200 passengers stranded and angry at Phila. Int'l Airport
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A series of delays that ended in a canceled flight has left some 200 Frontier Airlines passengers stranded and angry at Philadelphia International Airport.
The Monday night direct flight from Philadelphia to Tampa, Florida was first delayed because of the weather. The aircraft then developed maintenance issues on the runway, passengers said.
The travelers told Action News they were kept on the plane for over three hours with no heating or air conditioning and were offered only one cup of water.
They were eventually told the flight had been canceled.
The frustrated passengers were let off the plane and told they could pick up their baggage along with vouchers for food and a hotel room.
As it turned out, many learned the hotel they received the voucher for was fully booked.
Some passengers were told they would be flown out at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Others were told no flights were available until Thursday.
Tired, hungry and frustrated, many of the families tried to sleep on their luggage in the airport.
Others said they were shocked by what they called incompetence and lack of organization at the airport.
"Everybody is just frustrated. It is 2 in the morning. People have to work the next day. I got to work the next day," said Edwin Fedna of Tampa. "And they think giving me a $200 voucher will justify the situation, where that doesn't help me at all, because their next flight is Thursday."
"All the hotel vouchers they gave us are worthless," said Mike Whalan of Tampa. "The hotel is basically totally booked. And there is no shuttle taking us to the hotel like they promised us either. It's fantastic. Frontier, is a great airline."
A Frontier Airlines spokesperson told Action News that "they are apologetic for the travel issues, and are working to re-book customers on their flight to Tampa."
