Another Airline Bites the Dust

from AP, via Yahoo!:



ATA Returns to Bankruptcy
Thursday April 3, 6:01 pm ET
By Tom Murphy, AP Business Writer
ATA Collapse Sends Travelers Searching for Alternatives


INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Sarah Beavers scrambled to find another flight to Hawaii as she stood near her wedding dress and piles of luggage at Los Angeles International Airport.

The 23-year-old and her fiance, Charlie Winder, arrived at the airport Thursday to find their 7 a.m. ATA flight canceled by the airline's latest bankruptcy.

That stranded their wedding party of 11 people.

"I can't believe no one has talked to us," she said as she worked her cell phone.

"They would probably be scared (to talk to us)," Winder responded.

ATA left frustrated travelers scattered around the country Thursday after it abruptly shut down operations at 4 a.m. Several passengers trying to reach Mexico wound up stuck at Chicago's Midway International Airport.

"It ruins my vacation," said Beatrice Martinez, who was trying to reach Guadalajara, Mexico. "I'm in shock. So I guess I'll try to make other arrangements. Right now I just need to get to Mexico."

Lisa Kendrick, 56, of Oakley, Calif., didn't learn until she was unloading her bags at the curb at Oakland International Airport that her flight had been canceled. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080403/ata_bankruptcy.html

bandits. Meanwhile all of the customers will be left with a bill and no service.

Yep the Republican "Let the market take care of itself", has left the executives very rich and the common man screwed.

And I suspect no other airline will honor those tickets. The customers are totally screwed.

Their trip isn't until next month, but she found out today, and spent most of it on the phone trying to get flights. The worst part was the refund issue... She was told that in order to get her money back she'd have to file a complaint with her credit card company and, "get in line".