# Jetsgo says 'oops', 17,000 passengers out of a flight **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 12, 2005, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196 "2005-03-12T15:29:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/1 "2005-03-12T15:29:09Z")
[Jetsgo grounds all flights, terminates jobs, strands passengers](http://montreal.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=qc-jetsgo20050311) Michel Leblanc, you knew this was coming. You’d known Jetsgo might have to file for insolvency _months_ ago. So, at the very start of spring break–a peak travel time–just after midnight, you ground all the flights, fire all your workers, and leave 17,000 people in the lurch without warning, any alternative travel options, and possibly without any refunds whatsoever? Asshat. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/2 "2005-03-12T15:38:38Z")
Okay, mental notes: When I plan my trip out west this fall, remember to pick an airline that seems relatively solvent… and pay by credit card just in case that’ll help. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/3 "2005-03-12T15:42:17Z")
Doesn’t your travel insurance cover this sort of thing? ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/4 "2005-03-12T15:44:23Z")
That’s how it goes. Until the very moment that they shut down they have to conduct business as usual. Do you remember Braniff International? That is exactly what they did. Were it not for the integrity of the pilots of one of the aircraft a bunch of people would have been stranded in Hawaii. [Cite](http://www.braniffinternational.org/history/finalhours.htm) So this is not unprecedented. In fact, it seems to be the way these businesses collapse. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/5 "2005-03-12T15:45:30Z")
**Kythereia** , you’re Goddess of Love or some such, right? Can’t you simply inflict all responsible parties with impotence, or something? ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/6 "2005-03-12T15:48:47Z")
**Polycarp**! Really! What a scandalous, wicked, evil, nasty idea! I _love_ it! 😉 It’s not me, **Quartz** –I don’t have any flights planned for a lo-o-o-ong while. I’m just pissed that Michel Leblanc and his company would do something like this to all those passengers. I remember, **Airman Doors** , I heard of it happening before. It just really, really sucks… _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/7 "2005-03-12T15:57:27Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > That’s how it goes. Until the very moment that they shut down they have to conduct business as usual. Do you remember Braniff International? That is exactly what they did. Were it not for the integrity of the pilots of one of the aircraft a bunch of people would have been stranded in Hawaii. [Cite](http://www.braniffinternational.org/history/finalhours.htm) So this is not unprecedented. In fact, it seems to be the way these businesses collapse. Thank God those poor people were not left stranded in Hawaii! (and yes, I know it sucks to be stranded, even in Paradise, if you’ve got to be places.) ---
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/8 "2005-03-12T16:01:47Z")
One of my co-workers just lost his trip to Regina to visit his family. Gad, I hope Westjet doesn’t go down. They’re the only airline in this country I actually like flying with. I wonder how feasible it would be to try and make our train system faster and cheaper? ---
**Author:** ![Jillyvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Jillyvn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jillyvn)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/9 "2005-03-12T16:09:41Z")
This is why I hate Air Canada with a burning passion, and I only fly westjet unless I don’t have any other options. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/10 "2005-03-12T16:20:21Z")
> [@Rebekkah](#): > > This is why I hate Air Canada with a burning passion, and I only fly westjet unless I don’t have any other options. Why do you hate Air Canada? What does that have to do with Jetsgo? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/11 "2005-03-12T16:22:02Z")
> [@Hamish](#): > > I wonder how feasible it would be to try and make our train system faster and cheaper? I wish they would at least expand rail service. I prefer train travel myself, but unfortunately, I live in a city that has no scheduled passenger rail service, and it is unlikely to return here anytime soon. What I couldn’t understand about the Jetsgo collapse was what I heard on the radio news Friday morning: Jetsgo announced in the middle of the night that it was out of business. It made me wonder if the company president woke up at, say, 3:00 a.m. and decided to issue a press release. It was a strange thought to have, but I hadn’t had my coffee at that point, so anything was possible. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/12 "2005-03-12T16:41:12Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > remember to pick an airline that seems relatively solvent Is that really possible? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/13 "2005-03-12T17:19:53Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > […]remember to pick an airline that seems relatively solvent… Solvent? Don’t they all dissolve on a regular basis? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/14 "2005-03-12T18:01:05Z")
