Sir, I read with interest Kevin Myers's column on Aer Lingus and lateness (October 16th). On October 11th, myself and my husband travelled to Birmingham to a family wedding. We departed reasonably well on time, but the homeward journey was something else.
We checked in at 4.15 pm for a 5.30 pm flight. We discovered, through looking at the flight monitor, that there was a delay on the flight (no mention of this when we checked in two minutes earlier), estimated departure time 6 pm. Not another word was heard, apart from the message on the monitor which remained the same, until about 6.15 pm when an announcement was made that the flight would depart at 7 pm. No question of an apology, no offer of a cup of coffee, nothing. We got our apology on boards the aircraft was in the hangar for inspection and was delayed! On arrival in Dublin, we sat on the plane for 15 minutes while they attempted to locate a set of steps to allow us disembark into the wet, murky evening to cross the tarmac.
I have to agree with Mr Myers; it's just not good enough, particularly when you are paying for the privilege. - Yours, etc., Mountainview Park, Greystones, Co Wicklow.