Phuket Storm Diverts Sydney Flight to Bangkok: Passengers Flame Aussie Airline
By Chutima Sidasathian Sunday, December 13, 2015
PHUKET:Jetstar faced a torrent of anger from passengers on a flight from Sydney to Phuket that was diverted to Bangkok yesterday because of a heavy storm over the Thai holiday island.
Spending a night in the Thai capital with accommodation provided by the Aussie airline failed to placate complaining holidaymakers expecting to be enjoying their tropical island holiday today.
Flight JQ 7072 will bring the planeload of disgruntled travellers to Phuket at 6pm today.
Other flights were delayed because of the heavy storm that pounded Phuket last night but the Jetstar flight was the only one diverted.
The complaining passengers made no secret of their unhappiness, spouting discontent on social media.
News of their fury was being spread more widely today by the Daily Mail, world's largest-circulation online newspaper.
Phuket International Airport officials confirmed to Phuketwan today that the unusually heavy storm triggered last night's diversion to Bangkok, and that an alternate fight would bring the passengers to Phuket about 24 hours behind schedule, with a day of their tropical holiday lost.
Some could not wait to get to Phuket.
One complaining customer reported on social media: ''So somehow, thanks to Jetstar we ended up in Bangkok!
''After taking off an hour late, due to them being unorganised and then not being able to land in Phuket, as there was severe thunderstorms, which had only began 20 mins prior and running very low on fuel, we had to fly to Bangkok.
''Then we were stuck on the plane and then in the airport for about 4hours in total with them giving us no idea what we were meant to do whilst at the airport waiting for luggage.
''Then got transported to a hotel for the night . . . which was 1 star and was so disgusting that we left . . . Instead of going on the flight Jetstar have provided us the next night at 5pm, which would have lost us another day in Phuket, we have now had to pay to leave now, 6am, with no sleep, to get to Phuket so we can at least enjoy our accommodation and holiday that we have paid for!''
Another flyer, deposited 800 kilometres north of the destination, wrote: ''Jetstar - where close enough is good enough. Thanks for dropping us off at Bangkok . . I would have preferred Phuket though as that is where I bought my ticket for.''
The airline is expected to placate customers and explain the predicament and the reason for the diversion sometime today.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
Last night's rain was some of the heaviest l've ever seen in 12 years of visiting Phuket.
Probably the pilot had good reason to divert.
The passengers should remember the One-Two-Go tragedy at Phuket before whinging about being inconvenienced.
Posted by
Andrew Keir
on
December 13, 2015 11:16
Yeah the pilot should have attempted the landing, the plane might not have crashed after all. Whingeing Aussies.
Posted by
ppfarang
on
December 13, 2015 11:29
no doubt the passengers complaining have never watch air crash disaster flying and landing in storm conditions causing wind shear its responsible for crash landings and numerous deaths Jetstar cant control the weather or instructions from air traffic control your lost a day of your holiday not your life.
Posted by
slickmelb
on
December 13, 2015 11:45
And the call the poms wingers?
Better Bangkok than splattered across the runway.
Posted by
Rich
on
December 13, 2015 12:07
Better safe than sorry!
It is up to the Captain to decide in such a situation.
Flight diverting happens al over the world now end than.
Posted by
Kurt
on
December 13, 2015 12:18
Dummy spit. They are lucky the airline put safety first. A few years ago the same circumstances led to a very different outcome.
Good job Jetstar. So what if the accommodation was not the best, at short notice it seems they did what they could.
Posted by
Mark Thalang
on
December 13, 2015 12:28
Blaming an airline for a weather related diversion only underscores the ignorance of the passengers.
Aviation industry applies strict safety criteria which airlines have to comply with. When certain weather related minimums are not reached (visibility, crosswind, windshear, cloud ceiling, runway friction coefficient etc), airlines CANNOT land at destination. ATC will not give them landing clearance.
To defy such ATC (Air Traffic Control) orders would not only be a career ending but also most likely an airline-ending decision.
A couple of bogans throwing their toys out of the pram is of zero relevance when making such decisions.
Mandatory reserve fuel levels are equally mandated. When the minimum legal level of remaining fuel has been reached, the flight HAS to divert. Even the level of fuel remaining after landing is regulated and severe penalties apply if not in compliance.
1-2 Go attempted landing in less severe weather conditions at HKT and we all know how that ended up
Airlines have no control over the weather and passengers should be appreciative Jetstar adhered to regulations and everyone is safe. Even providing accommodation when most likely not legally required to do so.
Let's not forget Jetstar is a LLC, not a Legacy airline. Same safety rules apply for all airlines, LLC and Legacy but level and quality of services does not. If you choose to fly a low cost airline, do not expect 1st class service levels.
Flying an airplane is not like driving a bus. There is so much involved of which the average passenger has absolutely no clue of which results in irrational and unjustified criticism towards the airline.
Personally I would never use a LLC for long haul. If you pay peanuts, don't complain if you get monkeys.
Posted by
Herbert
on
December 13, 2015 12:32
Perhaps the whingers may have preferred the "123-Crash" option.
Wind-shear and storm activity here should never be taken lightly and I'd be thankful for Jetstar adopting the safety approach.
Posted by
Hugh Jarse
on
December 13, 2015 12:47
I fly Jetstar now and you get what you pay for. By the time you pay for food or baggage you don't save that much. If you can afford it, Singapore Airlines are by far the best. Jetstar is now the only Aussie airline that flies straight into Phuket. Thai used to have a Melb- Phuket red eye that landed in the morning. Why they got rid of that I'll never know. Thai airlines got so bad even Jetstar seemed better to me.