When an industry analyst very recently pointed out that JetsGo was on the edge, its founder Michel Leblanc publiclystated that: [http://www.globeadvisor.com/servlet/ArticleNews/story/gam/20050201/REDGEWEST01](http://www.globeadvisor.com/servlet/ArticleNews/story/gam/20050201/REDGEWEST01) > [@](#): > > We’re operating a proper airline on a good financial basis. . . . We’re paying all our bills. We’re paying our payroll. I’m not saying the market isn’t difficult. That would be a lie. But we’re holding our own in the market and advanced booking sales are extremely strong. Based on that statement, I wish that he whould be held personally liable for damages suffered by people who booked in advance, and that discharge of his ensuing personal bankruptcy would not be granted for many years. Unfortunately, it just does not work this way, but one can always wish. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/15 "2005-03-12T18:08:25Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Based on that statement, I wish that he whould be held personally liable for damages suffered by people who booked in advance, and that discharge of his ensuing personal bankruptcy would not be granted for many years. Unfortunately, it just does not work this way, but one can always wish. Up until the end I’m sure they were paying their bills and meeting their payroll, and I’m sure they were trying to get financing since no company wants to go down this way. Further, if you own a business do you advertise that it’s about to fail? If he had made an announcement that he was in dire financial trouble who would have flown on that airline? They would have died a long time before rather than yesterday. I guess all business owners are responsible for their failures, right? If a local McDonald’s franchise fails I should hold the owner responsible and demand a free Big Mac? ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/16 "2005-03-12T18:09:49Z")
The above was me, not Robin. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/17 "2005-03-12T18:20:04Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > I guess all business owners are responsible for their failures, right? If a local McDonald’s franchise fails I should hold the owner responsible and demand a free Big Mac? Depends. Had you already paid for your Big Mac? Nobody’s asking for anything for free. They’re just asking to receive what they paid for. But a large number of ticketholders are just fucked. They paid substantial amounts of money for tickets that are now worthless. Depends to an extent on how they paid for the tickets, of course, as some sources include various guarantees. I don’t see how it’s particularly meanspirited of **Muffin** to want to hold Leblanc responsible for taking people’s money without holding up his end of the bargain. Accountability, that’s called. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/18 "2005-03-12T18:45:15Z")
The business is responsible, and the bankruptcy court will almost certainly ensure that the customers get their fares back. The owner, unless you can document specific cases of fraud, is not responsible. That being said, I don’t get what **Muffin** ’s comments are all about, since that’s what will happen anyway with the corporation. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/19 "2005-03-12T19:21:31Z")
> [@Rebekkah](#): > > This is why I hate Air Canada with a burning passion, and I only fly westjet unless I don’t have any other options. I have to wonder what on earth Air Canada has to do with Jetsgo. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196/20 "2005-03-12T19:28:14Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > The business is responsible, and the bankruptcy court will almost certainly ensure that the customers get their fares back. No, as unsecured creditors, they will be last on the list to get ay money out of the company. > [@](#): > > The owner, unless you can document specific cases of fraud, is not responsible. What then do you call taking money from people when all the time you know full well that you will not be able to deliver? The previously cited statement made by Leblanc is in my opinion misrepresentation upon which people relied to their detriment. That is actionable. > [@](#): > > That being said, I don’t get what **Muffin** ’s comments are all about, since that’s what will happen anyway with the corporation. What my comments are about is my concern that Leblanc’s and JetsGo’s statements and actions were ethically bankrupt. Bankruptcy protection is not supposed to be a clearinghouse for debts. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jetsgo-says-oops-17-000-passengers-out-of-a-flight/294196.md?page=2)