Stranded Zoom Crews getting home
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On the crew side of things Danny let me know this morning that VS would be helping out.
I've just been talking to the skipper of one crew who've made it down from their layover in Canada and are patiently waiting in Terminal 7, JFK for sub load seats to get them back to the UK.
However VS are overbooked for the next 2 nights and there's presently some cunning ticket revalidation going on.
If that pans out and tickets are endorsed it's BA who are actually getting the Ottawa crew home after a 10 hour drive south. Hopes too that it's also going to be BA that get the Vancouver crew home.
The inbound crew to Ottowa got stuck in Halifax and I've presently no news on those in San Diego. There are suggestions that the Miami layover group are trying to make their way to Sanford where the UK charter companies congregate and I have heard a suggestion that the sub leased Finnish aircraft left their girls in New York.
I'll update if I get any better or more accurate information.
Regards
Rob
I've just been talking to the skipper of one crew who've made it down from their layover in Canada and are patiently waiting in Terminal 7, JFK for sub load seats to get them back to the UK.
However VS are overbooked for the next 2 nights and there's presently some cunning ticket revalidation going on.
If that pans out and tickets are endorsed it's BA who are actually getting the Ottawa crew home after a 10 hour drive south. Hopes too that it's also going to be BA that get the Vancouver crew home.
The inbound crew to Ottowa got stuck in Halifax and I've presently no news on those in San Diego. There are suggestions that the Miami layover group are trying to make their way to Sanford where the UK charter companies congregate and I have heard a suggestion that the sub leased Finnish aircraft left their girls in New York.
I'll update if I get any better or more accurate information.
Regards
Rob
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Stop Press!!
Well, sitting here in Terminal 7 at JFK, waiting for our BA flight to London Heathrow I can attest that the last +36 hours have been a bit 'emotional'. 
We found out at very short notice, i.e. actually whilst waiting, booted & suited in our uniform in the hotel lobby for our crew transport from our Ottawa hotel over to the cities airport (to operate the return UK flight), that the transport would not be coming... due to the collapse of Zoom Inc also dragging down Zoom Ltd. We had absolutely no inkling that this was on the cards. It was most definitely a shock (much tears), along with the speed of this demise.
After a moderately lengthy wait (one can imagine that it was a tadge chaotic at back at home base), it was decided that the best course of action, i.e. to expidite our UK return, would be to go by road from Ottawa to JFK (as there more UK flights from JFK)- a journey of 480 miles, which took us exactly 10 hours in a minibus through the night (i.e. leaving at 7pm and arriving at 5am).
Here at JFK we joined up with some other Zoom Cabin Crew (whom had been stranded off a New York trip), and were fortunate enough get ourselves booked (sub-load basis) on to Virgin Atlantic - courtesy of much work behind the scene between Zoom Ltd & Virgin Atlantic (albeit that the New York crew had been 'bumped' once, or twice?, all ready; and that you couldn't pick a worse weekend to for air travel if you tried, as a great many flights - especially VA's - are chockablock full / overbooked).
People worthy of mention in this tale include:
I'm confident when I say that I & my crew will be VERY relieved to be home tomorrow morning, even if it is into a somewhat changed world of job searching and belt tightening.
TTFN,
OKC
Ps. Since Virgin Media kindly barred / blocked our Captain's mobile phone's earlier today, it's been the devils own job trying to keep comms open with our LGW Ops and has caused serious inconvenience (& cost) to people whom are stuck overseas and who have just lost their jobs through no fault of their own! Nice one Virgin Media, NOT!
PPs. 'Air Canada' should hang their heads in shame.
Keen to avoid the journey to JFK if at all possible, we personally went to the airport in Ottawa to to see if Air Canada might assist us (veritably as a crew in their hour of need) in repatriating some (or even all?) of us on their London service yesterday evening?
Oh they had seats alright, indeed plenty for all of us, but the deal we were offered was... now get this?!...
So Air Canada, imho, you are a bunch of first class A1 tossers!
We found out at very short notice, i.e. actually whilst waiting, booted & suited in our uniform in the hotel lobby for our crew transport from our Ottawa hotel over to the cities airport (to operate the return UK flight), that the transport would not be coming... due to the collapse of Zoom Inc also dragging down Zoom Ltd. We had absolutely no inkling that this was on the cards. It was most definitely a shock (much tears), along with the speed of this demise.
