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Virgin Atlantic Airways Complaint - Dangerous Heat Levels Inside Airbus Cabin - Airbus A340
Airbus A340 - Complaint
CORK IRELAND -- My partner and myself were passengers on Virgin Atlantic 4th October Heathrow to Johannesburg. Cabin Staff on plane asked for passengers not to be loaded as the heat in the plane was dangerously high. All passengers boarded against this request and the heat was incredible.. Cabin staff could not handle the upset passengers. Men took off shirts and eventually the staff opened the doors to try cool the plane.
We were told by Captain problem was with small machine in the tail. There were also engine problems and we were in this hot plane from 2005 hours till take off at approx 2200 hrs. One gent collapsed due to the heat and medical teams were called. The cabin staff also said they were 3 crew short and although on the ground for 2 hours after we boarded, Virgin did not replace these short staff. I feel very justified to say that passengers were scared and worried for their safety.
This alarmed all of us. Replies from Virgin Atlantic Customer Relations make hilarious reading and they accept engine problems, no APU unit working,dangerous heat levels, opened doors and late take off, but say none of these problems were theirs.. So who was to blame..
Be assured I will never fly with them again.. Totally unprofessional considering the promises of top airline with caring staff. I wish Sir R. Branson could read this.
We were told by Captain problem was with small machine in the tail. There were also engine problems and we were in this hot plane from 2005 hours till take off at approx 2200 hrs. One gent collapsed due to the heat and medical teams were called. The cabin staff also said they were 3 crew short and although on the ground for 2 hours after we boarded, Virgin did not replace these short staff. I feel very justified to say that passengers were scared and worried for their safety.
This alarmed all of us. Replies from Virgin Atlantic Customer Relations make hilarious reading and they accept engine problems, no APU unit working,dangerous heat levels, opened doors and late take off, but say none of these problems were theirs.. So who was to blame..
Be assured I will never fly with them again.. Totally unprofessional considering the promises of top airline with caring staff. I wish Sir R. Branson could read this.
Comments:
Posted by lunaan on 2008-07-10:
Let me get this straight; the flight crew warned all of you that the plane was very hot, and you all insisted on boarding anyway? I don't think anyone who voluntarily boarded the plane deserves compensation. You were warned, you went against it.
Posted by madconsumer on 2008-07-10:
4th of october? of what year?
a little late to complain now isn't it?
or are you pre-complainming for a flight this coming october?
a little late to complain now isn't it?
or are you pre-complainming for a flight this coming october?
Posted by justcuz3993 on 2008-07-10:
"Cabin Staff on plane asked for passengers not to be loaded as the heat in the plane was dangerously high. All passengers boarded against this request and the heat was incredible.. Cabin staff could not handle the upset passengers."
I think Richard Branson would want to ask you all why you boarded the plane despite the captain's request not to? Sorry, you don't have a valid complaint here.
I think Richard Branson would want to ask you all why you boarded the plane despite the captain's request not to? Sorry, you don't have a valid complaint here.
Posted by Crown Jules on 2008-07-10:
Wow, I read the first part of the complaint completely differently than everyone else. I understood the OP to say that the staff in the airplane asked the staff in the terminal not to allow passenger boarding but the gate crew allowed them to board anyway. I don't think the passengers just descended en masse on the jetway and forced their way onto the plane. I think the OP just used too much shorthand, he probably should have written "all passengers were boarded against this request..."
Posted by wgaguy1984 on 2008-07-11:
I agree with Crown Jules, gate staff was probably trying to meet on-time departure and boarded the plane and pushed it to get it out of the gate.
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