without being questioned and was boarding a flight back to Wellington.
Jetstar requires all women more than 28 weeks' pregnant to carry a letter from their doctor or midwife declaring them fit to fly.
Mrs Clear's story struck a nerve with Wellington neuro-muscular therapist Mrs McKenzie-Minifie, who said she was also kicked off a flight on Monday night.
Mrs McKenzie-Minifie had already flown with Jetstar down to Christchurch for a weekend of work and had checked in with a staff member for her return flight with no problems.
Unaware she was in breach of Jetstar's pregnancy policy, she was asked to leave the plane by a flight attendant.
"I was walking up the aisle to sit down and that's when they intercepted me.
"If they had told me at check-in I could have rung my midwife - she was ten minutes from a fax machine . . . they had plenty of time to size me up."
Ten minutes later she had phoned the midwife and received the clearance, but the flight had left and there were no other departures until Tuesday morning.
She was forced to stay in a motel for an extra night and had to cancel a planned breakfast to celebrate her 40th birthday.
Flying back to Wellington on Tuesday morning, she was not asked for her medical clearance.
Jetstar spokesman Phil Boeyen said the company's policy would not be changed as it was in place for the safety of passengers.
However, in light of recent events Jetstar would explore what it could do better, he said
Janine McKenzie-Minifie, who is 32 weeks' pregnant, was ejected off a flight from Christchurch to Wellington earlier this week even though she had flown with the budget airline days earlier.
Yesterday The Dominion Post reported on 33-year-old Sarah Clear's disgust at being asked her to leave a flight in front of 150 other passengers.
At 35 weeks' pregnant, she had already flown to Auckland without being questioned and was boarding a flight back to Wellington.
Jetstar requires all women more than 28 weeks' pregnant to carry a letter from their doctor or midwife declaring them fit to fly.
Mrs Clear's story struck a nerve with Wellington neuro-muscular therapist Mrs McKenzie-Minifie, who said she was also kicked off a flight on Monday night.
Mrs McKenzie-Minifie had already flown with Jetstar down to Christchurch for a weekend of work and had checked in with a staff member for her return flight with no problems.
Unaware she was in breach of Jetstar's pregnancy policy, she was asked to leave the plane by a flight attendant.
"I was walking up the aisle to sit down and that's when they intercepted me.
"If they had told me at check-in I could have rung my midwife - she was ten minutes from a fax machine . . . they had plenty of time to size me up."
Ten minutes later she had phoned the midwife and received the clearance, but the flight had left and there were no other departures until Tuesday morning.
She was forced to stay in a motel for an extra night and had to cancel a planned breakfast to celebrate her 40th birthday.
Flying back to Wellington on Tuesday morning, she was not asked for her medical clearance.
Jetstar spokesman Phil Boeyen said the company's policy would not be changed as it was in place for the safety of passengers.
However, in light of recent events Jetstar would explore what it could do better, he said
But in seriousness, you have to feel for the airline in these instances, as Philip says the rules are there to see before the ticket is booked.
