They got there anyway.
Posted on 08/01/2009 9:12:19 PM PDT by rawhide
Even though there was a slight hitch in their plan, a group of Boy Scouts who while on their way to a national competition in Indiana found themselves stranded in Atlanta, are now on their way.
After exhausting all other options to find a flight that would get them to Indiana before 8 a.m. Sunday, the Scouts were able to rent a charter bus, which Delta will be covering the cost, said Carlos Santos, Delta spokesman.
Although they bought their plane tickets in April, the group of 30 Boy Scouts and their eight chaperones were forced to rent the bus Saturday afternoon when the airline overbooked their flight.
On their way to the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) at Indiana University, the scouts and chaperones arrived in Atlanta shortly after 4 p.m. said Andrew Carranco, one of the chaperones.
“The boys have spent hours preparing for this competition and spent thousands of dollars in costuming,” Carranco said. If they do not make it to Indiana by 8 a.m. Sunday morning, 21 of the 30 boys will be disqualified, he said.
Delta officials initially offered to put the group up in a hotel for the night and on a first thing in the morning. However, that wold have caused them to get to Indiana by 10 a.m. Sunday, Carranco said. That would have been too late.
The group tried feverishly to find other means of transportation. While Carranco was dealing with the Delta officials, another chaperone was on the phone with bus companies and the others were catering to the boys.
They expect to arrive in Indiana around 3 a.m. The 611-mile trip is a nine and a half hour drive.
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
When there’s a will there’s a way. Go, Scouts!
What’s the matter with people today? If I had been on that plane, I would have given my seat to a Scout. I bet others would have, too.
Go Scouts!
Be prepared. Bless these young men!
I almost always am willing to volunteer - used to be a free ticket anywhere in continental US - now I think it is a $ voucher for some amount. Delta must not have offered enough of an incentive?
I have had to deal with United in April and again in June and July as connections for overseas flights. The overbooking, cramped airlines and TSA checking people as they are boarding is getting tiresome. If I can avoid United I do.
How did they overbook a flight by 38 #%!@ tickets?
WTH?
WWW
The irony here is that air travel is now no more luxerious than bus travel. You just get there a little faster...sometimes.
Ditto. WTH?
> The irony here is that air travel is now no more luxerious than bus travel. You just get there a little faster...sometimes.
Here in NZ bus travel is often more luxurious with plenty more leg room. Sometimes faster, depending on weather.
True Romance quote.
Yep me too. Makes me wonder how many seats they were short and if Delta even bothered to ask the passengers to let the scouts on. Bet if Delta would have explained the situation to the other passengers the scouts would have found more than enough seats.
It’s a cult classic and worth a view. The story reminded me of that quote.
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