'Air Jamaica' travel headache
Published:Thursday | December 23, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Editor, Sir:
Travelling to Jamaica via the 'new Air Jamaica' today is more painful than ever before. The courtesy that they were once known for, both on the ground and in the air, no longer exists. I am not suggesting that the Government should have kept the airline, as given the tremendous cost of operating it, this could not have been in the best interest of Jamaican taxpayers.
I do feel the pain, however, of losing out on the euphoria of national pride, especially in the case of the arrogant neighbours who have now acquired such entity. It is a pity that it didn't fall into the hands of Jamaicans, because at least there would have been a better level of accountability in light of what has been happening with customers recently.
My wife came down from Florida on December 11 and, on clearing Customs and waiting for a while, found out that neither piece of her luggage had arrived. So, of course, she signed the missing luggage form and the relevant documents, and arrangements were made for her stuff to be delivered the following day. Unfortunately up to the following Saturday, one week later, we had not got a call. So we went to the airport on Sunday, December 19.
no one to talk to
When we got there, the baggage claim line was so long it extended beyond the Customs door, extending all the to the bar on the outside and, of course, being Jamaicans we started relating our stories one to the other. There was one woman relating how she was visiting with her two children and from the Thursday before they did not get even one of their checked luggage and it as if there was nobody to talk to. We had called several times to no avail, so I understood exactly what she meant.
We know that travelling during the Christmas holidays have been troublesome at times, but there was nothing of this magnitude before. Many other flights came into the island and left people's bags at their point of departure but the new 'Air Jamaica' seems to be the only flight that manages to leave at least 15 persons luggage from each flight.
I hate to say it but Air Jamaica does not seem to be the best option for travel during Christmas.
I am, etc.,
MELVIN PENNANT