After a moderately lengthy wait (one can imagine that it was a tadge chaotic at back at home base), it was decided that the best course of action, i.e. to expidite our UK return, would be to go by road from Ottawa to JFK (as there more UK flights from JFK)- a journey of 480 miles, which took us exactly 10 hours in a minibus through the night (i.e. leaving at 7pm and arriving at 5am).
Here at JFK we joined up with some other Zoom Cabin Crew (whom had been stranded off a New York trip), and were fortunate enough get ourselves booked (sub-load basis) on to Virgin Atlantic - courtesy of much work behind the scene between Zoom Ltd & Virgin Atlantic (albeit that the New York crew had been 'bumped' once, or twice?, all ready; and that you couldn't pick a worse weekend to for air travel if you tried, as a great many flights - especially VA's - are chockablock full / overbooked).
People worthy of mention in this tale include:
- The folks still working behind the scenes at Zoom who are trying to sort something out this mess for both stranded passengers and stranded crew - and with bugger all money available to do so, and suffering from systems which are being closed down as I type.
- The hotel manager at the Southway Inn in Ottawa who kindly provided us with a gratis 'day-room' whilst we came up with plan 'A'.
- Luis, the Southway Inn's consierge who greatly assisted in sorting our overland transport.
- The the transport company (name escapes me, it's been a v.long 2 days) who magic'd up a minibus & driver at incredibly short notice.
- Our minibus driver, Michael, who drove us safely for 10 hours through the night to JFK. A rocky steady rock solid bloke.
- The folks at Vigrin Atlantic who've been helping assist with repatriating us (albeit that their a/c might be a tadge over-full this weekend.... it's still the thought that counts).
- To BA, who agreed to accept our Virgin Atlantic tickets, given that BA has some spare seats tonight (and that VA was probably going to be full, which would result in us still being stranded).
- To Zoom's Operations Director, (MS) who decided that enough-was-enough and organised (from own pocket?) firm-seat tickets with BA for all the crew stranded in JFK (especially so given that Iceland Air has cancelled it's flight and is now code-sharing their flight with BA, and therein it suddenly looked like we were going to get bumped off BA unless we had 'firm seat' tickets). Bravo Malcolm!
- To the BA cabin crew folks whom will be serving the crew & I copious G&T's et al on our way home tonight... cheers in advance, hic.
I'm confident when I say that I & my crew will be VERY relieved to be home tomorrow morning, even if it is into a somewhat changed world of job searching and belt tightening.
TTFN,
OKC
Ps. Since Virgin Media kindly barred / blocked our Captain's mobile phone's earlier today, it's been the devils own job trying to keep comms open with our LGW Ops and has caused serious inconvenience (& cost) to people whom are stuck overseas and who have just lost their jobs through no fault of their own! Nice one Virgin Media, NOT!
PPs. 'Air Canada' should hang their heads in shame.
Keen to avoid the journey to JFK if at all possible, we personally went to the airport in Ottawa to to see if Air Canada might assist us (veritably as a crew in their hour of need) in repatriating some (or even all?) of us on their London service yesterday evening?
Oh they had seats alright, indeed plenty for all of us, but the deal we were offered was... now get this?!...
"Just the Captain & the F/O, but not the Cabin Crew".
So we agreed that the F/O should go (it's one less person after all to have to repatriate) and that I would stay with the Cabin Crew, i.e. to ensure their proper & safe return to the UK... and hence our 10 hour dash to JFK.So Air Canada, imho, you are a bunch of first class A1 tossers!
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As previous posters have said this all happened in late afternoon/evening UK time, which wasn`t the best time for Zoom to go tits up. Other airlines start sorting the mess out and unfortunately a Zoom crew member decided to post maybe an unappropriate message on here. Maybe in the heat of the moment, and possibly on "waking up to a new day" regrets the starting of this.
Should they wish to delete this posting or maybe change the header to this (mods) as appropriate.
Its unfortunate, and pleased that other carriers are helping, but no airline deserves being slated because they won`t take you home.
Should they wish to delete this posting or maybe change the header to this (mods) as appropriate.
Its unfortunate, and pleased that other carriers are helping, but no airline deserves being slated because they won`t take you home.
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Tiger, might I remind you that not so long ago Zoom went out of its way to repatriate the crews of SilverJet... that sort of thing is called professional courtesy... maybe Air Canada should look it up in a dictionary... BA & Virgin have been exemplary in this respect?!