Posted by
Arun Muruga
on
December 13, 2015 12:52
Editor Comment:
Jetstar has vastly improved since we first tried them years ago. The seat alongside us was vacant and the flight was delayed for almost an hour. We learned later that a man who had just been freed from Phuket Prison had his luggage on board but got drunk and offended staff at the gate, so his luggage had to be taken off. Luckily for us, the seat stayed empty.
Arun,
Jetstar is still the only as airline to fly directly from Sydney to Phuket also. I have never yet had a delay at Syndey and only once, for about an hour, leaving Phuket. I only fly midweek and most times there are many vacant seats. I follow the herd directly to cattle class where I belong and count sheep for 9.0hrs until its over.
I have done the Thai Airlines via bangkok a few times and the 12 to 13 hours to arrive leaves you exhausted.
Jetstar does what is supposed to do and gets you from A to B quickly.
After a quick exit through customs and the dodgem taxi ride, its a great feeling to arrive at your hotel and have that first shower.
The previous 12 hours, including the check in wait at the departing airport is quicky erased from memory.
Posted by
MoW
on
December 13, 2015 14:40
They would be moaning a lot more if they were burnt or lost an arm and or a leg etc in a plane crash. Also what's the rush if it's pouring with rain in Phuket hardly bikini beach weather. They can go for a tour in Bangkok to me it would be an advantage but then I am a POM.
Posted by
Safety
on
December 13, 2015 15:31
Editor Comment:
The weather is perfect on Phuket today.
"The weather is perfect on Phuket today" - are you saying that the Captain should have landed. In addition he probably had no choice as the plane could not land within pre-determined safety parameters. This is a stupid story next. The pilots did the correct thing, end of the matter. Wow people don't know how to relax.
Posted by
Ed's judge
on
December 13, 2015 16:27
Editor Comment:
I am saying: The weather is perfect on Phuket today.
Go stick you head up a dead bear's bum.
(This comment, for readers who may be wondering, is from a first-post troll.)
"Go stick your head up a dead bear's bum" - then you wonder why Phuketwan cannot charge it's readers like quality publications and you about to close. You are rubbish at comments. Fact - ask your readers have a vote if you have the balls!
Posted by
Goodbye
on
December 13, 2015 18:17
Editor Comment:
Goodness, another first-time troll who can't tell the difference between its and it's. We need quality readers! Go stick your head up some other dead bear's bum. The first one is still coping with a troll you probably know.
"Go stick your head up a dead bear's bum"
That's a strange expression Bruce - Did you hear the prime minister use it?
Posted by
Elephants Gerald
on
December 13, 2015 19:38
I am saying: The weather is perfect on Phuket today.
Go stick you head up a dead bear's bum.
(This comment, for readers who may be wondering, is from a first-post troll.)
In all my years following Phuketwan, this is the best Editor comment ever.
We will miss you!
Posted by
Andrew Keir
on
December 13, 2015 20:49
Jetstar has a number of good points. Firstly the Melb/Bang route usually has the new Boeing dreamliner plane which is nice. You can also buy your own food so you can eat when you want and as much or as little as you like. The food and snacks are reasonably priced given they have a captive market. The dreamliner has a USB port so you can listen to your music or whatever and the phone stays fully charged. Apart from the odd loud bogan in his thongs, shorts and wife beater singlet you get a pretty good flight I've found.
Posted by
Arun Muruga
on
December 13, 2015 22:19
flew in tonight at 7 pm winds picked up again its quite usual to have these pre xmas squalls here, only for short time but dangerous at the airport, when I flew out yesterday morning it was perfect, but we bounced a lot coming in tonight
Posted by
Michael
on
December 13, 2015 22:28
Editor Comment:
There was a King's Cup squall a few years back when a dozen yachts were beached at Kata so fierce storms are a reality even in December.
I've said a lot about Jetstar over the years, mainly bad, but I'd rather be overnighting in a flea trap in Bangkok than splattered all over the runway.
Posted by
Arthur
on
December 13, 2015 22:50
"A couple of bogans throwing their toys out of the pram is of zero relevance when making such decisions." Priceless and absolutely correct.
I'd rather be on the ground wishing I was in the air than be in the air wishing I was on the ground.
Posted by
pete59
on
December 14, 2015 03:26
The whinging Aussie said 'running very low on fuel'
Airplanes always carry sufficient fuel for a diversion, I think it is around 2 hours flying time, but anyhow, where was the source of this information ?
Posted by
Paul
on
December 14, 2015 07:09
Editor Comment:
Plenty of Brits also fly Jetstar, Paul. The standard of whinging indicates it is much more complete than Aussies usually manage. As the article says, the complaints were made via social media.
Better safe than sorry....! My daughter will be doing the trip from Sydney to Phuket shortly to meet me in Phuket, if the plane needs diverting to Bangkok due to stormy weather so be it. What is the cost of a taxi ride to Phuket if your life is saved...
Posted by
Angela Seager
on
December 15, 2015 01:22
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Last night's rain was some of the heaviest l've ever seen in 12 years of visiting Phuket.
Probably the pilot had good reason to divert.
The passengers should remember the One-Two-Go tragedy at Phuket before whinging about being inconvenienced.
Posted by Andrew Keir on December 13, 2015 11:16