Major Carriers Sending Empty Planes To Cancun
August 18, 2007 6:44 pm Previous Hurricanes ArchiveI’m getting reports that several of the major airlines are sending empty planes to Cancun with which to bring tourists out of harm’s way. This is a very good thing and my hat is off to them! The tourists who get out before the hurricane hits will be grateful. And it will mean fewer people need to use the emergency shelters here, which is a good thing. The fewer people there are here during an emergency situation the farther the emergency resources here will go.
Unfortunately I’ve also heard that some of the larger tour companies have not yet decided to send in rescue planes and are instead ready to send their guests to shelters.
After Wilma many of the shelters were quite unpleasant places to be, they kept people fed and alive and safe, but nothing more. Let’s hope these tour companies change their minds about this and bring in some planes, and quickly! It will be better for their guests and better for the rest of us who are left behind!
Posted by RiverGirl
August 18th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
We are all hoping for cancun to remain safe. We have been there several times and have a trip planned in Oct for 16 of our friends. We live on the southwest coast of Florida so we have a excellent idea of what is happening. Our prays are with everyone as they prepare for Dean.
August 18th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
I am deperate to get my daughter, husband and 3 small grandchildren OUT or Playaca del Carmen. To send empty planes down.. yes, empty, because no one will go there…YOU NEED TO SEND DOWN PLANES FOR THE PEOPLE TO EVACUATE NOW.NON SCHEDULED FLIGHTS. DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND??? A CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE– GET PLANES IN THERE NOW!!!!
August 18th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Barbara,
I hope your family is able to get out of the region, but if they don’t, please know that there are resources in place to take care of them. Call them and find out if they know of the hotel procedures and what is going on. Advise them to prepare for some time in a shelter with no electricity or running water. Contact your consulate and they should keep you informed.
August 19th, 2007 at 12:50 am
my family and i had booked a trip set to leave on Monday, and just now i canceled the flight. Even though it was a result of Mr. Dean, Mexicana airlines charged me $600-, because they haven’t canceled any flights.
August 19th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
SEND THE EMPTY PLANE DOWN! My family of 5 are in Cancun and wanting to get out. I’ve been calling my carrier (US Airway) to leave early (Sun or Mon) from Cancun but was told all flights are booked. I asked are you adding more flights, and the answer is not at this time! I also call around to other airline (United) and very much getting the same response: No seat available; No added flight at this time! What does it take for these guys to make some move?
August 19th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
My daughter and her 2 friends are staying at Royal Solaris. Yesterday Jetblue told me no extra planes that was at 3:30 est I just called Sunday morning and found they did have a second plane out this morning with no more planned. How stupid! All airlines should have been sending planes for the past 2 days - it’s not like they didn’t know a hurricane was coming. It is so frustrating to try and find things out on this end and not be able to be with your family.
August 20th, 2007 at 2:32 am
I have encountered the same situation. No planes at all. We have been trying for 2 days. My daughter, her husband and 3 small children at Sandos Playacar in Playa del Carmen.I feel the same frustration you do. All airlines KNOW these people are stranded there.. Planes should be sent in for immediate evacuation.It’s shameful.
August 20th, 2007 at 2:37 am
And, by the way, it’s the wonderful people at Continental airlines that have my precious family stranded and in danger… You’d think if they had reservations for later this wk with them ..to fly home, that they would know that they are in harms way. Right?
August 20th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
With nothing else I could do (book a flight out of Cancun) I hit the swimming pool with my kids at the Moon Palace Resort for a few hours. I can see and count how many outbound planes are taking off. It seems a lot more than usual: I can see one every 5 minutes or so. I call my carriers again, and I still get the same answer: no added flights, no more seats.
May be the extra flights are from other countries, not US-based carriers. It’s been extremely frustrating.