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Airlines have no obligation to help in the repatriation of former Zoom flight/cabin crew members. After all, they are sadly now unemployed members of 'Joe Public' and have to make the best of it - just like Zoom's passengers who are left to sort things out themselves.
Zoom management is responsible for their downfall.
Zoom management is responsible for their downfall.
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Old King Coal,
Any one of us may be telling your tale sometime soon. I can only wish you, your crew and other Zoom crews a safe journey home and all at Zoom the very best of luck. Not a lot of help to you, I know but I felt I had to say something.
Safe flight,
Jsl
Any one of us may be telling your tale sometime soon. I can only wish you, your crew and other Zoom crews a safe journey home and all at Zoom the very best of luck. Not a lot of help to you, I know but I felt I had to say something.
Safe flight,
Jsl
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Old King Coal.. I understand the difficult time you are having, but before reminding me of what Zoom has done in the past, the Thread here is Ba Refuse To Help Stranded Zoom Crew not Air Canada.
Hence why I have suggest that perhaps the poster/mods maybe either delete the post or correct it. (previous posters not previous poster ie not you, the person who started this thread)
Hence why I have suggest that perhaps the poster/mods maybe either delete the post or correct it. (previous posters not previous poster ie not you, the person who started this thread)
Last edited by Tiger; 29th Aug 2008 at 21:17.
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Old King Coal,
i wish you guys all the best of luck and a very safe journey home ,at the end of the day we all do the same job just different uniforms and this could happen to any of us. xx
i wish you guys all the best of luck and a very safe journey home ,at the end of the day we all do the same job just different uniforms and this could happen to any of us. xx
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when airlines go bust, as they always have done (and guess they always will), isn't it right and proper that those of us still lucky to have jobs in god's chosen industry, shouldn't go out of our way to help our collegues who have been left in the sht? Might be us next time.
This industry is like a merry go go round. Think we should remember that.
This industry is like a merry go go round. Think we should remember that.
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To all of you who have used the term"BA is not a charity" might I remind you that you, as a company,gratefully accepted huge charitable donations from the government at the time, on more than one occasion, to keep you from a similar ending to ZOOM?
I have sympathy for all those who have lost jobs.
It's time a few BA employess woke up, smelt the coffee and realised the industry needs to pull together as one at present.
I have sympathy for all those who have lost jobs.
It's time a few BA employess woke up, smelt the coffee and realised the industry needs to pull together as one at present.
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If you have any sense you will ask the company.
When the say "No you can't carry them" you will agree.
Then ignore it and offer any spare seats on the basis that the mates say nowt.
When the say "No you can't carry them" you will agree.
Then ignore it and offer any spare seats on the basis that the mates say nowt.
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Zoom Crew
Hope all the crew get home safely (can't believe that Air Canada only offered to fly the flight deck even though thet had the seats avaliable they should be discraced with themselves).
Having been stranded in NYC with Silverjet recently Zoom took the courtesy to fly us all home for free it's such a horrible feeling of disbelief and sadness. I felt lost for a long time after that.
I do hope you all find employment soon (and at least that you got paid!).
I know too well how you must be feeling but it does get better once reality kicks in.
Wish you all the best of luck!
Having been stranded in NYC with Silverjet recently Zoom took the courtesy to fly us all home for free it's such a horrible feeling of disbelief and sadness. I felt lost for a long time after that.
I do hope you all find employment soon (and at least that you got paid!).
I know too well how you must be feeling but it does get better once reality kicks in.
Wish you all the best of luck!
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Perhaps Service Swerver would like to look at Old King Coals post to see what BA are doing for Zooms crews, then consider that BA has been a private company since circa 1986. But then why let that get in the way of an uninformed rant? Quite why you think the industry needs to pull together is beyond me. By all means we can help the crews of defunct airlines get home but this isn't some socialist transport cooperative, it's a competitive business.
Eight Gun Fighter
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Let's see. Two multi-millianaire owners. You can't tell me they didn't know where things were heading. The decent thing to do would have been to set aside a reserve (from their own pockets) of several thousand pounds and then use it to get their loyal hard-working crews back to base. Couldn't have done that for the 45,000 pax currently stranded tho.
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Old King Cole
By the sounds of it you went through some right old s**t to get back to the UK and i can only hope that you are all now safely home.
Im really supprised by the attitude of some of the people on this site as there seems to be alot of the opinion that the crew should have a hard time getting back as it was "thier" airline that went under and all "their" passengers are in the same situation. So, so what, why should we all care. I really cant believe this.
