Breaking News: JetAmerica Delays Launch Date Until August 14th

July 2, 2009 at 4:49 PM | by juliana | 2 Comments

Yesterday we got all sorts of worried that JetAmerica would not be taking off on July 13 as initially announced because we couldn't plug in any new flight dates until August. But a call to the reservations/marketing inquiries hotline let us know that the upstart airline's website was just having a bit of "server error" and that our reservation was still good.

Still, we remained skeptical and with good reason. Just as we were wondering why JetAmerica hadn't fixed its "server error," an email came in to us from a Jaunted reader booked on the inaugural flight out of Newark to Toledo. Jet America has now delayed their launch date by 30 days.

First, we thank you for your support in purchasing a ticket on Sun America d/b/a JetAmerica ("JetAmerica"). Unfortunately, however, you are receiving this notice to inform you that due to landing slot issues in Newark, that we are going to have to delay our first flights 30 days until August 14th.

We've posted the full letter after the jump but Jet America is willing to issue a full refund to all passengers within seven to 14 days. Additionally, passengers booked on this flight will receive "special incentives to rebook on future flights" when they call the reservations center after August 1. Those incentives include waiving the $20 reservations convenience fee and the $20 fee for the first checked piece of baggage and any seat assignment fees.

But what about all the fun things we had planned for Toledo on July 14th????

The full letter from JetAmerica regarding the delay of their inaugural flight:

Dear JetAmerica Customer, First, we thank you for your support in purchasing a ticket on Sun America d/b/a JetAmerica ("JetAmerica"). Unfortunately, however, you are receiving this notice to inform you that due to landing slot issues in Newark, that we are going to have to delay our first flights 30 days until August 14th.
When we started planning your flight months ago, we were not required as an Indirect Air Carrier to have landing and takeoff slots at Newark's Liberty International Airport; however, due to recent policy clarifications, even Indirect Air Carriers now have to have slots into and out of Newark. We just found out about this on May 30th and have been working hard to acquire the slots from the FAA and other airlines; but, as of today, not all the paperwork has been prepared for our signature guaranteeing our arrival and departure slots in July and early August.
It's unfortunate and perhaps unfair that the rules were changed on us, but you are, of course, entitled to a full refund and your credit card will be credited with a 100% refund within 7-14 days depending on what credit card you used.
Also, recognizing that this is an inconvenience; as a courtesy aimed at preventing erosion of consumer confidence, JetAmerica will offer passengers who were originally booked on flights from July 13 through August 13 special incentives to rebook on future flights when they call our reservations center after August 1st, 2009. These incentives include waiving the standard $20 reservations convenience fee. We will also waive the $20 fee for the first-checked piece of baggage and the seat assignment fees.
We sincerely regret having to make this decision to delay our flights by 30 days. We know what a terrible inconvenience this may be for you and we sincerely apologize.

Were you booked on any of the inaugural Jet America flights? Let us know how this delay affects you

Related Stories:
· Breaking News: Jet America Server Snafu or Pushing July Launch [Jaunted]

2 Comments

Return to » Breaking News: JetAmerica Delays Launch Date Until August 14th

kjb
Jaunted Contributing Editor

Is This Just The Beginning?
What's the over-under on how many days 'til they start flying?
I'll set the line at 60 days, feel free to bet in the form of imaginary travel vouchers below.

July 2, 2009 at 8:42 PM

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Jennifer Tiefenbacher Praino
Jaunted Reader

Pissed OFF
I had 3 seats booked for July 19th. Now, because my flight is cancelled and I find out about it 7 days before I was supposed to take off, I now have to spend $800 for 3 tickets to get home. I want them to pay the difference! If they had said someplace (and I read their fine print and contract) that there was a possibility they would not be starting flights in July, I would have NEVER booked with them.

July 14, 2009 at 7:14 PM

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