Flight information

Press, 13 August 1980, Page 16

Flight information

Sir, — On Friday, August 1, I travelled to Auckland by Air New Zealand. The original flight, 500, was cancelled because of overnight fog. On arrival at Christchurch Airport I was. informed that the airline , had telephoned me the previous night.“l recdlVed" no such call. It was suggested that I could have heard the cancellation .on! 3ZB. Where in their advertising or ticketing is this gem of information? A special flight was arranged but this was further delayed by maintenance problems. At 12.15 p.m. my business associate arrived at Auckland Airport and was, told the special flight had landed presumably without me. -A request for the passenger; list to be searched was refused and he returned to his office. At this time the flight was actually airborne and he. had to make a further trip to the airport to collect me. This lack of communication is-'a further' example of' .’the deteriorating Air New Zealand service. — Yours, etc., PAT HENSON. . August 2, 1980. .

[Mr K. E. Costello, regional manager, southern, for. Air New Zealand, replies: “Air New Zealand’s records for flight 500 on August 1 show that an endeavour was made to contact Mrs Henson and, in i fact, all passengers, the previous evening, to advise that the flight had been, cancelled because of overnight fog. Mrs Henson’s address on the records was a business one and it was not possible to make contact with her. Another avenue of advising passengers unable to be contacted personally is to give radio stations details of' a disruption. The . delay to the special flight because of maintenance problems is regretted. Through necessity - during disruption because of weather, passengers are accommodated on one of several substitute flights. Passenger lists are not available to the public because; of confidentiality ; and . names are not disclosed except in extenuating circumstances. • With reference to communication, Air New'Zealand made a sincere effort to. advise Mrs Henson of the flight changes caused by circumstances beyond the. company’s control.”] . ' ’ i.:'