I for one feel for you all so much. I couldnt imagine what it would be like to come down to check out to find out that you no longer had a job and not just that but you were stranded thousands of miles from home with no immediate way of getting there. I understand that all airlines are buisnesses but really in times like this you would hope that there would be some kind of compassion from other carriers as after all it could be any of us in these uncretain times.
To be told by an airline that they would only take some of the crew is really awful and good for you for sticking together. I can unfortunatly think of some flight crew in my own airline that would quite happily leave us behind in a heartbeat. You are a really good bloke and an example to others. By the sounds of it both BA and Virgin have done what they could to get you home and for that they should be commended and im glad the title of this thread has been altered. I would like to think that all the UK carriers would do the same.
I wish you all the best of luck for the future and i can only imagine how you are feeling. All the best.
By the sounds of it you went through some right old s**t to get back to the UK and i can only hope that you are all now safely home.
Im really supprised by the attitude of some of the people on this site as there seems to be alot of the opinion that the crew should have a hard time getting back as it was "thier" airline that went under and all "their" passengers are in the same situation. So, so what, why should we all care. I really cant believe this.
I for one feel for you all so much. I couldnt imagine what it would be like to come down to check out to find out that you no longer had a job and not just that but you were stranded thousands of miles from home with no immediate way of getting there. I understand that all airlines are buisnesses but really in times like this you would hope that there would be some kind of compassion from other carriers as after all it could be any of us in these uncretain times.
To be told by an airline that they would only take some of the crew is really awful and good for you for sticking together. I can unfortunatly think of some flight crew in my own airline that would quite happily leave us behind in a heartbeat. You are a really good bloke and an example to others. By the sounds of it both BA and Virgin have done what they could to get you home and for that they should be commended and im glad the title of this thread has been altered. I would like to think that all the UK carriers would do the same.
I wish you all the best of luck for the future and i can only imagine how you are feeling. All the best.
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Service Swerver,
You are doing our industry a gross mis-service by posting an uninformed rant against BA thus, once again, trying to hijack the thread back to a 'why we hate BA' thread.
I have little doubt in saying that out of the 3,300 flight crew and 15,000 Cabin Crew the vast majority, myself included, would do everything within our power to assist fellow professionals who have been placed in this unfortunate situation. Many believe in the adage 'What goes around comes around'. We are constrained by the DfT and company policy with regards to giving cockpit jumps seats. As a staff travel member a couple of weeks ago I agreed to take a jump seat in order to give up my cabin seat for a staff member from another airline. If I hadn't they wouldn't of traveled.
So please don't broad brush tar us all with your high horse sanctimonious waffle. 22 years of private operation behind, many to come.
Best of luck to the Zoom crews, I hope the refinance package comes through and that you have managed to get back home.
You are doing our industry a gross mis-service by posting an uninformed rant against BA thus, once again, trying to hijack the thread back to a 'why we hate BA' thread.
I have little doubt in saying that out of the 3,300 flight crew and 15,000 Cabin Crew the vast majority, myself included, would do everything within our power to assist fellow professionals who have been placed in this unfortunate situation. Many believe in the adage 'What goes around comes around'. We are constrained by the DfT and company policy with regards to giving cockpit jumps seats. As a staff travel member a couple of weeks ago I agreed to take a jump seat in order to give up my cabin seat for a staff member from another airline. If I hadn't they wouldn't of traveled.
So please don't broad brush tar us all with your high horse sanctimonious waffle. 22 years of private operation behind, many to come.
Best of luck to the Zoom crews, I hope the refinance package comes through and that you have managed to get back home.
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Bravo BA !!!
I'm sure I speak for the whole of my crew when I say that BA, from ticketing, to check-in, to boarding and the in-flight service (indeed, most especially the Cabin Crew who looked after us) were a total credit to BA. They were kindness & compassion personified - BRAVO BA!!!! 
All-in-all, I would like to extend my personal thanks to those concerned with repatriating my crew & I under very difficult circumstances. It's very, very, nice to be home!
All-in-all, I would like to extend my personal thanks to those concerned with repatriating my crew & I under very difficult circumstances. It's very, very, nice to be home!
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I operated a BA flight from JFK yesterday, arriving LHR this morning. A ZOOM crew were sat in Club World, aswell as some of their passengers in WT. Hope everything sorts itself out for the ex ZOOM crew. Glad you got home in some degree of comfort. Just from the original posts i think BA did everything it could to help both crew and pax out!