We all hear about SO many people getting screwed out of IDB compensation, stranded somewhere, getting rude GAs, etc. that I want to share some positive news. Yes, it was a cancelled flight, but I think F9 handled it really, really well with all things considered.

The short of the story is that F9 cancelled a flight for things that were really out of their control, but instead of giving everyone an attitude, they were very apologetic and very accommodating. Before I even got off the plane, I knew when the rebooked flight was and had a $100 multi-use voucher in my email. Even better, F9 put all the passengers up in a very nice resort with food included. All in all, it was all very professionally handled and, aside from getting home a day late, it was a pretty positive experience.

Just putting this out there as a counter to all the "Never fly F9 and get stranded" people.



I'll save you the lengthy story, and give a timeline of what happened. This was on a flight CUN - MCO on December 10. Boarding was supposed to start at 18:30, doors close at 19:00 and departure at 19:15:

18:00: Plane was changed out because the incoming plane from DEN had mechanical issues. This caused the flight crew to deboard, which required them to go through customs.
18:30 (boarding supposed to start): Plane was being changed
19:00 (doors supposed to close): Flight crew stuck in customs
19:15 (supposed to depart): Flight crew still stuck in customs
19:30: New plane available and at the gate, Flight crew still stuck in customs
20:15: Flight crew arrives, boarding begins
20:45: Boarding completes, no movement, no updates
21:30: Announcement from pilot that because the plane had been changed, the new plane was not cleared to leave Mexico
22:15: Clearance received, plane pushed back, cleared for takeofff
22:30: Plane was literally on the runway, told to return to gate
22:45: Pilot announced that the flight was so late that, by the time we arrived in MCO, Customs & Immigration would be closed. Flight cancelled, plane moved to an off-terminal parking area
23:15: I received an email rebooking on a flight the next morning (same stretch seat) AND a separate email with a $100 multi-use flight voucher
23:30: Bus arrives to take passengers to main terminal
23:50: Announcement that, because it's an international flight, all passengers would have to go back through customs
00:45 (+1 day): All 150 passengers cleared the single customs agent working that night
01:15 (+1): Passengers moved as a group to the front of the airport where hotel transportation was already waiting
01:45 (+1): Arrival at a luxury all-inclusive resort (Hyatt Ziga)
07:45 (+1): Passengers convened in front of hotel
08:00 (+1): Last bus to airport departed
11:30 (+1): Rebooked flight--same plane, same flight crew, same passengers--successfully departed for MCO