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Letter to the editor

Air travelers' wait spans two years

Indiana-bound fliers spend New Year's stuck in the airport.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published January 2, 2008

CLEARWATER - About 100 Allegiant Air passengers bound for Fort Wayne, Ind., were stranded for nearly 30 hours in the Tampa Bay area after a string of problems prevented them from taking off.

As of this telling, Flight 1811 was finally in the air. But not before providing the script for another cautionary tale about air travel.

It started, as it usually does, innocently enough.

Just before 4 p.m. on Monday, New Year's Eve, passengers boarded Allegiant Flight 1811.

Greg Goodwin and his family were wrapping up a vacation to Siesta Key. Cindy and Mike Jetmore of Palm Harbor were headed north to see the birth of their granddaughter. Another woman was going to a birthday party; one couple was destined for Topeka, Kan.

They waited 90 minutes for takeoff on the tarmac at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport before passengers were asked to get off the plane.

Delayed.

First it was the weather - in Fort Wayne, not Florida. Then mechanical problems. Then the airline staff said another plane was coming from Orlando.

It arrived, but there appeared to be something wrong with that plane, passengers were told.

They eventually were given pizza and soda - and a new takeoff time of 11 p.m.

About 10 minutes after midnight, and still waiting, Goodwin, 49, realized it was 2008. "Happy New Year, right," he said.

Two hours later, passengers heard the verdict: Flight 1811 would not fly Monday night.

"It ruined our New Year's," said Goodwin's 17-year-old son, Brian.

The airline sprang for hotel rooms and Flight 1811 was rescheduled for 6:05 p.m. Tuesday.

It was delayed.

Again.

"I've gone through a lot, but nothing like this," said Cindy Jetmore. "It's unbelievable."

It was the weather again in Fort Wayne, officials said. Snow was blanketing the area.

Tyri Squyres, an Allegiant spokeswoman, confirmed the weather and mechanical delays.

Finally, at 8 p.m., after consuming another $8 voucher meal, Flight 1811 boarded again shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday.

This time it took off.

[Last modified January 2, 2008, 00:14:26]