Sun Country and ethics

Quote: AZDuffman

Can you imagine being maxed on your credit cards and really stranded?

That is often what happens after a pick pocket incident. In one notable Mexican incident several people with confirmed tickets and credit cards wisely chose to pay cash for standing room only on a boat rather than risk going to the airport. They had to abandon all luggage but they left Mexico with their hands still attached to their arms, their wives and daughters not raped or murdered and their empty wallets still in their pockets. Some people who didn't adapt to changed circumstances met the local police who had turned extortionists and local thugs who chopped off hands that were slow to surrender wallets or drinking water bottles.

Quote: Fleastiff

That is often what happens after a pick pocket incident. In one notable Mexican incident several people with confirmed tickets and credit cards wisely chose to pay cash for standing room only on a boat rather than risk going to the airport. They had to abandon all luggage but they left Mexico with their hands still attached to their arms, their wives and daughters not raped or murdered and their empty wallets still in their pockets. Some people who didn't adapt to changed circumstances met the local police who had turned extortionists and local thugs who chopped off hands that were slow to surrender wallets or drinking water bottles.

You do know that Mexico is a civilized country, don't you?

Quote: Fleastiff

That is often what happens after a pick pocket incident. In one notable Mexican incident several people with confirmed tickets and credit cards wisely chose to pay cash for standing room only on a boat rather than risk going to the airport. They had to abandon all luggage but they left Mexico with their hands still attached to their arms, their wives and daughters not raped or murdered and their empty wallets still in their pockets. Some people who didn't adapt to changed circumstances met the local police who had turned extortionists and local thugs who chopped off hands that were slow to surrender wallets or drinking water bottles.

Yeah, I will be taking a vacation in Mexico real soon. NOT!

I would think an airline with 23 jets would have at least one spare one that they use while other jets are getting serviced.

Quote: DRich

I would think an airline with 23 jets would have at least one spare one that they use while other jets are getting serviced.

They're an air carrier in only the legal sense. They do mostly charters, specialty routes for travel agents and casinos, stuff like that, rather than a full-time schedule. And yeah, they've always been cut-rate if it's an open flight (as opposed to a private charter).

Quote: Pacomartin

You do know that Mexico is a civilized country, don't you?

Yes. I've been there a few times. But the events I described actually took place when a Pacific hurricane struck a resort area and all hell broke loose. These things do happen from time to time even though they talk to fast down there and have a strange habit of vomiting in their moustaches.

I'm sure the American tourists stranded in Mexico mainly had solely financial and administrative annoyances but the airline probably made the right decision to isolate the problem there rather than propagate the problem with endless plane delays and endless crew overtime problems.

Quote: DRich

I would think an airline with 23 jets would have at least one spare one that they use while other jets are getting serviced.

Yeah, just go in to the maintenance hangar and tell a mechanic who has just drained the oil not to bother putting fresh oil in, the plane is needed in Mexico.

My work for the USN in the involved going to small islands. We were on a small island in the Bahamas on January 18, 1991 when Eastern Airlines declared bankruptcy leaving us with invalid tickets.

Quote: AZDuffman

The story does remind me of why to be a prepper and be able to handle such situations. Can you imagine being maxed on your credit cards and really stranded?

One of the guys that I was with didn't believe in credit cards. At the time the government did not issue us official travel cards . I remember saying to him that there are about 4000 people on this island which is over 300 miles to Miami. How was he going to get home?

A long swim, but a short sail in a small boat. Those of you who recall the S/V Nina that was lost white crossing the ditch a few years ago might be interested in knowing the Captain used to sail from Florida to the Bahamas and back in a small open sailboat as a young teenager. Solo crossings of the gulf stream? Sure. No big deal. You don't have to fly as long as you have a sunfish.

Hundreds got stranded a few years ago when some upscale music festival turned out to be a total fraud. Many were stranded with worthless tickets but also many were on an insect infested garbage-strewn beach with no escape from the hot sun and no potable water.

These things happen.
I knew one guy who flew from the Pacific for a vacation just as his credit card expired. Things happen. Its nice if an airline can help stranded tourists but often resourcefulness is required.
In the Sun Airlines situation it depends on how much money the airline had available and what the legal constraints were. Frankly, I'd hate to be one of those passengers but I'd also hate to be one of the thousands of passengers on the other 23 planes if the problem escalated.

Another easy one. You purchased a ticket through Sun Airlines instead of a major carrier that despite the snide comments would not have left the tourists stranded. Sun Airlines apparently was within it's legal rights to do what they did. So it is a free market, and this has received a lot of publicity. The market should punish Sun by having people NOT book any flights with them. And if you are foolish enough to do so, be aware of what could happen to you. (I may be foolish enough in the future if the price is right....)