While I agree that the light is a safety issue and definitely agree that the plane should remain grounded to due safety reasons, I feel Continental could have done more. It seems clear that 10 passengers missed their flight because there were 10 or more standbys at the gate. What do you want to bet that the flight would have been held a little longer if the plane were half full?
I was on a United flight a few years ago and had a connection in Denver. Because no gate was available, we sat on the tarmac for over 30 minutes after landing and missed our flight. We arrived at the gate as the jetway was being pulled back, but couldn't get on. We were rescheduled on another flight a little over two hours later AND were given travel vouchers nearly equal to our round trip fare.
I'll bet the connecting flight was overbooked and had the ten passengers arrived on time, Continental would have been required to pay out compensation to those who would have been denied boarding. Instead, they got off with a measly $8 voucher.
Another complaint that should be forwarded to the DOT.
|