AIRPORT--Passengers of American Airlines (AA) flight 2219 grew increasingly weary over the course of nearly twelve hours before their delayed flight to Miami was finally cancelled late Thursday night. The travellers had been alerted at check-in, the timely ones doing so three hours in advance, that the flight had been delayed due to technical reasons.
A tired passenger told The Daily Herald at almost 11:30pm while waiting on accommodation and transport vouchers, that they would be returning to Princess Juliana International Airport at 7:00am today, Friday, for a 10:00am flight.
The first notice of delay had to do with maintenance issues of the aircraft. However, as bad weather developed, those conditions became the cause of delay. According to the passenger, announcements of delay came at 5:00, 7:00 and 8:00pm, and the flight finally was announced as cancelled at 10:45pm.
US $12 food vouchers were handed out around 7:00pm and the passengers were told around that time that Miami had been told of a tropical storm. The customer described a manager coming out around 8:45pm and telling the passengers the plane was in St. Croix, but that contact could not be made with it.
Apparently, the plane arrived some time later – with a fresh crew due to resting regulations – but the flight was cancelled at 10:45pm.
A lot of people also missed connections, the passenger said. She also said she was annoyed by a lack of customer service. Airline or ground handling officials could not be reached late last night for comment.
