BA flight 2036 was supposed to take off from Orlando at 19:25 ET (00:25 GMT) on Thursday and arrive at Gatwick eight hours later. Instead it arrived in the UK on Sunday, 77 hours later, after going through New York.
Passengers have complained of sleeping on airport floors and holidaymakers crying on the “chaotic” journey home.
BBC reports that the flight was due to leave Orlando on Thursday evening but after passengers waited on the plane for four hours for a technical fault to be repaired they were forced to disembark and stay in a nearby hotel. After the flight left for Gatwick at 01:00 ET on Saturday, it was diverted to New York’s JFK airport 40 minutes after take-off. There they had to wait for hours until BA staff arrived and were left with no food and no hotel since everything was booked for the NYC marathon. Many people, children included had to sleep on airport floors.
During the three-day ordeal, passengers on social media unleashed their anger at the airline, as many complained about lack of communication and overall, “disgusting” customer service. Here’s some of the tweets from passengers:
#BA2036 deplorable service. Cannot believe our children had to sleep on the floor of an airport terminal for five and a half hours whilst you advise that you are looking after us. pic.twitter.com/sPXUFnmZgX
— Rosie slater watts (@SlaterRosie) November 3, 2018
#BA2036 Stranded at JFK for 4 hours today with no information on any details!!! pic.twitter.com/GpQtStlrgo
— Theresa Haddad (@terrie8800) November 3, 2018
